Pocan, in debut House speech, calls for focus on economic growth

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan today said Congress needs to focus on economic growth and job creation instead of spending cuts, criticizing the impending sequester for its austerity in his debut speech on the floor of the House.

Pocan, D-Madison, said supporting education, infrastructure, research and new industries such as green energy will promote job growth and help fix the nation’s fiscal problems. He called the sequester “irresponsible,” and said it could cost Wisconsin 36,000 jobs.

“It’s like taking a meat cleaver to the budget instead of a scalpel,” Pocan said.

Pocan added he supports a balanced approach that promotes economic growth as well as responsible deficit reductions.

“The time has come to stop talking about harmful spending cuts, and start talking about getting the people of Wisconsin, and America back to work,” Pocan said. “We need less austerity, and more prosperity. We don’t have time to waste.”