Herb Conaway on Jobs: Welfare, not Work

From: Beverly City Council Meeting, recorded September 25, 2007

• Beverly Resident:  “But if the person isn’t able to go out and get a job [if the River Line didn’t exist], then they’re on the welfare report…”

• Conaway: “I’d rather pay them individually [through welfare].”

Burlington—  7th District Assembly candidates Brian Propp and Nancy Griffin today issued the following statement on Herb Conaway’s recent statements regarding job creation sparked by the River Line light rail project.

“Herb Conaway’s statement that those who have found good jobs due to the River Line would be better off paid by the State to stay home is an insult to these hard-working men and women,” said Brian Propp.  “Not only does his comment show that he does not understand the need for job-creation in New Jersey, he’s shown a stunning lack of respect for the dignity and security that a job brings to working families.  He owes them an apology.”

“At very least, everyone in New Jersey whether Democrat or Republican should be able to agree that putting people to work is preferable to putting people on welfare rolls,” said Nancy Griffin.  “While the State has a duty to help to those in need, certainly it should not be any Legislator’s position that working men and women are better off paid by the State than having a job.  While his comments are shocking, they are certainly not surprising.  Conaway has been busy chasing jobs out of the state since 2002 with 90 tax hikes and a 48% increase in spending.  His latest comments regarding job creation just prove how out of touch he is with working families.”

Copy of audio recording available upon request.

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