FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 3, 2012

Statement from DGA Chair Governor Martin O’Malley on July Jobs Report

Washington,DC – Governor Martin O’Malley, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Labor announced that the economy added 163,000 jobs in July while the unemployment rate rose slightly to 8.3%:
“The July jobs report shows our economy continuing to make solid progress – adding 163,000 jobs, including 25,000 in the manufacturing sector – more than double the number of manufacturing jobs added last month. Under President Obama’s leadership, our country has now achieved 29 straight months of private sector job growth. Our work continues, but there is no doubt that the President’s leadership has helped put our economy on the road to recovery after the biggest financial collapse since the Great Depression.
“Our economic recovery could be happening a lot faster if the Tea Party Republican Congress would stop blocking every single jobs bill that the President proposes. By refusing to pass the President’s jobs bill to put millions of Americans back to work in construction jobs and by keeping teachers, police officers, and firefighters on the job, they impede our economic recovery to score cheap political points. Republicans in Congress owe it to Americans across the country to prioritize job creation over partisan games.
“Democratic governors will continue to lead the way in creating 21st century jobs, working to expand opportunity and making the modern investments modern economies need to thrive.”