Interesting data from the Jobs Report

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (see here) highlights a finding from the recent Jobs Report (see graph below, click to enlarge).

The CBPP says:

"The cuts to public employment rolls also hurt the recovery.  When teachers and other public employees like police and firefighters lose their jobs, they have to cut back on spending.  Less spending means fewer customers for businesses and a resulting drag on the recovery."

Brookings provides us with the full picture (see here).

Brookings says:

"The ... chart reveals that once the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) began to phase down – and state and local governments struggled to balance their budgets – government employment dropped precipitously and now stands at 9.0 percent."

Yet, we still here it loudly proclaimed that the ARRA didn't do anything to improve the economy.  Please..