HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Washington, Dec 1, 2008 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement on the announcement by the National Bureau of Economic Research that the U.S. economy has been in recession since December 2007:

“The economic scorekeepers at the National Bureau of Economic Research have now confirmed what working families and small businesses have known for quite a while: the United States is in a recession.  Clearly, we need to respond, but the American people know that the answer to this challenge is not out-dated policies that do nothing but increase Washington spending.  We need a real plan that puts the American people – not bureaucrats – first.  Congress should enact an economic growth plan that would double the child tax credit, suspend the capital gains tax to help people rebuild their 401(k)s, reduce tax rates that drive businesses overseas, stop unnecessary lawsuits that destroy jobs, and create a million new jobs by developing America’s energy resources.  I look forward to working with the new President and his economic team as we confront this serious situation.”

NOTE: To respond to the economic downturn, Boehner has introduced a Rapid Recovery Plan for economic growth that emphasizes pro-growth policies such as energy reforms that would create one million new jobs, stronger 401(k)s, and tax relief rather than new government spending. 

#####