Cantor: Bill does little to help families

Congressman Eric Cantor, R-Richmond, says the pending economic stimulus bill contains too much spending and not enough job creation and protection.

In a release Wednesday, following President Obama’s appearance with Gov. Tim Kaine in Springfield, Cantor said Republicans are being left out of discussions while Democratic leaders fill the stimulus plan with “pork.“

“Families across Virginia, and America, are hurting,” Cantor wrote in a statement. 

However, he said, the “Democrat-crafted spending bill ... does little to help working families and small businesses.”

“Despite our repeated attempts to work with President Obama and the Democrat Majority, Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi has refused to meet with us, or even include us in key negotiations, choosing instead to stick with a pork-filled bill that even Members of her own party do not support.“

House Republicans believe in an economic recovery focused on new jobs and job retention, Cantor said. In addition, the bill should provide tax relief for working families, small businesses, entreprenurs and the self-employed.

“Make no mistake, it is private industry and small businesses — driven to innovate, invest and grow —that will create the millions of sustainable jobs we so desperately need.  I’m hopeful that the conference will produce a bill that actually accomplishes the stimulus that we’re all aiming for,” Cantor said.