Who's at Fault? Corbett or Obama?
New jobless figures are out and PA unemployment rate is up. Who will get the blame?
Who's at Fault? Corbett or Obama?
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Pennsylvania's new jobless figures are out and the state's unemployment rate is up.
Question now is who gets the blame, Gov. Corbett or President Obama?
The state Department of Labor & Industry released August figures Thursday. The data shows that Pennsylvania's unemployment rate rose in August for the third straight month and is now at the same level of the national rate, 8.1 percent, for the first time in six years.
The department says payrolls shrunk by about 1,200 in August and it estimates the number of jobs in the state at about 5.7 million, which is fewer than the state had in 2005.
Now you'd think that in the heat of this presidential race, the Romney campaign -- by almost all accounts trailing in Pennsylvania -- would grab onto the data and blame Obama.
And perhaps it will.
But Thursday, state House Democrats came out fast and furious to blame Corbett.
"Today’s employment data release is a major development coming almost at the midpoint of Tom Corbett’s term. The “Corbett Jobs Plan” (whatever it might be) has failed. There is no other way to put it," said a statement from Bill Patton, spokesman for House Dems.
The statement blames the jobless numbers on Corbett cuts in social services and education funding and failure to implement a transportation policy which Democrats say would create jobs for road and bridge repair.
It adds, "When it comes to the Marcellus shale industry’s growth, Tom Corbett often makes job claims that are barely grounded in reality. Today’s data about the overall jobs picture in Pennsylvania is real. It tells an important story, but it’s not one you will hear Tom Corbett talking about."
In fact, Corbett just touted the industry that his policies helped advance in the state and again claimed job growth because of it.
"In addition to the tens of thousands of jobs, I'm here to say thank you, thank you to the industry that has added another $200 million to the common good," Corbett said in remarks to a gas drillers gathering in Philly.
So maybe, since Corbett's policies are portrayed as creating jobs, the Romney folks won't be here to claim Obama's policies are killing jobs. Or maybe Romney says Corbett's policies are saving the state from worse numbers.
Either way, more Pennsylvanian's are out of work. Who's fault? Corbett? Obama? Both?
You mean, "whose" fault.— Susie from Philly- Another failing by our illustrious leader TOMMY CORBETT!! While he was the Attorney General of PA. Good ol' Tommy boy sat on the investigation of pedophile Jerry Sandusky for three years while Sandusky's charity, The Second Mile, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars into Corbett's election campaign. Corbett is as responsible for some of those victims being molested as Jerry is.
Corbett needs to be kicked out of office for his lack of action. he had a chance to stop innocent children from being abused yet he took the money and looked the other way!!— Daddio - Corbett's austerity is hurting the state.
Europe is finally waking up to the fact that you can't take austerity measures in the middle of financial down turn— Seed - Clinton and Gore financial achievement was not just based on growth in private sector, it was due to their success in balancing federal budget as well.
Government spending should be under taken when the economy is on sound ground, not during a depression brought on by greed and incompetent presidency like Bush and Hoover— Seed - Government spending "cut" should be undertaken .... — Seed
- The Guv's got his eyes on the prize so don't criticize. The one job that counts most to him is that which he'll slip into working with the gas industry upon leaving office.— Tkat
- Baer: Don't hurt yourself over-analyzing the numbers because you might get a conclusion you don't like. How about looking at nationwide trends? If most of the states have rising unemployment rates then it might be an Obama issue. If most states' rates are rising and Dem states are rising faster, it might be a fed and state issue. Please dig deeper. You're the expert. All you've done is what any commenter can do which is basically use the numbers to arrive at your desired political result. The difference is commenters do it for free while you are paid for some reason.— Phillies2008WSChamps
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Corbett gave huge tax breaks to the oil giants in return for big job numbers. These statistics show job losses in the state, so the oil companies didn't deliver on their promise. Corbett knew there were no jobs, but he sold out for campaign cash and future jobs for himself and his staff.— Smartie Pants
- @sharkymachine: And I'm sure you would say the same thing if we had a Democratic Gov and a Republican Pres. Suuuuuuuurrre.— Commentdant_Klink
- This is the most blatantly stupid piece on employment I have seen yet. The real truth is the numbers are falling in Philadelphia due to the refinery closures and the near bankruptcy of most of the school districts. Why don't you report who is loosing the jobs? Because the vast majority are in democrat strongholds and they are blue collars from companies that are dying. The second largest group is teachers and school district employees whose districts are finally being forced to actually put money into pensions. Only two districts in the Philadelphia region have funded their pensions properly. Now regulations are forcing them to start paying and since the teachers unions refuse to cut real costs, the districts are laying off teachers. The taxpayers have nothing else to give.
But the funny thing is, western PA IS adding jobs as is the shale gas region. Shale gas money is helping to reduce the pension issues and real jobs are giving people hope. All the while the Philly region is melting down. Philadelphia is the problem and last I looked Democrats have run it for 60 years.— Dutch-wayne - Thanks be to god, that casino revenues have reached an all time high.
Well when mandated ultra sound for women takes place, 40 percent of births are due to unmarried single females which provides about one million single parent kids (some have more than one, however), the pro life movement is responsible for the unemployment rate as these single/unmarried single birth givers cost the taxpayers about $500,000 to raise their kids - I think Corbett is responsible. However, if these single birth givers are required to have a mandated ultra sound (but they don't have to look at it, per Corbett,for a cost saving abortion) employment might rise.
In the meantime, Planned Parenthood - responsible life - that respect the commandment - honor thy mother and father. Could we see more of the unwanted sanctity of life kids being flushed down toilets, thrown in dumpsters, starved or just thrown away - real life instead of being concerned about the Unborn when we can't even feed the born!
If you hate Obama, vote for him anyway, you'll get to like him ... a lot.— Bob Washick - Hey, seed, Clinton and Gore had a balanced budget because the rich paid far higher taxes than they do now. As a result, there was more federal money for, among other things, infrastructure projects, law enforcement, firefighter and teachers jobs. And where you're wrong is that there was tremendous growth in the private sector. That's one of the reasons unemployment was so low. Lastly, there was cooperation from republicans on those economic issues, unlike the do nothing republicans of today. Get your facts straight. Thank you.— mike 1717
- John you have to be kidding? Let's look at Rendell and Obama not Corbett. What stage and framed question. Here is the problem. In Pa. the democrats run the state in Philadelphia which is so incredibly corrupt!!! i could go on and on. Pick a republican state in the south of your choice(although not nearly as corrupt) and republicans run the state. We must stop CAREER POLITICIANS from both sides. First step are hard term limits! Just like the President no one can be engaged as a goverment offical locally,state or federal for more then 8 years and in some electedm postions 6 years. The result would be tremendous. No one builds incredible pensions, backdoor relationships (although that is next to impossible to stop) and so on. Secondly if we truly wanted to change we should get the corporations and the unions out of the cities,states and federal goverment. Change the laws on lobbying! YES IT CAN BE DONE!!! The reality is neither party wants any part of it. Not having enough Money is not the prblem at any level if these laws were implemented. Look at city council they have been and always willn be an embarassment. They shouldn't have 10% of the power and influnce they have. Both parties wants the citizens polarized for their own betterment not every citizen of Philadelphia and the suburbs and Pa and the U.S. OF AMERICA!Less goverment/term limits/elimate lobbying!— Alpha58
John is the author of the book "On The Front Lines of Pennsylvania Politics: Twenty-Five Years of Keystone Reporting" (The History Press, 2012). Reach John at baerj@phillynews.com.
