09.08.11

Statement of Senator John Hoeven on President Obama's Jobs Speech

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s job creation speech before a joint session of Congress this evening: 

“I appreciate that the President this evening acknowledged that it’s the private sector, rather than the federal government, who are the job creators in our country. 

“The plan’s proposal for tax relief and the President’s stated intention to send pending free trade agreements to Congress are steps in the right direction, but we need to see the details of the plan. I’m concerned about the cost, and I also believe we must have a long-term economic strategy that creates legal, tax and regulatory certainty to encourage business investment and real job growth. That means tax reform, reducing regulatory burden and a comprehensive energy policy for our country. These are things I’ll be looking for in the plan, along with good fiscal stewardship to reduce our deficit and debt. 

“In North Dakota, we’ve worked to create the right legal, tax and regulatory climate to grow industries, encourage entrepreneurs, and create jobs. Our economic progress in energy, technology, agriculture and other industries was the result of a long-term, pro-growth, pro-jobs economic strategy.”