Jobs?

During the election campaign everyone was saying we must concentrate on creating jobs and stimulating
the economy. In today's newspaper and the morning news on TV I couldn't find a single story about jobs and the economy. I guess that problem must have been solved.

The lead story in my newspaper is about the state Division of Motor Vehicles deciding not to issue driving permits to illegal immigrants who have received deferrals from deportation. That means about 18,000 immigrants may not be able to get to their jobs. I suppose that may free up some jobs for other people but the story didn't mention that as part of the plan.

Our new Governor chose as one of his first acts to give a 5 percent pay raise to the members of his new Cabinet. Because they have done such a good job, I guess. Of course the state doesn't have the money for these raises, so I imagine they are going to have to lay off some more government workers.

The Pentagon is freezing civilian hiring and postponing maintenance work in preparation for expected budget cuts. The are also delaying contract awards, so I expect the contractors will also be laying off workers.

Perhaps we should treat the NRA proposal to put an armed police officer in every school as a job creator. But it might be just a reassignment of existing personnel. Meanwhile our existing teachers are facing a threat of being required to teach remedial reading in the summer without pay if their students don't score better on their end-of-grade tests. Does creating jobs without pay count?

The National Hockey League is finally getting back to work. That doesn't create any jobs, since the positions were already filled. But it does constitute renewed economic activity. I'll put that in the plus column, but that is about all the good news I could find.