For Immediate ReleaseFebruary 28, 2008

Contact: Dr. P. Kelly Hatfield

Phone: 908-522-1455   kellyhatfield@hatfield2008.com

 Hatfield Says New Jersey is Not Business Friendly NJ Ranking Dropped Since Corzine Became Governor in 2006 

Summit – If you want to know about doing business in New Jersey just ask the CEO, which is what “Chief Executive Magazine” has done for the last four years and releasing their findings in the annual “Best and Worst States for Business” report, Jan. 2008. In all 605 top executives were asked to evaluate their states on a range of issues including: Taxation and Regulation, Workforce Quality and Living Environment ranking New Jersey in 47th place, down from 46th in ’06 and ’07.

Referring to the survey, Dr. P. Kelly Hatfield, Republican Candidate for Congress in the 7th District said, “It is no wonder that companies are closing shop in NJ and taking their jobs elsewhere as evidenced by the drop in revenues reflected in Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed state budget.” Saying that New Jersey needs to eliminate over-regulation and high corporate taxes Hatfield indicated that the key to keeping NJ fiscally solvent is the creation of jobs for residents. “It is disappointing that a businessman of the caliber of Governor Corzine would simply look the other way and not include in his fiscal restructing plan for NJ incentives for businesses to stay here” , Dr. Hatfield said.

An advocate of small businesses, Hatfield has indicated that NJ has to develop ways to encourage business to not close their doors here but to expand their operations something that the governor hasn’t been doing enough of , “the taxes , fees and regulations that are currently placed on small business owners here in NJ are roadblocks to their success,” she noted. Hatfield plans to take her advocacy to Washington and when elected to congress will fight to cut the federal corporate tax rate which will help to make New Jersey more competitive in an ever growing global economy. However, she believes that this requires teamwork with Federal and State governments both doing their part.

“I want to see New Jersey be in the top ten of the Best States for Business”, Hatfield said. “If we continue on our current path without taking care of our businesses and giving them the tools that they need to stay viable there will be no reason for our residents to stay here as all the jobs will have moved elsewhere.” Dr. Hatfield went on to say that New Jersey is on a downward spiral and as far as she can see nothing is being seriously done to avert the real crisis which we have ahead. “The powers that be talk a good game about creating jobs but what they actually do is continue to penalize businesses for doing well, which is unacceptable.”

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