30-Bill Package Will Help Put People Back to Work; Make NJ More Business Friendly
(TRENTON) — Assembly members Albert Coutinho, Connie Wagner, Wayne P. DeAngelo and Nellie Pou issued a multimedia package Monday on the General Assembly’s passage of the remainder of a 30-bill “Back to Work NJ” jobs creation package.
The dozen bills passed Monday as part of the aggressive jobs and economic growth package are designed to help spur employment, ease antiquated business requirements and boost New Jersey’s overall economic recovery.
The multimedia package consists of a video of the legislators discussing the importance of the “Back to Work NJ” package and audio and a transcript of same.
The video can be accessed directly via our website — www.assemblydems.com — or by clicking here.
The audio file is available upon request.
A transcript of comments from the legislators is appended below:
Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Essex), Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee Chairman:
“This package of bills is critically important, because we’re sending a message to the State of New Jersey, that we want to put New Jerseyans back to work.
“There’s a lot going in Trenton, without question, and we’re going to continue on reforms in other areas, but our number one priority needs to be to put New Jerseyans back to work.”
Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen):
“Well, you know, everybody is concerned about taxes. But all I know is that you can’t pay your taxes if you’re not working. And our middle class right now is being strangulated, as well as our elderly, as well as our young people.
“People want to work. We need to create jobs, train people and put them back to work so that our economy can get going.”
Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Mercer), Assembly Labor Committee member:
“Unemployment is around 10 percent; in the construction trades, especially, they’re hovering at 35 to 40 percent unemployment. We need to put New Jersey people back to work.
“People aren’t going to spend money. They’re not going to help reinvigorate the economy if they don’t have a strong, sustainable job.
“The package of bills that we have put forth are a collaboration of talking with small business, big business and people that are out of work on what we can do to help get New Jerseyans back to work.”
Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-Passaic), Assembly Appropriations Chairwoman:
“And it’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs.
“It’s really giving us — again — the opportunity to create… stimulate the economy in New Jersey; stimulate the ability for our… stimulate the economy, allow for job creation, help companies to expand, provide greater opportunities for small business, and really getting our New Jersey residents back to work.”
Coutinho:
“Nothing is more important than putting New Jerseyans back to work. And we’re doing everything we can to make it easier for businesses to hire New Jerseyans and get us back on our feet.”