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SPEAKER OLIVER: SPECIAL ASSEMBLY PANEL WILL MEET THURSDAY TO FOCUS ON JOB CREATION & ECONOMIC GROWTH

(TRENTON) -Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver has announced a special Assembly committee will work Thursday on how best to revive New Jersey’s economy and create jobs for working class residents.
“One thing we can all agree on is the need to create new jobs and reinvigorate our economy,” said Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). “To that end, we need to find out what state business and jobs programs are working and what needs to be improved.”
The hearing details will be finalized, but Oliver said Christie administration officials involved in economic development will be invited to detail the effectiveness of state business and job creation programs.
Business leaders will also be invited to submit their ideas. The hearing will also be opened to whomever wishes to offer ideas on business expansion and job creation.
“We want to hear from businesses about what can be done to quickly allow them to flourish and create jobs,” Oliver said. “We need a creative jobs program that will help lift New Jersey out of this recession and make it more affordable.”
Assembly members who serve on the Assembly Budget, Commerce and Economic Development, Financial Institutions and Insurance, Labor, Telecommunications and Utilities and Transportation committees will be asked to participate.
The Speaker said she hopes the lawmakers will specifically hear about, among other topics:
· Tax breaks and incentives for businesses that can help promote business expansion and create jobs.
· What rules and regulations are most burdensome to businesses.
· Ways to promote jobs in the renewable energy – or green jobs – industry.
· Controlling health insurance costs that burden both businesses and employees.
· Whether corporate governance laws need tweaking to make the state more competitive with neighboring states..
· What federal assistance is available to help create jobs.
· What role can tourism play in an economic recovery.
Oliver said the hearing will compliment efforts of the Legislature’s Business Task Force that will be working to craft reforms to make the state more business-friendly.
“Economic development and recovering from this recession is a complicated issue involving all sectors of government and private industry,” Oliver said. “Coordination is critical if we’re to develop a successful economic development plan, and that is our goal with this hearing. My hope is it will be the first step toward creating an innovative economic development plan that will reposition New Jersey as the nation’s leading economic force.”