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With all the problems facing the country from domestic to international challenges, the last thing the country needed was a report by the Commerce Department showing the economy shrank at a dramatic 2.9% in the first quarter of this year.

Many economists have attributed the 1st quarter’s extremely slow growth to the severe weather which crippled the country, but with the contraction of the economy it looks like there are more severe woes affecting the economy.

CNBC reported that while the economy’s woes have been largely blamed on an unusually cold winter, the magnitude of the revisions suggest other factors at play beyond the weather. Growth has now been revised down by a total of 3.0 percentage points since the government’s first estimate was published in April, which had the economy expanding at a 0.1 percent rate.

A separate report regarding durable goods had a more ominous impact on the economy, with CNBC reporting, showed orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods unexpectedly fell in May, suggesting an anticipated rebound in growth this quarter could fall short of expectations, even as a measure of business capital spending plans rose.

The New York Times added economists had expected the revised number to show contraction, though they expected a less bad number than the one that materialized. One key thing they missed: Consumer spending, the mainstay of economic activity was far weaker than either government numbers or private analysts had thought — particularly spending on health care.

With this dismal report by the Commerce Department, both the president and Republican’s placed blame on each other over the stewardship of the nation’s economy.

The White House tried to downplay the report, by looking forward to what they believe will be solid growth in the current quarter.

“First-quarter GDP was revised down today, largely reflecting a re-estimation of consumer spending on health care, which was substantially lower than originally reported, as well as exports, which were below the initial estimates,” said Jason Furman, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, which counsels President Obama on the economy. “The GDP data can be volatile from quarter to quarter; a range of other data show a more positive picture for the first quarter, and more up-to-date indicators from April and May suggest that the economy is on track for a rebound in the second quarter.”

Republican’s blasted the president over his handling of the economy.

“It’s clear the White House doesn’t know which way is up, just two months ago bragging that ObamaCare was helping the economy and now we’re seeing the worst economic report since the low point of the recession in 2009,” said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. “The Republican House has sent Harry Reid and Democrats in the Senate dozens of bills to help jump-start our economy and it’s time they stop standing in the way.”

Both the president and Republican’s economic policies have contributed to the dismal state of the U.S. economy.

In January of this year, Allied Business Group reported, since the recession, sluggish economic growth, political uncertainty, and increasing regulations have left many business owners hesitant to invest in growth opportunities or hire new employees. Additionally, the Federal Reserve plans to taper its quantitative easing program throughout 2014, which could drive interest rates up. Higher interest rates and a decline in hiring would have an adverse effect on consumer confidence and spending, stalling economic growth as a result.

Businesses across the country are facing uncertainty with Healthcare Reform, political uncertainty as it relates to taxes, regulation and other budgetary items.

Washington’s economic policies have hurt small businesses by curtailing access to capital making it difficult for businesses to grow and expand.

Republicans and the president need to quit playing partisan politics with regard to the economy but as always nothing will change until after the November mid-term election, but really until 2017 with the election of new president.

It’s going to be along two years until 2017.