Friday, March 27, 2015

What Minnesota and California Have in Common


I've probably done enough humble-bragging about my home state of Minnesota and Governor Mark Dayton. But I did appreciate the way this visual summed it up.

I was also reminded that the two states in the country that are getting a lot of attention right now for their robust economic recovery are Minnesota and California.
For years, business lobbyists complained about what they derided as "job killer" laws that drive employers out of California.

Rival state governors, notably former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, made highly publicized visits to the Golden State in hopes of poaching jobs.

But new numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tell a different story. Total jobs created in the 12 months ending Jan. 31 show California leading other states. California gained 498,000 new jobs, almost 30% more than the Lone Star State's total of 392,900 for the same period.
Of course these two states have almost nothing in common. But there are a couple of things that stand out. Both Governors - Mark Dayton and Jerry Brown - took office in January 2011 following Republicans who had served more than one term. They beat the odds of the 2010 midterm elections that brought in Republican Governors like Scott Walker, Rick Scott, Rick Snyder and Sam Brownback.

But what I find even more interesting is that both of these Governors are old white guy political re-treads. Perhaps that's just a meaningless coincidence. But in an era when there is a lot of focus on young up-and-coming energetic newcomers in politics, it does make me wonder if the old guys who have already been around the block once or twice might not bring something to the table that we need these days.

Just a thought...

2 comments:

  1. While I find Jerry Brown seriously wanting, you're spot on about older and wiser people having something to offer. We are not beset by fantasy and hopes for wishful thinking. We know what works - and what doesn't. We have wiser counsel about going off half baked on issues, and we respect the process fully. I just got roundly dissed yesterday by a young pup, and while I will prevail, I'm tired of it. Fantasy is not policy. The only way to stave off the RW is with sound policy and practice. That is what the newbies miss - we already invented a lot of their wheels. They're just spinning their own.

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  2. These numbers are impressive and surprising. I would not have guessed this. However, pure jobs created can be a bit misleading due to the larger population in CA. When viewed as a percentage of population, TX is ahead of CA

    The Top 10 States For Job Growth* In 2014
    1. North Dakota – up 4.6%
    2. Nevada – up 3.6%
    3. Texas – up 3.3%
    4. Utah – up 3.1%
    5. Florida – up 2.9%
    6. Oregon – up 2.8%
    7. Colorado – up 2.7%
    8. Delaware – up 2.5%
    9. California – up 2.2% (tie)
    9. Washington – up 2.2% (tie)

    Texas is also 4th in percentage population growth at 1.4%, and CBS says this ...
    "Texas truly has been an economic powerhouse and has been steadily growing for more than a decade. The state weathered the Great Recession well, its housing market barely busted and its economic and job growth has beat out plenty of other states. Plus, it's one of a handful of states without income taxes. Texas did very well with both attraction and retention, a sign of steady, more permanent job growth, Neidert said."

    What MN has done is great. Any honest review of Texas and it's conservative approach would show it is proven over a long period of time to work as well.

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