Post-election, N.J. Democratic leaders focus on jobs

Democrats who control the New Jersey Legislature have selected their leaders for the next two years.

Steve Sweeney will retain his post as Senate president position, and Sheila Oliver will remain Assembly speaker.

Democrats said Thursday they intend to concentrate on creating jobs and continuing the push to reinstate an income tax surcharge on millionaires.

“We will not let that issue rest,” Oliver said. “We have an obligation to raise that issue up as the people who have sent us down here to speak for them have asked us to do.”

Should Democrats approve a millionaires’ tax, though, Gov. Chris Christie said he’ll veto it just like he did the first time the Legislature passed it.

“There’s nobody in this room who’s going to sign a millionaires’ tax or any income tax increase,” Christie vowed.

Democratic leaders say they’ll also focus in the next session on creating jobs and making reforms in public education.

“No one should think that we are not going to be extremely aggressive these next two years to start advancing our jobs package,” Sweeney said. “Helping the poor, the middle class, and seniors that have been attacked in the first two years by this administration.”

The Democrats made a few changes in their leadership roles.

Loretta Weinberg replaces Barbara Buono as Senate majority leader while Lou Greenwald succeeds Joe Cryan as majority leader in the Assembly.