The Democrats' Agenda Isn't Working

Since the Democrats took control of Congress in January 2007, the U.S. has lost over 7 million jobs. Since Obama was elected in November 2008, the U.S. has lost over 4 million jobs. We have more long-term unemployed people than we've had in generations, and it will take years to get back to the number of jobs America had when Obama was elected. For too many, even here in Austin, Texas, it's hit close to home.

Along with the jobs deficit, we have the massive trillion-dollar budget deficit. Next year's deficit will be $1.4 trillion. The Democratic majority in Congress has in the last three years ramped up spending at double-digit rates, adding almost $5 trillion in new debt, and this year failed to even pass a budget blueprint. This is irresponsible and unsustainable.

Faced with the worst jobs record in generations, the Democrats are engaged in pre-election spin. They claim that the 'stimulus' prevented something worse, but their own economists made no such predictions of greater job losses than what has happened. The stimulus spent hundreds billions of dollars to 'save' some jobs; at high cost, sometimes almost $1 million per job, it fostered higher Government-sector spending and employment, but simultaneously, we saw continued declining private sector employment.

Bailing out Government spending is one thing, but reviving the long-term economy is another thing.

They are also trying to blame their predecessors, but when the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007, the unemployment rate was under 5% and the deficit was under $250 billion. The last three years of budgets, spending bills, and bailouts, including TARP, were written and approved by the Democratic Congress. Under the Democrat majority in Congress, the unemployment rate doubled and the budget deficit quadrupled.

Job creation is harmed when we raise taxes, add massive new regulations, and create a climate of uncertainty for business. Democrats in Washington have done all of the above. The Obamacare healthcare bill includes new payroll taxes, taxes on medical devices, and costly mandates; the proposed cap-and-tax energy bill increases energy costs for consumers and by some estimates could cost Texas 200,000 jobs. The expiration of the Bush tax cuts and Obama administration proposals for a massive tax increases with the VAT hangs like a cloud over future investment.

The loss of jobs and the lack of new private-sector job-creation is due, at least in part, to the job-killing policies of Obama and the Democrats. Their agenda isn't working. We need to get back to making long-term economic prosperity and productive job creation the priority. We need that focus in Washington, where it's been lost for some time, and we need it also here in Texas at the state level.

As candidate for State Representative, I pledge to make jobs and prosperity my own Job Number One. That means being fiscally responsible, protecting working families and taxpayers, and maintaining a decent business climate so the job-creators can rebuild and grow the productive economy.