Reid: GOP obstruction preventing even greater job growth

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Friday that October’s job report would have been even better if his Republican colleagues would “stop trying to appease the Tea Party.”

“We have a great deal more to do and too many Nevadans are still out of work,” Reid said in a statement Friday. “But this recovery would be even stronger if Republicans had decided to work with Democrats, instead of obstructing at every turn. As we look to the challenges facing us in the coming months, I hope that my Republican colleagues will reevaluate their strategy, stop trying to appease the Tea Party and instead choose to help all Americans by reaching across the aisle to get things done.”

The latest jobs report, released Friday, said the economy added 171,000 jobs in October, more than expected by economists. Reid said Obama’s policies are what led to the increase in jobs.

“Today’s job numbers make one thing clear: President Obama’s policies are moving our economy forward, creating more jobs than expected in October and more than 5 million over the past 32 months,” Reid said.

The unemployment rate remained below 8 percent, but increased slightly from 7.8 percent the month before to 7.9 percent for October.

Republicans have criticized Obama for having the highest unemployment numbers in recent history. Reid said he hopes Republicans will put politics aside when lawmakers return after the Nov. 6 election.

“The American people expect us to put politics aside and do the right thing for middle-class families, and they deserve nothing less from their elected leaders," Reid said.

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