White House, GOP Dispute Significance Of Upbeat Jobs Report Republicans on Friday downplayed the latest jobs report that showed the unemployment rate on a steady downward trend, describing the improvements as welcome but "anemic." The White House, meanwhile, cited the report as "encouraging" evidence that the economy is on the upswing, and urged Congress to support jobs measures backed by President Obama to keep that trend going. With election season in full swing, the Labor Department reports are bound to serve as a political football every month until November. His administration under fire on the campaign trail for slow economic growth despite stimulus funding and other measures, Obama is eager for some good news. But Republicans are urging caution at the latest news, noting that the improvements hardly represent the burst of economic activity the country needs. Anemic growth is not growth. We need to make dramatic change to the tax code and draw back job-killing regulations," Newt Gingrich said in a written statement. Mitt Romney, who along with Gingrich and other GOP presidential candidates will compete in Saturday's Nevada caucuses, called the jobless report "welcome" news - no thanks to Obama. Unfortunately, these numbers cannot hide the fact that President Obama's policies have prevented a true economic recovery. We can do better," he said. Romney pointed out that long-term unemployment, which has held steady at about 43 percent, is "at record levels." Millions of others are underemployed or have stopped seeking work. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, also said the number of people who have stopped looking for full-time work has played a factor in the rate decline. This feels like a Charles Dickens novel. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," he said. Still, the drop to 8.3 percent marked the fifth straight month of decline - due in large part to a hiring spree in the private sector. The January rate reported Friday is the lowest point in nearly three years. When all those groups are combined, nearly 24 million are considered "underemployed."