Republican News Headlines
Christie makes a pre-emptive strike on Corzine jobs program announcement
September 15, 2009
Accuses Governor of not addressing New Jersey's long-term economic future
Attempting to focus the gubernatorial election campaign on his Democratic rival Jon Corzine, Republican Chris Christie Tuesday made a pre-emptive strike and criticized the governor about a new jobs program before he announced it.
Corzine will announce in New Brunswick that businesses will be offered $2,400 incentives to hire New Jerseyans who have exhausted their unemployment. A new employee must work at least six weeks for a business to qualify. His administration is awaiting federal aid to finance the effort.
The governor announced a similar job program last year that offered businesses $3,000 for each job created and maintained for one year. The program reached its $50 million limit within two months,
State unemployment benefits have expired for 45,000 New Jerseyans.
In a telephone press conference with reporters at 11:10 a m., Christie said he was not criticizing the new job program effort but described it as a "band aid' and an "election year ploy' by Corzine to give the impression the governor is attempting to help the state's poor economy .
"It is not creating sustainable jobs for the people of New Jersey,' Christie said. "It is of short-term benefit. The people of New Jersey want long-term, good-paying jobs that can be sustained. This makes absolutely no long-term economic sense. Jon Corzine is just trying to get through the next 49 days.'
As part of his criticism of Corzine' Christie reminded reporters that New Jersey unemployment rate of 9.3 percent is the highest in the region at a time when the jobless rates in Delaware and Connecticut declined. He also reminded that home foreclosures in New Jersey reached a new high last month.
Christie charged that Corzine attempts to fix economic problems with government programs
"Jon Corzine will not solve the state's economic problems,' Christie said. "We need fundamental change. We need to lower spending, lower taxes and begin lowering debt again.'
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Kevin O'Toole
Position: Senator
Date: 9/25/09
Contact: 973-237-1360
DeCroce and O'Toole call for special investigator to review Corzine's hedge fund investments. Republican legislators also plan to introduce legislation requiring blind trusts for Governor's investments.
