Democratic leaders in the state Legislature are talking about raising New Jersey’s minimum wage above the federal standard again, as it has been at times in the past. It should happen. Their plan would lift it to $8.50.

When New Jersey last cut income taxes nearly two decades ago, state revenue bloomed along with tax collections and job growth. But the state also went deeper into debt, faced soaring property tax bills — and, before long, started to see unemployment rates exceed the national average. Now, it’s Gov. Christie who is proposing an income tax cut.

After suffering two years of dramatic job cuts, not to mention the wrath and budget-slashing zeal of Gov. Christie, it turns out the education sector could be among the best bets for job hunters.

Former state treasurer David Rousseau has joined New Jersey Policy Perspective, a Trenton-based liberal think tank, as an analyst during the spring state budget season. He will be blogging on NJPP.org about both the policy and the process of the 2012-13 budget, as well as other issues related to the state’s finances.

As Americans forked over their taxes Tuesday, some companies in New Jersey may be paying a little less. Gov. Chris Christie has approved $1.57 billion in business tax breaks since he was elected.

Since taking office in 2010, Gov. Chris Christie has approved a record $1.57 billion in state tax breaks for dozens of New Jersey’s largest companies after they pledged to add jobs. “It seems ridiculous to steal jobs from one city in the state and move them to another city a couple miles away,” NJPP’s Deborah Howlett says. “There just doesn’t seem to be any benefit to taxpayers.”

After two years at the helm of the liberal New Jersey Policy Perspective, Deborah Howlett is stepping down.

The legislature on Thursday passed a bill creating a New Jersey health insurance exchange, an online marketplace where consumers and small businesses will comparison shop for health coverage in 2014, as mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act.

With the state Legislature expected to approve a bill Thursday creating a “health exchange” — the cornerstone of the federal health care law that will help people shop for cheaper coverage — a group of family, consumer and senior citizen advocates today challenged Gov. Chris Christie to support the effort.

The New Jersey for Health Care Coalition is urging the Legislature to approve a measure that would create a health insurance exchange.