Jay Inslee has tried to make job creation a central theme of his re-election campaign. Unfortunately, since he has done little to create private-sector jobs in his first term, that’s a bit of a stretch.
Now comes a report carried in the Puget Sound Business Journal that points out that in job growth in so-called “‘advanced industries’ — a collection of 50 research, development, science, mathematics, engineering and technology focused industries” – that Washington State ranks 50th!
The report, by the Brookings Institution, underscores a basic problem for Inslee – his desire to grow the size of government, increase taxes, and impose more government regulations is not an approach favored by businesses looking to grow. So, they can choose not to grow here.
And that’s not a good campaign theme for Jay.
