According to a new study (pdf) by the Mercatus Center of George Mason University, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a.k.a., the stimulus bill, has been a boon for government employment. Since ARRA became law, the private sector has shed 2.7 million jobs while government payrolls have expanded by 400,000 jobs. As I’ve blogged previously, this same story is playing out in Maine as well.
Speaking of tough economic times for Maine’s private sector . . . home foreclosures are up 81 percent from the 4th quarter 2009 to the 1st quarter 2010.