President Obama created a “jobs council” of outside advisors “in part to inoculate himself against” criticism. But “the last time the jobs group met with the president [was] 184 days ago” – and the White House says the reason for the long delay is simply that the president “has a lot on his plate.” One thing missing from that full plate seems to be Americans’ top priority: jobs.

President Obama has not only blown off his jobs council for six months (while holding more than 100 fundraisers) – the president who told small business owners “you didn’t build that” and said the private sector is “doing fine” also …

• Isn’t working with Republicans to stop the tax hike on small businesses – Democrats are actively threatening to tank our economy if they don’t get a small business tax hike that Ernst & Young says will destroy more than 700,000 jobs and lead to lower wages (for those lucky enough to have a job in the Obama economy). The House will vote to stop the tax hike this month.
• Isn’t urging Senate Democrats to vote on House-passed jobs bills – The House has passed more than 30 jobs bills that expand energy production, eliminate excessive regulations, and more. The House also voted to repeal the president’s health care law which is making it harder for small businesses to hire. The president hasn’t lifted a finger to get Senate Democrats to vote on them.
• Isn’t approving the Keystone XL project – Keystone XL was under review for more than three years before President Obama shelved it -- and the tens of thousands of jobs it would create. Canada has made alternate plans to ship its energy and these jobs to countries like China.
• Isn’t opening many new areas to American energy production – Energy production on federal land has plummeted under the Obama administration. The Natural Resources Committee says the administration is offering the lowest number of offshore lease sales ever, meaning vast amounts of American energy that would help lower prices and create new jobs remain under lock and key.

And while the House passed a plan in May to replace devastating cuts to our national security with common-sense spending cuts and reforms, here too Commander-in-Chief Obama is too busy to outline a plan of his own.

Now that his policies left us with unemployment above eight percent for 41 months, President Obama needs to spend less time trying to keep his job (and raise taxes and craft gimmicky to-do lists) – and more time creating a better environment for private-sector jobs.