A Message from President & CEO Tom BrackenThis month’s elections underscored that economic concerns are a top priority for voters. As we move forward, it’s critical for policymakers – at both the state and federal levels – to prioritize initiatives that foster economic growth and stability.
The Murphy administration took an important step on the economy by issuing the recently announced executive order creating a state Economic Council – a concept the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce has long championed. The Council, composed of state government leaders and members of the business community, will focus on a critical goal: finding actionable ways to make New Jersey a more attractive place to do business.
You’ve likely heard the recent buzz: New Jersey made a bold play to lure the Philadelphia 76ers across the Delaware River, offering an attractive deal for a new arena in Camden.
This move clearly caught the attention of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, who quickly announced her own city’s agreement with the team for a proposed new arena in Center City near Chinatown.
However, the Philly “deal” still requires city council approval, and it already faces opposition from residents concerned about congestion.
As the Legislature returns this month, our New Jersey Chamber of Commerce lobbying team will be back in the State House pushing for policies that will make New Jersey a better place for our members to run their businesses – and for their employees to live and raise a family.
We are motivated by polling that consistently shows that the economy remains the top concern for Americans and employers. A recent survey of more than 500 members of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) revealed unsteady views on the state’s economy for the second half of 2024, with 43% expecting it to worsen.
This has certainly been a historic summer with many political twists and turns. The most recent being this past Sunday afternoon. And, through it all, polling consistently shows the item that matters most to Americans and employers is the economy.
That’s no surprise given all the uncertainty since the pandemic.
Now more than ever, we need our leaders from both parties to come together to focus on bipartisan economic growth policies that create prosperity for all. It sounds simple but it has been so elusive for so many years. Our country will only succeed if we end the constant disagreements. We can do this by getting back to basics through bipartisanship that involve all key stakeholders working together for the common good of the people.
The nightmare might be coming true.
Back in March when we first heard about the proposed budget, the Corporate Transit Fee (CTF) and the buck-a-truck tax, I called it a “nightmare” budget proposal that’s “a major step backwards” for the state.
Well, with less than one week before the fiscal 2025 state budget has to be signed by Governor Murphy, some disappointing news is emerging. Word on West State Street is Governor Murphy and our legislative leaders have agreed on a 2.5% CTF retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024 and lasting for five years, which means the original proposal by the governor is in full force for five years.
There has been a lot of discussion about the proposed 2.5% Corporate Transit Fee on New Jersey’s largest employers and we at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, along with many of our trade association colleagues, are totally against it and would like to see it eliminated. Everyone agrees New Jersey Transit needs to get its fiscal house in order; however, the employer community stands firm that the CTF will never be a viable solution. Thanks to NJ Transit’s increased funding sources, policymakers can instead spend the next year doing a deep dive into the agency’s true financial position and needs — and not rush through a proposal during budget season with many negative economic consequences.
It has been over six weeks since Gov. Phil Murphy proposed a highly punitive business tax increase on the state’s largest companies in his fiscal 2025 state budget. Essentially, he is saying New Jersey should replace the temporary 2.5% Corporate Business Tax surcharge that expired at the end of 2023, and repackage it as a Corporate Transit Fee. This tax hike would affect New Jersey’s largest job creators, tax revenue producers and philanthropic givers — in a very bad way, as would the “Buck a Truck” proposal, which is an unnecessary nuisance tax on the state’s burgeoning logistics industry. Moreover, the proposals would hurt the progress New Jersey has been making as a desirable location to run a business.