Lawmakers, lobbyists and businesspeople this morning will continue the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s 75-year strong tradition: a four-hour chartered train trek to Washington, D.C. for networking and a speech from the governor.

Despite the fact that many economic development deals fall short on job creation or other benefits, New Jersey is inconsistent in how it monitors, verifies and enforces its subsidy programs that cost taxpayers millions of dollars per year.

Real incomes were lower in 2010 than in 2007 for most households. Only high-income households were better off. Unemployment was at its highest rate in 35 years, and the number of children living in poverty increased by 16 percent in just two years.

What happened?

Large corporations and small businesses will receive more than $800 million in tax breaks if the governor signs a number of bills passed by the Legislature earlier this month as part of its “Back to Work NJ” package.