Speaker John Boehner claimed Republicans have a plan that will create jobs. He said, “My focus is on the Congress of the United States and trying to get our economy going again and producing jobs. That’s my focus.”

In reality, House Republicans led by Speaker Boehner have failed to pass a single bill that would produce jobs. Former John McCain economic advisor Mark Zandi said Republican proposals “won’t mean much for the economy and job market in the next year.” Just this week instead of focusing on growing the economy or reducing the deficit, Republicans brought a measure to the floor reaffirming ‘In God We Trust’ as the official motto of the U.S.

FACT CHECK

Republicans Have Not Produced Any Alternative Jobs Bills. “Republicans have not produced any alternative jobs bills, reflecting their arguments that past stimulus measures have not worked. Instead, they say that to create jobs it is crucial to roll back federal regulations, pass free-trade bills and cut spending.” [New York Times, 10/6/11]

Mark Zandi: Republican Proposals, Like Rolling Back Regulations, Will Not Create Jobs in the Next Year. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, said the Republican proposals "won't mean much for the economy and job market in the next year.” He continued: "Given the high odds of another recession in the next few months, it is vital for Congress and the administration to provide some near-term support to the economy.” [New York Times, 10/6/11]

Joel Prakken: Republican Proposals, Like Rolling Back Regulations, Will Have “Little Immediate Effect” on the Economy. Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers, said the Republican proposals “would have little immediate effect” relative to a plan like the American Jobs Act which stimulates aggregate demand. [New York Times, 10/6/11]

Regulations Have Little Impact on Job Creation. “But is the claim that regulation kills jobs true? We asked experts, and most told us that while there is relatively little scholarship on the issue, the evidence so far is that the overall effect on jobs is minimal. Regulations do destroy some jobs, but they also create others. Mostly, they just shift jobs within the economy. ‘The effects on jobs are negligible. They’re not job-creating or job-destroying on average,’ said Richard Morgenstern, who served in the EPA from the Reagan to Clinton years and is now at Resources for the Future, a nonpartisan think tank. . .

Nobel Prize Winning Economist: Reducing the Deficit Will Not Create Jobs. On September 7, 2011, Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz penned an op-ed in Politico. In the piece, Stiglitz noted that “reducing the deficit will restore the economy.” Stiglitz wrote: “You don’t create jobs and growth by firing workers and cutting spending. The reason that firms with access to capital are not investing and hiring is that there is insufficient demand for their products. Weakening demand — what austerity means — only discourages investment and hiring.” [Politico, Op-Ed, 9/7/11]

Reagan Aide: We Must Increase Aggregate Demand to Create Jobs. On August 16, 2011, former Reagan advisor Bruce Bartlett wrote: “The only policy that will really [create jobs] is an increase in aggregate demand. Aggregate demand simply means spending — spending by households, businesses and governments for consumption goods and services or investments in structures, machinery and equipment. At the moment, businesses don’t need to invest because their biggest problem is a lack of consumer demand, as a July 21 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York documented.” [New York Times, 8/16/11]

Republicans Shift Focus From Jobs to God. This week, House Republicans brought a measure to the floor that “reaffirms ‘In God We Trust’ as the official motto of the United States and supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.” [Roll Call, 10/31/11]

In More than 300 days in the Majority, House Republicans Have Voted 17 Times Against Democratic initiatives to create jobs. [Democratic Leaders Press Office, 10/25/11]