ABC News points out that Newt was first to release jobs plan

When Tim Pawlenty released his jobs plan a couple of months ago, the media kept saying he was the first candidate to do so. And now Jon Huntsman has received the same treatment, with some claiming his was the first plan.

But Arlette Saenz of ABC News sets the record straight:

But there’s one jobs plan that hasn’t received much coverage this election cycle – the one released by Newt Gingrich back in May. The former speaker of the House, who announced his run for the presidency in May via Twitter, released his “Jobs and Prosperity Plan” just two days after announcing his candidacy.

Gingrich crafted an economic plan with the intent of instantly boosting new business investment in the United States. His plan proposes eliminating the capital gains tax, bringing the corporate tax rate to 12.5 percent, shifting to an optional 15 percent flat tax for all Americans, and abolishing the death tax on a permanent basis, all while reforming the FDA and EPA and repealing Sarbanes Oxley, Dodd-Frank and President Obama’s healthcare plan.

In his campaign, Gingrich has also emphasized the need to expand initiatives in developing American energy as a mechanism for creating new jobs.

These weren’t new ideas for Gingrich, who in 2009 released a jobs plan with similar goals -- shifting the corporate tax rate to 12.5 percent, ending the capital gains and death taxes, and calling for a balanced budget and an American energy plan. Gingrich also held a Real Jobs Summit in December 2009 at the same time President Obama held the White House Jobs Summit.

Saenz also had this quote from Newt's spokesman:

“The question isn’t what to do, it is, Who can do it? We need leadership now that can implement the right policies to put Americans back to work. Republicans should act now on several fronts and let the President explain why his policies create more food stamps than they do paychecks,” R.C. Hammond, spokesman for Gingrich, said.

"Thank You For Helping Cut Taxes"

In a two-minute video sent out in an e-mail, titled "Thank You for Helping Cut Taxes," Newt talks about the role that American Solutions played in the mid-term elections and the debate over the Bush tax cuts.
Some notable points:

• American Solutions hosted seven Real Jobs summits that involved "over 5,500 people."
• Also hosted ten Jobs rallies, "where thousands of people came together all over the country."
• "[W]ith your help at tenmillionvoters.com, we organized over 10,000 activists who went out and turned out the vote."
• He highlights the temporary two-percent payroll tax cut, "so that every working American will have an increased take-home pay, which is a position that first appeared at American Solutions and was championed by Congressman Jordan in his Economic Freedom Act, which American Solutions worked for."
• He closes the video with: "So you are making a difference. You have made a difference. And we'll continue to work with you in 2011 to continue making a difference."