George Miller for Congress

Good jobs number released this number -- 200,000 jobs created in December, unemployment rate dips to 8.5 percent from 8.6 percent last month, and last year the economy created 1.64 million jobs overall.  These are all encouraging signs.  But we need to keep moving forward without delay.  The economy is still very fragile and too many people are still out of work. 

Now is the time for Congress to work together with President Obama to continue to help the economy grow, not oppose the president every day.  First step?  Without delay, Republican members of Congress should come back from vacation and negotiate with Democrats to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance benefits for the rest of the year.

The deal reached in December at the last minute extends only until the end of February.  We need to pass a bill right away for the rest of the year and then move on to other steps that will help private employers put people back to work.  My main message to Speaker Boehner and Eric Cantor -- work together to help our country.  And start now!