Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann bashed President Barack Obama’s “jobs plan” speech Thursday evening, saying that he “doubled down on more of the same policies that are killing the economy.”
“While the president’s speech comes on the heels of a trillion dollars of failed stimulus, bailouts, and temporary gimmicks aimed at creating jobs, the president continued to cling to the idea that government is the solution to creating jobs,” Bachmann said at a press conference shortly after Obama’s speech.
“I stand here tonight to say to the president, not only should Congress not pass your plan, I say, ‘stop; your last plan hasn’t worked, it’s hurting the American economy,’” Bachmann continued.
The Republican presidential contender also vilified Obama for calling a joint session of Congress to deliver yet “another political speech.” She said Obama used “one of the most sacred deliberative forums, a joint session of Congress,” to give another stump speech.
Bachmann wasn’t in attendance for the speech, due to bad road conditions and airport issues on her way back from Wednesday night’s presidential debate in California.
“I listened to it in the car, unfortunately, driving in,” Bachmann said.
“The plane was scheduled to arrive in time for me to get into the Chamber and unfortunately there were delays with our flight getting here, delays on the tarmac, delays even finding a gate because so many gates had been closed,” she explained. “So, unfortunately, getting in with the rain, I wasn’t able to be in the Chamber.”
When asked what she thought of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor saying he’d support some of the president’s plan, specifically small business relief, Bachmann responded by saying that she supports small business relief as well, but doubts Obama’s proposal really solves the problem.
Obama’s “plan” isn’t in writing and there is no specific legislation that any members of Congress or the public have seen yet, Bachmann said.
“Of course, this is a speech we got,” Bachmann said. “And, the Congressional Budget Office has said that it isn’t possible for them to score a speech that the president gives. We don’t know the details, we only know the statements that the president has given.”
She added, “Of course, once the details are released, if there is something that would bring true tax relief to small businesses, I would embrace it.”
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