CALLING GOV. CODEY

NY Post ^ | 04.10.05 | ADAM BRODSKY

[Coleus]

New Jersey's Acting Gov. Richard Codey just sent me the strangest letter.

Indeed, as a Jersey resident, I can say that I've never received official state correspondence so lacking in fact and logic. From the very first sentence, it aroused befuddlement: "I am pleased to report to you that the legislature has passed an increase to the New Jersey minimum wage and I am happy to sign the legislation."

Why in the name of Adam Smith would anyone be "pleased" to report such horrific news — particularly someone charged with safeguarding the state's economy and helping to keep folks from being thrown out of work (or not being hired in the first place)?

The note continues: "More than 200,000 New Jersey workers, most of whom are women and minorities, will benefit from this increase." Again, economists — for obvious reasons — agree that higher wages make workers less attractive (though they may differ as to the extent).

Surely Codey does not think it fortunate that 200,000 mostly female and minority workers will now become less employable. On the other hand, if he believes (against all sense) that these 200,000 will see their wages go up without jobs being lost, his focus on "women and minorities" nonetheless remains a mystery. Are these exalted groups on whom New Jerseyans ought to bestow economic favors?

The letter goes on to say that "a minimum wage worker putting in 40 hours a week earns only $10,172 a year — well below federal poverty level." On its face, that may seem true.

But Codey is aware, no doubt, that minimum-wage workers often do not work 40 yours a week, every week of the year. Rather, they are part-time workers or temps — college or high-school kids, mothers or the elderly.

[nj26]

I will say that I can't walk into a fast-food restaurant without seeing a "help-wanted" sign around here. I'm dubious that there's going to be a massive wave of fired workers when this law is implemented, as the author suggests.

[Sonny M]

It amazes me that Richard Codey is a governor.

He's pretty much the worst salesman for liberalism, has no clue about anything, is a lefty democrat, but does not know why he is, what the reasons are supposed to be, or understand basics of policy formation.

In other words, even by democratic standards, he's a lightweight, but he had enough brains to know that Corzine was going to crush him, so he's getting out while the going is good.

[Sonny M]

I will say that I can't walk into a fast-food restaurant without seeing a "help-wanted" sign around here.

They might just take the help wanted signs down.

Here in NYC, I was looking to hire somone, but since they are boosting minimum wage, I'm just going to keep payroll as is, and make cuts elsewhere (though I did make a target list on who the first guy I'm going to fire is going to be).