Washington, D.C. — Congressmen Mike Bost (IL-12) released the following statement concerning today’s U.S. Commerce Department report indicating U.S. economic growth slowed to 0.2 percent in first quarter of 2015:

“First quarter GDP numbers indicated our economy is at a virtual dead stop,” said Rep. Bost.  “Today’s news comes on the heels of a poor March jobs report which showed the fewest amount of new jobs added to the economy since December of 2013.  To make matters worse, the President wants to raise taxes while he continues to ignore the underlying problems: massive debt, burdensome regulations and not enough good-paying jobs for middle class families. The hardworking people of Southern Illinois deserve better.”