Last week, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) issued an updated estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2012.  It was not good news.  The BEA noted that the economy grew last quarter (April-June) by a mere 1.7 percent, the second consecutive quarter in which the growth of the economy has slowed.

Three and a half years after the passage of President Obama's grand "stimulus" plan, too many Northern Californians are still out of work and struggling to make ends meet.  The President's policies have clearly failed and are thwarting economic recovery.  Instead of focusing on job creation and growing the economy, President Obama has spent most of his first term only growing government and muscling into law a wildly expensive, unpopular and unworkable health care bill.  The report is further evidence that we cannot continue down this road.  New policies – policies that start from an understanding that jobs and growth come from America's small business owners, innovators, and entrepreneurs, not government – are imperative to restoring hope and opportunity for the American people.  Republicans have a mapped out a path forward.  I encourage you to check out the House Republican Plan for America's Job Creators.