If New Jersey's economy is truly going to rebound in 2015, Gov. Chris Christie must start producing legitimate ideas, according to state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford). He said creating economic growth in New Jersey is one of this top priorities.  

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"This whole country was hit with an enormous recession, but the country has climbed out. New Jersey is lagging greatly from this recession," Sweeney said.

The governor has now been in office for over five years so he can no longer blame others for the state's sputtering economy, according to Sweeney who pointed out that cutting business taxes by roughly $540 million and establishing job creation incentive programs didn't get the job done.

"We need to do more. We need to find a way to grow this economy because if the economy grows that's where your problems go away because more tax dollars come into the state and more people are employed," Sweeney said. "Unfortunately for New Jersey, we are so far behind the rest of the country."

In February of 2011, Christie vetoed a slew of bills designed to create jobs. The measures were sponsored by Democrats who control the state Legislature, but they were approved with bi-partisan support. The governor said there was no mechanism included for funding the bills which would have cost the state $600 million in the following fiscal year.

"We're willing to work with the governor now. We just need some ideas coming from him. He doesn't like ours," Sweeney said.

 

 

 

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