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The Health Crisis Defeated, but New Jersey is left with an economic crisis

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Joshua Sotomayor Einstein
NJ GOP State Committeeman

In his April 21 op-ed, published in Spotlight NJ, Jack Ciattarelli aptly points out that after the health crisis is defeated, New Jersey will be left with an economic crisis unless a non-partisan approach to rebuilding the New Jersey state economy is adopted. The status quo proposal coming out of the Trenton goof troop – State Senate leader Sweeney and his super partisans, as well as failed Governor Phil Murphy, offer the already economically suffering residents of our state higher increased cost of living and greater unaffordability. This leads New Jersey residents to ask, why is there no non or bi-partisan commission to identify cuts to state spending when all across the state New Jerseyans are in danger of a depression? Why has none in Trenton proposed a pay cut for politicians and the politically connected when the regular Jane and Joe who support them are facing a potentially tough economic time? Why is the lessening of the tax burden on working and middle-class families not on the agenda for after the health crisis ends but before the financial one ramps up?

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“Murphy Midterms” Hit Back against tone-deaf Governor

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

The following statement is issued by Jack Ciattarelli, former State Assemblyman and 2017 Republican Gubernatorial Candidate.

Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy said, “The [Democratic] party’s never been in a better place.”[i]  Interesting

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New Jersey has full-time problems that require the undivided attention of a full-time Governor

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, New Jersey has full-time problems that require the undivided attention of a full-time Governor. Phil Murphy should take heed.

New Jersey taxpayers have no appetite whatsoever for a Governor of either party spending his/her time flying around the country engaged in partisan activities raising money, campaigning and strategizing for their political party. For New Jersey’s sake, this is not the time for Phil Murphy to become Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA).

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Want lower taxes? Murphy should focus on pensions, aid to some schools

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By Jack Ciattarelli 

On his inauguration day, Phil Murphy received two gifts any new governor of New Jersey could only wish for – the lowest unemployment rate in 17 years and hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue based on U.S. Supreme Court decisions on internet sales and sports betting. It wasn’t enough. In his first budget, Murphy raised other new and existing taxes more than $1.5 billion, including New Jersey corporate and personal taxes, despite both already being among the highest in the nation. Murphy’s political justification was, “We need to make New Jersey stronger and fairer.” His policy justification was, “The Trump tax reforms lowered corporate taxes” and “People need to pay their fair share.” While businesses and people may never leave a country over taxes, they will leave a state. Moreover, if you try to offset federal tax decreases with state tax increases, you only make your state an outlier. That’s exactly what’s happening to New Jersey. The proof . . . For the fifth year in a row, New Jersey’s business climate has been ranked dead last in the country. And the annual United Van Lines study shows New Jersey is, once again, one of the leading out-migration states in the country, with nearly 50 percent listing “jobs” as their reason for leaving. 

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Organization For Economic Growth: Ciattarelli Offers Prescription For New Jersey’s Ills As He Moves Closer to Declaring Gubernatorial Run

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July 28,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Mountain Lakes NJ,  Jack Ciattarelli sounded very much like a man running for governor Wednesday night as he addressed the first “Brotherhood of Business and Labor” reception hosted by the New Jersey Organization for Economic Growth in Morris County.

Ciattarelli, who ran for the Republican nomination for governor last year, presented his ideas to cure New Jersey’s economic and tax ills, which included the elimination of the state tax on capital gains, phasing out the corporate business tax, and ending the practice of raising property taxes on people who update their homes without increasing the size of the house.

Ciattarelli’s philosophical approach is to not punish people who take risks or who invest in projects that create value and jobs. That philosophy was enthusiastically received by NJOEG Chairman Joseph Caruso, who said he welcomed Ciattarelli’s bold candor.

When Caruso asked the keynote speaker of the event if he was running for governor, Ciattarelli smiled and reeled off the exact number of months and days until the next gubernatorial election before admitting that he would run.
Ciattarelli was warmly received at the Brotherhood event, which included a number of elected and appointed officials including New Jersey State Republican Party Chairman Doug Steinhardt; State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio; Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102 Patrick Delle Cava; and NJOEG Labor Liaison Christian Barranco
“I think Jack will be a great candidate and will make a tremendous governor. He understands economics and investment and he is willing to tackle tough issues without pandering to the special interests that are largely responsible for New Jersey’s horrid economic condition,” said Caruso, a business executive from Wayne.

Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman from the 16th Legislative District, stepped into the quagmire that is the state’s ongoing property tax crisis; saying bluntly, “You can’t fix the property tax problem in New Jersey without fixing the state’s school funding formula.”

Ciattarelli’s fix entails providing the same amount of per student funding for every child regardless of where they live.

He also waded into the pension crisis saying: “The state pension plan is busted. It was not designed to pay lifetime health benefits to people who live into their 90’s,” he said.

Ciattarelli took a few jabs at Gov. Phil Murphy and his progressive policies and tax increases, saying: “Murphy lights the fires of socialism.”

Della Cave, representing labor at the event, pointed out how his union is backing incentives for business investment because “businesses are not expanding in New Jersey without them.”

Delle Cave, who represents 2,500 electricians and has $1 million budget for political activity, said there are two main issues important to his members besides creating a robust economy. “Don’t do away with prevailing wage laws and don’t make this a right to work state,” he said.

Steinhardt said state officials need to address New Jersey’s problems by “resisting the temptation to do what is easy and what feels good.”

The State GOP chairman offered a few reforms he would like to see including a 2 percent cap on state spending (which now applies to municipal and county governments), public sector pension reform and a reduction in regulation that is killing business investment.

Barranco, who served as master of ceremonies for the event called it highly successful in furthering the dialogue among government, labor and business.

“New Jersey’s present economy is imbalanced with the few good things going to relatively few people, while everyone else – including private sector workers, homeowners, young people and business all getting squeezed to the breaking point. Through more events like this and more honest dialogue we can fix what’s wrong with New Jersey,” said Barranco.