OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PASSES 12 PERCENT

Oregon Already Has One of the Highest Unemployment Rates in the Nation

SALEM—House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) had the following to say regarding the March 2009 employment report that indicates the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has reached 12.1 percent:

“Oregon continues to lose tens of thousands of jobs each month, yet the 2009 Legislature is taking little action to improve our economy. With the passage of bills such as HB 2227 today, the Democratic-controlled Legislature is failing to address one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation.

“House Republicans will continue to pursue policies to put people back to work and help Oregon businesses survive this recession. We will continue to advocate for innovative and effective solutions, such as the Main Street Incentive Plan, that would create jobs, boost economic activity and puts more dollars back into our state’s economy.

“As we’ve seen with the state ‘stimulus’ plan, Oregon can’t reverse the recession through more government debt and massive government spending. Oregon will continue to have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation as long as the Legislature stifles businesses and eliminates incentives for job creation.”

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