Joan Verplanck, President, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

Gov. Chris Christie is facing obstacles that none of his predecessors have faced – at least not all at the same time. The nation is struggling with soaring deficits made even more
difficult by double-digit unemployment.

He has to figure out a way to grow private sector jobs while downsizing a government
that has grown considerably. Cost drivers across the board need to be evaluated and savings found. There are major pension and benefits issues to be dealt with, and none of the solutions are easy or painless. Forget making everyone happy; it will be a victory to make anyone happy.

And yet here we are. We are hopeful. Our business surveys indicate that a majority of you believe there is a better New Jersey on the horizon. Our new governor has the ability to galvanize the business community through his efforts and those of Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, by removing the roadblocks to business growth and
jobs.

By all accounts, we need incentives to make us competitive with neighboring states, but more than half the battle is simply allowing government to get out of the way so that you can do what you do best – create jobs.
Gov. Christie has made some great appointments to key positions – congratulations to former Chamber Board members Rich Bagger, chief of staff, and Al Koeppe, chairman of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Our current chairman, Dennis Bone, co-chaired the Economic Development Transition Team, and scores of board members served in one capacity or another at the governor’s invitation. They were invited to serve because private sector job growth is essential to the recovery, and the Christie team gets it.

We offer not only our services as Gov. Christie and his team develop and move their agenda, but our best wishes for their success.

State Chamber President Joan Verplanck can be reached at joan@njchamber.com