GOP lawmaker says weak job numbers show need for federal job program reform

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.) said Friday that the weaker-than-expected employment picture in March is more evidence that Congress needs to streamline and reform the various federal job-training programs.

"Another month of positive job gains is welcome news for the nation’s workers," Kline said. "This encouraging progress shows that despite the administration's damaging tax-and-spend agenda, employers are determined to grow their businesses and invest in our economy.

"However, leaders in Washington must do more to ensure we have a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of America's employers," he added.

Republicans on Kline's committee introduced legislation before the Easter break that would streamline the various federal job programs and give more flexibility to the states on how the money is spent. That bill also maintains current funding levels, a far cry from the $8 billion addition that Democrats are looking to add.

Kline was reacting to the March employment report, which said 120,000 jobs were created last month, fewer than the 210,000 expected, although the unemployment rate fell slightly from 8.3 to 8.2 percent.

Kline noted that even President Obama has called the federal job-training programs a "confusing maze of bureaucracy" that needs to be reformed. He said his committee would move on the bill, H.R. 4297, soon after the House returns from Easter recess.

"By streamlining dozens of ineffective programs, strengthening the role of employers in workforce development decisions, and delivering more accountability over the use of taxpayer dollars, this commonsense proposal will help put more Americans back to work," he said. "The committee will take action to reform job training in the coming weeks, and I hope the president and our Democrat colleagues will lend their support on behalf of workers and employers."

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