U.S. Representative John Boehner
The Senate Must Act to Help Create a Better Environment for Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released the following column discussing House Republicans’ continued action to spur job creation:

“More than 200,000 Americans found work last month, and that’s encouraging. But make no mistake, we’re not out of the woods yet.

“Years of one-size-fits-all, Washington-knows-best policies have not only failed to live up to the president’s promises – they’ve actually made things worse. Just look at the health care law that’s driving up costs, forcing people off of plans they like, and wreaking havoc on small business.

“In the House of Representatives, we’ve been listening to Americans who continue to struggle. That’s why, instead of increasing reliance on government, we’re focusing on pro-growth solutions that promote jobs creation and better wages.

“With our Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs as a blueprint, we’ve been consistently advancing bills to the House floor all year to boost innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunities for all Americans.

“A handful of our bills have cleared the Senate and been sent over to the president’s desk, but far too many are being blocked. In all, the House has passed nearly 150 bills in 2013 that the Senate has failed to act on.

“Many of these are jobs bills – common-sense measures that would do things like reform and improve jobs training programs, increase production of American energy, rein in red tape, help schools recruit and keep the best teachers, protect Americans from the fundamentally-flawed ObamaCare law, and much more.

“The leaders of the president’s party that run the Senate have to do better.

“Here in our area, the agriculture community is counting on a bill to provide farmers and ranchers with certainty so they can move forward in making long-term planning decisions to help feed the nation.

“The House has done its part. In June we passed a farm programs bill, and in September, we passed a nutrition bill that protects our neediest families while also safeguarding against waste, fraud and abuse. In conference, lifelong farmer and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) has made a number of good-faith offers, but has yet to secure a bipartisan agreement with his Senate counterparts.

“It seems that Senate Democrats are more interested in politics than working together to produce solid reforms. When will they agree to come together on common ground? Because that’s what Americans want.

“It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the Farm Bill, ObamaCare, or the ongoing budget talks – Americans expect their leaders to act on their concerns and priorities. They are tired of the meddling, the micromanaging and the manipulating. Rather than the special-interest breaks and health care waivers for unions and big businesses, they rightly expect some basic fairness for all.

“The president may be entering his sixth year of office, but it’s not too late for him to change course. He can do the right thing and call on Senate Democrats to stop blocking common-sense reforms that will help create robust, long-term growth.

“There are dozens of House-passed jobs bills just sitting in the Senate, ready to go. All they have to do is say ‘yes.’”

Boehner represents Ohio’s 8th District, which includes all of Butler, Clark, Darke, Miami, and Preble counties, and the southernmost part of Mercer County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.