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Office of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia
Formerly the Office of Representative Gerry Connolly
The Washington, D.C., office and the district office of former Representative Connolly will continue to serve the people of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Representative Connolly passed away on May 21, 2025. See Press Release

The Hill: Connolly Asks, "What Would Reagan Do?"

Washington, DC, June 5, 2012
When we look at this economy, we should ask: what would Ronald Reagan do? Connolly said on the House floor Tuesday afternoon. Read more.

The Hill Newspaper

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said the U.S. economy is not recovering as fast as it could because Republicans are preventing growth in government jobs, pointing out that former President Reagan oversaw an increase in the number of public-sector workers after the 1980 recession.

"When we look at this economy, we should ask: what would Ronald Reagan do?" Connolly said on the House floor Tuesday afternoon.

Connolly acknowledged that Reagan cut taxes, but said Reagan raised taxes several times, and also allowed the number of government workers to rise, which Connolly said helped improve the overall jobs picture.

"The other notable thing Ronald Reagan did was to preside over a nation with a sharp increase in public sector employment from local, state and federal levels," Connolly said.

"While today's Republicans may try to argue otherwise, teaching jobs are jobs, firefighters have jobs, police jobs are jobs," he added. "Three of the last four economic recoveries had one thing in common — public-sector employment increased."

Connolly said jobs in the public sector increased by 1 to 3.5 percent in the recessions of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.

"In contrast, today's recovery from the recent recession has seen total public sector [employment] decrease by 2.5 percent, largely because the Republicans have gotten their way in trying to shrink the public sector," he said.

Connolly added that if public-sector employment had remained steady for the last few years, the unemployment rate would be 7.8 percent, not 8.2 percent. And he said that Republican attempts to freeze spending and push for cuts has hurt construction jobs around the country.

"It's unfortunate that today's Republicans have lost sight of the value of investing in America in a fiscally responsible manner, because the nation's construction industry has been the hardest hit," he said.

The government on Friday released jobs data for May that showed the United States created a net 69,000 jobs for the month, a number that was much lower than expected and prompted each political party to blame the other for the poor showing. Democrats said the numbers show that Republicans need to allow legislation to pass in Congress that would expand federal spending to create jobs, while Republicans said the numbers showed that the Obama administration's stimulus spending has failed to spark meaningful job creation.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/230959-house-dem-gop-should-expand-government-jobs-like-reagan-did

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Mr. Speaker, 
When we look at this economy we should ask: What Would Ronald Reagan Do?
When he took office in 1981, President Reagan inherited an economy in deep recession.  During the past 3 years we have heard a number of current Republicans laud the accomplishments of Ronald Reagan in spurring economic recovery during that decade.  
As they often point out, President Reagan cut taxes.  Of course, so did President Obama.  The Recovery Act, which I proudly supported, cut taxes for 95 percent of all Americans, averaging $400 for individuals and $800 for families.  When that tax cut expired – and when Republicans refused to extend it – I was again proud to join President Obama to enact the payroll tax cut, averaging $1,000 per family.  But tax cuts alone do not make a robust recovery.
The other notable thing Ronald Reagan did was preside over a nation with a sharp increase in public sector employment from the local, state, and federal levels.  Because, while today’s Republicans may try to argue otherwise, teaching jobs are jobs; firefighters have jobs, police jobs are jobs.  
In fact, three of the last four economic recoveries had one thing in common – public sector employment increased.  Two and a half years into the recovery from the 2001 recession, total public sector employment was 1 percent higher.  Two and a half years into the recovery from the 1990 recession, total public sector employment was 3 percent higher.  And two and a half years into the recovery from the 1980 recession, total public sector employment, under Ronald Reagan, was almost 3.5 percent HIGHER than it was at the start of the recovery.
In contrast, today’s recovery from the recent recession has seen total public sector employment decrease by 2.5 percent – largely because Republicans have gotten their way in trying to shrink the public sector.  Real jobs are lost.  Had total public sector employment merely held steady over the last two and a half years, the unemployment rate would be 7.8 percent today not 8.2 percent.  
But instead we have lost 600,000 public sector jobs; teachers, police officers, firefighters, librarians, and other dedicated public servants.
If the goal truly were to foster a robust economic recovery, you’d think that today’s Republicans would be looking at how the nation worked its way out of previous recessions.  But obviously, that’s not the case.  
Last September, President Obama put forward the American Jobs Act – a proposal to cut taxes on workers and businesses to incentivize hiring, and to fund necessary infrastructure improvements.  Economists predicted the American Jobs Act would’ve addded up to 1 million new jobs and spurred GDP growth by an extra 1.5 percent.  
These are proposals that have traditionally earned bipartisan support.  For example, one of the single largest infrastructure projects ever – was the creation of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the interstate highway program.  In 1982, while he was still working toward economic recovery, Ronald Reagan proposed a highway and bridge repair program to create jobs in the public sector.
But sadly, Republican opposition has kept the American Jobs Act from even coming to the Floor for a vote.  Many Republicans decried the use of additional revenue to help offset any increase in national debt.  Apparently, they forgot that when faced with rising deficits, Ronald Reagan looked to revenue increases, broadening the tax base, closing loopholes, and raising taxes.  Yes, he raised taxes in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987.  
It is unfortunate that today’s Republicans have lost sight of the value of investing in America in a fiscally responsible manner, because the nation’s construction industry has the hardest hit.  America lost more than 2 million construction jobs in the recession that began in 2007.  Infrastructure investments don’t just create jobs, they also repair dangerous bridges and make our roadways safer.  They build needed schools to lessen overcrowding.  They renovate hospitals and improve water treatment plants.  As part of the Recovery Act we enacted the Build America Bonds program that leveraged $4 billion in federal funds into $181 billion in private sector funding, completing more than 2,000 projects in every state in the country.  I introduced a bill to extend this successful program because there remain unmet needs in our communities, and there are millions of construction workers awaiting the opportunity to return to work and communities that would benefit from the projects.  We haven’t even had a hearing on that bill.
Mr. Speaker, Dwight Eisenhower did not subscribe to the current Republican mantra that investing in America was to be shunned.  Ronald Reagan did not share the current Republican dictum that serving one’s country in public service is somehow a less than noble endeavor and the way to prosperity is through devastating cuts to the public sector.  
Congress must act to ensure long term fiscal responsibility, but it should not come at the expense of millions of Americans struggling to get back to work.  As we contemplate our economic policies we really should ask, “What would Ronald Reagan do?”
Text of the speech
Mr. Speaker, 
When we look at this economy we should ask: What Would Ronald Reagan Do?
When he took office in 1981, President Reagan inherited an economy in deep recession.  During the past 3 years we have heard a number of current Republicans laud the accomplishments of Ronald Reagan in spurring economic recovery during that decade.  
As they often point out, President Reagan cut taxes.  Of course, so did President Obama.  The Recovery Act, which I proudly supported, cut taxes for 95 percent of all Americans, averaging $400 for individuals and $800 for families.  When that tax cut expired – and when Republicans refused to extend it – I was again proud to join President Obama to enact the payroll tax cut, averaging $1,000 per family.  But tax cuts alone do not make a robust recovery.
The other notable thing Ronald Reagan did was preside over a nation with a sharp increase in public sector employment from the local, state, and federal levels.  Because, while today’s Republicans may try to argue otherwise, teaching jobs are jobs; firefighters have jobs, police jobs are jobs.  
In fact, three of the last four economic recoveries had one thing in common – public sector employment increased.  Two and a half years into the recovery from the 2001 recession, total public sector employment was 1 percent higher.  Two and a half years into the recovery from the 1990 recession, total public sector employment was 3 percent higher.  And two and a half years into the recovery from the 1980 recession, total public sector employment, under Ronald Reagan, was almost 3.5 percent HIGHER than it was at the start of the recovery.
In contrast, today’s recovery from the recent recession has seen total public sector employment decrease by 2.5 percent – largely because Republicans have gotten their way in trying to shrink the public sector.  Real jobs are lost.  Had total public sector employment merely held steady over the last two and a half years, the unemployment rate would be 7.8 percent today not 8.2 percent.  
But instead we have lost 600,000 public sector jobs; teachers, police officers, firefighters, librarians, and other dedicated public servants.
If the goal truly were to foster a robust economic recovery, you’d think that today’s Republicans would be looking at how the nation worked its way out of previous recessions.  But obviously, that’s not the case.  
Last September, President Obama put forward the American Jobs Act – a proposal to cut taxes on workers and businesses to incentivize hiring, and to fund necessary infrastructure improvements.  Economists predicted the American Jobs Act would’ve addded up to 1 million new jobs and spurred GDP growth by an extra 1.5 percent.  
These are proposals that have traditionally earned bipartisan support.  For example, one of the single largest infrastructure projects ever – was the creation of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the interstate highway program.  In 1982, while he was still working toward economic recovery, Ronald Reagan proposed a highway and bridge repair program to create jobs in the public sector.
But sadly, Republican opposition has kept the American Jobs Act from even coming to the Floor for a vote.  Many Republicans decried the use of additional revenue to help offset any increase in national debt.  Apparently, they forgot that when faced with rising deficits, Ronald Reagan looked to revenue increases, broadening the tax base, closing loopholes, and raising taxes.  Yes, he raised taxes in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987.  
It is unfortunate that today’s Republicans have lost sight of the value of investing in America in a fiscally responsible manner, because the nation’s construction industry has the hardest hit.  America lost more than 2 million construction jobs in the recession that began in 2007.  Infrastructure investments don’t just create jobs, they also repair dangerous bridges and make our roadways safer.  They build needed schools to lessen overcrowding.  They renovate hospitals and improve water treatment plants.  As part of the Recovery Act we enacted the Build America Bonds program that leveraged $4 billion in federal funds into $181 billion in private sector funding, completing more than 2,000 projects in every state in the country.  I introduced a bill to extend this successful program because there remain unmet needs in our communities, and there are millions of construction workers awaiting the opportunity to return to work and communities that would benefit from the projects.  We haven’t even had a hearing on that bill.
Mr. Speaker, Dwight Eisenhower did not subscribe to the current Republican mantra that investing in America was to be shunned.  Ronald Reagan did not share the current Republican dictum that serving one’s country in public service is somehow a less than noble endeavor and the way to prosperity is through devastating cuts to the public sector.  
Congress must act to ensure long term fiscal responsibility, but it should not come at the expense of millions of Americans struggling to get back to work.  As we contemplate our economic policies we really should ask, “What would Ronald Reagan do?”