Trenton NJ, Today, the New Jersey legislature passed A-1524/S-1500, similar measures which limit civic engagement and undermine free speech for all New Jerseyans. Specifically, this measure, which Governor Murphy has indicated he will sign, requires nonprofit organizations to disclose the names and addresses of their donors, creates a broad definition for independent expenditures, and makes it more difficult for organizations to engage in issue advocacy that informs the public.
“Illegals that commit horrendous crimes are finding refuge in New Jersey and today’s news report of a murderer who was deported proves that,” Pennacchio said. “This killer was hiding out in Newark. Fortunately, federal authorities deported him back to his home country so he can be tried for aggravated murder and associating with criminal organizations. The recent implementation of Attorney General’s ‘sanctuary state’ directive is putting New Jersey communities at risk and it is putting our families in danger. We must fight back.”
Trenton NJ, Two more jarring statistics were released yesterday regarding New Jersey’s economy. First, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimated that New Jersey lost 7,700 jobs in February. The state lost 9,300 private sector jobs, as the total number was offset by job gains in the taxpayer funded public sector.
Second, the Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) released an internal poll of 500 New Jersey CPAs, where 70% said they believe Governor Murphy’s budget will harm the State’s economy. A measly 23% viewed the State’s economy as “good” and only 12% think it will get better.
Trenton NJ , Following the first public hearing on Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed 2020 budget Wednesday, Assemblyman John DiMaio, the Republican budget officer, spoke about the state’s strain for cash and how high taxes are making life more difficult, not better, for New Jerseyans.
“One of the things that’s gone off the rails a little bit in New Jersey is we now tax more. We take money away from people and then volunteer groups and certain groups that benefit other individuals don’t get the money they used to get from donors,” said DiMaio (R-Warren). “We see people from all different interests. A lot of these groups are more volunteer in nature and they’re looking for funding.”
Trenton NJ, Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) released the following statement on Governor Murphy’s “shocking failure” to live up to his own minimum wage promise, noting that the proposed budget fails to provide the essential funding called for by the Governor:
“Just a month ago the Governor patted himself on the back as he signed the minimum wage increase bill. During today’s Senate Budget hearing, we learned that incredibly, while he was preparing this budget, the Governor failed to provide the very funding necessary to meet the increased spending obligations triggered by his new minimum wage policy,” O’Scanlon said.
ROSELAND, N.J. – Governor Murphy’s proposed budget will make the state’s economy worse over the long term, according to 70 percent of nearly 500 New Jersey CPAs polled by the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) earlier this month. More than 38 percent of respondents said the state’s economy would become “significantly worse” and 32 percent said it would become “marginally worse.” Only 12 percent said it would be better and 17 percent said it would “stay the same.”
Of those who responded negatively, most cited Governor Murphy not focusing enough on the amount of spending on public pension benefits in New Jersey in his budget proposal; high property taxes for both residents and businesses in the state; and implementation of the millionaire’s tax.
NJBIA Statement on Signing of Stormwater Tax Legislation
NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs Ray Cantor issued the following statement regarding the signing of bill S-1073 today by Governor Murphy. The new law allows municipalities and counties to create authorities to impose fees on residential and commercial property owners based on the amount of their impervious surfaces.
“This law adds yet another tax on our already overburdened residents and businesses, though there is no language to define how much people will be charged, how the funds will be collected or how the funds generated by it will actually address stormwater issues.
“This legislation essentially creates a new, non-deductible property tax on the public and another bureaucratic expense at the local level. Churches and non-profits, as well as residents and businesses, will all be susceptible to these added fees based on their patios, parking lots, driveways and roofs. “Potentially, 565 individual municipalities could charge fees within their own boundaries without having to consider how sewerage systems and stormwater in neighboring towns affect their projects. A county could also decide to have a stormwater authority, potentially forcing property owners to deal with two bureaucracies and fees for the same property.
“Further, this law will be extremely difficult to administer. It will require an analysis of each property in a town, credits for existing facilities, and credits for how well you maintain a facility. There is no certainty on how much can be collected and no stated appeals process.
NJBIA understands the needs to address non-point source pollution, flooding and infrastructure needs. There are mechanisms already in place around the state to address the intent of this legislation. With this law, however, only the costs – and not the results – will be certain.”
Trenton NJ, Gov. Phil Murph’s budget proposed fiscal year 2020 budget will do nothing to help the middle class and will likely do more to harm the state’s economy said Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R- Morris, Essex Passaic).
DeCroce said the governor’s plan to increase spending and taxes and broadening programs, such free county college tuition, will not reduce property taxes — the number one issue for the middle class in New Jersey.
“The governor says repeatedly he wants to help the middle class, but he actions do not back up his statements,” said DeCroce
“The governor wants the state to spend more money; he wants to expand programs and increase school funding. But the state cannot afford the programs it has now, so how is increasing taxes and spending more money help the middle class?” asked DeCroce.
Trenton NJ, Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-39) released the following statement in response to news that Governor Phil Murphy and Legislative leaders have reached a deal on legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Senator Cardinale has been one of the Legislature’s most vocal opponents of the bill. In November, he testified before the Budget Committee in opposition to the legislation. He also released an expansive data book containing peer-reviewed studies that demonstrate the dangers of legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Ridgewood NJ, According to Garden State Initiative (GSI) analysis of the newest jobs numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today, New Jersey’s job growth for 2018 was much smaller than first reported. Instead of the previously reported 61,900 new jobs added in 2018, there were actually only 39,400 new jobs added last year – a decline of 44%. (The Bureau of Labor Statistics revises jobs statistics on a monthly and annual basis to account for new data available and more in-depth analysis that is able to take place.)
The revised numbers from BLS mean that while New Jersey did still experience jobs growth for 2018, the actual growth was lower by 27,500 jobs than initially reported. New Jersey’s labor force is still smaller than the average labor force size in 2006.
Some Key Findings of the GSI report :
New jobs in 2018 revised downward 44% – from 61,900 to 39,400
Labor force remains smaller than average labor force in 2006
Participation rate continues to trail national average
Trenton NJ, New Jersey’s year-over-year job growth declined to its lowest point since 2011 according to figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. New Jersey’s annual job growth is now at less than one percent.
Last week Governor Murphy proposed growing the size of state government by over a billion dollars in his annual budget address.
“Sobering statistics on New Jersey’s shrinking economy keep stacking up,” said NJGOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt. “The state of New Jersey is on the path to insolvency and Governor Murphy’s progressive idealism is sucking the economic life out of it. Job killing programs like mandated wages, Obamacare fines, corporate tax hikes and billion dollar tax increases are taking a devastating toll on New Jersey’s economy, leaving struggling families with no where to turn.”
East Rutherford NJ, according to Governor Phil Murphy the opening date for the American Dream Mall , originally projected for April, has been pushed back to at least late spring. “First of all, it’s happening. American Dream is happening,” Murphy said. “To the best of my knowledge, the last time I asked, it had slipped, I had thought, closer to June.” Murphy made these not-so-surprising remarks in a brief, one-minute response to a reporter’s question at an unrelated press conference at West Orange High School, where he was talking about school funding. He made the assertion based on his last conversations with the project’s representatives.
Ridgewood NJ, After seeing salt covering New Jersey roads today, despite the fact that temperature is not supposed to drop below 37 degrees Fahrenheit over the next few days, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said that “enough is enough” and demanded that the State put an end to the practice of unnecessary brining.
“It’s time for someone to challenge Governor Murphy’s assertion that this is a pennies per mile cost: it’s not. There was simply no way that a .17 per mile number was an accurate reflection of the cost to brine our roads when you account for labor, gas, and equipment. After speaking with a few of local officials we were able to confirm that the actual cost in totality is in excess of $12 or $13 per mile locally – and that is for areas that are more conservative with their usage of salt and brine,” O’Scanlon said.
The following editorial by Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) was published by the Asbury Park Press on March 6, 2019:
Gov. Phil Murphy’s second annual budget message to a joint session of the state Legislature this week outlined his plans to raise taxes, unnecessarily, yet again.
Absent from his message was any mention of support for “Path to Progress” reforms recommended by the Legislature’s bipartisan Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup, which have the potential to significantly lower the cost of New Jersey’s many layers of government.
That absence was especially noticeable considering Murphy’s prior chairmanship of the Benefits Review Task Force under Acting Gov. Richard Codey. The task force, under Murphy’s leadership, examined the state’s significant fiscal challenges and proposed bold reforms.
