President George W. Bush hailed what he called an "economic resurgence" after new figures showed the US economy created 211,000 more jobs in March. Bush also called on Congress to enact controversial tax cuts passed early in his administration on a permanent basis, while also restraining spending.
"These millions of new jobs are evidence of an economic resurgence that is strong, broad and benefiting all Americans," he said in televised comments from the White House.
In a rare appearance to comment on economic data, Bush said Friday's "non-farm payrolls" report showed the US economy had now added jobs for 31 months in a row.
The unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in March, he noted.
"It's below the average rate of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s," he said, adding that the US economy grew last year at a faster rate than any other any major industrialized economy.
"These gains are the result of the energy and the effort of American workers, small business owners and entrepreneurs. They are also the result of pro-growth economic policies," he said, recapping the tax cuts.
"Tax relief has done exactly what it was designed to do. It's created jobs and growth for the American people. Yet some are now proposing that we raise taxes, either by repealing the tax cuts or letting them expire," Bush said.
"These are the same politicians who told us that letting America's families keep more of their money would be irresponsible, wreckless and shameful. They were wrong then and they are wrong now."
