Democratic Governors Applaud Jobs Bill Passage

Continue to Urge Additional Measures for Small Business, Unemployed

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Democratic governors thanked the Senate for passing a jobs bill today and continued to urge Congressional Republicans to put aside partisanship for the sake of additional jobs-creating measures.

"The bipartisan legislation the Senate passed today is an important step forward for a jobs agenda that will put more Americans back to work," said Gov. Jack Markell, DGA Chair and governor of Delaware. "In cities and small towns across the country, we are acutely aware of the struggles that our citizens are facing. They don't have time for any petty political efforts to stall legislation that would get people back to work."

In contrast to Congressional Republicans, this week a nearly unanimous group of 47 Democratic and Republican governors came together to send a letter to Congress advocating for extended Medicaid funding. Every Democratic governor and most Republicans signed on. (The few Republican governors who didn't sign on include Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Utah Gov. Bob Herbert – all running for re-election in 2010.) Governors from both sides of the aisle – including several one-time critics – also have balanced their state budgets with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"Obviously, many of our Republican colleagues don't reject good ideas just because they came from a Democrat," said Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is vice chair of the DGA. "Our country is at a critical juncture when it comes to jobs and we don't have time for the stalling and political gamesmanship that Congressional Republicans are using to prevent good ideas from getting implemented. Going forward, we need to see Congress increase lending to small businesses, extend unemployment insurance and invest in infrastructure."

SOURCE Democratic Governors Association