FOX5 Vegas - KVVULawmakers, candidates react to Jan. jobless numbers

Nevada's Congressional delegation and GOP presidential hopefuls campaigning in the Silver State weighed in Friday following the U.S. Labor Department's reporting the jobless rate at 8.3 percent last month, the lowest it has been in three years.

Sen. Dean Heller, R-NV, said the following:

"I'm encouraged to see that employment is improving across the nation and I hope that more Americans continue to find jobs. While this is positive news for many, far too many Nevadans are still struggling. With an unemployment rate of 12.6%, Nevada has felt the pain of this economic crisis more than any other state in the nation. Businesses in Nevada are struggling to break through the red-tape of burdensome regulations, the housing crisis continues to destabilize entire communities, and an uncertain tax code is preventing many people from hiring. It's past time for President Obama and Congress to commit to reforming the tax code, reining in spending and rolling back burdensome regulations so Nevadans can get back to work."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV, issued the following statement Friday on last month's jobs report:

"While I continue to be encouraged by the improving jobs numbers, millions of families continue to struggle in Nevada and around the country. Creating jobs is Congress's top priority and we must keep moving to pass common-sense solutions that put Americans back to work. Next week the Senate will pass a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, an aviation jobs bill, which will create or save 280,000 American jobs. We also must act quickly to extend the middle tax class payroll tax cut through the end of the year. If Republicans continue to drag their feet on extending this tax cut, Democrats will move forward with this legislation to ensure that middle class families don't get hit with a tax increase at the end of the month and we don't jeopardize the economic gains we've seen over the past few months. I hope my Republican colleagues will work with Democrats on passing these common sense measures. The American people expect us to put politics aside and put the interests of the middle class families first."

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-NV, released the following statement:

"While the news is encouraging, more work still needs to be done for the thousands of Nevadans who are still looking for work. That is why our number one priority must be creating jobs for Nevadans that can't be shipped overseas and providing relief for struggling middle-class families. This election will present voters with a clear choice between my commitment to putting people back to work and Washington Republicans like Dean Heller who continue to put Wall Street millionaires and Big Oil executives first." 

Former Mass. Gov. and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, currently campaigning in Nevada before Saturday's caucus, made the following statement on last month's jobless report:

"We welcome the fact that jobs were created and unemployment declined. Unfortunately, these numbers cannot hide the fact that President Obama's policies have prevented a true economic recovery. We can do better. Last week, we learned that the economy grew only 1.7% in 2011, the slowest growth in a non-recession year since the end of World War II.  As a result, the percentage of Americans in the job market continues to decline and is now at a level not seen since the early 1980s.  Nearly 24 million Americans remain unemployed, underemployed, or have just stopped looking for work.  Long-term unemployment remains at record levels. I am running for president because I have the vision and experience to help rebuild the economy and put us on a path toward greater prosperity for all Americans."

Check back to this page for additional comment from lawmakers and candidates on the January's unemployment report.

Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved