Cities' Jobs Response: Numbers Still Show Urgent Need for Emphasis on Growth

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Mar 08, 2013, 10:11 ET

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement is from Marie Lopez Rogers, President of the National League of Cities, and Mayor of Avondale, AZ in response to today's unemployment report:

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"While today's unemployment rate is a positive step forward for our nation's economic recovery, city leaders remain concerned that the irresponsible automatic spending cuts, as part of sequestration, could take us a step backward by slowing business and consumer spending and investments.

"Today's good news only adds to the sense of urgency around the needs for the federal government to find common ground on ways to both accelerate the nation's growth while making smart, targeted cuts. They must continue to invest in our communities by investing in our workforce and our infrastructure. We all know we cannot cut our way to prosperity.

"Next week, as part of the National League of Cities' Congressional City Conference, city leaders from across the nation will converge on Washington to press Congress and the Administration to do what is good for communities by passing the Marketplace Fairness Act, fixing the nation's broken immigration system by passing comprehensive immigration reform, and supporting the existing exemption for municipal bonds.

"Washington needs to take action that will do no harm to the nation's chances for growth. It will take federal leadership and federal partnership with local leaders to drive the growth the nation needs."

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

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SOURCE National League of Cities