((HIGHLANDS, October 22) – Republican Congressional challenger Anna Little – responding to the release of New Jersey’s unemployment figures for the month of September, showing that the state lost another 20,200 jobs, and the unemployment rate dipped two-tenths of a percent because so many working-age residents gave up on finding work and decided to leave the labor force – today asked her opponent, 22-year incumbent Frank Pallone, a simple question: “Where are the jobs?
“Mr. Pallone, today I have just one simple question for you,” said Little. “Where are the jobs?!
“Today’s unemployment figures continue the disturbing trend we’ve seen over the last 20 months – New Jersey continues to lose jobs,” said Little. “In the month of September, New Jersey lost ANOTHER 20,200 jobs.
“That’s the worst jobs report in 18 months,” continued Little. “Not since March of 2009 has a New Jersey jobs report been this bad.
“Since the official end of the recession in June 2009 – well more than a year ago – New Jersey has LOST 62,400 jobs. It’s a sad state of affairs when the government deems a recession officially ‘over,’ but we continue to lose jobs.
“Worse, the unemployment rate in September declined from 9.6 percent to 9.4 percent – not because more people found work, but because more working-age residents have been out of work so long that they GAVE UP on finding work, and removed themselves from the job market,” continued Little.
“That’s a sad, sad commentary on the failure of the Pelosi-Pallone strategy. And it’s not what Frank Pallone and Nancy Pelosi promised when they rammed through their massive trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ package – they promised, if you’ll recall, that unemployment wouldn’t go higher than 8 percent.
“The best thing the government can do is to lower tax rates and reduce regulation, and create an environment in which the entrepreneurs and job-creators in our nation will put their capital to work for all of us,” continued Little. “Instead, for the last 20 months we’ve gone in exactly the opposite direction. Nancy Pelosi and Frank Pallone have made clear their determination to raise taxes on the job-creating class, and have made clear their determination to keep borrowing money to pay for more failed ‘stimulus’ programs.
“It’s time for a change in direction.
“Remember, you cannot change Washington without changing the people we send to Washington!”
Posted: October 14th, 2010 | Author:Art Gallagher | Filed under:Economy | Tags:Jobs, Unemployment | Comments Off on Beyond the headlines, the truth about our jobs crisis
Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie issued the following statement today regardingthe U.S. Department of Education’s approval of $268 million in federal education funds:
“I am pleased that Secretary Duncan has approved New Jersey’s application for funding under the Education Jobs Fund Program. As I have said before, difficult economic times necessitated difficult choices in our budget. The additional resources will be helpful, but this funding must be viewed for what it is – a one-time infusion of cash that will not be available to us the following year. This funding, while welcome, must not change our commitment to careful, prudent budgeting that properly aligns state spending with revenues.”
Posted: September 13th, 2010 | Author:Art Gallagher | Filed under:Chris Christie, Economy, Education | Comments Off on Governor Christie’s Statement Regarding Education Jobs Fund Program
MMM has received reports from readers in both CD-6 and CD-12 that they were polled by the Pallone and Holt campaigns this weekend.
Not surprisingly, Pallone plans to divert voters attention away from the economy and the health care bill that he was so proud of just a year ago.
Pallone is preparing negative ads depicting Anna Little as a career politician and right wing extremists. He will attempt to make the election campaign about guns, including bullet proof vest piercing armour, stem cell research, abortion, and oil drilling. He will depict Little as a tax raising mayor who would raise taxes on the middle class.
Holt is planning to stick with the economy, which he will blame entirely on Scott Sipprelle. At least they’re not blaming Bush any longer.
In this political year, voters and taxpayers are bombarded on all sides with what is, frankly, political propaganda. Politicians have been touting the “Summer of Recovery” trying to put a positive spin on our current economy. Well, summer is now over.
Time for some facts from the the national Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://bls.gov/).
In 2006, there were 6.9 million unemployed, with an unemployed rate of 4.6%. Payroll employment had an average growth rate of more than 149,000 per month.
As of today, there are currently 14.9 million unemployed with a 9.6% unemployment rate. In June, 2010, payroll employment dropped 175,000, in July, 2010, payroll employment dropped an additional 54,000.
In November, 2006, the Democrats took control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate (while Bush was still President). It should be pointed out that only the Congress, not the President, passes legislation to spend and tax. For the past four years, Congress has been 100% controlled by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their fellow Democrats.
In November, 2008, the Democrats took control of the White House and have completely controlled our national government since.
Who has been hurt by this? Besides every family being impacted by this dreadful economy, teenagers have been hit with a 26.3% unemployment rate. Black Americans have a 16.3% unemployment rate and Hispanic Americans have a 12.0% unemployment rate. On 9/11/2010 the headline read “US Poverty on track to post record gain” due to the current economic conditions.
Another interesting fact – according to IRS data, taxpayers aged 55 and older account for 71% of the dividends earned in this country. On January 1, 2011, taxpayers, especially Senior Citizens living on a fixed income, will face a devastating increase in the dividend tax rate – going from 15% to as high as 39.6%!
On January 1, 2011, since the Democrat controlled Congress has up to now, refused to extend the 2001 and 2003 Republican tax cuts, all American taxpayers face the largest tax hike in our history! It makes absolutely no sense, in the midst of the current economic recession, to raise taxes on anyone, especially those who create private sector jobs – the small business sector.
All the spending and borrowing by this Congress has achieved nothing but massive debt for our children and grandchildren. With no results to show, Congress and the President propose even more spending (and borrowing) in “Stimulus II”. I believe it was Albert Einstein who said, “the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result!”. Considering this, perhaps most members of Congress need a long rest.
The question is simple, not just for senior citizens, but for every American taxpayer. As we enter a national election season for control of the Congress, just ask yourself. Are you and your family better off today than four years ago (in 2006), when the Democrats took control?
The honest answer to that should determine how you cast your ballot on November 2nd.
