NJ Business Post-Irene Business Assistance Ready

To support the recovery of New Jersey’s businesses and protect the overall economic interests of our state in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Governor Chris Christie and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno have announced a series of business assistance services for those affected by the storm. Among these vital services are those related to financial support, information on temporary space, and technical assistance for impacted businesses. Information for all services may be easily accessed through New Jersey’s Business Action Center (BAC), by calling 1-866-534-7789 or through the state’s business portal at www. nj.gov/njbusiness/, the “one-stop” shop for business resources.

“In response to this natural disaster, New Jersey has coordinated a range of multi-agency resources to assist impacted businesses and ensure they are operational quickly,” said Governor Christie. “We have worked hard to grow our state’s economy by working to meet the needs of our business community. Providing a thorough and inter-departmental business recovery assistance program is another demonstration of our support for our business community and their workers.”

“Through the collective efforts of the Partnership for Action, which includes the Business Action Center, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Choose New Jersey, in addition to the Departments of Banking and Insurance, Community Affairs and Labor and Workforce Development, we will work to protect the assets of our state’s businesses, provide the necessary temporary support to our workforce and sustain our economic vibrancy,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno.

The business recovery assistance services are designed to support businesses and workers who may be temporarily unable to perform their jobs due to the storm. These services include:

· Access to lines of credit of up to $500,000 for businesses that need access to cash to improve their damaged property while awaiting insurance proceeds;

· Grant awards for businesses to assist with on-the-job training costs for new workers hired specifically to assist in disaster-related activities, such as landscaping and tree removal, construction, insurance claims, building supplies sales, materials transport, utility work, call and claims centers staffing, and infrastructure clearing and repair.

· Availability of the Business Resource Centers at any of the 17 local One-Stop Career Centers across the state as temporary hubs for businesses to access telephone and internet services as well as for job seekers and displaced workers seeking workforce development and unemployment assistance.

· The availability of Disaster Unemployment Benefits to provide income security for those displaced workers suffering temporary storm-related job loss.

· Dispatch of Rapid Response team members to identified Disaster Recovery Centers to assist displaced workers

· Availability of services through New Jersey Youth Corps to assist non-profit, public and governmental entities in a variety of ways for disaster relief and clean-up.

In addition, BAC’s Business Call Center is also the one-stop resource for more information on how to get businesses back up and running. The Call Center staff can assist with the following services:

· Arranging business facility inspections for buildings suffering major flood damage, as such conditions require structural integrity inspections before utility service can be restored. These inspections are handled in local code enforcement offices and by local code enforcement officials. Anticipating an enormous increase in such work, the Department of Community Affairs has mobilized all qualified personnel to assist local governments in this effort.

· Advocate for businesses seeking assistance from local utilities to restore electric, phone, gas and water services.

· Advocate with insurance carriers to file and expedite claims.

· Provide information on how to qualify for federal recovery assistance, and

· Connect businesses to the other county and local business services and to the services offered by the Small Business Administration and Small Business Development Centers that include assistance with insurance claims, as well as loans and business plan revisions.

For further information about best practices in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, please visit www.ready.nj.gov for continual updates.

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Christie & Co.: NJ Sees Expanded Foreign Investment

On the heels of its 30th Anniversary Celebration of the New Jersey-Zhejiang Province Sister-State Agreement, the Christie Administration reported today that foreign direct investment (FDI) in New Jersey over the past 18 months points toward increased expansion of foreign partners investing in New Jersey and creating more high-paying jobs in the State.

“New Jersey’s import-export industry is a cornerstone of our economy and increasing investment into New Jersey is critical to the growth of our economy,” said Governor Christie. “By expanding the number of businesses that bring operations into New Jersey, we can leverage foreign investment as a powerful engine for New Jersey’s economic growth and job creation.”

Since taking office, there have been 14 new FDI projects, including three Memorandum of Understandings that were signed during last week’s New Jersey-Zhejiang Trade Symposium. These projects represent over $1.4 billion of new capital investment in New Jersey and are expected to create over 410 new jobs and 1,500 construction jobs. The majority of the FDI came from China, Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

“Through his vision and leadership, Governor Christie has created an ambitious economic development strategy that has strengthened New Jersey’s global reputation and increased our overseas market share,” said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. “Thanks to Governor Christie, there is a new energy and enthusiasm in the global community about investing and doing business in New Jersey.”

The Christie Administration has shown a new, unprecedented commitment to growing exports and foreign direct investment to create Jersey Jobs. Under his leadership, the Partnership for Action strategy was implemented, creating the New Jersey Business Action Center and its Global Advocacy team focusing on bringing new global investment into the State. As part of our aggressive strategy to grow foreign investment, the State has hosted more than two dozen foreign delegations and meetings with trading partners including last week’s Symposium, as well as a 75-member delegation with China’s Vice Minister of Commerce last fall.

Additionally, the State has invested $1 billion into modernizing the Bayonne Bridge to receive additional tankers – an infrastructure investment crucial to Port Newark – increasing its capacity to handle the next generation of shipping vessels; signed two agreements to open trade offices in Shangri and Europe to provide continuous outreach to foreign markets; as well as leveraged the Governor’s appointment to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations by President Obama to share the importance of trade to the American economy - specifically supporting Free Trade Agreements and granting fast-track Trade Promotion Authority for the President to encourage expansion of trade.

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Guadagno Welcomes Sea Box To South Jersey

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno recently visited Sea Box Inc. to help celebrate the company’s grand opening of its new 378,000 square-foot world headquarters in Cinnaminson in Burlington County.

“Sea Box’s grand opening is happening because of its unprecedented growth over the last few years,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. “It’s a tribute to both the company’s ingenuity and its commitment to its customers and to New Jersey. I am delighted to help Sea Box inaugurate its new facility and I hope to see the company continue to grow and flourish here in Burlington County. Their decision to expand here is a testament to the quality of work that New Jersey’s innovative and highly trained workforce produces. We look forward to continue utilizing the State’s strengths to grow and build upon our successful and productive relationship with Sea Box.”

The Lt. Governor joined dozens of local and state officials in formally christening a new home for Sea Box. Sea Box Inc., which was created in 1983, specializes in the design, modification and manufacture of ISO containers for commercial and military applications. The ISO is the international standards organization that regulates mass shipments of cargo, and all ISO containers must conform to approved standards relating to strength, durability, and size. Sea Box expanded in the 1980’s by increasing its business with the U.S. military and by launching a domestic container storage/leasing business. In addition to its headquarters in Cinnaminson, the company operates a manufacturing and service business in East Riverton and a second production facility in Hillsborough.

Sea Box’s new facility boasts about 330,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 18,000 square feet of warehousing, and 30,000 square feet of office space. The property also offers a rail spur for additional logistical capability. The site covers 20 acres with an additional 20 acres available for future expansion.

Sea Box is committed to helping those in need and to good environmental practices. The company sent a shipping container full of supplies to help earthquake-ravaged Haiti in 2010. Its factory and office building run on 100 percent solar power. The company has 147 employees in New Jersey.

Lt. Governor Guadagno is visiting 100 businesses across New Jersey to reinforce the Christie Administration’s support for business growth and economic expansion. Friday’s visit was her 45th.

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Gudagno Boosts NJ Business, Tours Plant

New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno on Monday visited MRP, a steel fabricator in South Plainfield that is providing steel to rebuild the World Trade Center.
MRP began working on the project three and a half years ago. Its workforce has expanded from 80 to 200 employees and the mill is now open seven days a week. The company is expected to provide 40 percent, or 33,000 tons of the steel for the new 1,776-foot tall World Trade Center one, formerly known as the “Freedom Tower.”
“We are literally helping to rebuild the World Trade Center here in South Plainfield,” Lt. Governor Guadagno said. She remarked how just a few years ago, the scene at MRP was very quiet, noting that, “I’m told you could even hear the crickets.”
The Lt. Governor toured a cavernous warehouse filled with dozens of workers. Sparks flew and electronic equipment hummed as welders shaped and fabricated steel for various parts of the Ground Zero reconstruction project.
“Today, the plant is alive 24 hours a day,” she said.

David Floyd, the president of MRP, said the company is providing steel for three specific projects: World Trade Center One, Tower Four and the reconstruction of the area’s transportation system.
“Our workers are here in New Jersey, “ Floyd said. “It’s been a tremendous effort.”

The Lt. Governor toured the company plant on New Market Road along with Bill Baroni, the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Baroni said, “The massive rebuilding effort at the World Trade Center site has brought this underused steel plant back to life, creating more than 120 good paying jobs in New Jersey and throughout the region. This is just one of the many New Jersey businesses that have benefited from the multibillion dollar projects being built at the World Trade Center that have provided a major boost to the state’s economy.”

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Boehner: Tax Hikes Prevent Private Sector Job Growth

Today, Speaker of the House John Boehner  released the following column discussing House Republicans' commitment to encouraging private-sector job growth without tax hikes:

"Recently, we learned our economy still isn’t creating enough jobs.  The latest unemployment figures from the U.S. Department of Labor showed an increase in our national unemployment rate to 9.2% and dismal job growth.  This recent report is evidence that the Democrats' policies - the misguided ‘stimulus’ spending binge, excessive regulations, and overwhelming national debt - continue to hold back private-sector job creation in our country.  Now, those same Democrats are lobbying for a tax-our-way-out solution.  But House Republicans understand that raising taxes on job creators will only make things worse.

"The Labor Department says unemployment benefit applications have topped 400,000 for 12 straight weeks.  With figures such as these, how can anyone possibly say that the Democrats' policies have worked?  It is time to implement new policies that will take our country in a different direction and increasing taxes is not the answer. 

"Washington’s spending problem has continuously created uncertainty among private-sector job creators.  Instead of cutting spending and getting our fiscal house in order, the Democrats who run Washington want to increase taxes to help pay for their out-of-control spending.  But raising taxes on the job creators we are counting on to invest and expand is simply backwards.

"Recently, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office’s director, Douglas Elmendorf, told the House Budget Committee that 'higher marginal tax rates do reduce economic activity to some extent by views of most economists.'  Reducing economic activity through higher taxes can only hurt job creation. It is not a solution to our economic woes.

"As Stanford economist John B. Taylor put it 'it would be very harmful to have a tax rate increase' because 'the more you tax something, the less you get of it.'

"House Republicans understand that with excessive regulations, overwhelming national debt, and government spending there are already enough disincentives for small businesses to invest and grow.  Raising taxes on the very people that we expect to invest in our economy and create jobs is the wrong policy to get our country back on track. 

"By stopping Washington from spending money it doesn’t have, making serious changes to the way we spend taxpayer dollars, and stopping tax increases, we will help our job creators get back to doing what they do best – creating jobs.  And we are hopeful that our Democratic counterparts will join us and support policies that will do something big for our economy and help get Americans back to work.

"I have listened to your calls, emails, and comments, and I know that the majority of Americans agree that tax hikes would hurt job creation.  According to a recent national survey, Americans said that job growth would best be revived through cuts in government spending and cuts in taxes – solutions included in the Republican job creation plan.  

"If we truly want to get America working again, Washington must not raid the pocketbooks of the very individuals we are encouraging to take a risk and create jobs. 

"House Republicans are going to continue to support job growth in America instead of continuing the failed policies of the past.  I encourage you to review the details in our jobs agenda at GOP.Jobs.Gov.

Speaker Boehner represents Ohio’s 8th District, which includes all of Darke, Miami, and Preble counties, most of Butler and Mercer counties, and the northeastern corner of Montgomery County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.

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A Golden Oldie -- Still Worth Watching!

In his book "Capitalism and Freedom" (1962) Milton Friedman (1912-2006) advocated minimizing the role of government in a free market as a means of creating political and social freedom.
An excerpt from an interview with Phil Donahue in 1979.

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Romney: The Issue Is Jobs; The Time Is Now!

"I've spent my life in the private sector. In the real job market. I know how jobs come and go, and I will fight with all my energy to get our economy going again."
--Mitt Romney

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Guadagno Highlights NJ Business Investment, Growth

New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno visited Camden today to highlight business relocation and expansion in the city. The Lt. Governor met with local business leaders and mayor Dana Redd.
One of the highlights of her visit was a tour of the Catapult Learning headquarters at the Ferry Terminal Building on Aquarium Drive. Catapult moved its headquarters from Philadelphia to the Camden waterfront last year. Instrumental in the relocation was the company’s execution of a state Business Employment Incentive Program (BEIP) grant of $1.16 million over 10 years. The grant, which was based on the creation of 80 new jobs in New Jersey, helped Catapult offset the cost of relocating from Philadelphia.

Catapult Learning, formerly known as Sylvan Education Solutions, is a national leader in providing educational services to public, charter, private and religious school students. Catapult employs 3,000 teachers and staff throughout the United States and provides support to nearly 1,500 schools.

Another highlight was the Lt. Governor’s tour of the headquarters of the Campbell Soup Company which has been in Camden for almost 150 years. Campbell Soup Company recently invested more than $90 million to build a 80,000-square-foot employee center. The new campus will serve as the cornerstone for further development of the city’s Gateway District and potentially lead to a new office park that will attract other businesses to the city. Campbell Soup Company is the largest private taxpayer and employer in Camden with about 1,200 jobs in its world headquarters at Campbell Place and a total of 2,083 employees statewide.
In relocating to New Jersey, Catapult officials cited the pro-business stance of the Christie-Guadagno Administration. They are not alone. Three other companies moved last year from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. They were:

· Telamon Corporation, which moved from Levittown, Pennsylvania to South Brunswick, thanks to a BEIP grant of $102,079 over 10 years. The firm provides a variety of services to the telecommunications industry. As a result of the state’s assistance, the company expects to create more than 30 new jobs within the next two years and leverage public/private investment of more than $1.4 million.

· SSM Industries, which relocated from Philadelphia to West Deptford with help from a BEIP grant of $609,000 over 10 years. The move brought 70 jobs and $2.15 million in capital investment to West Deptford. SSM Industries is a metal fabricator and installer that supplies HVAC units to universities, laboratories, and hospitals.

· A.J. Drexel Plasma Institute, which recently signed a 10-year lease for 20,000 square feet of wet labs on the fifth floor of the Waterfront Technology Center at Camden. The wet labs were constructed through the state’s Economic Development Authority with the goal of attracting more biotechnology and life sciences businesses to the area, which is already happening.

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More People Taking Work Home With Them

Your job is following you.
Investor's Business Daily reports that more and more people are taking working home with them:
Here's an excerpt:

You aren’t imagining things – your job has followed you home.
The fastest growing segment of home office workers is people regularly bringing home work with them, according to research firm IDC. Technology advances such as ubiquitous broadband and low-cost notebook PCs and smart phones are making it hard for workers to leave their jobs behind at day’s end, says IDC analyst Justin Jaffe.
A third of U.S. households now say they have a home office either for their own business or telecommuting and after-hours work. Of the 39.6 million U.S. households with home offices, 61% are for after-hours work, IDC reported Thursday.
Last year, 24.2 million U.S. households had offices for corporate after-hours work, IDC says. That compares with 8.5 million for telecommuters and 19 million for home-based businesses. And after-hours work is growing faster than those other segments, Jaffe says.

Click here for more from IVB.

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Toilet Topics: Choose Your Own Crapper

If the federal government can support abortion rights, why can't it also support light bulb choice, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul asked yesterday.
And then there's the matter of his -- and your -- toilet!

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Guadagno Launches NJ Pro-Business Initiative

New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno has begun a statewide “100 Businesses” initiative to highlight the work of the New Jersey Partnership for Action and the Christie Administration’s ongoing, hands-on approach to economic development. The Lt. Governor’s new initiative follows Governor Christie’s “Creating Jersey Jobs Summit” held earlier this month at the Rutgers Business School in Newark.
The summit, moderated by Neil Cavuto of FOX News Channel, brought together Fortune 500 CEOs and industry leaders from New Jersey and neighboring states for a frank dialogue on how businesses can grow and create jobs in today’s economy.
“My conversations with hundreds of CEOs, executives, representatives from mid-sized companies and small business entrepreneurs has been invaluable to the success of the Partnership for Action and our Administration’s ongoing red tape review,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. “Yet this progress requires a focused, ongoing dialogue with the economic stakeholders and job creators across New Jersey in order to continue. The ‘100 Businesses’ initiative will ensure just that. I look forward to continuing to hit the road and hear directly from job creators, share the resources the State has to available for businesses, and promote why companies should continue to choose New Jersey.”
Since Governor Christie took office, through the Partnership for Action, the Administration has continued to advance policies that will improve New Jersey’s business climate, including the need to exercise fiscal discipline and spending restraint. He has sunset the corporate business tax surcharge, put a hard, two-percent cap on property taxes, signed new, robust business attraction legislation, and protected businesses from an average $400 per employee, or 52%, increase in the unemployment insurance payroll tax. Those policies coupled with our recent Illinois ad campaign to promote New Jersey as a destination for businesses, all demonstrate that New Jersey is well-positioned for business expansion, economic growth and job creation as our economy recovers.
The “100 Businesses” initiative is a collaborative effort between the Business Action Center (BAC) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA). The Lt. Governor’s visits will crisscross the state and focus on industries and companies reflective of the state’s unique appeal across industry sectors large and small, those that have traditionally been the foundation of New Jersey’s economic growth, and those that will be crucial to gaining an advantage in today’s highly competitive innovation economy.
“States are working hard for any advantage to gain a foothold in these critical markets, and to attract the jobs that come with it,” added Guadagno. “Not only will New Jersey outwork them, but we’ll show them that we have the incentive programs, the skilled workforce, unmatched infrastructure, and, most importantly, the leadership to prove firsthand that their future success lies in New Jersey.”

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Christie, Guadagno Spearhead NJ Business Summit

Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno brought together Fortune 500 CEOs and industry leaders from New Jersey and neighboring states to have a frank dialogue on how businesses can grow and create jobs in today’s economy, and the role policymakers and government can have in encouraging long-term investment.
Governor Christie has taken a hands-on approach in reaching out to the business community to promote New Jersey and improve the climate for investment and job growth. The roundtable was moderated by Neil Cavuto of FOX News Channel.
“New Jersey is on a path to economic recovery, growth and job creation. We’ve made progress in the last year to improve our state’s business climate, reduce taxes, eliminate burdensome red tape and restore fiscal discipline to the state’s finances, but we have more work to do,” said Governor Christie.
“Today gave us a unique opportunity to hear directly from business leaders from inside and outside of New Jersey and across industries, and get valuable input on the opportunities and challenges they face in the current economic climate. These insights will help us guide our decisions going forward to ensure that New Jersey is well-positioned to open for business expansion, economic growth and job creation as the economy recovers.” Governor Christie has continued to advocate for policies that will improve New Jersey’s business climate, including the need to exercise fiscal discipline and spending restraint.
After 115 tax increases in the last 10 years, Governor Christie has called for comprehensive tax reforms and economic incentives that are done in a fiscally responsible manner. The Governor put forward a comprehensive plan to fund the state’s infrastructure needs that limits borrowing, increases the amount of PAYGO funding and does not raise taxes. And, the Governor has committed to a balanced budget that does not raise taxes on New Jersey families and that finally prioritizes the necessary over the popular. Without getting the state’s fiscal house in order, improving New Jersey’s business climate will be impossible.
Held at the Rutgers’s Business School in Newark, New Jersey, the summit was convened by Governor Christie’s Council of Economic Advisors and provided an opportunity to hear from the men and women who are making the critical decisions about investment and job creation in the current economic climate.
Among the topics discussed by the roundtable participants were: the opportunities and impediments to business investment and job growth in New Jersey; the correlation between individual tax reforms, business tax reforms, individual income tax reductions, and economic growth; the impact of New Jersey’s workforce, infrastructure and regulatory climate on business decisions; and, whether or not fiscal discipline really matters and says something positive about the business climate. The participants in today’s roundtable included:

Governor Chris Christie

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno

Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, Treasurer, Department of Treasury

Katherine Adams, SVP, Honeywell International

Dennis Bone, President, Verizon New Jersey

Jim Chambers, President, Kraft Foods

John DeFord, SVP, Science, Technology & Clinical Affairs, C.R. Bard

Carmelito Denaro, CEO, MX Solar USA

Kevin DeSanctis, President & CEO, Revel Entertainment

Christopher Dries, President & CEO, United Silicon Carbide Inc.

Murdo Gordon, SVP US Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb

Bob Grady, Chairman, New Jersey Council of Economic Advisors

Robert Griffins, CEO, Trump Resorts, Entertainment, Inc.

Stephen Holmes, Chairman and CEO, Wyndham

Robert Hugin, CEO, Celgene Corporation

Nancy Lurker, CEO, PDI Inc.

Cheryl Ann Lawrence McDaniel, CEO, Direct Success, Inc.

Tracye McDaniel, CEO, Choose NJ

J. Andrew Murphy, Executive VP & Regional President, NRG

Marjorie Perry, President & CEO, MZM Construction

Michael Reilly, SVP Corporate Taxation, Johnson & Johnson

David Schwartz, Executive VP, Corporate Secretary & General Counsel, Toys “R” Us

Brian Stolar, President & CEO, Pinnacle Companies

Bridget van Kralingen, General Manager North America, IBM

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Top Ten Reagan Quotes: A Centennial Special

Ronald Reagan said lots of things worth remembering.
But these have often been called the Top Ten Reagan Quotes of all time.
They reflect his humanity, his quick wit, his most deeply held beliefs and his steadfastness. Here they are:

10. "Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."  
—Remarks at a business conference, Los Angeles, March 2, 1977

9. "You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans."—The Observer, March 29, 1981

8. “Thomas Jefferson once said, "We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying."  
—Circa 1988

7. "I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting." 
—Said often during his presidency, 1981-1989

6. "How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."  
—Remarks in Arlington, Virginia, September 25, 1987

5. "The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."  
—Remarks to the White House Conference on Small Business, August 15, 1986

4. “I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.” 
—Said often during his presidency, 1981-1989

3. "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." 
—Farewell Address to the Nation, The White House, January 11, 1989

2. "I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born."  
—The New York Times, September 22, 1980

1. "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit." 
— First Inaugural Address, January 21, 1981

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Christie Launches Pro NJ Business Ad Campaign

The Christie Administration today announced the launch of a new advertising campaign asking businesses to relocate and invest in New Jersey. The ad campaign, which targets Illinois, comes on the heels of news that Illinois enacted a 67% increase in income tax rates and a 46% percent increase in corporate tax rates. The print and radio ads reiterate Governor Christie’s commitment not to raise taxes and makes clear that New Jersey is on the path to economic growth with stable, job-friendly policies.
The advertisements will begin running this week in key Illinois markets and business publications, including: the Chicago Tribune; the Springfield Journal; the Wall Street Journal, Chicago; and, Crain’s Chicago Business. The ad campaign follows a 553 letter personal appeal from Lt. Governor Guadagno sent to Fortune 500 companies and large/midsized business currently headquartered in Illinois that would be effected by the new tax increase.
“While state governments across the nation grapple with the budgetary problems caused by unsustainable levels of spending and weakened revenue sources, some misguided governments are looking to wring even more tax dollars from businesses and families. The job creators of our country are mobile, and they are looking for a climate that provides the certainty and stability that comes with a fiscally responsible government that manages its budgets accordingly,” said Governor Chris Christie.
“In New Jersey, we mean business. We’ve said ‘enough is enough’ and made the tough choices to cut spending. By providing a positive, pro-growth climate we are making it easier for businesses to Choose New Jersey and welcoming jobs and economic growth for our residents with open arms.”
Governor Christie has made economic growth and a friendlier business climate a top priority. Through the New Jersey Partnership for Action Christie Administration has implemented an aggressive economic development agenda, including overhauling state government's regulatory system and reducing the red tape that stifles economic growth and imposes costs on businesses and citizens.
After 115 tax and fee increases over the last 8 years, Governor Christie is breaking the pattern of higher taxes, increased spending and shortsighted economic policy that has plagued Trenton for decades. Governor Christie closed back-to-back budget shortfalls, amounting to tens of billions of dollars, without raising taxes. He rejected an attempt by the legislature to increase taxes on small businesses and individuals by $637 million. He sunset the corporate business tax surcharge, put a hard, two-percent cap on property taxes and protected businesses from an average $400 per employee, or 52%, increase in the unemployment insurance payroll tax.
The audio file can be accessed by clicking HERE.

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Reagan At 100: The Commemoration Begins!

From 1954 to 1962, Ronald Reagan served as host of a popular Sunday evening television program called General Electric Theater. During that time he also spent ten weeks each year traveling the country as GE's roving ambassador.
By the time the show concluded its eight-year run, Ronald Reagan, by his own account, had visited 139 GE research and manufacturing facilities.
He walked the plant floors, toured offices and met over 250,000 individual employees, honing his renowned communications skills and leaving a unique legacy that continues to inspire the private sector today.

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New York's Dazzling Love Affair With Christmas

Cartier's bright red bow - Fifth Avenue.

The lights along Park Avenue.

Macy's entrance.

The Christmas Memories windows at Lord & Taylor - Fifth Avenue.

Macy's "Yes, Virginia" windows.

The main selling floor at Macy's.

The tree at Rockefeller Center.

New York City and Christmas just seem to go together.
And this year is no exception.
The big, big Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center (and all the little trees leading up to it) naturally capture the spirit of the season.
And at every turn, the Big Apple delights in a celebration of the holiday. Stores and banks and restaurants and hotels and public buildings and public spaces just seem to go all out in an attempt to outdo one another in Christmas joy. And, make no mistake about it -- this is one city's that isn't afraid to shout the word "Christmas"from every treetop and every skyscraper.
Macy's windows retell the "Yes, Virginia" story from the New York Sun.
And Lord & Taylor's windows (our personal favorites this year) bring the actual Christmas memories of Lord & Taylor customers to life.
The cool, icy blue LED lights along Park Avenue glimmer in the night.
And all those red, red Christmas ornaments at Macy's entrance and the beautiful arcs along the main selling floor beckon all to enter. Then again, there's the huge red bow that wraps the entire Cartier store on Fifth Avenue. Now, that's a classic!
And we haven't even shown you the giant snowflake suspended above 57th and Fifth or the astounding tree full of angels at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the model train exhibit and ceiling light show at Grand Central Station or the triangle of lighted trees that seem to float atop the corner of the Trump Tower or the fresh wreaths and garland outside the 21 Club or the traditional creche at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
At every turn, from every angle, New York is a Christmas celebration.
What's behind New York's love affair with Christmas?
Well, a lot of it had to do with something crisp and green and valuable. But, who cares?
New York City knows that during this season what's good for your heart and soul is also good for business, good for New York and good for America.
And that's an appeal that we can all understand.
Photos copyright 2010 by Dan Cirucci.

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Job Growth Stalls -- Again!

Just on the heels of what people thought was good economic news comes a downer: Job growth has stalled unexpectedly -- again!
So now, the nation's nonfarm payroll has grown by only 39,000 jobs in November and that translates into a jump in unemployment to 9.8% -- the highest jobless rate since April. This amounts to a jump of .2%
It seems as if we're moving backwards, not forward.
 One economist called the latest figures "a painful reality check for those hoping that a meaningful acceleration in economic activity was underway."
And here's another disheartening statistic: Of the 15.1 million persons unemployed in November, nearly 42% had been jobless for 27 weeks or more.
Amazingly, even retail sales lost 28,000 jobs in November. This surprised economists who had been expecting a gain as we ramp up toward Christmas.

Let's face it: Democrat economic stimulus plans have not worked. Big Government has failed miserably.

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C'mas Flap: Blame Aimed At Philly Managing Director

Philadelphia's managing Director gets the brunt of blame today for the Christmas Village debacle. Here are some selections from dozens of angry Letters to the Editor of the Philadelphia Daily News:

Mr. Negrin, I want to thank you for making Philadelphia a disgrace on every national news media outlet this morning, and also for reaffirming our city's image as the sixth-largest joke in the nation. It's people like you who actually foster discrimination against the majority by the tyranny of the minority.

In this age of political correctness, elected and bureaucratic appointed officials show their gutless appeasement of a segment of society.

I'm outraged at the simpleton Negrin and his political correctness.

Are we going to stop saying Happy Valentine's Day or Happy Fourth of July just because others don't want to celebrate it or someone gets offended? Are we going to remove the word Christmas from the calendar so that we can be politically correct?

Big deal, the sign says Christmas.
So what if a few workers and residents complained? I am sure they're happy to be getting a paid holiday.

If you can't hire people who have a conscience as far as Christmas and the majority feels, fire their butts!

Click here to read more from the Daily News.

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Byko: Negrin Spouts 'Nonsense,' Not Common Sense

Bravo to our freind, Daily News columnist Stu Bykofsky for his great column in the newspaper today. Here's part of what he says:

To the Christmas-haters, how about letting the vast majority enjoy themselves? Be a little - dare I say it? - tolerant. If a "Christmas Village" offends you, why not stick a candy cane in your mouth and look the other way?
Jesus was not only a religious figure, but also he had secular importance as a teacher and philosopher. Would we rename Martin Luther King Jr. Day to "Some Random Black Guy Day" because MLK makes some people "uncomfortable"?
The city claimed that it had received a few dozen complaints. Since I can get the city 200 complaints about carriage horses working around Independence Mall, I asked Negrin how many complaints it takes to get the city to jump.
It's not that way at all, he said.
It's about being inclusive, and common sense, he said.
That is nonsense, not common sense. It sounds as if being "inclusive" means excluding Christians.

No one says it better than Stu -- and no one makes more sense. Hurry, click here to read the whole column at the Daily News.

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The Joys Of A Small Town Christmas

 The old toys (above and below) in the Christmas window display at The Owl's Tale in historic Haddonfield.

There's no Christmas like a small town Christmas.
And in the shadow of Philadelphia, you'll find a small town rich in history with an old-fashioned main street, delightful shops, friendly merchants and neighbors with no small amount of genuine civic-pride.
On October 23, 1682, when he took up a tract of 400 acres, Francis Collins became the first settler within the boundaries of what is today Haddonfield, New Jersey. An English Quaker and a bricklayer by trade, Collins built his house, "Mountwell". Other settlers would soon follow.
Haddonfield flourished throughout the 18th century; by the Revolution it was the largest village in the area. One reason for its growth was water transportation via the Cooper's Creek; Haddonfield was at the terminus point where boats could be flatted. From this strategic point goods would have to be brought for shipment or incoming goods must be unloaded. Haddonfield also had an advanced road system, leading to what is now Camden and Gloucester City and to Salem and Burlington.
Both the Council of Safety and the New Jersey legislature, on the run from the British, met on a number of occasions in Haddonfield throughout 1777. Many of the famous names of the Revolution passed through Haddonfield, including Lafayette, Generals Morgan, Greene, Wayne and Pulaski, the Polish Count; British leaders included Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis and a Hessian Commander, Colonel Donop.
Today, Haddonfield is a thriving, leafy community and one of the most desirable places to live in the Philadelphia region. Last night we visited Haddonfield for the town's tree lighting ceremony and the first in a series of Friday night "candellight shopping" nights. Every Friday between now and Christmas there will be luminary lights, carriage rides, music and other attractions in Haddonfield.
Last night, there was just enough of a nip in the air to remind us that Christmas is near.
Hundreds of people turned out for the tree lighting and the main street (Kings Highway) was festooned with lights, wreaths and decorated trees and busy shoppers. Bands played, carolers sung and shopkeepers provided a warm welcome to all.
The streetscape and scale of this wonderful town are as close to perfect as you will find anywhere.
Today is Shop Small Saturday -- meaning that you should support small businesses and local communities.
What better place to start than in Haddonfield or some similar town wherever it is that you live.
Check out some of the beautifully decorated windows in small town shopping districts, chat with the merchants, meet friends and neighbors and above all, BUY!
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and small towns help to make America great.

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