The statistics say the recession is over, but to every American still struggling to support their family, those statistics are a lie. That’s why Democratic leaders in states all across America keep fighting for new legislation to attract good-paying jobs. But a few of those efforts stand out:

• Iowa led the way with an historic government efficiency plan expected to save at least $270 million, all of which is now being used to create jobs through clean energy projects, low-cost loans and financial training for small businesses, and dozens of other new job-creation plans.
  
  

• Wisconsin lawmakers passed at least 50 separate bills this year to boost job growth, including everything from new development incentives and job training programs to tax credits for cornerstone Wisconsin industries like dairy production.
  
  

• Washington State passed a bill to use tax credits to attract high-tech jobs in computer and data management. Each new project could mean thousands of construction jobs in the short term and even more high-paying technology jobs for years to come.
  
  

• Connecticut is adding a temporary small business hiring tax credit, to help convince local businesses that now is the time to start hiring new employees.

This is just a tiny sample of the Democratic-led effort to make sure Main Street families get to share the economic recovery. And this is one fight Democrats in all 50 states are determined to support.

Sadly, much of the opposition to bills like these (where there was any opposition at all) came from Republicans. And many of the best ideas for creating jobs never even come to a vote in states where Republicans control the legislature.

There are no silver bullets that will fix the entire economy overnight. But even the smallest idea can make a huge difference for a family on the brink of losing everything.