Where’s the Beef?

July 2 (Bloomberg) — Employers in the U.S. cut 467,000 jobs in June, the unemployment rate rose and hourly earnings stagnated, offering little evidence the Obama administration’s stimulus package is shoring up the labor market.

The payroll decline was more than forecast and followed a 322,000 drop in May, according to Labor Department figures released today in Washington. The jobless rate jumped to 9.5 percent, the highest since August 1983, from 9.4 percent.

MCVPAC has uncovered some interesting facts today regarding the appointment, or lack thereof, of agents to Missouri’s License Offices:

· Of the 139 license offices that have been put up for bid since Governor Jay took over, 18 have had a bid process that has been closed for over 110 days.

· Of those 18 that have had a bid process closed for over 110 days, only one has received an appointment to date (St. Charles — The bid process was closed for over four months (128 days!) before an agent was named).

· Twelve of the 17 that are awaiting an appointment are in the Kansas City or St. Louis Metro Areas.  These are some of the most lucrative offices.

· The Liberty office bid process has been closed for 133 days with still no agent named!

If these appointments are based solely on a point system, MCVPAC wonders what the delay in naming these agents could be.  Could the Governor be waiting until the July 4^th weekend to name his cronies to some of these lucrative positions, hoping his loyal media buries the stories in their coverage?