By David Cruz
NJ Today
Lawmakers handled a mostly light, late summer session on the week before the national conventions begin, but their minds were still on the suspect status of the so-called “Jersey Comeback.” With an unemployment rate hovering close to 10 percent and state revenue projections falling below expectations, leading Democrats, like Senate President Steve Sweeney, are calling on the governor to stop the spin and get to work.
“You know, people hear about the Comeback, the New Jersey Comeback. It sounds good. People want hope. They want to see good things, but the truth is starting to trickle out that there isn’t a comeback, but, you know, there could be,” said Sweeney. “I’m more than willing to work with this governor to find ways to bring this state back to greatness. We’re more than willing, but, you know something, it starts with him.”
But, on the other side, the GOP says that if the Jersey Comeback appears slow to materialize, it’s Democrats who are riding the brakes, on purpose.
“They don’t want to see this governor do well, and that’s just part of the problem,” said Republican Sen. Kevin O’Toole. “Every time the governor comes up with an initiative, they always say ‘it’s dead on arrival.’ Let’s put the politics aside. Let’s grow the economy together, working hand in hand. Let the politics take care of itself, next year, during the gubernatorial election.”
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Both sides say they’re proud that New Jersey will be in the spotlight next week with the governor as the keynote speaker, and all, but Democrats say they’re hoping the governor comes back a bit more focused.
“I certainly don’t believe that there is a New Jersey Comeback. Do I want it to be? Absolutely. Do I think it is? Not at all,” said Democratic Sen. Nellie Pou. “We really need to be much more mindful about what is happening and what’s really facing New Jersey, and we really need to start making sure that we create jobs and not just an illusion that there is job creation.”
Republican Sen. Gerald Cardinale says his Democratic colleagues continue to insist on burdening the state budget with social programs and regulations that hamper business growth and stall an already tough recovery.
“It’s not that they’re bad people,” he says. “This is just the way they think, and it’s very difficult to get them to think differently.”
In just about a week’s time, Gov. Chris Christie will be at the center of the national political universe. His speech is expected to touch on the Jersey Comeback and the supposed bipartisanship that helped bring it about, but a quick check with several lawmakers suggest that both the “Jersey Comeback” and the bipartisanship are a work in progress.