Setting up a clash with President Obama, House Republicans have unveiled a proposal to create jobs by cutting taxes and easing business regulations. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor spelled out a list of 10 "job-killing regulations" he wants to do away with to "lift the cloud of uncertainty hanging over small and large employers alike, empowering them to hire more workers." President Obama is preparing a post-Labor Day announcement of his own jobs plan, which is expected to be centered on new stimulus spending. Would the GOP plan succeed in lowering the stubbornly high unemployment rate?
Yes. Helping businesses is the only way to create jobs: Obama tried to put people to work with "exorbitant infrastructure spending," says Mark Dougherty at Red State Virginia. His initiative failed because "private enterprise creates jobs and prosperity" — the government doesn't. Washington's role is to "foster favorable economic conditions" by reducing taxes and unnecessary rules and environmental regulations, then step out of the way to let companies operate freely.
"Tea Party ideas for creating American jobs"
Actually, Cantor is making matters worse: Cantor says "job-killing regulations" are paralyzing businesses with "uncertainty," says Dan Primack at Fortune. "Puh-lease." The rules are already in place. If they're scrapped, Democrats will probably try to revive them — all of which increases uncertainty. If Cantor wants to make a cost-benefit analysis to show how his plan is better than Obama's, fine. But spouting "asinine" rhetoric is no way to create jobs.
"More 'uncertainty' insanity"
Get ready for gridlock: Republicans spent months focusing on cutting spending, says Dave Weigel at Slate, "and mysteriously, the shrinking public sector work force and the construction sector haven't rewarded us with a bumper crop of jobs." Now they want to put people to work by "fighting EPA regulations"? That will never pass the Democrat-controlled Senate. The House GOP is just paving the way for stalemate, not job creation.
"Our coming jobs stalemate"
