CBC Chair on Black Unemployment Numbers: No Investment, No Recovery

We told you earlier today that while the economy gained a better-than-predicted 216,000 jobs last month, it would be nice to see that trend reflected among black and brown people.

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Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.) is on the same page.

Today he released the following statement on the recent unemployment numbers, expressing concern about the increase in African-American unemployment and the impact of what he calls "reckless spending cuts" on full recovery. Read it here.

Chairman Emanuel Cleaver II Statement on the Recent Unemployment Numbers:

"While overall unemployment declined this month, and the country’s unemployment rate hit a two-year low, African-American unemployment slightly increased from 15.3 percent to 15.5 percent. With 13 consecutive months of private-sector job growth, the overall numbers continue to prove that the work we accomplished last Congress was effective in preventing remarkably high job loss. We laid the foundation to create new opportunities for all Americans. Unfortunately, our community has yet to reap the benefits of our efforts, and we as a Caucus must ensure that they do.

"After three months of controlling the house, the Republican leadership has not considered or introduced one single jobs bill. Instead they are cutting funding to critical programs that directly affect and benefit our country's most vulnerable communities, which in turn will cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. It is clear that we are on the path to full recovery, but I am fearful that reckless spending cuts will severely undermine and prevent recovery for every American community. The CBC remains committed to responsibly reducing the deficit, while safeguarding the progress that we have made in the job market by investing in our future. Investing in our communities goes hand in hand with full economic recovery. No investment, no recovery."

In other news: Haley Barbour: Scott Sisters Won't Be Pardoned.

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