Should Government Jobs Come First?

Some analysts have argued that a new government jobs program would be more effective at putting people back to work than a second stimulus. A large share of the current $799 billion stimulus package has gone to state governments, with the aim of preventing more layoffs among public-sector workers and in public education. Should saving these government and education jobs be a priority? Is there a way to establish a public program quickly enough to employ the newly jobless? Would this be an efficient way to stimulate job creation?