U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, the Florida Republican who chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee in the U.S. House, took aim at President Barack Obama on Monday, attacking the presidents handling of the economy.
Citing the We Cant Wait mantra coming from the White House, Miller insisted that the Obama administration is trying to ignore Republicans controlling one chamber of Congress by using executive powers.
I agree that we owe it to the millions of unemployed Americans to pass legislation that will help our economy flourish and put them back to work, but using executive powers without legislative transparency to point the finger at Republicans for a supposed unwillingness to pass legislation to help jump-start our economy is unproductive and insincere, Miller said in a statement released Monday.The fact of the matter is that while the administration was busy trying to come up with its next catch phrase, the House of Representatives passed two more job-creating measures.
Besides taking aim at Obama, Miller attempted to target the U.S. Senate -- controlled by Democrats -- with some of the blame for Washingtons response to continued high unemployment.
In total, the House of Representatives has passed more than 20 jobs bills that would help put Americans back to work, yet only five of these have been passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president, Miller continued. Currently, 18 jobs bills are stuck in the Senate awaiting further action. I guess we shouldnt be surprised about the lack of activity on the other side of the Capitol, given that it has been over 900 days since the Senate last passed a budget.
Miller pointed to plans released by congressional Republicans as well as bills passed in the House that, he maintained, would lead to new jobs.
"The president and I may have different ideological viewpoints on how best to help the country, but I agree with him that unemployed Americans cant continue to wait, Miller closed. The House, Senate, and the administration must work together to support our nations job creators. The president does not need to circumvent the Congress through executive orders. House-passed jobs bills that are currently stalled in the Senate ... would help to create far more jobs than any of the presidents executive orders. The House is doing its part, but only until the Senate acts, starts listening to the American people and stops trying to find new ways to delay legislation, will we create the right environment for businesses to thrive and expand their work force. House Republicans have shown time and again that we are committed to passing legislation to improve our economy as the elected voice of the people.Now, we need the Senate and the administration to do the same.
Miller praised Obama for focusing on helping get unemployed veterans back to work and called for the Senate to pass theVeterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act that he backed in the House before Veterans Day. Supporters maintain VOW would lead to 100,000 veterans being re-employed in the private sector through improved training and would help protect the jobs of deployed National Guard and reservists serving on active duty. The measure passed the U.S. House 418-6.
Besides calling out the president on Monday, Miller dabbled in national politics late last week when he announced that he is backing former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for the Republican presidential nomination.
I am proud to have Congressman Millers support, Romney said in a statement released Friday. He is a committed public servant both to the state of Florida and our countrys veterans and I will work with leaders like him to revitalize the state.
After three years, it is clear to Florida voters that President Obamas liberal policies are not working, Miller said. The differences between President Obama and Mitt Romney are stark. At home, President Obama had no experience in the real world and has failed to improve the economy; Mitt Romney is a conservative businessman who has a lifetime of experience turning around troubled enterprises. Abroad, President Obama has weakened relations with allies; Mitt Romney has laid out a foreign policy that strengthens Americas relationships with our allies while providing for our military men and women overseas and at home. I am proud to support Mitt, and look forward to working with him to help create jobs in Florida and provide the care that our servicemen and veterans deserve.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
