U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement today after President Obama announced that he will host a jobs summit in December:

It is clear the proposed tax increases and out of control federal spending being pushed through Congress are having a chilling effect on our economy.  Whether it is the plan to pass a national energy tax or the Pelosi government takeover of health care, businesses large and small are simply not hiring.  We don’t need more lip service paid to creating jobs, we need real solutions that will help put struggling Americans back to work.

I am pleased the president is finally turning his attention to jobs after nearly nine months of wasteful stimulus spending that has failed to produce private sector jobs.  House Republicans continue to stand by our common-sense economic plan that was first introduced in January.  Our plan is built on what has worked in the past, tax relief for working families and small businesses.  It will create twice the jobs at half the cost of the so-called stimulus bill.  It is the ‘responsible step’ the president has urged us to pursue and Congress should consider it without further delay.