FACTBOX-US presidential candidates on jobs data
May 2nd, 2008 | by admin |May 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Labor Department said 20,000 jobswere shed in the United States last month, the fourth straightmonth of declines. The figure was not as bad as economists hadanticipated.
Following are reactions from the U.S. presidentialcandidates on the jobs figures:
ARIZONA REPUBLICAN SEN. JOHN MCCAIN
“Today’s job numbers are another clear indication of theeconomic challenges facing our country. With Americans hurting,we must act to strengthen our economy for families and smallbusinesses.
“We must help Americans now through gas tax relief, whichprovides immediate relief from rising energy prices. … At thesame time, we need to act to lower taxes, streamlineregulation, lower health care costs, ensure energy independenceand open foreign markets. To help those who have lost jobs, wemust focus on promoting effective worker retraining programs.”
NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC SEN. HILLARY CLINTON
“Only in (U.S. President) George Bush’s economy could thestandard for analyzing the jobs report become ‘it could have beenworse.’
“Losing 20,000 jobs in April is completely unacceptable. Itmarks the fourth straight month of job loss, and means we havenow lost more than a quarter million jobs in 2008. “
“We need a president who understands that a good job is theticket to the American dream, and who will fight every day foran economy that creates, not loses, jobs. That’s what mycampaign is about: jobs, jobs, jobs and jobs. And it is why Iam focused on providing struggling middle-class Americans realrelief right now, with extended unemployment insurance, a $30billion emergency housing fund, and having the big oilcompanies pay the gas tax this summer instead of families.”
