Statement from Congressman McCarthy after Meeting with President Obama

Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Kevin McCarthy and other House Republicans met with President Obama to discuss the direction of the economic stimulus package. President Barack Obama expressed a willingness to work together and a desire to "keep politics to a minimum." Congressman McCarthy issued the following statement after the meeting:

"We appreciate President Obama accepting our invitation to meet and listen to bipartisan ideas. We both recognize a willingness to work together because in this gusting economic storm, bipartisan action is needed to provide relief. That is why we should approach our work to craft solutions not as Republicans and Democrats, but as Americans. With that problem-solving mindset, the current package drafted exclusively by House Democrat leaders must be improved, and can be improved by opening the door to allow input from both sides.

"To stimulate the economy and create jobs that last, my colleagues and I have put forward solutions that utilize fast-acting tax relief targeted at small businesses and the middle class. Small businesses create seventy percent of the jobs in our country, and by allowing them to keep more of what they earn, we can help create jobs. Instead of relying on the false notion that we can borrow and spend our way to prosperity, we should rely on common-sense and come together. This is our opportunity to work for solutions to revive our economy."