NV Unemployment Rate Falls; LV Rate Rises

Nevada's unemployment rate fell in December, compared to both the month and year earlier.

Joblessness across the Silver State fell to 12.6 percent in December, down from 13 percent in November and 14.9 percent in December 2010. In Las Vegas, unemployment rose to 12.7 percent, up from 12.4 percent in November, but down from 15.1 percent a year earlier.

Things are still very bad in Nevada. Part of the credit for the drop in the statewide rate is due to people either leaving the state or giving up the search for work.

However, the reality is the state's economy is improving, actually faster than the nation's. It's just that we are starting from such a horrific baseline there's a long way to go before it could be considered even reasonably good.

There are still many businesses and families who are just hanging on by a thread. But the trend is good. Sure, the recovery for certain industries is much farther away than for others but that's not unusual.

We just have to be careful not to throw more roadblocks in the way of recovery and work on removing some of those that are already there. Certainly, piling additional taxes on businesses would be another roadblock. It's ridiculous to think that one thing holding back recovery is that businesses are making too much money and need to have their costs increased.

UPDATE: Both of Nevada's Senators, Harry Reid and Dean Heller, issued statements commenting on the unemployment figures.

Reid said, "I won't rest until every Nevadan who wants a job is working for the government." Okay, that's not really what he said, just what he's been working toward for the last decade or so.

Heller stated, "By reforming the tax code, reducing government spending, and decreasing burdensome regulations, Washington can help create the long-term economic recovery Nevadans deserve."

The statements reveal the fundamental difference between the two philosophies driving the two parties. One believes that government is the driver of the economy and that government spending is what will spur recovery. The other believes that it is private-sector businesses and workers who are the engine of economic growth and the government can help the economy by increasing incentives and reducing the burdens it exerts on private employers and workers.