Jeb Bush: ‘People need to work longer hours’
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in an interview Wednesday that “people need to work longer hours” to help grow the economy.
{mosads}According to ABC News, Bush was asked a question about tax reform during an interview live streamed on Periscope, and said he believes the U.S. can achieve 4 percent growth.
“Which means we have to be a lot more productive, workforce participation has to rise from its all-time modern lows,” Bush continued. “It means that people need to work longer hours.”
The Democratic National Committee said Bush’s remarks were “easily one of the most out-of-touch comments we’ve heard so far this cycle,” according to ABC.
According to a transcript sent by his campaign, Bush clarified his comments Wednesday night after a town-hall event in New Hampshire.
Asked whether he was saying “somebody working two jobs needs to be working even more time,” Bush replied, “Absolutely not. Their incomes need to grow.”
He went on to say that “the simple fact is people are really struggling. So giving people a chance to work longer hours has got to be part of the answer. If not, you are going to see people lose hope. And that’s where we are today.”
—Updated at 9:00 p.m.
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