In The Face Of Job Losses, Add Mandates

Two e-mails just scurried across the inbox. See if you can make sense of them.

First, the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development released its February job figures, which show New Jersey lost another 1,700 jobs in February to add to the 8,600 jobs lost in January. Job losses were led by trade, transportation and utilities (-2,800), manufacturing (-1,100), and construction
(-500).

The unemployment rate climbed by .3% to 4.8%, which now matches the national average.

Simultaneously, NJBiz is reporting that Senate President Codey has announced there will be a special voting session, either later this month or in April, to vote on final passage of the Paid Family Leave mandate.

The meeting would include voting on the paid family leave bill and perhaps voting to confirm Gov. Jon Corzine's nominee for treasurer, David Rousseau, Codey's office said. Usually, legislators spend April focusing on budget hearings and no full Senate meetings are presently scheduled.

If the Senate passes the leave bill, it would go to Corzine, who has said he would sign it into law.

The bill (S-786) was scheduled for a vote this past Monday, but was delayed due to procedural questions.

At some point, legislators have to recognize the cause and effect of their votes, no?