–Senate Majority Leader Says GOP Distracted Jobs Effort Last Summer
–Sen. Reid: August Jobs Report Should Be Seen As ‘Wake Up Call’
–Sen. Reid: Must Find Ways To ‘Jump Start Our Flagging Recovery’
–Senate Minority Leader Says Obama’s Stimulus Plan Was ‘Epic’ Failure
–Sen. McConnell: Expects ‘More of The Same’ From Obama Thursday

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority
Leader Mitch McConnell opened the Senate’s fall session Tuesday by
exchanging withering assaults on the other party, with Reid saying
Republicans hurt the American economy with their bruising summer fight
over the debt ceiling while McConnell accused President Obama of “epic”
failures in economic management.

In back to back statements on the Senate floor, Reid and McConnell
agreed the nation’s faltering economy and weak job creation performance
are matters of grave concern.

Reid said the nation needs an “aggressive jobs agenda,” adding that
the dismal August jobs report was a clear “wake up call” that all of
Congress should pay attention to.

“We can’t waste any more time,” Reid said.

Reid said the Democratic effort to focus on jobs this past summer
was badly hampered by the GOP’s decision to foist a debt ceiling crisis
on the nation.

The Senate Majority Leader said it was “crucial” for both parties
to work with the White House on a plan to “jump-start our flagging
recovery.”

Reid said he hopes the Senate can pass a patent reform bill in the
coming days as the first part of its jobs agenda.

In his remarks, McConnell blasted Obama for advancing an economic
agenda that is heavy on government spending and regulation. He said he
expects to hear “more of the same failed approach” when the president
addresses Congress on Thursday on his jobs agenda.

McConnell said an “entirely new approach” is needed that includes a
smaller federal government and reduced government regulations.

McConnell criticized at great length the $787 billion economic
stimulus plan that was passed in 2009, calling it an “epic failure.”

** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **

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