Boehner uses jobs report to hit Obama on energy

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) used Friday’s mixed jobs report as fuel for attacks on President Obama's energy policies.

Boehner twice mentioned high gasoline prices in a statement on the jobs numbers and pushed GOP plans to authorize construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline.

“Republicans have a jobs plan — and a budget — that cuts spending, fixes our tax code, addresses excessive regulations and expands American energy production through projects like the Keystone XL pipeline,” Boehner said.

The BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of unions and environmentalists, said the weaker-than-expected jobs data shows the need to extend green energy tax breaks and approve transportation legislation.

David Foster, the group’s executive director, said there was promising news in the report, noting the addition of 37,000 manufacturing jobs, but added: “with just 120,000 jobs gained in March, America remains at an economic crossroads today.”

“If Congress fails to act on long-term transportation funding, the Production Tax Credit, the Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program and the 48C advanced manufacturing tax credit, we threaten the gains we’ve made thus far and are missing an opportunity to enact long-term policies that would allow our economy to bank even more growth,” Foster said.