WHELAN: CHRISTIE’S REJECTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS WOULD CUT BENEFITS FOR UNEMPLOYED NEW JERSEYANS

WHELAN: CHRISTIE’S REJECTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS WOULD CUT BENEFITS FOR UNEMPLOYED NEW JERSEYANS

Senator Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic), a Co-Chair of the Democratic State Committee’s Victory ‘09 campaign, today joined unemployed South Jersey workers at a construction site at Stockton College to slam Bush Republican candidate Chris Christie for aligning with prominent George W. Bush Republicans to reject billions of dollars in federal funding from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) including more than $200 million to support unemployment benefits for New Jerseyans.

“Christie would have refused more than $200 million in federal stimulus funding that provides critical assistance for unemployed New Jerseyans,” said Whelan (D-Atlantic). “Christie is more interested in partisan politics than forging solutions to help struggling New Jersey families move ahead. By denying New Jerseyans this federal aid Christie would have denied assistance to nearly half a million New Jerseyans who are looking for work. These federal funds help out-of-work New Jerseyans support their families, keep a roof over their heads and pay their bills on time.”

In May, Christie praised prominent conservative right wing Republicans like Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal and Mark Sanford for turning down federal economic recovery funds, saying their refusal "makes sense.” “If they're going to put strings on that money that are going to tie your hands and make you expand programs and not be able to have the freedom of choice that people elected you for, then you shouldn’t take the money.” [Hannity Show, Fox News, 5/18/09]

“While Christie has never created a single job, Jon Corzine has provided real relief to New Jerseyans with a stimulus plan that is working to keep New Jersey working by creating jobs across the state,” said Whelan. “It is beyond insulting that Christie would not only spurn federal money that would provide help to New Jersey families but that he has been unable to produce a coherent plan to create a single job anywhere in our state.”

Last month, the independent, non-partisan Office of Legislative Services' reported that New Jersey would lose five billion dollars of federal economic recovery funds if the state refused to accept the conditions set forth by the federal government which is a position held by Christie. A rejection of these funds would include $207 million slated for extended unemployment benefits and two billion dollars in education funding, which would cause New Jersey homeowners across the state see their property tax bills also skyrocket by an additional two billion dollars.

Under Governor Corzine’s leadership, New Jersey was the first state in the nation to be certified to receive unemployment insurance funds under ARRA after the state modernized its system to allow part-time workers and those seeking job training to qualify for benefits.

In total, more than 489,000 individuals in New Jersey have received federally-funded extended unemployment benefits that total approximately $1.85 billion.

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