New Jersey Unemployment Surges to 9.2%
Senator Joe Kyrillos, senior Republican on the Senate Economic Growth Committee, said today’s report that New Jersey’s unemployment rate surged to 9.2 percent in June shows the state is paying a terrible price for Trenton’s inexcusable neglect of economic development over the last eight years. In addition to having the highest unemployment rate in the region, Kyrillos noted that New Jersey led the nation in new jobless claims during the week of June 27.
Cold Hard Facts Contradict Governor’s Political Rhetoric
Senator Joe Kyrillos, the senior Republican Member of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, issued the following statements regarding Governor Corzine and his surrogates on their false claims of private-sector job creation:
Senator Joe Kyrillos, a member of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, issued the following statement regarding a report in the publication NJ Biz that two more companies were fleeing the high taxes and poor business climate created by Governor Corzine and his allies in the Legislature:
“I am greatly disturbed by the report two more companies are leaving New Jersey for other states. The loss of E-Trade Financial and Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) will cost the communities of Jersey City and Glassboro 225 jobs. The speed at which the Democrats’ policies are chasing jobs over the Delaware is truly alarming and illustrates just how ineffective the Corzine Administration’s stewardship of New Jersey’s economy has been.
Senator Joe Kyrillos, a member of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, expressed disappointment today in comments made by the governor and Legislative leaders concerning this year’s budget:
“I am extremely disappointed with the comments concerning the state of New Jersey’s financial situation. One has to wonder what statistics are the governor and his allies in the Legislature referring to that support the contention that the state’s is doing better economically than her neighbors.
The following are excerpts of comments made by Senator Joseph Kyrillos during the reconfirmation hearing of New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin in the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 22, 2009:
Today we take up one of the Senate’s most important constitutional responsibilities — the consideration of the Governor’s nomination of a sitting Justice for tenure.
Following reports that Governor Corzine hurried an important negotiation with the largest state union to prevent an embarrassing protest during a visit by Vice President Biden, Senator Joseph Kyrillos (R-13) noted the apparent hypocrisy of the Corzine Administration’s use of a “poison pill” provision in the rushed labor agreement.
In return for the agreement of the Communications Workers of America to minor concessions on wages and furloughs, the Corzine Administration has agreed to not layoff any state employees between now and January 1, 2011. The Corzine Administration further agreed to a poison pill provision that would reverse all of the agreed upon concessions if this Governor or his successor violates Corzine’s “No Layoff” pledge.
Senator Joseph Kyrillos, senior Republican on the Senate Economic Growth Committee, said this after learning that New Jersey’s unemployment rate continues to rise and is now 8.4 percent, higher than the rates of surrounding states.
“New Jersey is in the ideal physical location to be the national economic leader among the states,” Senator Kyrillos said. “However, it’s not because of the public policies we have followed over the last eight years.
From “Rendell poaching business from N.J.,” Newark Star-Ledger, July 6, 2008:
John Kaufman, chairman and CEO of International Battery, said he was looking to build a factory for lithium-ion batteries, which would create 240 jobs. With headquarters in northern Bergen County, he wanted to stay in New Jersey. “We got no support. We spoke to many state agencies. Nothing happened.” Kaufman said. “There’s no support here. Everybody’s too busy.” As his frustrations mounted, Kaufman said, one of his investors told him to check out Pennsylvania. “The state of Pennsylvania was terrific,” he said. “The governor’s action team is terrific. They work with you.” International Battery opened its plant in Allentown, PA in October. Kaufman also moved his corporate headquarters there, and kept only a small engineering operation in New Jersey. “New Jersey’s a great state,” he said. “But when government feels it’s bigger than its industry, government will fail.”
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean of Union County and Senator Joseph Kyrillos of Monmouth voiced their deep concern today after the state reported that New Jersey’s unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent in February from 7.3 percent in January. It is now higher than the national rate for the first time since October 2006, and is much higher than the rates posted recently by New York, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The Senators urged Governor Corzine to support long-delayed legislation that would help New Jersey create jobs and strengthen the state’s safety net for unemployed and underemployed workers.
Monmouth County Senators Joe Kyrillos, Sean Kean and Jen Beck expressed disappointment, but not surprise, that Governor Corzine chose to come to Monmouth County to hold a “kitchen table” press conference. The governor is desperate to convince middle-class families that his proposal to eliminate rebates and property tax deductions won’t drive more of them from New Jersey by making the state even more unaffordable. Monmouth County residents will be among the hardest hit if his spending plan is approved:
State & Federal Investigations of the BPU Still Pending
Today, the four Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted in opposition to the reappointment of Jeanne Fox as president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and objected to being rushed through the hearing and to the incomplete testimony provided by the nominee. The members cited numerous reasons for their opposition including the opening of unlawful bank accounts, conflicts of interest between consultants and staff at the Office of Clean Energy and the Clean Energy Council, and former staff members being involved in the awarding of grants totaling millions of dollars. The four Republican members of the committee are Gerald Cardinale, Joe Kyrillos, Bill Baroni and Jennifer Beck.
