Speaking for the Obama Administration, Vice President Biden last week insisted that “We know how to create jobs, and we know how to balance the budget. If I hear one more Republican tell me about balancing the budget, I am going to strangle them." 

Meanwhile, the Obama Misery Index – which measures the rise in unemployment and debt since the Obama Administration began – reached a new record high of 67 percent last month.  The public debt has soared 43 percent in just 20 months, while unemployment has risen 24 percent, or by nearly 3 million individuals. 

Source: Ways and Means staff calculations, using Department of Labor and Department of Treasury data. 

 ###