House Dems announce Wednesday jobs hearing

The hearing comes roughly a week after President Obama used his annual State of the Union address to urge Congress to spend more on transportation, education and crumbling infrastructure systems as a way to lower the unemployment rate, which stood at 9.4 percent in December.

“All these investments – in innovation, education, and infrastructure – will make America a better place to do business and create jobs,” Obama said.

Republicans, however, have a different strategy in mind, arguing that federal spending should be scaled back dramatically to make room for the private sector to create its own jobs. Last month, they approved a resolution requiring the House Budget Committee to cut this year’s spending to at least 2008 levels, a plan rejected by most Democrats.

Attending Wednesday’s hearing will be Pelosi, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), the vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus, and the members of the steering committee, including co-chairs George Miller (Calif.) and Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), according to the release.

The witnesses invited to testify include Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D); Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (D); Andy Herrmann, president-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers; William Buechner, vice president of economics at the American Road and Transport Builders Association; Damon Silvers, director of policy for the AFL-CIO; and Susan Monteverde, vice president of government relations at the American Association of Port Authorities.