When the January unemployment report was released yesterday, Speaker Boehner said, “While any drop is welcome news, the unemployment rate is still too high.” He noted that “The president's ‘stimulus’ spending binge isn't working and has failed to deliver on its promise to keep unemployment below eight percent.”

To create a more favorable environment for economic growth, the new majority is keeping its Pledge to America to eliminate the uncertainty facing job creators by reducing spending and removing government barriers to job creation. Watch House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) discuss these efforts in the Weekly Republican Address.

The Pledge to America: A Plan to Help Our Economy Get Back to Creating New Jobs

• Economists and experts explain how out-of-control spending and sky-high deficits threaten economic growth by shackling job creators with higher costs and more uncertainty. Their prescription? Cutting government spending and removing barriers to job growth 
• “Washington’s spending spree is over,” declared House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) as he announced new spending limits that keep the Pledge to America by cutting non-security discretionary spending back to pre-“stimulus,” pre-bailout levels.
  --> NOTE: This “first salvo” would save taxpayers $58 billion, plus an additional $16 billion in security spending, for a total of $74 billion – with more cuts to come.
• Speaker Boehner told Fox News Sunday: “There is no limit to the amount of spending we’re willing to cut.”
• Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke agreed that “big deficits could hurt economic growth
• By The Numbers: a look at the January unemployment report released yesterday.

President Obama, Democrats Seek More “Stimulus” Spending, More Regulations, Higher Debt Limit

• The White House Chief of Staff said that Democrats want to raise the debt limit without cutting spending – not surprisingly, Americans disagree.
• ABC News reported that Democrats are teaming up with an “army of lobbyists” to keep the spending binge alive.
• Democrats are also working with liberal special interest groups to derail the REINS Act – a proposal designed to rein in job-crushing government regulations and red tape.  
• After two years of failed “stimulus” spending that’s left us with fewer jobs and more debt, Democrats held a “mock hearing” to promote their desire for … more of the same failed “stimulus” spending.
• A new survey by USA Today / Gallup shows that voters prefer the GOP plan to cut government spending back to pre-“stimulus,” pre-bailout levels.

ObamaCare’s Unconstitutional Mandates, Tax Hikes, & Penalties Are Stifling job Growth

• The federal judge who ruled that the health care law is unconstitutional cited a small business owner who is struggling with the uncertainty caused by ObamaCare’s costs and mandates.
• Senate Republicans kept their promise to hold a vote on repealing the unconstitutional health care law.

Honoring President Reagan on His 100th Birthday

• “It CAN Be Done”: Boehner Remembers President Reagan in Op-ed
• “A Man Who Shaped Our Times:” Speaker Boehner Honors President Reagan in Essay for USA TODAY

As always, we appreciate your interest in the new House majority and encourage you to stay connected with the Office of the Speaker on Facebook, Twitter, and on Speaker.gov. Have a great week!

- Speaker Boehner’s Press Office