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The unemployment dropped slightly to 8.2 percent today, as the economy added 120,000 jobs.
That jobs figure, though, fell short of the expectation of about 200,000 jobs.
NOTE: By the way, there will be no First Thoughts today. We're taking a small break on this Good Friday, but we will be updating the blog throughout the day as news warrants.
*** UPDATE *** Mitt Romney responds to the jobs report, calling it "weak and very troubling."
“This is a weak and very troubling jobs report that shows the employment market remains stagnant," Romney said in a statement released by his campaign. "Millions of Americans are paying a high price for President Obama's economic policies, and more and more people are growing so discouraged that they are dropping out of the labor force altogether. It is increasingly clear the Obama economy is not working and that after three years in office the President's excuses have run out.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** NBC's Frank Thorp reports House Speaker John Boehner pins slowed job creation on the president's policies.
"Today's report shows that families and small businesses are still struggling to get by because of President Obama's failed economic policies," Boehner said in a statement.
The unemployment rate drops to 8.2 percent after the March unemployment report showed US employers added 120,000 jobs for the month. A CNBC panel discusses the data.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Majority Leader Eric Cantor, though, didn't name President Obama in his statement. Instead, he talks about the JOBS Act Cantor pushed and Obama signed.
"The monthly jobless numbers are just a quick snapshot of the economy, so while it is welcome news that around one hundred thousand jobs were created last month, there's more to the picture. The level of growth we are seeing isn't enough to make a difference for the millions of Americans still out of work or families facing high gas prices and the uncertainty of a lagging economy. Job growth happens when small businessmen and women in this country have the ability to take risks, invest capital and start hiring new workers. We want to make sure they have every opportunity to do so. The JOBS Act is now law because Republicans and Democrats put our differences aside and joined together to deliver results for job creators in this country. We can do more."