Will Pennsylvania again blow its chance at growth?
The national economy is said to be on a roll with a stunning 7.2 percent growth in the last quarter and unemployment figures are on the decline. But all that might be happening elsewhere. The Department of Labor and Industry on Friday reported that Pennsylvania in October lost nearly 4,000 more non-farming jobs and has 17,100 fewer jobs than a year ago. Most of the losses come from what are considered good-paying sectors such as manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities. The only type of jobs that has remained steady and has continued to grow are in government. This is not the way to grow a healthy economy.
Pennsylvania’s economy grew at a much slower pace than the rest of the country during the booming heydays. And it appears little has changed to position the state for growth now that signs are indicating that the recession is indeed over.
Gov. Rendell proposed a plan that lawmakers have yet to consider. This tomfoolery must stop. If lawmakers don’t like Rendell’s plan for a new Pennsylvania then they need to come up with one of their own. Continued deadlock is killing Pennsylvania’s opportunity to finally grow.