Media
Wage Stagnation: A Persistent March Toward The Middle-Class Summit
Our country's middle class continues to struggle due to an uncertain economic environment. Furthermore, there is widespread agreement across various hues of the political landscape that wage stagnation is our country's largest economic challenge. Therefore, strengthening America's middle class should be a top priority for our nation's elected officials at every level of government. While a slow and steady advance of the economy has been ongoing in recent years, it is becoming increasingly clear that hard work alone is not enough to move working families up the economic ladder.
Spotlight On New Jersey's Gubernatorial And Legislative Races
Summer may be coming to an end, but the fall campaign season is just starting to heat up. Here’s look at key candidates and ballot questions
Unsafe Lead Levels Found In Drinking Water At 400 NJ Schools
Results confirm lead leaching from old fixtures and pipes is extensive problem facing state’s district and charter schools
Civics Education Or, Rather, The Lack Of It
By Joseph Picard
Now, for the high purpose of training an American child to become an American citizen – a constituent part of a self-governing people – Is it not obvious that, in all cases, the law by which he is to be bound should be made intelligible to him?
—Horace Mann, 1845
Why Unions Matter
Famed labor leader A. Phillip Randolph once opined that “the essence of trade unionism is social uplift.” That sentiment embodies what the mission of trade unionism was at its inception. A foundation built upon protecting workers from an abusive system and ensuring that those individuals received a livable wage and reasonable benefits. As a member of the Carpenters Union and raised in a union household, I readily admit that I am biased towards seeing the benefits of unions and recognizing their important role in our economic and political structures. However, the question that we should more broadly ask ourselves today, coming out of the shadow of another Labor Day holiday, is whether or not unions still matter in our country.
NJ Lottery Market Changes, But Lowered Expectations Remain
Just two years into a long-term contract to run the New Jersey Lottery, the private, politically connected conglomerate that had "committed to generating at least $1.4 billion" in new income for the state went back to Gov. Chris Christie's administration with two complaints:
- Jackpots in draw games like Powerball were underwhelming, dragging down sales goals.
- And the state had denied the organization's plan to launch keno-style games in bars and restaurants.
Reinvesting In Our Human Capital
As we approach Labor Day, we are reminded that the current state of the American worker and the job market is in a turbulent period. Newspaper headlines and political leaders like to tout reduced unemployment figures, but hidden within those flashy headlines is the fact that too many people are still under employed, having to work multiple jobs to make ends meet or simply only able to find part-time employment if at all. Also, with the participation in the job force, as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor, at the lowest numbers in decades we are given a false sense that our nation’s employment situation isn’t that bad. Unfortunately, it is.
What Are You Drinking?
One of the earth’s most precious commodities is water. Every ecosystem on our planet depends on it for survival, but yet we are challenged globally with accessing clean and reliable drinking water. According to The Water Project, nearly 1 billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water. Growing populations spur demand for more industries and farmland, thus draining water resources more rapidly than ever. Furthermore, those in the most barren of areas spend so much time searching and gathering suitable clean water, that they suffer poor healthcare, loss of education time and work opportunities. Couple these facts with the effects of climate change altering rainfall patterns, and it illustrates why more attention is needed on this critical issue both around the world and here at home. Remember, unlike reducing our carbon footprint, there is no alternative or substitute to promote for clean drinking water.
N.J. Chamber to Honor 4 Legislators, 2 Business Advocates for Outstanding Economic Growth Work in the Garden State
N.J. Chamber to Honor 4 Legislators, 2 Business Advocates for Outstanding Economic Growth Work in the Garden State
Awards Reception is in Pennington on Oct. 11
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announced that four state legislators – two Democrats and two Republicans – have won the Chamber’s biannual Legislators of the Year Award; The State Chamber further announced James V. Fakult, President, Jersey Central Power & Light; and Richard S. Mroz, president, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, have been named Business Advocates of the Year.