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For the second time in two weeks the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office released a report contradicting a signature issue of the Obama Administration.

Two weeks ago CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf reported to Congress that the Affordable Care Act would reduce 2 million jobs in the coming years.  According to CBO’s central estimate, raising the minimum wage to $10.10 nationwide as advocated by the president would lead to 500,000 less jobs by middle of 2016.

In the same report it would take 900,000 out of poverty and increase the income of 16.5 million low income workers.

Receiving stinging push back from Democrats, Director Elmendorf, “Our analysis is quite consistent with the latest thinking by economists,” said at a breakfast with reporters.

In the same context, Elmendorf places the number into perspective that the minimum wage would increase the wages for more people than from those expected to lose jobs.

“By our estimates … something like 97 or 99 percent of the people who would be affected by an increase in a minimum wage would receive higher wages, and their family incomes would be higher,” he said. “But at the same time, 1 percent, 3 percent of people would not be able to find employment.”

Council of Economic Advisors Chairman Jason Furman commented on the report yesterday, by saying, “the new CBO report finds that 16.5 million workers would get a raise from increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.  It would help millions of hardworking families reduce poverty and increase overall wages going to lower-income and moderate-income households.”

Republicans seized on the CBO report as proof the hike in minimum wage would reduce jobs in the country. 

“While helping some, mandating higher wages has real costs, including fewer people working,” said a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. “With unemployment Americans’ top concern, our focus should be creating — not destroying — jobs for those who need them most.”

The question both Republicans and Democrats fail to address is what are their proposals for reigniting a stagnate American economy?  Both political parties can take what they want out the CBO report but in the grand scheme of things Americans want to know what you are doing to revive the American economy and focus on quality American jobs.  Americans do not want partisan politics just quality jobs!   

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