6/21/96
PRESS RELEASE

STATEMENT BY ANN LEWIS
DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER

The Clinton/Gore '96 campaign welcomes the debate on economic policy begun by the Dole for President Campaign today. Deputy Press Secretary Christina Martin attacked President Clinton's record on creating new jobs, particularly his record in California, Florida and North Carolina.

Here are the facts:

Under President Clinton's leadership, the economy has produced 9.7 million new jobs, 93% of which are in the private sector. That is the best record of any administration since the 1920s. Over two-thirds of all new jobs are high-wage jobs (Bureau of Labor Statistics/Council of Economic Advisors).

In California, North Carolina and Florida, 1.5 million new jobs have been created -- 561,000 in California; 316,700 in North Carolina; and 666,100 in Florida (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Unemployment nationwide has dropped over 23% (from 7.3% to 5.6%) since President Clinton took office. In California, unemployment has dropped from 9.7 to 7.5%, a 23% decline. In North Carolina, unemployment has dropped from 5.5 to 4.4%, a 20% decline. In Florida, unemployment has dropped from 7.3 to 5.2%, a 29% decline (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

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