newjerseynewsroom.com

Cites $3 million cost, and existing job training programs

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

As a new session of the Legislature begin Tuesday, Gov. Chris Christie on Monday signed 25 bills and conditionally vetoed 15 others but it was his one absolute veto that raised the ire of Democrats.

Citing the estimated $3 million cost, Christie vetoed the “Back to Work New Jersey” bill, a major late-session piece of Democratic legislation.

In his veto message, the governor declared the bill is “nearly identical” to one that he vetoed last year because of the proposed cost.

“At that time, I noted that the bill would have spent scarce taxpayer dollars in a supplemental appropriation outside of the annually proposed, and legislatively approved state budget, without offering even a single cent of spending cuts to pay the way,” Christie stated in his veto message. “Rather than grapple with the difficult choices required for the balanced spending mandated by our Constitution, and demanded by our residents, this bill simply perpetuates the decades of unbridled spending that resulted in our current fiscal climate. That infirmity requires that I withhold my approval of this bill once more."

The governor stated that as drafted, the bill establishes a new program in the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development and provides for a supplemental appropriation of $3 million. He noted that under the bill’s provisions, an individual collecting unemployment insurance benefits is eligible to receive workplace training with state subsidies for costs such as transportation, clothing, child care, and workers’ compensation coverage.

“Critics and supporters of this bill have debated whether these new programs are likely to have a significant positive

impact on New Jersey’s job market,” Christie stated. “What is undisputed, however, is that a $3 million supplemental appropriation outside the budget process set to begin anew in weeks is inadvisable and inconsistent with the sound financial planning I have advocated since taking office.”

The governor stated the bill asks taxpayers to pay all of the medical costs and benefits set forth in the state’s workers’ compensation laws if a program participant is injured in the program. And, of course, nowhere does the bill explain where all of these supplemental funds are to be found in the state budget passed more than six months ago.

“Finally, the bill ignores the robust complement of job training and employment incentive programs already offered,” Christie stated. “For example, the Department of Labor administers the Workforce Development Partnership Act, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act, and the Workforce Investment Act and offers “on-the-job” training grants and “work-opportunity” tax credits. Moreover, the Department has recently launched an aggressive program, “Jobs4Jersey,” which efficiently and effectively links job seekers with potential employers.

“Rather than spending unbudgeted sums on costly job-training programs that are duplicative of existing, successful initiatives, I urge the Legislature to re-focus their attention in the coming term on reducing the cost of doing business in New Jersey.”

Democratic sponsors of the legislation were not happy with the governor’s action.

"Governor Christie had the chance to do the right thing and join Democrats in helping put New Jerseyans back-to-work, but once again he has let New Jersey families down,” Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex) said. "The governor fails to understand that this innovative program would allow out-of-work New Jerseyans to develop the skills to stay in the workforce. It would have helped workers and businesses alike to jumpstart our economy and move our state forward, but instead the governor has once again stood in the way of job training.”