Reid affirms commitment to creating jobs, passing unemployment insurance

July 9, 2010

Las Vegas, NV—Nevada Senator Harry Reid today welcomed President Obama to Las Vegas for a discussion on the state of the economy. Reid called on the president to support efforts in the Senate to pass an extension of unemployment insurance, hold Wall Street accountable, and create jobs in Nevada by cutting taxes for small business and creating tax credits for  clean energy companies. Reid affirmed his commitment to fight for Nevada’s economy until all Nevadans who are looking for a job can find one.

Below are Reid’s remarks as prepared:

“This state we love is being tested like never before.  As we put Nevadans back to work and get our economy back on track, we’ve got a good fight ahead of us – but more importantly, we’ve got a lot of fight in us.

“How we react to this crisis is going to be the difference between renewing our future and repeating the past.  But there’s only one way to get out of this mess: being honest about what got us into it.

“We know who’s responsible. The reckless Wall Street banks that gambled with our jobs, and lost’ the ruthless insurance companies that denied health care to the sick; the irresponsible oil companies that pollute our planet and then resist the clean-energy economy we’re trying not just to build – but that Nevada will lead.

“What we’ve done – you and I, together – is to take each of these misplaced priorities – each of these misguided policies – and turn them on their heads.  And that’s what we need to keep doing to turn our state around.

“That’s why, just as promised, we’re creating thousands of jobs through the stimulus, clean-energy projects and tax cuts for small businesses.

“It’s why we’re making the promise that you will never again be asked to bail out a big bank when it loses its risky bets.

“It’s why we fulfilled the promise that affording good health is the right of every Nevadan, not just a privilege for the few.

“It’s why we’re promising to hold BP accountable – and we’re not apologizing for it, either.

“There’s a lot more to do.  As long as our list of accomplishments is, our to-do list is even longer.

“We’re fighting until every Nevadan who wants to work can find a job.  We’re going to fix our broken immigration system, including securing our borders.

“We’re killing Yucca Mountain, once and for all.  If we’ve learned nothing else from the tragedy in the Gulf, it is that disasters happen.  I’m not going to risk our future by letting anyone transport poison across our state or store it in our backyard.

“We’re going to make Nevada the world’s leader in generating the renewable energy that will power our lives and our economy.  We’re planting solar panels in the desert.  We’re bringing clean energy from the rural parts of our state to cities like Las Vegas.  We’re making our homes, offices and cars more energy efficient.  All of these projects create jobs in Nevada that can never be outsourced.

“None of this has been easy, and it won’t get any easier.  You’ve seen what we’re up against.

“There are some in Washington who think that when the unemployment rate goes up in a state like Nevada – or when a foreclosure sign goes up in a front yard – their poll numbers go up too.  They are nostalgic for old policies that failed, so they’re once again rooting for failure.

“But I don’t have any patience for those who cheer against our recovery. I know you don’t either. And neither does our President.  That’s one of the many things I admire about him.  He knows problem-solving only happens when you work together – when you care about people more than you care about politics.

“Mr. President: You’re in a state full of fighters.  Nevadans are going to fight with everything we’ve got to get back on our feet, to create jobs and to make our state stronger than ever.

“Like it says on our flag, Nevada was battle born – and we haven’t lay down since.  As we face this fight, we’re battle ready.  And we’re grateful you’re our commander-in-chief.”