Beck, O'Scanlon & Casagrande

August 21, 2009

Contact: Brad Schnure / (609) 292-5199
District 12

This week’s unemployment rates for the Tri-State region were released, and once again, New Jersey’s numbers remain the highest in the region at 9.3 percent for July, up from 9.2 percent in June.

New York has the second highest with 8.6 percent and Pennsylvania reported a rate of 8.5 percent for last month.

“The Democrats in the Legislature stated point-blank that their policies would not only soften the impact of this recession for New Jersey, but even facilitate New Jersey leading the way out,” said Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon. “The exact opposite has proven to be true. Not only has the unemployment in New Jersey proven to be the worst in the region, but it has gotten worse faster, stayed deeper longer, and while other states, like New York are beginning to see their unemployment rates decrease, our are continuing to rise. We have to change direction now if there is any hope of New Jersey leading the way out of this recession.”

“It’s not surprising that New Jersey is having a more difficult time in this economy to those of us who have been closely watching the moves that Governor Corzine and his Democratic colleagues have been making over the last few years,” said Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande. “Our State is in trouble, and we need to start taking the steps necessary to put is in a position for recovery. My 12th District colleagues and I introduced an economic stimulus package in June, not to mention the multitude of budget reforms that the Republicans in the Legislature have suggested over the years. It’s time for the Governor to sit up and take notice of plans that will actually work.”

“Governor Corzine is trying to spin these rising unemployment numbers like they are a good sign,” said Senator Jennifer Beck. “That is, to put it simply, absurd. We need to make that rate decrease, and the way to do it is to bring more businesses into our state by lowering the corporate business tax rate and providing incentives for businesses to hire new employees. We’re losing jobs, and we’re losing residents, and if we don’t change that way we treat businesses, we’ll be out of business. There’s no good way to spin that.”

This week’s unemployment rates for the Tri-State region were released, and once again, New Jersey’s numbers remain the highest in the region at 9.3 percent for July, up from 9.2 percent in June. New York has the second highest with 8.6 percent and Pennsylvania reported a [...]