Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Because the J-S won't tell you- Walker's Wisconsin DEAD LAST for jobs

The monthly state-by-state employment report confirmed what I suspected. Wisconsin had the nation's worst job record in October, and our fair state garners a number of "honors" in this month's report.
In October, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 39 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 11 states. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in Illinois (+30,000) and California (+25,700). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in
Wisconsin (-9,700),
followed by New York (-8,300) and Minnesota (-6,100).....

Wisconsin experienced the largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment (-0.4 percent), followed by Maine, Rhode Island, and Wyoming
(-0.3 percent each).

In October, 14 states recorded statistically significant changes in employment, 13 of which were increases....The only state with an over-the-month statistically significant decline in employment was Wisconsin (-9,700)....

And as I've noted, this is hardly a one-month blip, because October's decrease means that Wisconsin also moved into the Number One position for job loss over the last 4 months- or the time period that Scott Walker's budget has been in effect. And it's not by a little, either.

Most Job losses June-October 2011
Wisconsin -27,600
Georgia -19,100
Rhode Island -6,200
Missouri -3,800
Arkansas -3,700

You know what's even more remarkable than Wisconsin's job failures? The biggest growers. Illinois and California have major budget and pension shortfalls, and are 2 of the biggest canards right-wing propaganda tries to use as an example of why Walker had to make the massive cuts and damages to public services. Yet, what else do these states have in common? I'll replay part of the BLS report from above.
In October, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 39 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 11 states. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in Illinois (+30,000) and California (+25,700).

And you know what else California leads in? Job growth over the last 4 months, with over 80,000 jobs added. That's right, California is Number 1, Wisconsin is Number 50. And I guess Scotty's plans to poach businesses from "higher tax" Illinois aren't really paying off either.

Hmm, maybe cosmetic budget numbers don't tell the whole story about a state's ability to grow jobs, now does it? You know who else knows it? Walker's buddy Mitch Daniels in Indiana, who allegedly has a billion dollar surplus, but also presides over the only state in the Midwest with job losses over the last 12 months (see it on page 19).

So yes, today's figures verify even more that the Walker policies are complete failures? And the Journal-Sentinel's take on this story? No idea, they're busy propping Walker for claiming an Indian company will add 50 jobs a year based on tax credits of $15,000 a job. Oh, and racist dog-whistle stories about daring to help homeless people to vote (while choosing to stay silent on One Wisconsin Now's $10,000 reward for recall petition tampering. Hmmmm...)

You know, I wouldn't have to constantly hammer these points if we ever had a "fair and balanced" state media reporting them.

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