By Rep. Erik Paulsen

Just one year ago, Congress and the president stood poised to work together towards smart, effective policy that would encourage job creation and move us out of a terrible economic recession.
As a new member of the House, I was eager and ready to work with my colleagues to craft a bipartisan recovery package that would bring economic stability and, most importantly, stem the tide of unemployment for the people of the Third District and the entire nation. I genuinely believed there was a strong opportunity for a bipartisan approach to getting the economy moving again.

Unfortunately, that historic opportunity was wasted when a very partisan, very expensive stimulus package was rammed through Congress instead. You know the rest of the story: the $787 billion stimulus failed to create jobs as was promised. It failed to keep unemployment below 8 percent as promised. Ultimately, the bill morphed into a classic Washington spending bill – and taxpayers took it on the chin as a result.

Fast forward to one year later: national unemployment sits at 10 percent, with another 85,000 jobs lost in December. The national debt ($12 trillion) and budget deficit ($1.4 trillion) are both at all-time highs. And little action has been taken to right the ship.

It’s clear that the policies of bailouts, runaway spending, record debt and government takeovers are having a chilling effect on job creators across the country.

An economic recovery without jobs is not a recovery. With Congress gearing up for what will surely be a busy and challenging year, it’s time that real job growth finally becomes its number one priority.
So, what can we do? First, Congress and the administration need to stop making a bad situation worse.

For example, if you’re serious about job growth, don’t pass a national energy tax that will raise operating costs for small businesses and other job creators.

Don’t ram through a partisan health care bill that levies financial penalties on individuals and fails to control costs.

Finally, don’t hurt American competitiveness and devalue the dollar by running a $12 trillion national debt.

Second, we need a pro-job growth economic agenda.

Congress needs to take action that empowers our true job creators – small businesses – to grow. We need to provide real incentives for reinvestment and job creation, as well as a tax code that encourages individuals and families to work, save and invest.

Let’s also enact smart regulatory reform to protect consumers and encourage investment, while seeking real health reform that lowers costs and expands coverage without breaking the bank. Let’s expand domestic energy production through a comprehensive approach. Let’s open up new markets for American goods across the globe. And, let’s finally get our fiscal house in order in Washington so our children and grandchildren have opportunities for prosperity.

On Monday, Feb. 8, I will be hosting a job fair at Normandale Community College in Bloomington. The event is free, runs from 1:30 to 5 p.m., and is open to the public. I am excited to bring together employers and those seeking work, and I’m hopeful the result will be new employment opportunities for Minnesotans in the coming weeks and months.

At the same time, I’m hopeful that Congress will commit to smart, bipartisan and fiscally responsible economic policy to ensure that job opportunities in the next year are better than they were in the last.

Congressman Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., is a resident of Eden Prairie.