As the political season warms up as the nights cool down here in Vermont, the political parties are offering their takes on the state of the economy. Republicans and Democrats both released statements recently following the release of the July unemployment rate, which went up three-tenths to 3.7 percent, tied for fourth lowest in the nation. You may see a link to the original story below with related articles and the political responses below.
REPUBLICANS: Vermont’s Working Families Continue to Suffer While Shumlin Administration “Hopes” Conditions Will Improve
Montpelier, VT (August 21, 2014) – Vermont’s working families, young people, seniors, and small business owners received more bad economic news from the state’s Department of Labor Monday. The Shumlin economy continues to falter. In July, the total seasonally adjusted number of employed Vermonters dropped, the number of unemployed Vermonters rose and the size of our overall workforce remained virtually stagnant.
An additional 1,150 Vermont workers joined the unemployment lines in July, continuing a disturbing trend that has seen increases in the total number of unemployed for each of the last two months. Consequently, our state’s unemployment rate rose for the second straight month and is at its highest level since February of this year.
Also worrisome is the continued lack of growth in the size of Vermont’s workforce. Last month, the total seasonally adjusted workforce increased by only 200 workers. Even with those additions, the total loss of Vermont workers since January 2011 when Governor Shumlin first took office stands at 8,850.
If Vermont’s workforce had stayed only flat since 2011 — with our current number of working Vermonters — the state’s unemployment rate would be 6.25%. That’s higher than the state’s unemployment rate when Governor Shumlin first took office.
Most disturbingly, another month has passed with no comprehensive statewide economic development plan from Governor Shumlin or the Democrat supermajority in the legislature.
Also of deep concern is the statement by Vermont’s Department of Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan which accompanied the release of the new data. Commissioner Noonan stated, “…we hope this (the unemployment rate increase) will resolve as we move into the early fall…”
“Hope” is not an economic development plan. Wishful thinking will not create new jobs and new opportunities for Vermont’s working families.
As Vermont’s economy remains stagnant at best — and with no economic development plan from the Shumlin administration or the Democrat supermajority in the legislature — it’s clear that improvement for the working families of our state will require new leadership in Montpelier.
Vermont Republicans are ready to lead and bring a new economic vision to our state. By easing the oppressive tax burden on our State’s citizens and small businesses, removing the obstacles to job creation, and providing strategic incentives for new job growth in our state, Vermont Republicans — with the support of Vermont voters in November — will usher in a new era of progress and opportunities for the Green Mountain State. It’s what Vermonters want and deserve.
It’s time for a change.
Statement from DEMOCRATS
BURLINGTON, VT (August 22, 2014) – On the very day the Republicans tried yet again to spread their doom and gloom in another press release, news came that Vermont is in fact leading New England in recovering from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.
Published in the Brattleboro Reformer yesterday, it is clear Vermont is once again leading the way — this time in post-recession economic growth. “The growth rate was greatest in Vermont, at 12 percent…”, states the AP article, according to new federal statistics released on Wednesday.
http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_26375026/data-shows-not-all-new-england-post-recession
Ben Sarle, VDP’s Director of Communications & Outreach, stated today — “We won’t be surprised to see more of the same regressive schemes from the VTGOP, trying to mislead Vermonters with baseless scare tactics. Unlike the Republicans, the Vermont Democratic Party knows that our state is filled with resilient, tenacious Vermonters. And it is thanks to them and the tireless work of Governor Shumlin and Democrats in the legislature that have made Vermont bounce back faster than any other state in the region from the economic crisis. Additionally, right now Vermont is leading the nation is solar job creation, we have the 4th lowest unemployment rate in the country, and we’re investing in Vermont’s downtown revitalization projects to create even more jobs in communities across the state and build a stronger Vermont for future generations.
We’re not interested in the political games the VTGOP is trying to play. We are interested in getting candidates elected in November who will continue the significant economic progress Vermont has been making; and support legislation and policy that directly benefits hard-working Vermonters. Because when Vermont wins, we win. We know we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are very confident as we head into the 2014 general election cycle.”