AMERICAN FREEDOM by BARBARA

New Bill to Help Create Jobs, Lower Gas Prices, Repair Infrastructure -- Without Earmarks

January 30, 2012 | Posted by Speaker Boehner's Press Office |

Speaker John Boehner told ABC News that President Obama's policies “have not worked” and actually “made the economy worse.” And while Senate Democrats continue to delay a vote on nearly 30 bipartisan House-passed jobs bills, the House will vote in the coming weeks on a new bill that will expand American energy production to help create jobs, lower gas prices, and repair America's roads and bridges -- without earmarks. Watch Boehner's interview here and learn more below: Nearly 30 House-Passed Jobs Are Still Awaiting a Vote in the Democratic-Controlled Senate Nearly 30 House-passed bills that would help create new private-sector jobs are still awaiting a vote by Senate Democrats. As Speaker Boehner told ABC News, “if the president won’t work with us to help create jobs, I’m sure the American people will elect someone who will.” President Obama should “listen to his own jobs council” and urge the Senate to pass these GOP jobs bills, says Speaker Boehner. There's “an awful lot of unanimity between the bills that we're passing and what his own jobs council is calling for,” says Boehner. Click here for a comparison. On the Laura Ingraham Show, Speaker Boehner said President Obama doubled down “on the same failed policies of the past” in his State of the Union. Boehner explained to CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley these policies include “higher taxes, more spending, more regulation.” Boehner's point was echoed by Governor Mitch Daniels in the Republican Address to the Nation. Here's how President Obama's policies have made things worse. Click here to view several fact check pieces on the president's State of the Union message, and click here for our look at what President Obama didn't say. There Will Be No Earmarks in the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act The upcoming American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act (H.R. 7) would permanently remove government barriers to energy production to help create thousands of private-sector jobs, lower gas prices, and repair our roads and bridges -- without wasting taxpayer dollars on earmarks. This is a big change. A 2005 highway bill, for example, had more than 6,300 earmarks. Like every other bill passed since the Republican majority banned earmarks, H.R. 7 will be earmark free. Keystone XL Jobs Project May Be Part of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act Speaker Boehner told ABC that approval for the privately-financed Keystone project could be included in the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. Keystone XL would help create at least 20,000 new manufacturing and construction jobs right here in America. Republicans answered questions about the popular Keystone XL project following the State of the Union via Twitter. Here's one example from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Extending the Payroll Tax Cut Can be Resolved Quickly President Obama called on Congress to “pass the payroll tax cut without delay.” As Speaker Boehner said today, “the House has already passed the year-long extension” -- but we're still waiting for Senate Democrats to present their own plan. The Obama administration, which views payroll tax relief as their only “must-do” item for the year, should call on Senate Democrats to take a position and present a plan. Speaker Boehner says if that happens he's “confident that we’ll be able to resolve this fairly quickly.” Be sure to stay connected with the Office of the Speaker on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Google Plus, and Speaker.gov throughout the year. Thank you! - Speaker Boehner’s Press Office