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 New Jersey’ 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.”
“It’s disappointing that the Governor is busy touring the country when New Jersey unemployment remains above 9 percent and Democratic job creation and economic development bills remain languishing on his desk,” said Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). “Whether it be senior citizens looking for tax relief, young people looking for work or veteran workers looking for new training, working class New Jerseyans struggling to find work and make ends meet only wish they had the time and means to join Gov. Christie in his travels. What they really want is for the Governor to sign these bills and get to work reinvigorating New Jersey’s economy. It’s time for the Governor to begin standing up for working class New Jerseyans rather than conservative audiences around the country.”
The Legislature passed a landmark “Back to Work NJ” bill package during two legislative voting sessions held on Jan. 6 and Jan. 10. The bills are designed to create jobs and jumpstart economic development throughout the state. They are currently awaiting the Governor’s signature.