NRF seeks congressional help with job creation

WASHINGTON The National Retail Federation told House Republican leaders Friday that Congress needs to pass legislation that encourages job creation through tax policy and greater availability of credit.

“Our members’ No. 1 issue is job creation,” NRF president and CEO Matt Shay said. “We are willing to talk to anybody about how to create jobs and get the economy back on track. This is not a partisan issue. It’s an economic issue.

The NRF head also cited that retailers employ 1-out-of-5 American workers and consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of the GDP, indicating that “the road to recovery clearly runs through retail.”

“Job recovery needs to be led by the private sector,” Shay added. “We need policies that will help free access to credit so business can begin to expand, prosper and create jobs. That means more certainty in federal tax policy and the regulatory agenda, and fewer mandates that discourage job creation.”

Shay was among executives from more than a dozen business associations who participated in a forum on job creation held at the Capitol by House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the House GOP’s America Speaking Out program.