"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics," according to Benjamin Disraeli.
Mr. Disraeli must have had Pennsylvania under Gov. Ed Rendell in mind when he coined his famous phrase.
The Rendell administration routinely touts job growth in the state, bragging about how a record number of Pennsylvanians are working.
Recent news accounts showing job growth in Pennsylvania is at its lowest level in three years is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the sorry state of Pennsylvania's economy under Gov. Rendell.
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy has issued its latest Policy Brief, "New Year, Same Old Jobs Rhetoric," offering an independent review of the Rendell's job growth claims.
"The Governor's Mid-Year Budget Briefing brags that the number of non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania hit an all-time high of 5,811,100 in October 2007 (the latest data available). While the administration continues to pat itself on the back for this achievement, the number needs to be viewed in proper perspective," the Policy Brief states.
The Rendell administration is massaging the numbers to make it appear that the state's economy is growing at a health pace, according to the Allegheny Institute.
"The Governor has spent billions on economic development, but in many industries where the money has been spent, such as retail and manufacturing, there have been no net job gains," the Policy Brief concludes.
"Over the last seven years (October 2000 to October 2007) Pennsylvania's total private jobs has grown a scant 1.9 percent," according to the Policy Brief. "During the same period, national private sector employment climbed more than 4 percent and well over twice as fast as Pennsylvania. Many states including West Virginia (3.4 percent), Virginia (6.6) and North Carolina (4.4) have done considerably better than Pennsylvania."
The Policy Brief offers a stark conclusion about Rendell's tenure as governor: "Weakness in job and career opportunity increases continues to drive Pennsylvanians out of state to find better job opportunities."
In other words, when it comes to Pennsylvania's business climate under Rendell, the governor has no clothes.
You can read the full Policy Brief by Frank Gamrat, Ph.D., Sr. Research Associate, and Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President of The Allegheny Institute, online at http://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/
Mr. Disraeli must have had Pennsylvania under Gov. Ed Rendell in mind when he coined his famous phrase.
The Rendell administration routinely touts job growth in the state, bragging about how a record number of Pennsylvanians are working.
Recent news accounts showing job growth in Pennsylvania is at its lowest level in three years is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the sorry state of Pennsylvania's economy under Gov. Rendell.
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy has issued its latest Policy Brief, "New Year, Same Old Jobs Rhetoric," offering an independent review of the Rendell's job growth claims.
"The Governor's Mid-Year Budget Briefing brags that the number of non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania hit an all-time high of 5,811,100 in October 2007 (the latest data available). While the administration continues to pat itself on the back for this achievement, the number needs to be viewed in proper perspective," the Policy Brief states.
The Rendell administration is massaging the numbers to make it appear that the state's economy is growing at a health pace, according to the Allegheny Institute.
"The Governor has spent billions on economic development, but in many industries where the money has been spent, such as retail and manufacturing, there have been no net job gains," the Policy Brief concludes.
"Over the last seven years (October 2000 to October 2007) Pennsylvania's total private jobs has grown a scant 1.9 percent," according to the Policy Brief. "During the same period, national private sector employment climbed more than 4 percent and well over twice as fast as Pennsylvania. Many states including West Virginia (3.4 percent), Virginia (6.6) and North Carolina (4.4) have done considerably better than Pennsylvania."
The Policy Brief offers a stark conclusion about Rendell's tenure as governor: "Weakness in job and career opportunity increases continues to drive Pennsylvanians out of state to find better job opportunities."
In other words, when it comes to Pennsylvania's business climate under Rendell, the governor has no clothes.
You can read the full Policy Brief by Frank Gamrat, Ph.D., Sr. Research Associate, and Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President of The Allegheny Institute, online at http://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/
Tony Phyrillas
Tony Phyrillas is a columnist for The Mercury in Pottstown, Pa. He received a first place award for Best Opinion Column in 2007 by Suburban Newspapers of America. He was also honored for column writing in 2006 by the Society of Professional Journalists.
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