Category: Press Release

NJPP Unveils Blueprint to Secure a Just Recovery and State of Opportunity Index

Posted on by NJPP Staff

April 20, 2021 – Earlier today, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) unveiled the Blueprint to Secure a Just Recovery, a bold and comprehensive policy platform meant to guide New Jersey’s pandemic recovery and usher the state into a new era of justice for all. The Blueprint was released in conjunction with the State of Opportunity Index, a new interactive tool that provides an intersectional view on key factors contributing to health and well-being in the Garden State.

“As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey is at a crossroads,” said Marcia Marley, NJPP Board Chair and President of BlueWave NJ. “The direction we take will determine whether our economy moves towards a fairer and more equitable future where everyone can thrive. This Blueprint represents bold policies that, if implemented, will reduce poverty and inequalities in health and education, while improving economic and environmental justice, as well as protecting our democracy, just to name a few of the issue areas covered in the landmark publication.”

The Blueprint includes 65 policy recommendations over nine policy areas — tax and budget, economic security, health, labor, education, public safety, housing, climate and environment, and democracy — with the goals of eliminating poverty, closing the racial wealth gap, and pursuing restorative justice.

“New Jersey is at a transitional moment — a moment of sterling opportunity to build a better future for all residents,” said Brandon McKoy, President of NJPP. “We simply cannot go back to the economy we had prior to the pandemic. We must address the disparities that we’ve known about for so long by centering marginalized communities of color and low-paid workers and their families in the state’s pandemic recovery. This Blueprint is meant to break through the short-sighted thinking that has dominated New Jersey politics for far too long and, instead, focus on bold and comprehensive solutions to more meaningfully address community needs.”

To address health disparities exposed by COVID-19, the Blueprint calls for expanding access to care so all residents can lead healthy lives. Recommendations include universal coverage for all kids, providing affordable health insurance options for undocumented immigrants, and expanding eligibility for Medicaid.

“For years, New Jersey has led the way for other states, taking significant steps in expanding access to affordable health care,” said Heather Howard, NJPP Trustee, lecturer at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and former Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. “But, tragically, the pandemic has magnified and preyed on the persistent, existing inequities. That is why this Blueprint is so important. It lays out ways we can do better — for all New Jerseyans. Because, though we are a leader, the state can still do more to raise the bar. Taken together, these steps will put us on a path that provides health opportunities for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, documentation status, or neighborhood.”

Recognizing that simply returning to the economy we had before the pandemic is not an option, the Blueprint includes bold policies that ensure all New Jerseyans can thrive. Recommendations include closing the racial wealth gap with reparations, providing baby bonds to build wealth for those who wouldn’t otherwise have it, and establishing a state child tax credit to further reduce child poverty.

“This Blueprint is about what we know, and how we apply what we know to yield results. And what we know is that nothing has ever changed without policy interventions. And not just interventions, but equitable policy interventions,” said Tara Dowdell, NJPP Trustee and President of the Tara Dowdell Group. “We know that there is a stubborn wage gap in this state. We know that Black and brown New Jerseyans make less money for the same job with the same responsibilities. The question is: what are we going to do with this information. This Blueprint offers a solution. It is rooted in evidence-based solutions. So now, as we reopen, we have an opportunity to center equity in our institutions and economy. This Blueprint shows us what works.”

Drafted in close collaboration with dozens of partners, the Blueprint encompasses NJPP’s core issues as well as new priorities — public safety, democracy, housing, and climate — which NJPP identified as critical to advancing racial justice.

To complement the Blueprint, NJPP also released the State of Opportunity Index, a user-friendly, interactive tool to measure how residents are doing in their communities. With the most recent data available, the Index highlights the depth of disparities that exist across the state between counties. The index will serve as an educational tool for the public and inform advocates and legislators alike on the distinct and intersectional areas of health and well-being in the Garden State — and where targeted policy solutions are necessary.

“Despite decades of progress in health access, job opportunities, and earnings, many residents across the state still face persistent barriers to making ends meet,” said Nicole Rodriguez, Research Director at NJPP. “By having a clearer idea of the challenges that we face and where they manifest, we can better plan our efforts for policy change. Behind each indicator in the State of Opportunity Index is an opportunity for New Jersey to do better for its residents.”

NJPP created the Blueprint and Index so advocates, the press, and the public alike can learn more about how their communities are faring and what lawmakers can do to make New Jersey a better place for all residents to live and grow.

“We hope you will find the ideas and policies in this document worthwhile and inspiring,” McKoy added. “Only together can we find our way to freedom.”

Read the Blueprint to Secure a Just Recovery here.

Access the State of Opportunity Index here. 

Watch the release on Facebook Live.

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For The Many NJ Calls on Gov. Murphy and Lawmakers to Fund the Recovery in the FY 2022 Budget

Posted on by NJPP Staff

February 22, 2020 – Earlier today, a diverse group of advocates and community leaders from across the state called on Governor Murphy and legislative leaders to pass a budget that fully funds New Jersey’s pandemic recovery. Members of the For The Many NJ coalition convened virtually on Zoom and Facebook Live to stress the need for bold public investments in public health, education, housing, and more in response to the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19.

“A strong recovery requires a steady drumbeat of investments to keep the economy going,” said Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). “In the face of an ongoing public health crisis, the state’s primary obligation must be to respond to the demands of the moment, not short-change them. Policy decisions made today will make the difference between a sluggish recovery and a strong one.”

Members of the coalition pointed to New Jersey’s sluggish recovery from the Great Recession and warned lawmakers against trickle-down tax and budgetary policies that stifle economic growth.

“Our spending requests run the gamut from housing to utility assistance, to an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and child tax credits, to health coverage for all children and direct cash assistance for working immigrants excluded from COVID relief,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director of New Jersey Citizen Action. “It’s a large investment package, but one necessary to ensure a recovery for all, the only kind of recovery that can be effective — a recovery that invests from the bottom up and not the other way around.”

After the last recession, New Jersey responded with tax cuts for corporations and big businesses, and spending cuts that damaged the state’s ability to respond to COVID-19.

“New Jersey already knows what austerity life feels like,” said Sue Altman, Executive Director of New Jersey Working Families. “It feels like cuts to beloved school programs. It feels like rickety, dangerous bridges and potholed highways. It feels like closed parks and dirty air. It feels like layoffs and cut wages for public workers. We are not going down that road again. New Jersey’s best days can be ahead of us if we reimagine and reinvest in an economy that works for us all. Not just the chosen few.”
Members of For The Many NJ stressed that the last decade of spending cuts necessitate new investments, especially in public health infrastructure.

“If the coronavirus pandemic taught us anything, it is that we can no longer turn a blind eye to infectious disease outbreaks,” said Debbie White, RN, President of Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE). “We have come to understand that investment in New Jersey’s public health infrastructure and in the oversight of New Jersey’s health care systems must become our paramount priority.”

Advocates for strong public schools joined For The Many NJ to highlight the chronic underfunding of public education, including higher education. Schools need resources now more than ever to adapt to the pandemic and ensure places of learning are safe for students and staff alike.

“Members of the Our Children/Our Schools network are united in affirming the need to preserve and expand resources in every school district to allow all students and schools to re-emerge stronger from the current public health and economic emergency,” said Greg Stankiewicz, Statewide Coordinator of the NJ Community Schools Coalition, an OC/OS member organization.

Professor Todd Wolfson, President of Rutgers AAUP-AFT echoed those sentiments, saying, “On the heels of the pandemic it is time for New Jersey to make a deep investment in public higher education. We are calling for a New Deal for Rutgers and Higher Education that prioritizes debt-free education for New Jersey residents, Support for first-generation and students of color, and a diverse, world-class faculty for our colleges and universities.”

The coalition also called for the state to support New Jersey’s 500,000 undocumented immigrants families, who have been almost entirely excluded from state and federal pandemic relief. Providing relief to immigrant families is not only the right thing to do, but good economic policy.

“Immigrants makeup nearly 1 in 4 of New Jersey residents and have overwhelmingly served on the frontlines of the essential workforce, service industry, and care economy,” said Amy Torres, Executive Director at the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “Immigrant workers were excluded from federal relief, but New Jersey’s steep disparities in wealth inequality existed long before the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why the Alliance is proud to stand alongside the For The Many coalition to demand an equitable budget where wealthy families and large corporations pay their fair share.”

Latino Action Network President Christian Estevez called for a recovery for all that leaves no one behind, saying, “State investment in the capacity of Hispanic Serving Community Based Organizations with proven records of conducting successful outreach is critical to an equitable response to the COVID-19 crisis that does not leave the Latino community behind. Latino families are over-represented in overall COVID-19 infections and deaths and woefully underrepresented in those that have access to vaccines.”

For The Many NJ was quick to point out that, even before the pandemic hit, far too many New Jersey families were falling behind and in need of support, as evidenced by the latest ALICE report by United Way of Northern New Jersey. In 2018, nearly four out of ten families in New Jersey were living in poverty or right above the party line but still unable to afford basic needs.

“The public health and economic crises of nearly a year have laid bare the injustices that fall disproportionately on low-income residents who are primarily Black and brown people and women,” said Anti-Poverty Network of NJ Executive Director, Renee Koubiadis. “New Jersey must continue to create tax fairness and justice that started with the passing of the millionaire’s tax last fall, by creating new sustainable revenue sources that can lay the foundation for comprehensive and just relief for those most impacted by the pandemic.”

Rev. Sara Lilja, Director of Lutherans Engaging in Advocacy Ministry, added, “Budgets are moral documents. How we, as a state choose to raise funds and spend dollars communicate our common priorities and shared values. In short, our actions and choices speak louder and clear. We must put families and those most vulnerable first in this budget!”

“Fair Share Housing Center of NJ stands in solidarity with our partners,” said James Williams, Director of Racial Justice Policy at the Fair Share Housing Center. “Our efforts for housing justice are tied directly to fiscal equality and transparency from our elected officials. More importantly, we look forward to Gov. Murphy’s continued support to fund the Affordable Housing trust fund.”

Advocates for the environment tied the state’s public and economic health to its environmental health.

“The budget is a statement of priorities, it sets the state’s moral compass. DEP’s 2020 Global Warming Response report recommends over 150 actions. They are critically needed to Fund The Recovery and address the overlapping health, economic, racial justice and climate crises we face,” said Amy Goldsmith, New Jersey State Director, Clean Water Action. “The resources are there — the Biden federal stimulus, new toll hike revenue, COVID-19 emergency bonding, millionaire’s tax, and corporate tax reform. Governor Murphy and the State Legislature must support working families and disadvantaged communities and ensure the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share and create a just green recovery.”

Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, added “As New Jersey moves forward and comes out of the coronavirus pandemic, we need a budget that is fair. A budget that protects the environment and moves us forward. More importantly, we need a budget that is equitable, that closes tax loopholes, and stops subsidies and raids to critical funds. We cannot continue to raid critical funds for brownfields, clean energy, and more to balance the budget. We need to get money out there for clean energy. We also need a dedicated funding source for NJ Transit so that people can get to work. It is critical to fund and move New Jersey forward when it comes to green jobs, renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gases, protecting overburdened communities, and safeguarding the environment.”

“The time to end the raids on the Clean Energy Fund and move forward on dedicated funding for NJ Transit is in this budget cycle – the clean energy economy and mass transit needs this investment more than ever before,” said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. “Clean Energy Fund diversions hamper the transition to clean energy and these raids won’t solve NJ Transit’s capital budget deficit. We urge Gov. Murphy to use the FY 2022 budget to fulfill his pledge to end these raids and move towards dedicated funding for NJ Transit.”

To fund new investments, the coalition called on state lawmakers to close corporate tax loopholes, such as those in New Jersey’s combined reporting law, and the reverse ill-advised tax cuts of the past, like the recent micro-cent sales tax cut and the elimination of the estate tax. These changes alone would raise over $1 billion in recurring revenue.

Watch a recording of the press conference here.

For The Many is a statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations working collectively to expand funding for essential services and improve budget practices to adequately meet current and future needs, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized.

NJPP Applauds Introduction of New Bill to Boost Pay of Working Families

Posted on by NJPP Staff

February 5, 2021 – New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) applauds the introduction of a new proposal to boost the pay of low-paid workers and their families.

The bill, S3428/A5345, introduced on Thursday by Senator Joe Lagana (D-Bergen, Passaic) and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer, Hunterdon), would expand the eligibility of the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to workers who are at least 18 years of age, regardless of whether or not they have children. It would also eliminate the maximum age limit for workers without qualifying children, allowing workers who are 65 years or older to claim the credit.

“The success of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has been recognized across the political spectrum,” said Senator Joe Lagana (D-Bergen, Passaic). “By upholding our commitment to further expand this program to all eligible workers over 18, we can help more young people get their finances under control and give hard-working seniors some much-needed relief. The need for relief for these workers during the pandemic is as great as ever and our local businesses will benefit from the increased spending power this proposal would create for many residents.”

The EITC is a refundable tax credit for low- and moderate-income working individuals and families. The tax credit was established by the federal government in 1975; since 2000, New Jersey has supplemented the program with a state version of the credit

“This legislation is timely as so many New Jerseyans are struggling to make ends meet amid uncertain times,” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer, Hunterdon). “More residents should be able to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which has helped many retain more of their income at the end of the year. They have earned it. Young adults entering New Jersey’s workforce deserve to be included in the provisions of the EITC as they are working to build something for themselves and their families. Thank you to all who have worked with me on this legislation and support it. It’s a much-needed economic boost for New Jersey families.”

Due to the EITC’s narrow eligibility requirements – including restrictions based on age, family type and size, residence, and immigration status – far too many workers miss out on this resource.

“Strengthening the EITC is a critical way to improve economic security throughout New Jersey, both during and beyond the current crisis,” said Vineeta Kapahi, Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). “This tax credit has long been an effective tool for reducing poverty and putting money in the pockets of workers who need it, but too many workers are excluded from this credit due to narrow eligibility requirements. By expanding access to the EITC, New Jersey can help workers make ends meet while supporting state and local economies.”

Fortunately, New Jersey lawmakers have taken steps to improve the tax credit with proposals to expand eligibility and raise benefit levels. A pair of bills introduced by Senator Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, S765/A839 and S764/A840, would increase the tax credit for workers without children and allow qualifying relatives to count as qualifying children, respectively.

“New Jersey can always improve upon ways to support hard taxpaying workers,” said Senator Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth). “Making changes to the state EITC to expand credit from the current 40 percent to 100 percent over time to individuals without children, and to also allow people to claim a relative as a qualifying child for tax purposes will boost their economic security, and improve their quality of life. Especially in these trying times, we need to come up with solutions to provide prosperity for all of our residents, and making changes to the state EITC is an important step in the right direction.”

Under current law, workers under 25 and over 64 are not eligible for the federal EITC if they do not claim dependent children when they file taxes. Last year, New Jersey partially addressed this by lowering the state EITC eligibility for childless workers to 21 years of age. Several other states, including Minnesota, Maryland, and California, already expanded EITC eligibility for childless workers.

“The EITC puts money directly in people’s pockets and is a proven tool for fighting inequality and stimulating the economy,” said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson). “Every penny spent through this program will circulate back to our small businesses and local communities, creating jobs and equitable growth. This is a sensible investment into the working families of our state at a time when they need it the most.”

The EITC is one of the most effective policies at reducing poverty and one of the wisest investments a state can make. In 2018 alone, the federal and state EITCs benefitted over 576,000 New Jersey workers and infused nearly $2 billion into local communities across the state.

“Every dollar invested in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program is a dollar well spent on reducing income inequality in New Jersey and helping low and moderate-income families build wealth and economic security,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director at New Jersey Citizen Action. “EITC investments are also the most strategic way to deliver COVID relief to the families who will suffer the worst economic setbacks brought on by the pandemic, for years to come. As one of the state’s largest free tax preparation agencies, New Jersey Citizen Action has seen the EITC tax credit transform the economic well-being of families. We urge the Legislature to move this EITC expansion bill package in its entirety.”

  • S3428/A5345: Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are at least 18 years of age or older to qualify for the modified benefit.
  • S836/A841: Increases benefit amounts under New Jersey earned income tax credit program from 40 percent to 50 percent.
  • S765/A839: Increases benefit amounts incrementally under New Jersey earned income tax credit program from 40 percent to 100 percent for resident individuals who cannot claim qualifying child.
  • S764/A840: Enhances benefit provided under New Jersey earned income tax credit program by treating a qualifying relative as a qualifying child.
  • S2194/A4229: Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers with Individual Tax Identification Numbers to qualify.

 

New Jersey Policy Perspective Adds Two New Board Members

Posted on by NJPP Staff

January 27, 2021 – New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is pleased to announce two new additions to its Board of Trustees. The newly elected members, Tara Dowdell and Patrick Toussaint, bring a depth of experience in government, public relations, and grassroots advocacy to the NJPP board.

“We are thrilled to have Tara and Patrick join the NJPP board,” said Brandon McKoy, President of NJPP

. “Tara and Patrick are incredibly talented and passionate advocates for the work of NJPP and our vision for a more economically and racially just New Jersey.” 

Tara Dowdell is an accomplished entrepreneur and communications strategist. She is the founder and President of TDG Speakers and Tara Dowdell Group, a public relations and marketing agency driven by a passion for helping socially conscious organizations and businesses grow. In addition to her business ventures, Tara is a respected television commentator and speaker on a range of political, government, and business topics. 

Tara previously served as Senior Manager of Government and Community Relations for the international shipping arm of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the first Black American and youngest person to serve as Director of Appointments in the Office of the New Jersey Governor, and as a District Representative and scheduler for Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government.

“NJPP’s work and policy advocacy are more critical than ever as our state continues to confront a brutal public health and economic crisis that is crushing our most vulnerable populations and communities,” said Tara Dowdell. “If we are to recover and build a more just and equitable state, we need policy solutions that are evidence based and grounded in equity and that is at the heart of NJPP’s work. I could not be more honored to serve on the board.”

Patrick Toussaint is a purpose-driven leader with deep experience in progressive politics and financial services. Patrick is an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase, where he leads HR strategy engagements. Prior to that, he held various roles across finance, operations, and technology at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. 

Patrick’s commitment to progressive change started at an early age, with stints working for his county commissioner, on Capitol Hill, a presidential campaign, and a DC-based think tank. In 2017, he co-founded the Hudson County Progressive Alliance, a group dedicated to engaging community residents in local, state, and national elections.

“I have always valued NJPP’s unique contributions to the policy discourse in New Jersey,” said Patrick Toussaint. “I couldn’t be more excited to join the board and help advance the mission to ensure NJ is a place where all residents enjoy lives of dignity, opportunity, and economic security.”

New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based, independent research, analysis, and advocacy.

For The Many Calls on Governor and Legislature to Take EDA Bill Off Fast-Track

Posted on by NJPP Staff

December 17, 2020 – With state lawmakers fast-tracking a 200-plus page bill to renew New Jersey’s corporate tax subsidy programs, good government watch dogs and advocates from across the political spectrum are urging Governor Murphy and legislative leaders to slow it down.

In an open letter sent earlier today to Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Coughlin, the For The Many NJ coalition calls for the bill to be taken off the fast-track so the public can properly scrutinize it, and for lawmakers to rein in the $11.5 billion price tag of the proposal.

“This bill is far too big, and it is moving far too fast,” the letter reads. “Fast-tracking billions of dollars in new corporate tax breaks through the Legislature in less than a week will not allow the public, press, policy experts, or advocates time to adequately vet such a comprehensive and costly proposal.”

The letter highlights that the proposal (A4/S3295) would allow the state to award even more corporate subsidies than under the Economic Opportunity Act, the controversial bill passed in 2013 that was heavily scrutinized by an independent task force commissioned by Governor Murphy.

“The task force’s findings, combined with independent investigative reporting, made clear that New Jersey’s corporate tax subsidies had robbed the state Treasury of billions of dollars with little-to-no return on investment for the average taxpayer,” the coalition writes. “That is why we are so surprised by the sheer size of the new corporate tax subsidy legislation that was announced on Tuesday.”

During the Christie administration, New Jersey awarded more than $8 billion in corporate tax subsidies with little-to-no return on investment for the average taxpayer. The new proposal being fast-tracked through the Legislature would normalize this level of spending and crowd out funds in future state budgets that could otherwise go toward public schools and transit, public goods proven to grow the economy.

“The sky-high caps in this bill are even larger than what the state spent under the Economic Opportunity Act and would cement New Jersey’s standing as a national outlier in corporate tax subsidy spending,” the letter adds.

The letter is signed by more than thirty organizations, including New Jersey Working Families, New Jersey Policy Perspective, Americans for Prosperity – New Jersey, and the Good Government Coalition of New Jersey.

Read the full letter here.

For The Many is a statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations working collectively to expand funding for essential services and improve budget practices to adequately meet current and future needs, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized.

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New Report: Unprecedented and Unequal: Racial Inequities in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on by NJPP Staff

NJPP REPORT: Unprecedented and Unequal: Racial Inequities in the COVID-19 Pandemic
For Immediate Release

Contact: Louis Di Paolo (NJPP): 201-417-5049 (cell) or dipaolo@njpp.org

October 14, 2020 – New Jersey’s communities of color have been disproportionately harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report released today by New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP).

The report, Unprecedented and Unequal: Racial Inequities in the COVID-19 Pandemic, reviews New Jersey Department of Health data and finds that Black and Latinx residents are overrepresented among the state’s COVID-19 positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

“No matter how you measure it, Black and Latinx residents have been disproportionately harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brittany Holom, Ph.D., report author and NJPP Senior Policy Analyst. “This is a problem all over the state, not just in the areas that were hit first or hardest by the pandemic. This did not happen by accident — it is a direct result of our nation’s history of racism and the chronic underfunding of public health initiatives.”

According to the report, Black and Latinx people have been two to three times more likely to get COVID, about three times more likely to be hospitalized, and between two to three times more likely to die from the coronavirus.

“This report’s devastating, outrageous and groundbreaking findings — that Black and Latinx New Jerseyans are two to three times as likely to contract, be hospitalized or die from COVID than their white or Asian counterparts — should make every elected official in New Jersey drop what they are doing and ask the question, what can we do to end these inequities?” said Sara Cullinane, Executive Director of Make the Road New Jersey. “Top on the list must be ending disparities in our health care delivery and insurance system and ensuring all New Jerseyans have access to aid, especially New Jersey’s half million undocumented immigrants and their families who have been left behind by nearly every form of government aid. Our state cannot survive the pandemic if we do not put a priority on equity.”

The report finds that Black residents have been particularly overrepresented amongst cases in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, Somerset, and Union Counties. This means that, even in places where the outbreak and surge began later and general protective measures were already put in place when the disease arrived, residents of color were still more vulnerable than others; their high numbers of deaths and cases were not just due to initial outbreak conditions.

“This report has given quantitative depth to what racial justice advocates have known to be true; the coronavirus does see color,” said Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer, Executive Director of Salvation and Social Justice. “The data show that even in places where the virus hit later, New Jersey failed to have a racially disproportionate response to a health crisis that we knew disproportionately sought people by race. I applaud the team at NJPP for giving advocates the information we need to push for racially just policy.”

The report highlights that Latinx residents were three times more likely than white residents to report lacking health insurance. Black residents were twice as likely as white residents to report lacking health insurance; they were also most likely (nearly 1.5 times more likely than white residents) to report both delaying medical care and needing medical care for something other than COVID-19, but not getting it, in the past four weeks.

“Access to health care should never be dependent on who you are, the color of your skin, how much money you make, or where you live,” said Maura Collinsgru, Health Care Program Director, New Jersey Citizen Action. “Yet, as this report points out, people of color are far more likely to be uninsured, face barriers to care, and have worse health outcomes. The time is long overdue for New Jersey to make the investments and changes we need to ensure equal access to health care for all.”

The report concludes with recommendations for New Jersey to advance health equity, including: requiring regular state health racial equity impact assessments for policy proposals; increasing support for initiatives that improve trust in the medical system; encouraging policies that diversify the medical field and improve access to culturally sensitive resources; and building racial impact results into future public health crisis preparedness plans.

Read the full report here.

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Broad Coalition of Advocates Applaud State Budget, Millionaires Tax

Posted on by NJPP Staff

For The Many NJ coalition applaud Governor Murphy and legislative leaders for rejecting austerity and setting a strong foundation for New Jersey’s COVID-19 recovery. 

September 29, 2020 – New Jersey’s leading advocates for working families applauded the state budget signed into law earlier today by Governor Phil Murphy. The budget for Fiscal Year 2021 balances revenue shortfalls brought on by COVID-19 with a combination of borrowing and tax increases on the state’s wealthiest residents and biggest corporations. This will allow the state to maintain investments in key programs and services that will help New Jersey ultimately recover from the pandemic.

“Today is a historic moment for New Jersey, as the state tax code is getting a lot fairer — and for good reason,” said Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). “Income inequality is at an all-time high, and for far too long, lawmakers failed to address this in a meaningful way. Today, that changes. The millionaires tax will help New Jersey maintain investments in crucial assets like education while responding to the COVID-19 health crisis without further worsening economic and racial inequality. We truly are setting an example for the nation on how to build an economy that works for all of us, not just a chosen few.”

Unlike state budgets passed during the last economic downturn, the budget signed today rejects austerity measures and instead calls on New Jersey’s wealthiest individuals and biggest corporations to pay closer to their fair share in taxes.

“We applaud the Governor’s leadership and the legislature’s willingness to take a stand for the 99% of New Jerseyans who will benefit from this budget,” said Sue Altman, Executive Director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance. “May this be the first step toward long term budgetary thinking and fairness in our state.”

The budget includes a millionaires tax — which raises the marginal income tax rate on earnings over $1 million from 8.97% to 10.75% — and extends the corporate business tax surcharge. This follows recommendations made by the For The Many NJ coalition and more than 90 economists who warned the legislature last month against harmful cuts.

“This budget marks an important step forward in addressing longstanding racial and socioeconomic inequities in our tax code, with millionaires and the wealthiest of corporations finally paying their fair share and an expansion of Earned Income Tax Credits,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director for New Jersey Citizen Action. “But we have a lot more to do, and we look forward to working closely with Governor Murphy and the Legislature to ensure state budget policy meets our most pressing pandemic needs while also making smart investments in our future. These priorities include assisting immigrants excluded from federal pandemic relief, restoring New Jersey’s fiscal health, and ensuring all New Jerseyans have access to programs and services they need to both survive and prosper.”

The budget is far from perfect, however, as there remains more work to be done to advance racial equity and ensure no one is left behind in New Jersey’s pandemic recovery. This includes providing support to the state’s undocumented immigrants and residents living in mixed status households who were shut out from receiving state and federal COVID-19 relief.

“Today’s budget signing is a historic but incomplete victory for tax fairness and equity,” said Sara Cullinane, Director of Make the Road New Jersey. “A half-million undocumented immigrants and potentially 225,000 US citizens will see nothing in COVID aid. Many of these families have survived more than six months without income or a penny in government relief. We urge the legislature and Governor Murphy to provide COVID relief for excluded workers and their families and make sure these families are included in the tax rebate. It is unjust to leave more than a half-million New Jerseyans behind.”

“New Jersey’s immigrant families have gone six months living with increasing economic insecurity every day,” said Maneesha Kelkar, Interim Director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. ”Despite the gains made by Governor Murphy’s budget, immigrants remain excluded, without unemployment benefits or COVID19 relief. A balanced and fair budget must include all residents, regardless of immigration status, so that every household can get their basic needs fulfilled.”

Members of For The Many NJ coalition made the following statements in support of the budget and millionaires tax:

Marie Blistan, President, New Jersey Education Association “We are pleased that this consensus budget prioritizes the needs of students, their families, and all hardworking New Jersey residents. Its emphasis on fiscal responsibility and tax fairness will help ensure that New Jersey emerges stronger from this current crisis, with a firm foundation for future fairness and prosperity.”

Renee Koubiadis, Executive Director, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey “The Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey is pleased to see the inclusion of a true millionaires tax and the continuation of a fair corporate business tax in the state budget. These steps move New Jersey towards real tax fairness with crucial new revenues, rather than putting an unfair burden on middle and low-income residents for our state’s recovery. During this unprecedented health and economic crisis, these real investments in all of our state’s residents are needed to see valuable returns in our state’s economy and for New Jersey to be a place where all of our residents can recover and thrive.”

Brandon Castro, Campaign Organizer, New Jersey Work Environment Council “After years of advocacy, the Work Environment Council is happy to see the New Jersey State Government prioritize economic justice and tax fairness, and finally pass a millionaire’s tax. We hope that this will only be the beginning and that the state will continue to move away from austerity measures in times of economic crisis, and towards a more just, democratic economy for everyone.”

Doug O’Malley, Director, Environment New Jersey “State agency funding is critical, and the final budget ensures we won’t see furloughs in key state agencies like the NJDEP. We are grateful for the investments in lead remediation, which reduces lead in children’s blood, and the full funding for RGGI and EV rebates to electrify vehicles and to clean our air. The increased investments of the Corporate Business Tax, which worked to clean contaminated toxic sites more than 20 years ago, is a win for investing in the public good. We need in the next budget cycle to finally end the ongoing raids of the Clean Energy Fund and dedicate funding to NJ Transit.”

Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director, Clean Water Action “At a time when New Jersey’s working families are hurting, our climate is in crisis, and our state is still fighting COVID-19, we are glad to see Governor Murphy and legislature pass the millionaires tax. This is just the beginning of a more progressive budget. From clean energy and respiratory disease, to lead in drinking water and raw sewage in waterways, critical programs are underfunded, and that’s why it is important to have everyone, especially millionaires, pay their fair share.”

Jeff Tittel, Director, New Jersey Sierra Club “This final budget restored key funding to important environmental programs. The budget eliminates some of the raids and one-shots that hurt the environment. This means there’s more money to make sure our air is clean, water is pure, and that we can clean up toxic sites. The budget restored $10 million for removing lead paint from homes and $22 million for the Recycling and Clean Communities Trust Funds, which will help implement the statewide plastic bag ban. NJ Transit saw an increase as well. There will also be more money for programs like open space, parks, cleaning up underground storage containers and contaminated sites, and watershed protection. This is because the Corporate Business Tax is increasing, and 6% of the CBT is dedicated to environmental programs. This budget has been an improvement for the environment and the people of New Jersey.”

Marcia Marley, President, BlueWaveNJ “BlueWaveNJ congratulates Governor Murphy and the legislature for creating a more equitable and fiscally responsible budget. Increasing revenue from millionaires and wealthy corporations rather than cutting services will preserve critical support for struggling New Jersey families and lessen the pandemic’s economic impact. The budget’s continuing investments in future generations will help lay the foundation for a stronger recovery. While we applaud many aspects of this budget, there is further work to be done. We look forward to working with the legislature and Governor to make sure no group is left behind.”

Barry Kushnir, President, Hudson County Central Labor Council and IFPTE Local 194 “The Hudson County Central Labor Council and IFPTE Local 194 are proud to support a state budget that includes tax fairness in a Millionaire’s Tax and Corporate Business Tax extension. Both are prudent and reasonable policies to raise much-needed revenue in an unprecedented crisis by asking those with the most to pay their fair share. While this is good news, our organizations remain committed to advocating on behalf of the many New Jersey families who continue to suffer inequality and will not relent in our pursuit of a budget that works for all.”

Leslie Bockol, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey 11th For Change  “For too long, tax policies (and tax loopholes) on the state and national level have been skewed to favor those in the top fraction of a percent in wealth and income. For too long, the state budget has been balanced disproportionately on hard-earned money that working people have needed to cover basic necessities — not luxuries — to build a secure future for their families. We are gratified to see Governor Murphy sign this historic bill into law today, and proud that New Jersey is leading the way on tax fairness!”

Kevin Brown, New Jersey State Director, 32BJ SEIU “We applaud the passage of a ‘millionaires tax’ which asks residents best able to contribute to do their part for our economic recovery. At the same time, our essential workers have sacrificed everything throughout this crisis. We need our state to recognize that the federal aid available to many working families for part of this year has been out of reach for immigrant families, who occupy a large share of essential jobs. It’s only right for our state to step in to provide some income replacement for them.”

For The Many is a statewide coalition of more than 40 organizations working to expand funding for essential services and improve budget practices to meet current and future needs, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized.  

# # #

New Jersey Policy Perspective Announces New Development Director

Posted on by NJPP Staff

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Published on Sep 23, 2020 in General

To read a PDF version of this release, click here.

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Louis Di Paolo, (201) 417-5049 (cell) or dipaolo@njpp.org

September 23, 2020 – New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) announced today that it has hired Jennifer Fekete-Donners as the think-tank’s new Development Director. In this role, Jennifer will direct the organization’s fundraising.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer to the NJPP team,” said Brandon McKoy, President of NJPP. “Her breadth and depth of experience are the perfect fit for us and the goals we are looking to achieve, and her commitment to the values of racial equity and economic justice is clear and compelling."

Jennifer is an experienced development and fundraising professional, with over fifteen years of experience working in the nonprofit and higher education sectors. She is a skilled development writer and communicator, with particular expertise in annual giving, fundraising event management, and donor cultivation.

Prior to joining NJPP, Jennifer was the Associate Director of Advancement at the Michener Art Museum, a cultural institution devoted to preserving, interpreting and displaying the rich artistic legacy of Bucks County and the surrounding region. Prior to her time at the Michener, Jennifer was Development Director at One Simple Wish and the Manager of Membership and Annual Support at the Princeton University Art Museum. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in History of Art from Cornell University.

“I have called New Jersey home for fifteen years, and am so very proud to have the opportunity to use the skills I have acquired across my career to give back to this community,” said NJPP Development Director Jennifer Fekete-Donners. “I am thrilled to join the team at NJPP, knowing that I will be able to do my part to advocate for policies that build a fairer, more equitable New Jersey.”

Jennifer’s first day with NJPP was September 1.

Founded in 1997, NJPP is a “think and do” tank, driving policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based independent research, analysis, and advocacy.

# # #

For The Many NJ Calls for Transparent and Inclusive Budget Process

Posted on by NJPP Staff

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Published on Aug 19, 2020 in Tax and Budget

August 19, 2020 – Earlier today, members of For The Many NJ sent an open letter to Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, and members of the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees calling for a transparent and inclusive budget process.

"As of today, 36 business days before the FY 2021 budget must be passed, there is no publicly available basic information on the budget process, like the schedule of key budget events and whether the New Jersey Legislature has plans to call upon state commissioners or fiscal experts to testify before finalizing the Appropriations Act," the letter states.

More than 20 organizations signed onto the letter, including the non-partisan think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective, the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey, SEIU 32BJ, and the New Jersey Education Association.

The letter calls next year's state budget "one of the most consequential budgets in New Jersey’s history" given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on state revenue and the subsequent possibility of dramatic cuts to public services and programs.

A copy of the letter can be read here.

For The Many is a statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations working to expand funding for essential services and improve budget practices to meet current and future needs, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized.  

# # #

More Than 90 Economists Warn New Jersey Lawmakers Against Budget Cuts

Posted on by NJPP Staff

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Published on Aug 18, 2020 in Tax and Budget

August 18, 2020 – Today, 96 economists and policy experts in New Jersey released a joint letter to Governor Phil Murphy and state legislative leadership urging them to balance the state budget with tax increases on the state’s wealthiest residents and biggest corporations instead of counterproductive budget cuts.

The letter warns that state budget cuts are much worse for the economy than modest tax increases targeted to high-income households and corporations, stating “Large cuts would erode the health and social infrastructure needed to continue combatting COVID-19, increase inequality, and exacerbate the economic downturn. Instead of budget cuts, the state should look to raise revenues to balance its budget.”

The letter includes economists and public policy professors from public and private universities across New Jersey. The letter was made possible by the Scholars Strategy Network, an organization of university-based scholars who are committed to using research to improve policy and strengthen democracy. Signatories include Alan S. Blinder and Cecilia Rouse of Princeton University, Yana van der Meulen Rodgers and Henry Coleman of Rutgers University, and Deborah M. Figart of Stockton University.

The economists cite a June 2020 report by New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP), a nonpartisan think tank that researches tax, budget, and economic policy, that proposes increasing income tax rates on annual earnings above $250,000. NJPP’s plan would raise approximately $1.5 billion a year in revenue.

“As we learned after the Great Recession, we cannot cut our way out of an economic downturn,” said Brandon McKoy, President of New Jersey Policy Perspective. “New Jersey is facing an unprecedented economic crisis that is uniquely harming low-paid workers and their families. The economists’ letter makes it abundantly clear that budget cuts would make it impossible for the state to provide relief to the families and small businesses who need it most, while also taking money out of local economies across the state. Balancing the state budget without cuts is the best way to build a strong and speedy recovery in New Jersey.”

The economists’ letter can be read here.

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