May 29, 2007

ENVIRONMENT

Senate Environment Committee
Global Warming Response Act – S-2114 (Buono/D-18; Kean/R-21; Smith/D-17): Committee passed, referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.  Directs the state Department of Environmental Protection to establish a greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and reduction program and requires that greenhouse gas emissions in the state be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020.  The chamber has concerns with the bill. The state should focus on policies that will foster the development and implementation of new technologies that will assist in reducing emissions and not place New Jersey at a competitive disadvantage with other states. Additionally, the Chamber believes wind and solar alone will not meet the growing energy demands of our state in coming years and serious consideration must be given to adding nuclear and natural gas to supplement the energy equation. The State Chamber supports efforts to develop a state Energy Master Plan and we encourage the members of the state Legislature to allow this process to develop further before introducing onerous legislation.  Contact: Michael Egenton


LABOR

Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
Paid Family Leave Advances  – S-2249 (Sweeney/D-3; Buono/D-18): Committee passed.  Expands the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program to provide TDI benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn and newly adopted children. New Jersey is currently one of only six states that provide TDI benefits for the birth of a child.  Committee amendments include a reduction in the maximum duration of family leave benefits from 12 to 10 weeks, changing the tax base from the social security tax base of the first $97,000 of a worker's wages to the TDI tax base of the first $26,600 of a worker's wages, changing the date when employee payments would begin (January 2009), and changing the date when employees can begin receiving benefits (July 2009).  Mandating paid time off for businesses of all sizes disrupts the employer/employee relationship by mandating a one size fits all benefit package.  Contact: Jim Leonard

TAXATION

Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
CBT Credit for Digital Media Industry – S-2526 (Sarlo/D-36; Kyrillos/R-13): Committee passed. Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain digital media content production expenses incurred in New Jersey. While similar tax credits for film production were established in 2006 to provide incentives for media production, this bill broadens the credit program to include digital media. The Chamber believes this measure will stimulate economic growth by providing incentives for the digital media industry to operate in New Jersey, attracting new high-wage technology jobs. Contact: Mary Ellen Peppard

Trenton Watch is a publication of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Thumbs up and down indicates the chamber’s support or opposition to issues. Questions? Call the State Chamber Government Relations Department at (609) 989-7888. Comments are always welcome.