Dems hammer Christie with new unemployment numbers
The state Department of Labor reported today that the preliminary unemployment rate has inched up to 9.8 percent in July, up from 9.6 percent the previous month. If those numbers hold - they are sometimes adjusted up or down when new data comes it - it would represent the highest monthly rate since April 1977, according to historical data.
Dems hammer Christie with new unemployment numbers
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
For our complete story in Friday's paper, click here.
Using new data that indicates New Jersey’s economy may be getting worse, Gov. Christie’s political opponents are seeking to bloody him up before he heads down to the Republican convention to deliver the keynote speech.
The state Department of Labor reported today that the preliminary unemployment rate has inched up to 9.8 percent in July, up from 9.6 percent the previous month. If those numbers hold – they are sometimes adjusted up or down when new data comes in – they would represent the highest monthly rate since April 1977, according to state records.
The figure is also higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.3 percent. The state said 12,000 jobs were lost, mostly in the private sector.
As the Republicans’ keynote speaker at their national convention in Tampa at the end of the month, Christie is expected to tout his success turning around the New Jersey economy while arguing that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the candidate best able to put Americans back to work. Christie has been using the term “New Jersey comeback” for months now to tout his success in New Jersey, and Romney recently began calling himself and running-mate U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan “America’s comeback team.”
Christie is on vacation at the Jersey Shore this week, but his office reiterated that the figures are preliminary and only represent one month. Overall, the state is experiencing job growth, according to a spokesman, with positive job numbers having been reported in nine of the last 11 months. Since February 2010, the first full month of Christie's term, 79,000 private sector jobs were added.
In other economic news released yesterday, revenue for the month of July was 3 percent higher than in 2011. That was portrayed as a positive -- but far below the 7 percent annual revenue increase that the governor is banking on to support a proposed income tax cut.
Democrats pounced on the job figures today in a flurry of statements.
"There is no way to interpret this other than bad," said Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester). "I don't want to hear any spin. I don't want to hear anything remotely close to painting this as good news. I don't want a press conference touting these numbers as if it's a 'mission accomplished' moment. What I want to see is this administration admit it is failing in terms of getting people back to work."
And the Democratic state chairman, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D., Middlesex), said: "Governor Christie talks about telling direct and hard truths when he gets to Tampa. Well, here’s a direct and hard truth, Mr. Governor: New Jersey voters don’t care about whether our governor is famous and popular with his party, they care about having a job and providing for themselves and their families. Stop caring more about your personal reputation and political successes than you do about the people of New Jersey.”
Governor Christie, over promised and under delivered. Same story for all the politico's regardless of their pedigree, ad nauseum.— starlight- Chrisco must have laid odd alot of his personal fast food workers.— timagain
- LAND OF ENTITLEMENT
YOU VOTE OBAMA, YOU VOTE FOR ENTITLEMENT
YOU HAVE A BIG ENTITLEMENT
YOU HAVE NO JOB, YOU LIVE OFF ENTITLEMENT
ENTITLEMENT ENTITLEMENT ENTITLEMENT— Chef Yummi - The Socialist Democracies of Northern Europe:(Canadian Health)
The Capitalist Democracies of South America:(Mexican Health)
The Insurance of Government: You are entitled to vote
The United States of America:
http://forums.hannity.com/showthread.php?2399111-Blue-State-are-the-Producers-Red-States-the-Parasites
— Cuddles - wonder who he will bully next time on the boardwalk? where is he vacationing? the guv's mansion????— wiredalot
- blame bush— frank1121
- Why do you think Blubber was so determined to try to pass the tax cuts for his friends? The Massive Mafioso knows whats happening, and knows his "plan" isn't working, so better get those funds to his owners as fast as possible. Otherwise he gets no commission.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
- I l love how everybody hammers politicians for tax cuts. Do you take the tax deductions when you file? So when complain when somebody makes more than you does? Tax cuts don't kill economies over spending by the government does. Wake up people you act like gov. Corzine was so wonderful.— skills
- Sharky - Actually - unemployment under Reagn did not drop below 7% until 1987, after he had been President for 6 years.— ElecFact
- I'm sure the Dems will emphasize the Bully's bs about saving NJ before he takes the podium (they better add pilings underneath) to tell the R's how great a job he did in NJ. Bully wants to decimate teachers, firefighters, police officers and education to give a tax break to his rich buddies, so they can buy more cars, boats, artwork etc. and not create any jobs. He better hope Mitt the Fraud wins so he can leave NJ for the Cabinet, if they have a chair big enough for him to sit.— lport
Reach him at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattkatz00. Reach Matt at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
