WASHINGTON, DC - Service Employees International Union (SEIU)International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statementafter the release of the monthly jobs report by the Bureau of LaborStatistics indicating the economy added 227,000 jobs in February 2012:

Today's report marks two full years of job growth in America, thelatest sign that President Obama's leadership has been a key part ofputting this country back to work. In total, the labor market hasadded more than 3.5 million jobs over the last two years, anincredible accomplishment considering the economic mess PresidentObama inherited just three years ago. Despite this good news, we stillmust do more to help the millions of Americans still looking for work.

"Continued job growth in this country will not be the product ofpartisan bickering, nor the product of austerity-driven policies - itwill be the product of smart, innovative policies that bring workingpeople, the government and the private sector together at a commontable.

"But even as President Obama's policies are making a real differencein the lives of everyday Americans, extreme Republicans continue theirblind obsession with tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and largecorporations, slashing critical public services and attackingimmigrants

"Now, more than ever, it is clear that we must redouble our efforts toreelect President Obama. Failure to do would risk the progress we havemade putting America back to work."

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