Economy & Trade

Survey after survey shows that the American people are losing confidence in Congress, with approval ratings falling to near historic lows. Congress' approval ratings have fallen even lower since the new Democratic majority has taken control. While this should certainly not be cause for rejoicing among Republicans, it is an opportunity for us to remind the American people what it is that Republicans stand for.

In addition to losing confidence in Congress, an increasing number of Americans is worried about the future. Earlier in December, at least three different national polls reflect the increased anxiety Americans feel over the state of our economy. With little choice but to do less shopping this holiday season, working families have more time to fret over whether they'll be able to keep up with the expenses of filling up at the pump and heating their homes this winter.

Washington Democrats have spent the eleven months leading up to this moment perpetrating their tax-and-spend, regulation-happy, job-killing agenda on the American people. The report released by House Republicans today details down to the dollar the costs of Democrats' wrong-headed priorities.
It is no exaggeration to say that we are in the midst of a full-fledged Democratic war on American jobs. After all, it's the risk-takers who are hurt most by Washington Democrats' anti-growth policies. Punitive Democratic tax hikes make it more difficult for our small business owners to meet their bottom lines and needless, burdensome regulations threaten to squash their ambitions.

Meanwhile, Washington Democrats continue to spend taxpayers' hard-earned money with abandon while failing to act on major national priorities. That's no way to do the people's business.

House Republicans recently detailed these misguided policies in a report titled Death by a Thousand Cuts you can see online.

Democrats are mired in an agenda of bigger government, and they are seeking ways to finance that. Unfortunately, the dramatic changes in policy they advocate threaten to kill jobs and reduce middle-income families' disposable income at a time when many are grappling with the rising cost of living and record tax burdens. These policies pit the federal government directly against small businesses and the economic freedom and security of American workers, contrary to both the will of the American people and the advice of independent economists and policy experts.

With experts warning that the U.S. economy is uniquely vulnerable right now, this is a perilous time for Washington politicians to raise taxes and increase spending, policies that would deter job creation and investment.

In just the first year of Democratic control of Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed bills collectively raising taxes by more than $200 billion (over 10 years). It's estimated that more than 16 million American jobs are threatened by these tax hikes.

The flaws in the Democrats approach are especially apparent when you realize the revenue from these tax increases will not go toward deficit reduction, but instead will yield bigger government and more pork-barrel spending. Historically, studies show, tax hikes lead to spending increases, not to economic growth or deficit reduction.

At the same time they are advancing job-killing tax hikes to finance their expansionist agenda, Democrats have opened new doors for job-killing lawsuits and litigation, and sought to impose job-killing government mandates and regulation on American businesses of all sizes. These job-killing policies have been passed as a political pay-off to special-interests such as big labor bosses and trial lawyers, whose financial support and political muscle is needed to keep Democrats in charge of Congress.

If these new job-killing mandates and lawsuits are coupled with the tax increases being threatened by the Democratic Congress, millions of additional American jobs will be jeopardized.

Collectively, these Democratic policies threaten to subject our nation's economy to a "death by a thousand cuts" at a time when it is most vulnerable, and represent an unprecedented assault on American jobs at a time when working families are struggling with the high cost of living.

It's up to us to ensure the American people understand the consequences of these flawed policies and to know that Republicans will work to protect our economy and keep it strong.

U.S. Rep. Adam H. Putnam (R-Fla.) is chairman of the House Republican Conference. Visit the Conference's Website at www.GOP.gov.