Despite False Spike, Spending by Hanabusa’s Washington Friends Still Doesn’t Improve Jobs Outlook
Census Jobs May Pad Numbers, But Economic Forecast Remains Bleak
News Release from Republican Congressional Campaign Committee
Washington- A temporary boost in government hiring has padded jobs numbers for the month of May, but the 9.7 percent unemployment rate belies just how badly the runaway spending agenda pushed by Colleen Hanabusa’s Democrat friends has failed Hawaii families. The spike in jobs is simply a reflection of over 410,000 new census workers being added to the government’s payrolls at the taxpayers’ expense. Hanabusa’s Washington friends are sure to tout the short-term boost in unemployment as an economic success, but Hawaii families know better. While Democrats have been wasting taxpayer money and growing the size of government with spending sprees, bailouts, and government takeovers, Americans have yet to see the signs of real economic recovery. With the economy limping along, Hawaii families still want to know: Can Hanabusa’s Democrat allies provide economic growth rather than temporary government jobs?
“Most of the jobs expected to have been generated in May were for census workers hired on a temporary basis by the federal government. … By contrast, hiring by private employers — the backbone of the economy — may have slowed down a bit in May.” (Jeannine Aversa, “Jobs data likely to show burst of temporary hiring,” Associated Press, 6/02/2010)
As Democrats attempt to spin the short-term boost to jobs as a success, economists are saying otherwise. In fact, long term unemployment is the worst that has ever been recorded:
“The job market is improving, but one statistic presents a stark reminder of the challenges that remain: Nearly half of the unemployed—45.9%—have been out of work longer than six months, more than at any time since the Labor Department began keeping track in 1948. (Sara Murray, “Chronic Joblessness Bites Deep,” Wall Street Journal, 6/2/10)
The Democrats’ unemployment problem is not going away anytime soon. Long term unemployment could turn into an even bigger problem, possibly creating a ‘pool of nearly permanently unemployed workers’:
“The effects of long-term unemployment are likely to linger when the overall jobless rate falls toward normal, threatening to create a pool of nearly permanently unemployed workers, a condition once more common in Europe than in the U.S.” (Sara Murray, “Chronic Joblessness Bites Deep,” Wall Street Journal, 6/2/10)
“Colleen Hanabusa may attempt to sell this temporary boost in government hiring as a success, but no amount of spin can turn inflated jobs numbers into a real solution for a healthy economy,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Hawaii families are becoming more and more frustrated with joblessness, but Hanabusa’s Washington friends only continue to push big-government policies that do nothing but impede economic growth. Will Hanabusa work to stop her party’s wasteful spending and finally get Hawaii taxpayers back to work?
How much longer will Hawaii families have to ask: Where are the jobs?
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