In Wisconsin, after Gov. Scott Walker’s reforms went into place, there were no state layoffs and overall the state added about 23,000 jobs. In Ohio, Gov. John Kasich has been streamlining government, wielding his veto pen and making Ohio more friendly to business. Lo and behold, Ohio is now among the top states in job creation.

But some states are following Obama’s advice. Illinois keeps raising taxes, and its budget deficits keep piling up. Its unemployment rate is above the national average at 8.7 percent.

Then there is California, a policy paradise from Obama’s point of view. High marginal tax rates on individuals, dominating state employee unions, strict environmental legislation and a pro-trial-lawyer legal environment. Oh, yes, and it has 10.9 percent unemployment, an outflow of people and businesses and a $15.7 billion budget deficit. It faces a credit downgrade. I suppose the problem is not enough state employees.