WASHINGTON, DC (April 5, 2013) – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the March unemployment numbers, showing the economy gained only 88,000 jobs. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“The longer Congress allows the sequester and sweeping budget cuts to take effect, the longer we’re stifling America’s economic recovery. Today’s jobs report is proof that looming budget cuts and economic uncertainty are weighing down job creation, innovation and our ability to compete globally.

“There is a right way, a wrong way and a best way for government to support job creation in America.  The right way is for the government to invest in economic activity during a cyclical downturn. The wrong way is to follow Europe — cutting budgets, slowing economic activity and driving up unemployment.  The best way is to make strategic investments in America’s clean energy future and rebuilding our infrastructure for the 21^st century.

“We can put more Americans back to work and stimulate growth by investing now in infrastructure — and preparing our basic systems for the impacts of climate change — and manufacturing more clean energy technologies here in the United States.

“With the release of President Obama’s budget next week, we have the opportunity for America to reset our focus on job creating policies, instead of across-the-board budget cuts. Spurring long-term economic growth today is as important as it has ever been, and we can’t lose sight of that fact.”