His plan to “grow the economy,” rang a little hollow to me.
Perhaps because I had just done some research that points to PA’s economy moving
in the opposite direction of the nation’s at large.
See,
while other Americans look at economic indicators like the unemployment rate
and foreclosures, and feel encouraged by the hopeful signs Pennsylvanians are
left wondering why the numbers in our state don’t do much to boost confidence.
The
U.S.
Commerce Department shows economic trackers like housing starts, home
prices and consumer confidence are growing, while foreclosures and unemployment
are down. But Pennsylvanians aren’t feeling this recovery.
Plus
according to RealtyTrac foreclosures
in the U.S. plunged to a 5 year low in September. But in the Commonwealth
-- up a 134% since September 2011, the 2nd highest of any state in the country.
Similarly,
the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 7.8% in September, a 3/10 percent drop, falling
in 41 states; Pennsylvania’s increased to 8.2 percent last month, climbing
steadily every month since May.
Adding
to the pain and frustration WNEP in
Scranton reported that many recently laid off Pennsylvanians hit a wall when
calling the state’s toll-free unemployment hotline – getting a busy signal
-- sometimes for weeks on end. In fact when Labor and Industry Secretary Julia
Hearthway called, she got a busy signal too.
I’ve
heard the frustration and
anxiety from would-be and existing U.C. claimants, and those trying to
assist them firsthand.
So
when can we expect this promise to “grow the economy?” In his first 22 months
it looks its Corbett’s failed policies that are responsible for our state’s
nonexistent recovery.
Remember
back-to-back state budgets which laid off nearly 20,000 education
professionals, and the 40,000+ working Pennsylvanians kicked off their health
insurance, and asset tests to qualify for nutritional assistance – clearly these
do not contribute to a thriving recovery. Compounded by the governor’s inaction
on transportation infrastructure, which by the way would improve public safety
and creating tens of thousands of jobs.
Not
only has the administration (and others remember “jobs, jobs, jobs”) failed
to generate the jobs it claimed were its top priority, it has also dismantled
the safety net there to assist struggling families. This is simply unacceptable,
Pennsylvanians deserve better.
