Sweeney & Oliver: Governor Should Focus On Making NJ Attractive To Businesses Nationwide, Not Just To Those In The Hardest-Hit States

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Linda R. Greenstein, Bob Gordon and Fred H. Madden that would allow New Jersey’s unemployed to receive on-the-job training to learn new skills and potentially find employment was approved today by the full Senate. The “Back to Work NJ” program would pair unemployed workers with New Jersey businesses in a six-week training program.

The bill, S-3080/A-4332, will create a program based on the successful Georgia Work$ program. “Back to Work NJ” would allow companies looking to hire new employees to take on an unemployed state resident for up to six weeks of on-the-job training. During that time, the individual would be able to work up to 24 hours per week while continuing to receive unemployment compensation. Additionally the individual will receive workers’ compensation insurance through the state and would be eligible for up to a $100 stipend to help defray the costs of transportation or child care.

“Since many of the chronically unemployed are struggling to support their families during this economic crisis, training programs in new and in-demand fields, such as technology and green-energy jobs, are often out of the question,” said Senator Greenstein (D-Middlesex, Mercer). “ ‘The Back to Work NJ’ program will provide thousands of unemployed New Jersey residents, many who have been jobless for more than six months, an opportunity for on-the-job training to ramp up their skills and build their networks while they continue to look for long-term employment and collect their unemployment insurance.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Linda R. Greenstein, Bob Gordon and Fred H. Madden that would allow New Jersey’s unemployed to receive on-the-job training to learn new skills and potentially find employment was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today. The “Back to Work NJ” program would pair unemployed workers with New Jersey businesses in a six-week training program.

“With continuously high unemployment numbers and an economy that has yet to rebound, we must look to new and innovative ways to encourage employers to create new jobs and to put New Jersey’s unemployed back to work,” Senator Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) said. “The ‘Back to Work NJ’ program will offer a path to employment for state residents, many of whom have been unemployed for long periods of time and will offer a unique opportunity to learn new skills and trades.”

TRENTON –Senator Linda R. Greenstein (D-Middlesex/ Mercer) issued the following statement today regarding the Governor’s veto of S-3080/A-4332, the “Back to Work NJ” bill:

“I am disappointed that the ‘Back to Work NJ’ bill will not become law at this time and that many New Jersey businesses who are looking to expand their workforces, but may be unable to afford the on-the-job-training needed to bring on new employees, will not be able to participate in this program – a program which has proved effective in other states at creating jobs and putting their residents back to work.

TRENTON – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney issued the following statement today regarding the Senate’s attempt to override the governor’s vetoes on several pieces of the “Back to Work NJ” legislation. The bills voted on today did not receive a single Republican vote. The total vote for all five bills was 115-80. The original combined vote total for the exact same bills, before the governor vetoed them, was 187-2:

“The bills we voted on today would have created tax breaks for small businesses. They would have created jobs for middle and lower income residents, while stimulating economic growth throughout New Jersey.

TRENTON – The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today released its first seven measures aimed at making New Jersey a friendlier and more competitive state for business by cutting taxes for Garden State companies and creating new incentives for businesses to stay and grow.

The bills are part of the recently unveiled “Back to Work NJ” legislative initiative to create jobs and promote the state as a better place for business.

“With unemployment stubbornly stuck above 9 percent, we need to be aggressive in our efforts to retool and reposition our economy,” said Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). “This package is about creating new economic opportunities not only for business, but for working families across the state. For their sake, we can’t act fast enough.”

TRENTON – Senator Linda R. Greenstein will re-introduced legislation that would allow New Jersey’s unemployed to receive on-the-job training to learn new skills and find employment. The “Back to Work NJ Program Act” would pair unemployed workers with New Jersey businesses in a six-week training program.

“Working families and businesses are looking for innovative ideas to jumpstart our economy,” said Senator Greenstein (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “When job training can be combined with actual on-the-job experience, both employers and potential employees can win.”

TRENTON – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver today said that while they appreciate Governor Christie’s effort to attract Illinois businesses to the state, he could enhance New Jersey’s business climate immediately and make his sales pitch stronger simply by signing the Legislature’s “Back to Work NJ” job creation and economic development package.

“Businesses in Illinois are going to want to see that New Jersey is as good for business as the Governor is saying it is, and signing the 30 bills on his desk would send the strongest signal possible that we’re ready, willing and able to be their new home,” said Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). “There should not be a race to see who can make New Jersey more business-friendly first. When it comes to improving our economy, we’re all in this together.”

TRENTON – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver today said that Governor Christie needs to focus more on New Jersey and sign the Legislature’s “Back to Work NJ” job creation and economic development package, which includes tax cuts for seniors, into law.

“While the Governor plays to the Republican base in an attempt not to run for president, seniors in New Jersey suffer for every day he ignores the senior tax cuts in the ‘Back To Work’ legislation,” said Sweeney (D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem). “Instead of perpetuating the myth that millionaires are leaving the state and trying to hike the eligibility age for seniors, the Governor should be standing up for seniors. A good start would be signing into law the senior tax cuts that are in the ‘Back To Work NJ’ legislation. It is time the Governor check his priorities, because while his words may get him some nice golf claps from conservatives, his actions aren’t in line with the needs of New Jersey seniors.”

(TRENTON) – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver on Wednesday announced the Legislature’s focus in the coming weeks will turn to a landmark “Back to Work NJ” bill package designed to create jobs and jumpstart economic development throughout the state.

The legislative leaders said they expect the bills to be the focus of legislative activity through December and into early January.