U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following statement today after the Department of Labor reported the national unemployment rate for December remained at 10 percent, with 85,000 jobs lost last month:

These are difficult times for America’s families and today’s unemployment report delivers even more bad news. Democrats continue to advance a liberal agenda that is doing more harm than good. The policies of higher taxes, runaway spending, record debt and government takeovers, are having a chilling effect on jobs creators across the country.

As Democrat leaders gather behind closed doors to discuss their latest government-run health care scheme, I hope they will reconsider their proposals to raise taxes during the worst recession in a generation.

The American people have waited for more than two years for Washington to enact policies that will help create jobs and they can’t afford to wait any longer. House Republicans are ready to work on common-sense solutions that will put people back to work, starting with fast-acting tax relief for working families and small businesses and fiscal discipline here in Washington.