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Fitzpatrick: “Government works for the people, not the other way around” (AUDIO)

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A three-term Missouri House member was sworn-in as the 47th state treasurer during a Monday ceremony at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (left) is sworn-in by Barry County Judge Johnnie Cox on January 14, 2019. Fitzpatrick’s wife, Mallory, holds the Bible (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Shell Knob Republican Scott Fitzpatrick, who’s been serving as the House Budget Committee Chairman, delivered brief remarks after he was sworn-in by Barry County Judge Johnnie Cox. Fitzpatrick emphasizes the importance of making strong decisions, planning and responsibility.

“And that’s how I view the role of state treasurer,” Fitzpatrick told the audience. “A protector of state funds so Missouri schools can continue to be fully funded, Missouri businesses can continue to grow and Missouri families can continue to prosper.”

The audience included Republicans Governor Mike Parson, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz and House Speaker Elijah Haahr. Democrats attending include State Auditor Nicole Galloway, Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh and numerous other lawmakers from both chambers and parties.

Fitzpatrick says he’s humbled and honored about his new opportunity. Fitzpatrick, who helped to build boat dock manufacturer MariCorp US into a multi-million dollar enterprise, says government must work for the people.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (left), Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe and other officials listen to new State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick on January 14, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“I witnessed our government standing in the way of my ability (at Maricorp US) to keep people working due to the inability or unwillingness of bureaucrats to sign off on permits,” says Fitzpatrick.

During his remarks, Fitzpatrick also emphasized fiscal restraint and support for small business.

Governor Parson announced the Fitzpatrick appointment during a December 19th press conference at the Capitol. Fitzpatrick replaces Schmitt, who was appointed attorney general to replace Republican Josh Hawley, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in November.

The state treasurer serves as Missouri’s chief financial officer and safeguards more than $988 million in unclaimed property.

Fitzpatrick tells Missourinet his resignation from the House took effect Monday afternoon at 3:30.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, is praising the governor’s selection of Fitzpatrick as treasurer. Wiemann tells Missourinet that Parson made an outstanding choice.

“I served with Scott for four years (in the House), had an opportunity to see him first-hand, his leadership, his abilities,” Wiemann says. “He’s certainly a young man but he’s very accomplished, even at his young age.”

Fitzpatrick is 31 years old. The governor says Fitzpatrick has more experience and knowledge of the state budget than any other elected official.

Former Republican State Treasurers Wendell Bailey and Sarah Steelman also attended the ceremony.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, which was recorded on January 14, 2019 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

New Missouri House Speaker Haahr outlines 2019 priorities

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The new Missouri House Speaker says the Show-Me State has the lowest unemployment in decades, but it does not mean that lawmakers can rest.

New Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, addresses the House on January 9, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, was formally elected Speaker by the full House during Wednesday’s opening session in Jefferson City. Haahr says the Legislature will create what he calls “bold solutions” for challenges faced by every Missourian.

“At the heart of our efforts is one of economic growth. Our message that Missouri is open for business cannot be just lip service coming from this building (the Capitol). The policies we pass must focus on cultivating employers and not controlling their businesses,” Haahr tells the House.

Republicans will control the chamber 116-47 in 2019, which Haahr notes is one of the largest majorities in state history.

Speaker Haahr’s call for criminal justice reform gets a thumbs-up from House Democratic leaders. During his address, Haahr received bipartisan applause when he mentioned “a broken criminal justice system.”

“We must provide opportunity to those in a broken criminal justice system. Last year the House unanimously passed reforms to our sentencing laws and we will again lead on those reforms,” says Haahr.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, tells reporters that Democrats have been talking about criminal justice reform for decades. Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, also praises Haahr’s comments.

While Republicans have a supermajority-plus, Haahr says he’ll always listen to ideas from Democrats. Haahr describes the House as a “family with a common cause – to make Missouri a better place.”

“We won’t always agree on the policies. But, we always will agree on the goals of safer neighborhoods for our families, better education for our children and a stronger economy for Missouri,” Haahr says.

The Missouri House and Senate convene on January 9, 2019 for a joint session to commemorate the 100th General Assembly (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Quade tells Missourinet she has a “great working relationship” with Speaker Haahr, noting they have neighboring districts. She adds she and the Speaker have had preliminary discussions about funding for community colleges and for Missouri State University in Springfield, which is in her district.

Haahr also focused on conservative policies during his address, saying that “gone are the old ways of thinking that public money alone can end our problems.” He tells the House that Missouri has passed a balanced budget without raising taxes for 15 years that “that will not change on our watch.”

He also says lawmakers will fully fund the school foundation formula and says the House will “continue to lead the charge” to confront Missouri’s opioid epidemic.

Judge Jack Goodman, a former Mount Vernon state senator, administered the oath of office to Haahr on Wednesday.

Leader Quade says a top goal for House Democrats is to protect taxpayers from a mistake made by the Missouri Department of Revenue last year, which she says resulted in inaccurate withholdings from Missourians’ paychecks. Quade has filed a bill that would grant taxpayers who owe less than $200 an additional two months to pay, without incurring penalties or interest charges.

This is the historic 100th General Assembly. The House and Senate also convened a rare joint session on Wednesday, to take a photograph in the House chamber. There were 152 of the 163 state representatives and all 34 state senators in the photo, along with Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R).

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Springfield will have strong clout in Missouri House in 2019

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The historic 100th Missouri General Assembly convened Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson City.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee on March 5, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Republicans control the Missouri House 116-47 and control the Senate 24-10. The GOP has a supermajority-plus in both chambers.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, helped convene the House session at noon, invoking scripture and telling House members they’ve been given great authority.

The House formally elected State Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, as Speaker today. Assistant House Minority Leader DaRon McGee, D-Kansas City, formally nominated House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, as Speaker.

Quade declined the nomination, noting that Missourians elected 116 House Republicans. But Quade also noted that Missourians rejected right-to-work and approved a minimum wage increase and medical marijuana.

While Speaker Haahr emphasized conservative philosophies such as tax relief during his opening day address, he reached out to Quade and to the House’s 47 Democrats.

“Minority Leader Quade and my Democrat colleagues, I will always value the ideas that you bring to the table. We won’t always agree on policies. But, we will always agree on the goals of safer neighborhoods to raise a family in, ensuring a better education for our children, and building a stronger economy for Missourians,” Haahr tells the House.

Speaker Haahr also emphasizes the importance of combating Missouri’s opioid epidemic. He says “hope must also extend to the Missourians trapped in the hold of opioid addictions.”

State Rep. John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, has been formally elected as House Speaker Pro Tem.

Opening day is largely ceremonial. The House and Senate will convene later today for a joint session to take a photograph of the 100th General Assembly.

Haahr and Quade plan separate press conferences later today.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Tennessee-based airline to begin commercial jet service from Fort Leonard Wood to St. Louis Lambert

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(Reporter Gerard Knehans at Missourinet Waynesville affiliate KJPW Radio contributed to this story)

Officials in south-central Missouri’s Waynesville and St. Robert announced on Tuesday that Contour Airlines will be launching commercial jet service from Fort Leonard Wood next month.

A Contour jet flew to the Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (WSRA) for the January 8, 2019 press conference about commercial jet service at Fort Leonard Wood (photo courtesy of the Sustainable Ozarks Partnership)

Tennessee-based Contour will be flying daily from the Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (WSRA) to St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Contour chief executive officer Matt Chaifetz says passengers will enjoy comfortable seating.

“Service will begin on February 12. We’ll be offering 12 weekly roundtrip flights on an ERJ-135 regional jet with 30 seats all featuring the amount of leg room that you’d get in first class on a major airline,” Chaifetz tells Missourinet Waynesville affiliate KJPW Radio.

Chaifetz says introductory fares will begin at $29 each way for tickets purchased before January 22. He says the flight from Fort Leonard Wood to Lambert will be 24 minutes.

Chaifetz and St. Robert’s mayor held a Tuesday press conference to make the announcement.

Missouri House Majority Whip Steve Lynch, R-Waynesville, also attended the event.

Chaifetz says the airline will provide safe, fast and affordable flights.

“We’ll have two daily departures (from WSRA) Monday through Friday,” says Chaifetz. “The first departure will be at 7:25 in the morning and the second departure will be at 2:45 in the afternoon, and we will have two inbound flights on Sunday through Friday.”

Contour will replace Cape Air at the Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport. Chaifetz says Cape Air handled about 8,000 flights in 2018.

“We want to make sure that we get the airport across the 8,000 passenger threshold and we think we can do that. In all of our market that we serve we’ve seen a major increase in passenger traffic as a result of our reliability, the aircraft being used and our fare structure,” Chaifetz says.

Contour serves six states, and its website emphasizes that passengers receive a complimentary first checked bag and one carry-on item.

Economic development leaders in the region say the new commercial jet service will benefit the Fort Leonard Wood area’s tourism industry.

The nonprofit organization “Sustainable Ozarks Partnership” says more than 150,000 visitors travel to the Fort Leonard Wood region annually to attend military graduations.

Fort Leonard Wood’s website says it trains about 82,600 military and civilians annually. The website notes it’s home to the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and now trains for the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School as well as the U.S. Army Engineer School.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Parson says Panama Canal expansion is quite the deal for Missouri

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Gov. Mike Parson says the Panama Canal expansion is an opportunity to make greater use of the Mississippi River for shipping agriculture products. During the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Convention in Columbia on Saturday, Parson says the two-and-a-half-year-old expansion can give an edge to Missouri farmers.

Gov. Mike Parson

“No matter what part of the state you’re in, in agriculture, that’s going to play a huge role of how we get our products out of this state and the opportunities we’re going to have for that,” he says. “I think that’s definitely an area we’ve got to focus on.”

Parson, a Republican, says alternatives must be found for state transportation funding, since Missouri voters have rejected a fuel tax increase more than once.

“The problem does not go away and we have to figure out a way to be able to meet the demands of the future for this state,” Parson says.

In November, Missouri voters rejected a gas tax increase to help maintain roads. The ballot measure would have boosted the fuel tax by 2.5 cents annually over four years.

Parson spoke to a crowd of about 700 people at the event.

By Tom Steever of Brownfield Ag News

Incoming Missouri legislator says more schools should offer shop classes

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Senator-elect Cindy O’Laughlin of Shelbina says the state should return to teaching students skilled trades. The northeast Missouri businesswoman says the federal government encouraged schools to stop offering shop classes and many complied.

Cindy O’Laughlin

“Some schools are able to access vocational schools to teach some of those things like welding, carpentry, that kind of thing. But many of them are not,” O’Laughin says.

She tells Missourinet affiliate KWIX in Moberly the move has hurt the state’s workforce.

“We have companies all around our area that are looking to hire people and can’t find people to hire,” she says.

O’Laughlin supports fellow Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s efforts to increase workforce development opportunities in Missouri. She, along with other lawmakers, plan to address the issue during the next legislative session beginning January 9.

O’Laughlin replaces Republican Brian Munzlinger of Williamstown, who’s finishing his final term in the Senate.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

SSM: MU Health Care is the right candidate to purchase St. Mary’s Hospitals in mid-Missouri (AUDIO)

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(This is the second story in reporter Brian Hauswirth’s two-part series on the proposed hospital sale)

Executives from St. Louis-based SSM Health say the current structure for St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City is unsustainable. They want to sell its hospitals in mid-Missouri’s Jefferson City and Mexico to MU Health Care. SSM Health chief operations officer Steve Smoot tells Missourinet that SSM has been financially-challenged for several years.

St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City is located near Highway 179 (2018 photo courtesy of SSM Health)

“Although we have done everything we can and have had some improvement, the level of improvement is not going to help us get where we need to be as we look out into the future,” Smoot says. “So we’re really looking for how do we really sustain health care in Jeff City for the patients that are being served here.”

A group called “A Coalition for Choice” opposes the proposed sale, claiming massive job cuts could occur at the Capital City hospital.

St. Mary’s opened its $200 million 179-bed hospital in Jefferson City in 2014, and SSM and MU Health Care say the average number of hospital beds in Jefferson City is only 135 a night. That’s with St. Mary’s and Capital Region Medical Center (CRMC) combined.

Mr. Smoot says Columbia-based MU Health is the only candidate that satisfies requirements from St. Mary’s to purchase its hospitals in Jefferson City and Mexico. Smoot spoke to Missourinet after a recent forum, where one resident called for rebidding the sale to a different entity.

“There’s a lot of speculation that there was some other great bidder out there that we should have paid attention to or didn’t pay attention to, and there is no other organization out there in the wings waiting to jump into this if this doesn’t come together,” says Smoot.

Backers of the proposed sale say it would eliminate duplication and would provide new health care options in the region.

But opponents say MU Health would operate St. Mary’s and CRMC in Jefferson City, if the sale is approved.

Jefferson City nurse and cancer survivor Tracey Vandelicht attended the recent forum, and tells Missourinet she wants St. Mary’s to be sold to another faith-based organization.

Other opponents worry about a future monopoly in Jefferson City. Connie Farrow is a spokeswoman for “A Coalition for Choice,” which says selling to MU Health must be off the table.

“If this merger goes through, they would have Capital Region here in Jeff City, they would have St. Mary’s and then they would, in Audrain (County), they would have all the facilities, the one donut hole left would be Boone Health in Columbia,” Farrow says.

Boone Hospital Center is affiliated with St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare.

Farrow says St. Mary’s received tax abatements and assistance with a new Highway 179 interchange, when they opened the hospital in 2014.

MU Health Care chief executive officer Jonathan Curtright tells Missourinet that there would still be major competition in Jefferson City and Columbia, adding that local jobs and good pay and benefits are important to him.

The proposed sale needs regulatory approval and could go before Missouri lawmakers for review in 2019 in Jefferson City.

“A Coalition for Choice” also wants the Trump Administration to block the proposed sale.

Click here to listen to the full interview between SSM Health’s Steve Smoot and Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and KOMU’s Jacob Cavaiani, which was recorded on December 17, 2018 in Jefferson City:

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and “A Coalition for Choice” spokeswoman Connie Farrow and Jefferson City nurse Tracey Vandelicht, which was recorded on December 17, 2018 in Jefferson City:

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Small growth projected for Missouri state revenues despite strong economy

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The annual estimate for general revenue collections announced Friday for the state was for small growth of 2 percent, despite a strong economy and the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded for Missouri.

The projection, which pegs revenue at $9.82 billion, applies to the next fiscal year which begins in July. The figure, known as the Consensus Revenue Estimate (CRE), is used by lawmakers and the governor to construct an operating budget for the year.

State budget professionals and hired consultants, including a University of Missouri economist, join budget leaders in the state legislature and the governor to determine the CRE. If the new estimate is accurate it would represent growth of $193 million over the estimated revenue for the current fiscal year of 2019 that ends June 30th.

Former Republican Governor Eric Greitens announced the 2019 CRE in January, which was $9.42 billion. That figure represented growth of $229.3 million, translating to a growth rate of 2.5%. A revised estimate for the remainder if 2019, which was also announced Friday, has been increased by more than $200 is $9.63 billion.

The upward projection comes as state revenue is down roughly $180 million from the previous year.  Lawmakers have linked the current shortfall to an error in figuring income tax tables, a problem that’s since been corrected by the state Revenue Department.  There’s an expectation that revenues will make up for the shortage in the coming months because of the correction.

Republican Governor Mike Parson announced the new forecast with GOP House Budget Committee Chairman Scott Fitzpatrick of Shell Knob and Republican Senate Appropriations Chairman Dan Brown of Rolla.

Representative Fitzpatrick indicated that the calculations were made cautiously. “Budgets are based on projections,” said Fitzpatrick.  “The best way to ensure a balanced budget is to use a conservative but realistic revenue estimate, which I feel is represented in this agreement.”

Senator Brown suggested the number was carefully figured to avoid an overestimation. “With a low 3% unemployment rate in Missouri and jobs available, I think 2% growth is realistic and can be attained in Fiscal Year 2020,” said Brown.

The estimates for 2020 and the current fiscal year of 2019 are much more conservative compared to previous years, which resulted in large chunks of money having to be cut from state services.

Revenues were projected to increase by $345 million at a growth rate of 3.8 percent in the 2018 fiscal year.  With collections failing to meet estimates heading into the July first start date that year, former Governor Greitens slashed $251 Million in spending.  Previous Governor Jay Nixon made even deeper cuts a year earlier when revenues fell far short a projected 5% growth rate.

The new estimates were released days before states income cuts take hold January 1st. The rate most Missourians pay will decrease from 5.9 percent to 5.4 percent. The rate can drop further to 5.1% if the state meets revenue targets calling for increased collections of $150 million. The rate will decrease by 0.1% for each year that the state meets those targets. Individuals claiming business income on their personal taxes could see a reduction of 25 percent once all the targets are met.

State Representative Kip Kendrick of Columbia, the ranking Democratic member of the House Budget Committee, issued a statement Friday critical of the tax cuts. “While the estimate reflects an expected $193 million in revenue growth, it is silent on the $320 million in revenue Missouri won’t collect next year due to the next phase of implementing an ill-advised 2014 tax cut,” said Kendrick.  “As House Democrats warned then, this tax giveaway for rich is resulting in serious consequences for everyone else.”

Kendrick predicted that the state would have “another rough budget year ahead.”

Meanwhile, Representative Fitzpatrick is leaving the legislature to take over as state treasurer. He was appointed by Governor Parson to serve in the position after Parson selected departing Treasurer Eric Schmitt to replace outgoing Attorney General Josh Hawley. Hawley will be sworn into the U.S. Senate January 3rd after defeating incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill in November’s election.

As State Treasurer, Fitzpatrick will become the state’s chief financial officer. He’ll manage annual state revenues as well as direct the state’s banking services and oversee a $3.5 billion investment portfolio.

Republican State Representative Cody Smith of Carthage will become the next House Budget Committee chairman. Senator Brown, who’s retiring due to term limits, will be replaced by Republican Senator Dan Hegeman of Cosby as the chamber’s chair of its Appropriations Committee which handles budget matters.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development announced November’s 3.0 percent unemployment rate as the lowest in the state’s “historical data series” dating back to 1976.

Proposed St. Mary’s Hospital sales in Jefferson City and Mexico could go before Legislature (AUDIO)

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(This is the first story in reporter Brian Hauswirth’s two-part series on the proposed hospital sale)

Supporters and opponents of the proposed sale of St. Mary’s Hospitals in Jefferson City and Mexico to MU Health Care have different views on the impact of the sale would have on employees.

St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City is located near Highway 179 (2018 photo courtesy of SSM Health)

St. Louis-based SSM Health and MU Health Care announced in August that they have signed a letter of intent to transfer ownership of both hospitals to Columbia-based MU Health Care.

The proposal needs regulatory approval, and could also go before the Missouri Legislature for review in 2019.

MU Health Care chief executive officer Jonathan Curtright tells Missourinet local jobs, good pay and benefits are a top priority for him.

“We have 700 open positions right now, if you combine all this into one,” Curtright says. “We want to ensure that people have a good landing spot, whether it’s in Jeff City, Columbia or in Mexico.”

A group called “A Coalition for Choice” wants the Trump Administration to block the proposed sale. The group is warning about “massive job cuts” in Jefferson City, if the sale is goes through.

More than 250 people packed an open forum last Monday night at the Missouri Special Olympics Training for Life Campus in Jefferson City, to hear details of the proposed sale of the hospitals.

Opponents of the sale worry about a future monopoly in Jefferson City, with MU Health Care operating both St. Mary’s and Capital Region Medical Center. Mr. Curtright tells Missourinet there would still be major competition in Jefferson City and Columbia.

“And I gave (at the open forum) multiple examples of that, where’s there’s going to be two cancer centers. There’s going to be multiple imaging centers where people can go to radiology. There’s going to be multiple places where people can have outpatient surgery,” says Curtright.

Supporters of the sale note that private practice physicians and physician groups will continue to provide primary care and specialty services. Curtright also says the sale would create new opportunities to train more doctors and nurses to care for patients across the state.

“A Coalition for Choice” sees the issue differently. Organization spokeswoman Connie Farrow says Jefferson City residents have too much heart and sweat equity in St. Mary’s. She says selling to MU Health must be off the table.

“We’re very concerned because MU Health has stated that their goal is to have one million patients in this region,” Farrow says. “When you think about that, that’s a tremendous amount of patients.”

Farrow says the proposed sale would have to go before the Missouri Legislature.

Missourinet asked MU Health officials if the proposed sale would have to go before Missouri lawmakers. A spokeswoman says it’s possible that, to provide regulatory certainty, there may be a request for enabling legislation that would provide specific statutory authority for the transaction. She notes the scope of any such request would depend on many different factors.

MU Health Care emphasizes they are not requesting any state funds.

As for St. Louis-based SSM Health Care, chief operations officer Steve Smoot told the audience last week that the current structure for St. Mary’s in Jefferson City is unsustainable.

Backers of the proposed sale of St. Mary’s Hospitals in Jefferson City and Mexico to MU Health say the integration of services will eliminate duplication and will provide new options for health care in the region.

Mr. Curtright says the current capacity for hospital services in the Capital City is too much.

“On average, between Capital Region Medical Center and St. Mary’s here in Jeff City, there’s a total average daily census, total number of people, it’s 135,” says Curtright.

The new $200 million St. Mary’s site that SSM Health opened in 2014 has 179 beds.

“A Coalition for Choice” wants SSM Health to rebid the sale to a different entity. The group says towns like Jefferson City, Joplin and Cape Girardeau have sustained two hospitals for decades.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and MU Health Care chief executive officer Jonathan Curtright, which was recorded on December 17, 2018 in Jefferson City:

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Missouri unemployment rate is lowest on record

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Missouri now has its lowest unemployment rate on record.

The figure dipped a tenth of a point in November down to 3.0 percent, marking the lowest jobless rate in the state’s historical data series dating back to 1976.

According to the state Department of Economic Development, Missouri unemployment has now been lower than the corresponding U.S. rate for 43 consecutive months. National joblessness is currently 3.7 percent.

There were more than 2.9 million people employed in nonfarm jobs in Missouri in November, an increase of 32,400 over the same month in 2017.

The employment sectors that have seen the largest growth over the last year include Accommodation and Food Services, which has increased by more than 10,000. The workforce in Health Care and Social Assistance is up by 9,300 while there are an additional 5,900 Manufacturing employees. The fourth largest growing sector is Professional, Scientific and Technical Services which has increased by 5,300.

Missouri’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent a year ago, while the national figure was 4.1 percent. The state’s high mark for joblessness over the past 12 months was 3.7 percent while the rate has dropped a tenth of a point in each of the last six months.

The current U.S. unemployment rate standing at 3.7 percent is the lowest in nearly 50 years.

The state’s non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 2.5 percent in November, compared to the national rate of 3.5.