Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Beshear Gives Himself Solid B+
In his speech, Beshear touted his efforts to create jobs in the past year while blaming “a national recession born of reckless spending in Washington and corrupt practices on Wall Street” for job losses that have nearly doubled the unemployment rate since he took office.
The unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in December 2007 compared to 10.6 percent in November 2009.
Still, Beshear said the use of federal stimulus dollars has created or saved about 4,200 jobs that could have been lost if the state had to cut key programs.
An overhaul of the state’s economic incentive program passed in a 2009 special legislative session has led to projects that could create up to 1,134 jobs, save an additional 1,450 jobs and represent a capital investment of $130 million, Beshear said.
Wow he saved 6,834 jobs. The state has 2.44 million employed people. Unemployment went from 5.5 percent to 10.6 percent. That means that we lost nearly 140,000 jobs and Beshear is crowing about saving less than 5% of the total jobs lost. Undoubtedly a B+ effort on jobs.
“When I became governor two years ago, state government was broke,” said Beshear, who is running for re-election next year. “Not just broke but broken in every sense of those two words. Financially. Functionally. And spiritually.”Let's break this down. The state was broke financially. What did he do to "turn it around"? He has kicked the can down the road and letter federal bailout money save his bacon in 2009. He hasn't made any tough choices on our financial future. All he has done was run around mumbling about our need for gambling.
The state was broken functionally. What did he do to "turn it around"? He hired all of his old cronies that have run state government forever in Frankfort. Because that is what Frankfort needed. A return to the golden age when the city was a cesspool of corrupt life long bureaucrats suckling off the tit of state government. I guess that could be considered functional.
The state was broken spiritually. WTF does this mean? Did he go around to all the state employees to find out their spiritual state? I'll assume he means "Espirit de Corps". I am sure the morale of state employees is at an all time high knowing they will be furloughed this year because of his gutless decision making. Well except for Beshear's friends in education who are going to be spared any cuts. I am sure they are in high spirits.
I think it is clear that Beshear's tenure to date has be an "indisputable" something. But I don't think the word success is what comes to mind.
