Country makes modest unemployment gains; Virginia to lose jobs
By JR Hoeft | Friday, April 2nd, 2010 | PolicyThe nation added 162,000 jobs last month, according to the Department of Labor this morning, but unemployment stayed at 9.7%.
However, perhaps more disheartening, was this bit of information:
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) in-creased by 414,000 over the month to 6.5 million. In March, 44.1 percent of unemployed persons were jobless for 27 weeks or more.
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor said knows exactly what the problem is – excessive spending and an overbearing Federal government:
“Excessive spending in Washington has created a huge debt burden that threatens the future of our nation, our workers, and our families. Even if the economy added 250,000 jobs every month, it would take nearly five years to get back to full employment. Well, struggling families can’t wait five years and that is why Washington must change course now.
“We already know that the trillion dollar plus health care overhaul championed by President Obama and Speaker Pelosi not only cripples the ability for businesses small and large to hire new workers, but actually forces them to cut jobs. It is troubling that in the last few days, businesses that have notified their investors of the costly ramifications of the Democrats’ health care overhaul are being summoned to testify in Washington by Chairman Waxman – despite the fact that their actions are appropriate, responsible, and required by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Instead of taking victory laps for spending inordinate sums of money that we simply cannot afford, our leaders need to start acting responsibly, talking realistically, and owning the ramifications of their actions.”
And ramifications there are. With respect to Virginia and it’s already too high 7.2% unemployment rate, the nationalization of student loans which will purportedly help “pay for” health care, stands to cost Virginia 2,500 jobs at Sallie Mae – a private originator of student loans located in Reston, Virginia. Governor Bob McDonnell said of the new law:
“The expansion of the federal government into the private sector is now occurring at an alarming pace. From the auto industry to healthcare to student loans, Washington continues to grow bigger, while the choices available to American citizens in the free market grow fewer. The legislation signed this week places the student-loan delivery system entirely in the hands of the federal government, providing fewer funding options for students and parents, forcing colleges and universities to adhere to a one-size fits all federal system in a matter of months, and again increasing the power of the federal government. It will cost a number of Virginians their jobs. And it all occurred with little to no public conversation or input by burying the provisions in a health care bill. I urge Virginia’s federal representatives to seek all possible means by which this policy can be reformed.”
Read more about this month’s economic trends from the Wall Street Journal.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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7 Responses to "Country makes modest unemployment gains; Virginia to lose jobs"
Wow J.R., the scope of your spin just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Somehow, you are able to simply ignore the coming job loss of 35,000 citizens of Virginia recently caused by the no tax policies of the Governor, and you ignore the fact that the stimulus program advocated by the President has actually created jobs in Virginia that have helped keep our unemployment rate about 2 percentage points lower than the nation. Here in Hampton Roads, we are one of only a few that have actually grown our regional economy from pre recession levels. So if you want this publication to actually be forum for intelligent discussion of important issues, a more nuanced and balanced post would have been appreciated.
Gee, Mike – Why don’t you start your own Blog so you can make all the “nuanced and balanced posts” you want so we can then ignore you? Let us know when you have it up and running so the ignoring can begin.
Gee, Mike – Why don’t you start your own Blog so you can make all the “nuanced and balanced posts” you want
Because over here, Tim, he gets to display his compassion. Clinically, it’s a preference for exhibitionism over self-abuse.
Salt Lick, instead of a clinical issue I thing it is more of a spiritual issue manifesting as a liberal Opus Dei using self-flagellation to atone for guilt and outwardly paying penance for compassion.
Our “Jobs Governor” is losing us tens of thousands of jobs… What is he going to do to save us? A couple months on the job and he is losing more everyday. Want to change the theme to the “job lose Governor”?
This is just the start…Just wait until we lose two aircraft carriers and 12,000 jobs that go with it before McD leaves office… What a record…
I’m plagiarizing from one of the 2nd district campaigns… “Let’s build two new carriers in Newport News”, send one to Mayport and keep one in Hampton Roads with some of the left over stimulus money. Good for the economy, good for jobs, good for the Navy, good for Navy families, good for Hampton Roads. Now let those who wear sack cloth and haul ashes take over from here….
I’ve been reading about this for a few. Thanks for the info!
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