Idaho, America Post Strong Job Growth

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of Idaho's congressional delegation said they were delighted by Friday's news that another 2,400 Idaho jobs were created in May as employers expressed growing confidence in America's economic future.Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo and Congressmen Mike Simpson and C.L. "Butch" Otter said President Bush's economic policies are responsible for that optimism, and workforce numbers that show Idaho has gained 13,400 jobs over the past year - and 12,800 since last November alone. Idaho's job-growth rate in May was among America's highest.Nationwide, the economy has posted steady job gains for each of the last nine months - creating more than 1.4 million new jobs since August. The national unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in May - down from a peak of 6.3 percent in June 2003 and below the average of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. That's the result of nationwide economic growth in the past year has been the fastest in nearly two decades - at a rate that would double the size of the economy in 14 years. "These latest job numbers demonstrate our economy catapulting to recovery. The Republican tax relief at the national and Idaho levels softened the downturn that started in before this President took office, bolstered the economy through the shocks of the war on terror, and now are producing a very dramatic return of jobs and wages," Senator Craig said. "These jobs numbers demonstrate that the economy is rebounding, and Idahoans are feeling the effects," Senator Crapo said. "In April, many job seekers in Idaho found employment, and our state's job growth rate is among the highest in the country. Clearly, there is reason for continued optimism. The efforts by local and state leaders, economic development officials and employers themselves have proven successful and have put us on the right path for a strong economic recovery.""These jobs numbers are great news for Idaho's working families and a further confirmation that our economy is not only on the mend, but building up a head of steam," Congressman Simpson said. "I think these numbers are a clear indication that the economic recovery package proposed by President Bush and approved by Congress is having the desired effect all across the country and putting American workers back on the job. Now we need to remain focused on new initiatives to make American companies more competitive and expand the economic recovery currently underway.""We're creating an economic climate based on the idea that people know best how to put their own money to work, and that naturally leads to jobs and prosperity," Congressman Otter said. "The next step, and the key to sustaining this kind of growth, is enacting a national energy policy, passing fiscally responsible budgets and eliminating unreasonable regulatory burdens. These numbers show the enormous potential for our economy, and that there's no limit to what the American people can do once the government gets out of their way." [30]