If you didn’t know, stronger Covid measures from the United States government have actually helped the economy, or at least that is what President Joe Biden’s Chief of Staff wants you to believe.
On Wednesday morning, White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain tweeted “Stronger COVID measures produce STRONGER ECONOMIC outcomes. That’s why jobs, growth, and economic activity are UP this year, significantly over last year.”
Nope. Stronger COVID measures produce STRONGER ECONOMIC outcomes. That’s why jobs, growth, and economic activity are UP this year, significantly over last year. https://t.co/06j5K7Qeb5
— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) December 1, 2021
His message came in response to an article and tweet from The Wall Street Journal’s Greg Ip, who stated: “Covid carved a partisan divide through the U.S. Democrats have been much more cautious/protective which manifests itself as generally lower infections/deaths but also much weaker economic outcomes. Omicron could perpetuate that.”
In response to Klain’s statement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s press secretary Christina Pushaw rebutted: “I like how you use the euphemism ‘measures’ when you really mean ‘forced medical procedures and lockdowns.’ It’s okay, Americans understand you perfectly well.”
I like how you use the euphemism “measures” when you really mean “forced medical procedures and lockdowns.” It’s okay, Americans understand you perfectly well.
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 (@ChristinaPushaw) December 2, 2021
Pushaw’s boss has taken a virtual hands-off approach to Covid-19 since late spring of 2020, and as a result, the Sunshine State boasts one of the top economies in the U.S.
According to the Foundation for Government Accountability, “there is more job creation, more economic activity, and less unemployment thanks to the economic stewardship of Gov. DeSantis. In particular, the governor’s decision to end the $300 weekly unemployment bonus helped to accelerate Florida’s economic recovery and kick the state into overdrive.”
DeSantis’ decision to cut unemployment bonuses this year — as national Democrats were calling for more unemployment checks — kickstarted record-setting growth. FGA noted that “in late May, Florida was sending out more than $400 million in unemployment benefits every single week to individuals across the state. However, by the end of August, this had declined by an incredible 86 percent.”
As a result, “Florida employers hired nearly 1.3 million new workers” since he cut unemployment. FGA also stated that because of the low taxes, low regulation, and open economy, “entrepreneurs created nearly 150,000 new businesses since the unemployment bonus ended.”
“Florida is not just a model for the nation—it has become the model for the nation. Other states should emulate the proven Florida model and set their economies on track for success,” FGA stated.
When comparing Florida to California during a similar timeframe, it’s easy to see that the Golden State’s strong Covid measures — as Ronald Klain might like to call them — hurt California workers. On Wednesday this week, Fox KTVU reported that businesses are still struggling to find staffers:
California currently has double the percentage of new unemployment claims than the state should have compared to other states. Yet, with more than a record million jobs listed and available, workers are not grabbing them up.
Based on unemployment numbers, Klain’s tweet seems absurd. Stanford Professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said it was “economic ignorance on display.”
“Lockdowns kill economic activity. That is their primary purpose. The economic harm falls especially on the poor and working class. Without stopping covid. It’s not a coincidence that red state unemployment is so much lower than blue state,” he added.
This is economic ignorance on display. Lockdowns kill economic activity. That is their primary purpose. The economic harm falls especially on the poor and working class. Without stopping covid.
It’s not a coincidence that red state unemployment is so much lower than blue state. https://t.co/8DNyloxFSh
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) December 2, 2021