Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Governor’s Misleading Debate Claims
According to the Associated Press story covering last night’s gubernatorial debate, the Governor credited his administration with economic development that has “produced the highest job growth rate in state history, initiatives in public education that have already paid off in higher student test scores….”
Unfortunately, his inaccuracies go largely unchallenged because the media does not understand how the jobs numbers are being misinterpreted. His assertion that his administration has produced the fastest employment growth rate in state history is easily disproved. During the three year and eight month period from January 1996 to August 1999, Pennsylvania’s job count rose by 7.3 percent, a fairly decent showing. However, during an identical length period since the Governor took office-- January 2003 to August 2006--Pennsylvania jobs have climbed only 2.3 percent. That is less than a third the rate posted during the Ridge administration. So much for creating Pennsylvania’s fastest job growth rate.
He seems to get away with this claim because the state’s total employment is at its highest point and analysts are unable or unwilling to see the difference between level and growth rate. But even the fact that the state’s employment has reached a new high is little to brag about. Consider that in August 2000, the private sector job total stood at 5,005,500. In August 2006, private sector jobs have risen to 5,052,400, a very slender up tick of 47,000 or 0.9 percent. That’s an average of less than 0.2 percent per year and not a successful performance by any reasonable standard.
As far as education reforms already boosting test scores, the recent release of the 2006
SAT results show a different picture with Pennsylvania’s average score falling from 2005 and still well below the national average.
The sad part is most voters do not care about the facts.
Unfortunately, his inaccuracies go largely unchallenged because the media does not understand how the jobs numbers are being misinterpreted. His assertion that his administration has produced the fastest employment growth rate in state history is easily disproved. During the three year and eight month period from January 1996 to August 1999, Pennsylvania’s job count rose by 7.3 percent, a fairly decent showing. However, during an identical length period since the Governor took office-- January 2003 to August 2006--Pennsylvania jobs have climbed only 2.3 percent. That is less than a third the rate posted during the Ridge administration. So much for creating Pennsylvania’s fastest job growth rate.
He seems to get away with this claim because the state’s total employment is at its highest point and analysts are unable or unwilling to see the difference between level and growth rate. But even the fact that the state’s employment has reached a new high is little to brag about. Consider that in August 2000, the private sector job total stood at 5,005,500. In August 2006, private sector jobs have risen to 5,052,400, a very slender up tick of 47,000 or 0.9 percent. That’s an average of less than 0.2 percent per year and not a successful performance by any reasonable standard.
As far as education reforms already boosting test scores, the recent release of the 2006
SAT results show a different picture with Pennsylvania’s average score falling from 2005 and still well below the national average.
The sad part is most voters do not care about the facts.
