The Bureau of Labor Statistics released it's state-by-state economic data for the month of June today. Massachusetts unemployment rose from 8.2% in May to 8.6% in June. This 0.4% increase was worse than the national increase of 0.1%, worse than any other New England state, and 40th nationally overall. While we are in a national and international economic recession, under one party Democratic rule Massachusetts continues to do one of the worst jobs at handling the recession.
Since January of 2007 when Deval Patrick became Governor and joined the Democratic super majorities in the state legislature unemployment has risen from 4.6% to 8.6%. 137,506 people have been added to the list of unemployed and Massachusetts has shed 134,442 net jobs. Massachusetts all time high was 10.9% in January, 1976.
Mississippi had the best month where unemployment dropped by 0.7%! In my opinion Gov. Hailey Barbor (R) should get more buzz as a potential 2012 nominee. The 2nd best state was Vermont where unemployment dropped by 0.3%. Gov. Jim Douglas (R) was re-elected with 56.3% of the vote in 2006 during a tough political climate for all Republicans. Sen. Patrick Leahy is up for re-election in 2010.
While the rest of us are on hard times, the Lowell Sun says Beacon Hill insiders and political hacks are doing just great on our dime.
The state payroll, in fact, has grown by about 2,200 employees since the recession came to Massachusetts last fall, leaving roughly 98,278 workers dependent on the state for a paycheck, according to payroll records that include the University of Massachusetts and other public colleges.
