US Unemployment Rate September 2014: House Speaker John Boehner: Democrats Trying to Convince 'Things Are Great'
The overall U.S. unemployment rate fell to its lowest levels in six years, but Republicans are not celebrating the achievement.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the unemployment rate following September is 5.9 percent, a decline from 6.1 percent from August. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez noted September saw the addition of 248,000 new jobs.
"Things are unquestionably moving in the right direction, but we can do even better. The Labor Department and the Obama administration are working harder than ever not just to create more jobs and accelerate growth, but to strengthen the middle class and build an economy that works for everyone," Perez said.
"With today's report, America's businesses extended the longest streak of private-sector job gains on record," Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Jason Furman said. "The data underscore that six years after the Great Recession -- thanks to the hard work of the American people and in part to the policies the President has pursued -- our economy has bounced back more strongly than most others around the world."
According to Furman, despite the unemployment rate drop, many Americans are still facing troubles. House of Representative Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, emphasized this aspect of Furman's statement.
In a statement regarding September's unemployment report, Boehner said only Republicans are offering "real solutions" to get people employed while lowering house costs and "restore opportunity for all."
"We have dozens of good jobs bills stuck in the Democratic-run Senate that would help hardworking families. In addition, I have laid out five things we can do as a nation to reset our economic foundation for the next two or three generations," Boehner said, noting the "five things" are the tax code, spending, legal system reform, regulatory system reform and education system improvements.
Boehner said Obama and Senate Democrats are allowing Americans to live in flat wages, higher prices and "too many" part-time jobs.
"Every day I hear from people in my district who say no matter how hard they work, they still struggle to make ends meet," Boehner said. "Instead of trying to convince Americans that things are great, Washington Democrats ought to show they're serious about helping middle-class families get ahead, not just get by."
Boehner did not comment specifically on the 5.9 percent unemployment rate or the 248,000 new jobs. Prominent Republican leaders such as House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas have not issued a statement on the latest unemployment figures.
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