People say I never bring good news. Today I bring you good news or what passes for good news when it comes to the performance of our state government.

LA has moved from 50th place to 49th place in economic competitiveness according to the latest national study.

See the report here: http://www.beaconhill.org/Compete08/BHIState08-FINAL.pdf

We’re now one notch ahead of Mississippi which dropped from 49th to 50th.

Interestingly, I’ve not gotten a press release from Bobby Jindal’s office taking credit for this upward move. He claims credit for everything “positive” that happens in the state. Bobby should get all the credit he deserves for this latest ranking. Perhaps the national talk show hosts will ask him about it.

Be prepared for our state’s highly-paid, ethically-challenged, economic guru, Stephen Moret, to explain to us how the report is biased or doesn’t fully take into account all the new and innovative programs that he has implemented. You know, the traditional LA refrain: “Wait ’til next year.” Or perhaps the excuse will be: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Perhaps he will reprise us with the ever popular: “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Like it or not, the report and its rankings are out there. I seriously doubt that it will be a plus in the effort to stem the flood of out-migration in LA.

My question is: When will someone/anyone in state government take the responsibility for LA’s on-going dismal economic performance?

C.B.