Politics & Government

Regional U.S. Congressmen, Including Tim Murphy, React to Obama's Jobs Speech

U.S. Reps. Tim Murphy, Mike Doyle and Jason Altmire react to the president's call for Congress to act on job creation, transportation and fair taxation.

Western Pennsylvania’s congressional representatives are reacting to a Sept. 8 speech to a joint session of Congress by President Barack Obama regarding job creation, transportation and taxing equity between the wealthy, middle class and poor.

Congressman Tim Murphy, of Upper St. Clair Township (R-18th District, including parts of the Baldwin-Whitehall area), told Patch that he is encouraged that the president is considering relaxing some burdensome regulations. However, Murphy is dismayed that the president has laid out tax cuts that will raise the deficit without specifics on how to balance the approach with spending cuts.

“He put it on us,” Murphy said. “I liken it to someone sitting down for dinner and walking out on the tab. You decide how to pay for it.”

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Murphy said that the United States needs an energy policy that will produce more domestic drilling for oil while also reducing environmental regulations on coal-fired power plants.

Still, he said that he thinks that there is some common ground to move forward with the president.

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“We’ve got to work on this together. That means being an adult and working this thing out,” Murphy said. “I’m certainly hopeful, but then again, so far, the president is giving statements but not following through.

“We can focus on jobs that earn tax revenue instead of jobs that cost taxpayers,” Murphy said. “But in the coming days, action will speak louder than words. 

“The president and Congress must come together to enact policies that unleash American ingenuity, give the private sector an opportunity to succeed and help 25 million unemployed and underemployed Americans get back to work.”

Congressman Mike Doyle, of Forest Hills Borough (D-14th District), backed the plan put forth by the president.

“I wholeheartedly agree with the president that the federal government has to act decisively to help struggling Americans, get our economy back on track and create more jobs,” Doyle said on his Facebook page. “I have called for congressional action to help create more jobs for some time. The American Jobs Act, which the president proposed last night, is a good place to start.”

Congressman Jason Altmire, of Pittsburgh’s North Hills area (D-4th District), called for an end to speeches and encouraged Congress to take action.

“The president gave a nice speech, but the time for speeches is long gone,” Altmire said in a statement on his website. “The American people aren’t looking for more of the same rhetoric from Washington.

“Now is the time for action.”

Altmire said that Congress needs to pass a comprehensive reauthorization of the federal transportation law.

“This single piece of legislation means thousands of jobs in western Pennsylvania, providing strong investments in our roads, bridges and dams,” he said. “I am ready to move forward without the partisan gridlock that has stalled our economic growth, in order to put Americans back to work.”

This article originally appeared on the .


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