Does Pawlenty Have a Jobs Plan?
On Tuesday, Tim Pawlenty will deliver his big economic policy speech in Chicago, promising a "specific plan for boosting the economy and creating jobs." Despite unemployment currently being at 9.1%, it’s unlikely his speech will include actual policies for immediate job growth. So far Pawlenty’s messaging has focused on long-term debt concerns.
This preference is clear in his new YouTube video where Pawlenty opens up with his face right next to the National Debt Clock:
Pawlenty’s message: It’s going to be painful to bring down the debt but at least I’ll be honest with you about it. He promises to phase out ethanol subsidies, reform entitlements, reduce public employee benefits, and adds that there will be no more bailouts.
While these are laudable goals, they don’t speak to the problems of a weak economy right now; they all are about long term spending imbalances. The video doesn’t even acknowledge the unemployment rate or weak economic climate.
It will only be disappointing if Pawlenty’s speech tomorrow has nothing to say about the current economic pain. It will be worse if discredited fringe ideas are included in his speech as well, such as his ill-advised attack on “fiat money”.