Politics

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor Said What?

By Office of the Speaker

Today, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor held a jobs fair at a Virginia high school with a number of private companies that are looking to hire. He denounced the Recovery Act claimed “government spending” doesn’t create jobs, however the jobs fair he was hosting included several federal government agencies and companies that received over $52 million in Recovery Act funding to create jobs. Think Progress interviewed Rep. Cantor, who explained:

?we have seen the stimulus dollars that have been spent have not produced jobs?government spending money doesn?t create jobs…

Here are the facts, Mr. Cantor:

In May, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that, in the first quarter of 2010, the Recovery Act was responsible for an increase in the number of people employed by 1.2 million and 2.8 million.

According to the Council of Economic Advisers, the Recovery Act created or saved more than 48,000 jobs in Virginia in 2009.

The companies at Mr. Cantor?s jobs fair received $52 million in Recovery Act funds to create jobs.

Like his Congressional Republican colleagues, Rep. Cantor has been quick to criticize the Recovery Act, while touting projects and jobs created in his home district that have been made possible by the Recovery Act:

?Rep. Eric I. Cantor, the House minority whip, led House GOP opposition to President Barack Obama’s $740 billion stimulus program.

Yesterday, though, the Henrico County Republican said bringing high-speed rail to the region could further spur economic development, creating as many as 185,000 jobs and bringing $21.2 billion to a region already home to about a half-dozen Fortune 500 companies and 20,000 small businesses?

Congressman Cantor, you just can?t have it both ways.

Full post as published by The Gavel on July 13, 2010 (boomark / email).