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Protest Planned Over Unemployment Remark

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Advocates delivered a message for the Republican leader who said New Jersey's unemployed don't want to look for work because jobless benefits are too generous.

Bill Holland of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance led a rally of 75 to 100 people outside Assemblyman Alex DeCroce's office in Whippany on Wednesday.

Holland says DeCroce's remarks remind him of Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol.''

DeCroce told business owners last week that New Jersey's jobless benefits are "too good for these people.'' He said someone collecting $550 a week has little incentive to seek work.

The Assembly Republican leader later said his comments were meant for those who game the system.

Gov. Chris Christie called the remarks "wrong'' and "ill-advised.''

DeCroce was not in the office during the protest.

(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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