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Pelosi Statement on July Jobs Numbers

August 3, 2012

Contact: Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added 163,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in July. With private businesses adding 172,000 jobs, this marks the 29th consecutive month of private sector job growth:

“Last month, 163,000 jobs were created despite Republicans' refusal to work with President Obama and Democrats to create jobs, grow our economy, and ensure the economic security of our middle class.

“With too many Americans still out of work, the message remains clear: we must do more. The last thing the American people need right now is more uncertainty, more unfairness, and higher taxes on working families and small businesses. Yet House Republicans continue to stand as the lone roadblock to a middle class tax cut – preferring to hold tax relief for 100 percent of Americans hostage to extra tax breaks for the top 2 percent. Now, Republicans have decided to head home rather than work in a bipartisan way to take action to put people back to work.

"Americans can't wait. It's time for Republicans to work with Democrats and bring more fairness, opportunity, and certainty to the middle class."