Unemployment

But if everyone keeps going out to eat, everything will be just fine

From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader;

Sioux Falls unemployment: 4.7 percent

 According to statistics released today by the state Department of Labor, the rate jumped a full percentage point since December, when unemployment was at 3.7 percent. The statewide rate is 4.4 percent, and Rapid City is at 5.1 percent.

 Statistics from before 1990 were not immediately available.

The national unemployment figure for February is 8.1 percent.

Hopefully after seeing these numbers City Hall will wakeup and realize the time is now to make cuts to the 2009 budget, not waiting around for ‘more checks’ as the finance director has indicated. Jumping a full percentage point in one month is not a sign that things are getting better. If we continue to ignore the bad news this is going to end up biting us in the ass.  The tax increase should be revoked also without going to a public vote and all CIP projects that are decorative need to be put on hold and reviewed again in the fall.

Rounds hates unemployment benefits

It seems Rounds wants our unemployment benefits to run out on purpose so it will force people to work 3 part-time jobs until they can find something else.

Concerned it would cost businesses in the long run, Gov. Mike Rounds said Monday he plans to reject about $5 million in unemployment insurance aid that’s part of the federal economic stimulus package Congress recently passed.

The stupidity behind this is that if people lose there job in South Dakota, and they are a professional and they run out of unemployment benefits, they will move out of state to get work. So are we worried about ‘hurting business’ or ‘hurting our state tax rolls’ Once again no common sense or logic coming out of the Governor’s office. Business first – citizens second.