Progressive Democrat Issue 113: INDIANA FOCUS: Jobs

Indiana's Republican Governor seems to be doing a poor job and doesn't seem to care that Indiana lags the nation in job growth. From the Indiana Democratic Party:

Indiana reports 12,500 jobs lost in January - 3/8/2007

State ranks 49th in nation for job growth over past 12 months

INDIANAPOLIS – The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today reported that Indiana lost 12,500 jobs in January, the third largest loss in the country and a 0.4 percent overall decline in employment from December to January.

The state lost a total of 4,400 jobs for the 12-month period from January 2006 to January 2007. Indiana ranks 49th in the nation for percentage job growth during that period.

Gov. Mitch Daniels frequently touted BLS data during the 2004 campaign as an arbiter of Indiana’s economic performance.

“Mitch Daniels continues to refer to Indiana’s ‘economic comeback’ while working Hoosiers scratch their heads and wonder what he means,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker.

Parker pointed to recent layoff announcements from BorgWarner, Visteon and Guide that eventually will put close to 3,000 Hoosiers out of work.

“Mitch Daniels talks and talks and talks about economic development, but he’s not doing anything for average working Hoosiers,” Parker said. “New jobs are great, but the Governor has done very little to work with Indiana-based companies or retain existing jobs.”

Since taking office, Daniels has signed more than $2 billion in taxpayer-funded contracts with out-of-state companies, not including the long-term lease of the Indiana Toll Road, which will generate 75 years of profit for a consortium of private foreign companies.

“That sends a message to Hoosier companies, entrepreneurs and workers that Mitch Daniels is not interested in growing our own,” Parker said. “Economic development is about more than press conferences and talking points. It’s about helping working Hoosiers make ends meet and making this great state a better place to live.”

Here is where I will once again plug one of my pet issues: energy independence. Energy independence allows LOCAL energy solutions that create LOCAL jobs. America's addiction to oil COSTS US JOBS AND MONEY. We could do WONDERS for our economy in every state if we pushed energy independence. Iowa is one state where wind power and biofuels are becoming a major source of income for its farmers. Indiana can follow the same path. But leadership is needed. Is Indiana's Governor providing this leadership? Sounds like he is not.

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