January 9, 2012

ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 4332 (First Reprint)

To the General Assembly: Pursuant to Article V, Section I, Paragraph 14 of the New Jersey Constitution, I am returning Assembly Bill No. 4332

(First Reprint), a bill nearly identical to one that I vetoed earlier this year, without my approval. 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 single cent approved of State cuts budget, to pay without the offering even a

spending

way.

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. As drafted, the bill establishes a new program in the

Department of Labor and Workforce Development and provides for a supplemental appropriation of $3 million. provisions, an individual collecting Under the bills insurance

unemployment

benefits is eligible to receive workplace training with State subsidies for costs such as transportation, clothing, child

care, and workers compensation coverage. Labor is required employers to who monitor both eligible in the

The Department of participants program, and and to

eligible

participate

compile data for evaluation. Critics and supporters of this bill have debated whether these new programs are likely to have a significant positive impact on New Jerseys job market. is that a $3 million What is undisputed, however, appropriation outside the

supplemental

budget process set to begin anew in weeks is inadvisable and inconsistent with the sound financial planning I have advocated since taking office. Nor is the $3 million dollars appropriated, but not

accounted for, even sufficient to cover the cost of the program envisioned. bills Indeed, the Department of Labor estimates the and $3 will for

numerous costs

reporting, will

training, far

monitoring, the entire they

implementation million require

likely

exceed

supplemental more than

appropriation. the $250,000

Certainly, actually

allocated

administration.

Moreover, the bill asks taxpayers to pay all of

the medical costs and benefits set forth in the States 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 For

training and employment incentive programs already offered. example, the Department of Act, Labor the administers Trade the

Workforce Assistance

Development

Partnership

Adjustment

Act, and the Workforce Investment Act and offers on-the-job training grants and work-opportunity tax credits. the Department has which recently launched and an aggressive Moreover, program, job

Jobs4Jersey,

efficiently

effectively

links

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. Simply stated, the most effective way to create jobs is

to grow opportunities for businesses in our State, businesses that hire, retain, and sustain employees and their families. Working collaboratively with the Legislature, my Administration has already eliminated unnecessary and burdensome regulations, welcomed new companies to New Jersey, and enacted forward-

looking solutions to keeping established industries within our borders. Much more remains to be done, and I welcome the

Legislatures continued partnership in 2012.

With that focus,

we can generate new ideas that generate new jobs, and continue New Jerseys recovery. Accordingly, I herewith return Assembly Bill No. 4332

(First Reprint) without my approval. Respectfully, /s/ Chris Christie [seal] Governor

Attest: /s/ Kevin M. ODowd Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor