New Jersey 29th in Happiness Index

Source: MainStreet.com

The Happiness Index, which looks at household income, debt, employment and foreclosures, is a fresh take on the old and tired Misery Index, made popular in the 1970s. The Misery Index takes into account unemployment and inflation rates and seeks to identify the most financially miserable places to live. The Happiness Index, on the other hand, is all about which states are best weathering the current economic storm.

Click here for the Index.

The Fight For Private Union Elections Is Not Over

Employee Free Choice Act removes your choice for secret ballots

This bill would undermine long standing principles of workplace democracy and fairness and result in employees having less ability to determine if they wish to be represented by a union. It does so by allowing unions to collect employee signatures in public-or so-called "card check"-and do away with the secret ballot process. While the the Employee Free Choice Act is being promoted by organized labor as labor law reform to level the playing field, it does not represent "reform" in any sense of the word. Rather, the legislation will radically restructure 60 years of carefully crafted labor law balances that have served both unions and employers well for many decades.

This is a battle that is a long way from being over and we need you to act today.

Urge your Senators and Members of Congress to vote against the Employee Free Choice Act.

Click here to urge your U.S. Senators and Members of Congress to vote against the Employee Free Choice Act

LUARCC RELEASES MUNICIPAL EFFICIENCY REPORT

The state's Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission (LUARCC) has released its 2009 report, “A Quest for Efficiency in Local Governance,” which meets the group‘s statutory reporting requirement as set forth by the New Jersey Legislature. Members of the Chamber's Platform for Progress Government Reform Coalition actively lobbied for the creation and staffing of the Commission, and will spend the next few days reviewing the recommendations outlined in the report. Initial highlights include findings that “…seem to indicate the potential for savings in a vast array of capital dependent and unique services such as emergency communications and municipal courts.” In addition, the report highlights the difficulty associated with looking for a one-size fits all approach, and suggests a focus on service delivery options “…that might achieve real cost-savings without sacrificing quality.”

If you are interested in seeing a copy of the report, please contact Chamber Lobbyist Jim Leonard at jim@njchamber.com. The report is not currently available on the LUARCC website.