Carney: GOP job bills lack positive impact

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ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Proposals that would reduce federal spending now won't positively impact U.S. job creation, a White House official said Friday.

Press secretary Jay Carney was responding to a question about House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio taking exception to President Obama's claim that Republicans have not yet presented a plan that would create jobs right away.

Obama thanked Boehner for his assistance in passing free-trade agreements and worker retraining legislation in the House, Carney said during a briefing aboard Air Force One en route to Michigan.

"As for their discussion about other matters, including the president's jobs act agenda, I would simply say we have always been open to alternative ideas for funding, the pay-fors, as long as they meet the president's principles," Carney said. "Any economist would tell you contracting spending in the near term would not have a positive impact on growth or jobs creation ... ."

Carney said Republicans haven't offered a plan that positively affects economic growth and create jobs in the short term.

"The president is more than willing to work with lawmakers in both parties," he said.

Carney said he thought the published reports may indicate "Republicans are coming under pressure from their constituents to do something on jobs and the economy … ."

During his conversation with Obama, Boehner pointed to measures House Republicans introduced in May, dubbed the "Plan for America's Job Creators," which included the trade pacts and proposals to roll back federal regulations and cut business taxes.

Carney said the plan for jobs creators may have some good ideas in it, but outside analysts "are saying will have no significant impact on the economy or jobs in the near term."

In the Senate, a GOP-sponsored plan would repeal the 2009 healthcare law and the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. It also would lower tax rates, eliminate corporate loopholes and impose a moratorium on new government regulations until the U.S. unemployment rate drops to 7.7 percent. (The rate is currently 9.1 percent.)