Category: Statement

Opportunity for All is Not Possible With a Tax Code Rigged for the Few

Posted on by Nicole Rodriguez

Earlier today, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his annual State of the State address. In his remarks, the Governor reflected on the need to create opportunity for all New Jersey residents. In response to the address, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) released the following statement.

Nicole Rodriguez, President, NJPP:

“Governor Murphy is right to tout new state programs and laws that give working families a shot at success, from the child tax credit to the rising minimum wage. But with one in ten families living in poverty, and many more struggling to keep up with high costs, the state cannot afford to rest on its laurels.

“Opportunity for all requires new, ambitious investments in families who have historically been left behind and need the most help. It requires fully funding our schools, increasing tax credits and safety net programs for those with the lowest incomes, along with sound tax policies to support those programs in the short- and long-term.

“The governor slammed states that hand huge tax cuts to wealthy individuals and mega-corporations, but he was silent on how his administration will make sure New Jersey doesn’t follow that same path. Some legislators are poised to hand over $600 million in tax cuts to the most profitable corporations in the country, including Amazon and Walmart, even if it threatens the fate of the opportunity-building programs the governor highlighted in his address.

“Opportunity for all will not be possible with a tax code that favors a wealthy, select few.”

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New Internal Affairs Dashboard is a Historic Step Towards Police Transparency

Posted on by Marleina Ubel

Earlier today, Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin announced a new online dashboard detailing information on police internal affairs investigations. The searchable dashboard, which compiles information that was previously only accessible through hundreds of different agencies, allows the public to search information by law enforcement agency, the types of allegations, and what, if any, disciplinary action was taken. In response to the launch of the dashboard, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.

Marleina Ubel, Policy Analyst, NJPP:

“This is a historic step towards police transparency and accountability in the state of New Jersey. By making information on internal affairs investigations available to the public and continuing to share detailed information on police use of force, the Attorney General and Office of Justice Data are giving the public the power to hold problematic officers accountable. The Legislature should follow this example by passing S371/A996 and finally make police disciplinary records accessible to the people they are sworn to protect.”

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Biden Student Debt Proposal Will Help New Jersey Families But Needs to Go Farther for Maximum Relief

Posted on by Nicole Rodriguez

Today, President Biden announced that borrowers earning up to $125,000 in income will be eligible for student loan debt relief of up to $10,000, or up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. For a state with over 1.3 million student loan borrowers with an average balance of $37,000, this will be life-changing debt relief. New Jersey ranks 6th in the nation in the percentage of undergraduate students receiving Pell Grants – almost 39 percent of undergraduates. In response to today’s announcement, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.

Nicole Rodriguez, President, NJPP:

“The President’s plan to forgive student loan debt will provide hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans relief, allowing them to invest in their futures and families while bolstering the state’s economy. Canceling student loan debt is a critical step to building wealth and economic prosperity in New Jersey while narrowing the racial wealth gap. Higher education is held up as a ladder of opportunity to success, but the explosive growth in student debt holds back borrowers from achieving their full potential.

“While this plan will provide transformative relief to some borrowers, it does not go far enough. Capping income levels will not only leave many borrowers behind but require an entire apparatus of applications and red tape when the federal government could have canceled this debt with the push of a button. And the $10,000 does not come close to covering the average balance of nearly $40,000 for the average New Jersey borrower. Beyond the debt relief itself, more must be done to ensure adequate public funding for higher education: No student should have to take on crushing debt to pursue higher education.”

 
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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.

New State Budget is a Missed Opportunity to Make New Jersey Affordable for All

Posted on by Nicole Rodriguez

Today, the New Jersey Legislature released its budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The $50.6 billion budget bill was not introduced to the Senate Budget Committee until 8:24 PM and was quickly passed out of committee 25 minutes later, depriving advocates, reporters, and lawmakers of an opportunity to read and analyze the legislation. In response to the budget proposal, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statements.

Nicole Rodriguez, President, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP):

On the lack of transparency in the budget-making process:

“New Jersey’s budget-making process is fundamentally broken, and this year was even worse than usual. This was yet another last-minute budget cooked up in a back room with no opportunity for residents, reporters, advocates, or even some lawmakers to analyze the document, let alone read it before it was voted on. Lawmakers could have released their budget proposal before the eleventh hour, held public hearings on how to spend the state’s record surplus and federal aid, and publicly released their budget resolutions. Instead, chaos and backroom deals ruled the day, with 60 budget bills introduced at the last minute, some added to and removed from the agenda with no notice, no bill texts available, and no chance for residents to meaningfully weigh in on billions of dollars worth of spending.

“As soon as budget negotiations moved behind closed doors, proposals that benefit big corporations, special interests, and wealthy residents were put on the fast-track, while many policies that would have helped working- and middle-class families were left on the cutting room floor. This is an affront to democracy and good governance and must be reformed so that more residents can have a seat at the table and hold their elected officials accountable.”

On the budget being a missed opportunity to help those with the least:

“This budget deal was a missed opportunity to provide direct relief to working families who have been historically left behind in the policy-making process. In a year where there was no shortfall of dollars, there was a shortfall of political will to do the right thing and help those with the least. The state could have made transformative investments in direct relief to low-paid essential workers, immigrant taxpayers who are banned from safety net programs they help fund, and very low-income families who can’t keep up with rising prices and inflation. It makes little economic sense to spend more on tax relief for upper-middle-class homeowners and corporations than on families who need the most help. Prioritizing the state’s lowest-paid working families would have been both the moral thing to do and the best way to build an economy that works for everyone.”

On the newly created Child Tax Credit for working families:

“New Jersey will become a more affordable place to start and grow a family thanks to the state’s newly created Child Tax Credit, which will put hundreds of dollars back into the pockets of families with young children. Modeled off the highly successful federal Child Tax Credit, this program will provide working families a critical lifeline for basic needs like food, housing, child care, and more. With that federal credit in limbo and one in 10 children living in poverty, this is a big policy win for families in every corner of the state.

“Families earning up to $30,000 would earn $500 per child under six years old, slowly reducing for taxpayers until they reach $80,000 in income. We are under no illusion that this credit alone will end child poverty, but this commitment will go a long way for the working- and middle-class families who qualify. This credit can also be expanded and built on in future years, which we think lawmakers will do once they see its success.

“The Child Tax Credit should be one part of a broader reimagining of New Jersey’s social safety net: expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to make work pay, reforming our WorkFirst New Jersey program for very-low-income residents, and building stronger supports for immigrant residents shut out from federal aid. NJPP will continue to fight for these changes in the coming year.”

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Roe v. Wade Decision Will Deny Millions of People the Freedom to Control Their Own Bodies

Posted on by Nicole Rodriguez

The Supreme Court has voted to strike down Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion and allowing states to ban access to this time-sensitive care. In response to the decision, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement calling on lawmakers to set an example for other states to follow by removing barriers to abortion care.

Nicole Rodriguez, President, NJPP:

“Striking down Roe v. Wade will deny millions of people the freedom to control their own bodies and lives. At its core, abortion care is a health service that has profound consequences for both the health and economic stability of pregnant people and their families. When such a personal and monumental decision is taken away, it disproportionately harms those who have already been pushed behind by decades of exclusionary, racist, and discriminatory policies. Given our nation’s legacy of racism, abortion rights are not only a matter of reproductive health but of economic and racial justice.

“New Jersey may have secured the right to abortion care, but decades of indifference to breaking down barriers to access means that abortion care remains out of reach for young adults, people in low-paying jobs, Black and brown families, and immigrants without a path to health insurance. State legislators have an opportunity to meet the moment and take immediate action to make abortion care accessible for all, yet deeply entrenched stigma and misinformation are holding them back. With a radicalized Supreme Court that has no problem taking away our rights, New Jersey lawmakers need to step up to protect their constituents and set an example for other states to follow.”

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New ANCHOR Proposal is a Big Improvement, But More Needs to Be Done For Low-Income Families

Posted on by Peter Chen

Today, Governor Murphy announced a new deal with legislative leadership to expand his ANCHOR Property Tax Credit proposal, which revises and expands the Homestead Benefit. The new proposal would include roughly 300,000 more renters earning between $100,000 and $150,000 in income, and expands credit amounts for both homeowners and renters. NJPP analyzed the Governor’s previous proposal in an April 2022 report, in which it recommended more funding to go towards renters and raised concerns about credits going to high-income families. In response to the new ANCHOR proposal, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.

Peter Chen, Senior Policy Analyst, NJPP:

“The new ANCHOR proposal is a big improvement over the original as it directs more relief to renters, many of whom are facing historic rent increases and risk being priced out of their homes. Renters, on average, have lower incomes and less wealth than their home-owning peers. Renters also pay property taxes indirectly through their rent, so it’s only fair that they are included in property tax relief programs like this.

“While this proposal would provide historic relief to millions of residents, more must be done to make New Jersey affordable for those struggling the most to cover everyday costs. We hope that this proposal will be paired with more relief targeted to families living below or just over the federal poverty line. With a record-breaking surplus, state lawmakers can do just that by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and creating a new, state-level Child Tax Credit. Targeting relief to those who need it most is the only way to make New Jersey affordable for all.”

 
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New Jersey’s Budget Surplus Presents an Opportunity — and Obligation — to Help All Residents Recover From the Pandemic

Posted on by Sheila Reynertson

Today, updated revenue collections for FY 2022 were presented by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The Treasury announced projected revenues of $51.4 billion, $4.5 billion above Governor Murphy’s proposed budget. This coincides with higher anticipated revenues in Fiscal Year 2023. In response, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.

Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst, NJPP:

“A multi-billion dollar surplus provides state lawmakers with a historic opportunity — and obligation — to help those who are struggling the most. Robust pandemic-related stimulus showed that fiscal responsibility and support for working families can and should go hand and hand, because what’s best for workers is what’s best for the economy. As state leaders decide how to allocate these surplus funds, it’s critical that they go to working- and middle-class families rather than profitable corporations and wealthy households who don’t need it. And there’s no need for lawmakers to reinvent the wheel. The best way to target relief is to build upon programs that we know work, like expanding cash assistance, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit, and establishing a state-level Child Tax Credit.

“Lawmakers would also be wise to make a substantial deposit in the state’s rainy day fund to prepare the state for the next economic downturn. The good news is that, with a surplus of this size, we can do this and still provide relief to families in need. Using these funds to shore up the state’s finances is the most responsible course of action because it protects essential public services and safety net programs when they are needed most.”

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Striking Down Roe v. Wade is a Denial of Human Rights and Basic Freedom

Posted on by Nicole Rodriguez

The Supreme Court has voted to strike down Roe v. Wade, according to a draft court opinion leaked Monday night. The decision, written by Justice Samuel Alito, would end the constitutional right to abortion and allow states to further restrict or ban access to this time-sensitive care. In response to the leaked decision, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement calling on lawmakers to promote reproductive freedom by removing barriers to abortion care.

Nicole Rodriguez, Research Director, NJPP:

“The Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade is a denial of human rights and basic freedom. Now it’s up to Congress to codify the right to abortion — and for states to do everything in their power to protect and expand access to this time-sensitive care.

“We are fortunate to have abortion rights codified in state law here in New Jersey, but rights alone are not enough, especially for those for whom health care is too expensive and out-of-reach. State lawmakers should meet this pivotal moment by removing all remaining barriers to abortion so everyone — regardless of their health insurance or income — can access this medical care with dignity.”

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Multi-Year Budgeting Would Encourage Lawmakers to Plan for the Future

Posted on by Sheila Reynertson

Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo today announced that he would like the state to take a multi-year approach to the state budget. Multi-year budgeting is a best practice long-recommended by good-governance advocates and budget policy experts. There are 22 states that project revenue for periods longer than a single year and 19 states that project spending for multiple years. In response to Chairman Sarlo’s comments, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.

Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst, NJPP:

“Multi-year budgeting would move the state away from short-sighted, politically convenient decisions and encourage lawmakers to plan for the future. Looking at revenue collections and spending beyond the current year is the only way for lawmakers to see the full impact of tax and budget decisions and what’s needed to sustainably fund programs that families and communities rely on. Ideally, the state would project revenue and spending three to five years into the future so lawmakers and the public can have a long-term view of the state budget. Given the state’s current financial outlook and disappearing federal aid, this is the perfect time for New Jersey to reform its budget-making process to be more transparent and responsible.”

Read more about multi-year budgeting and other best practices like consensus revenue forecasting in NJPP’s April 2021 report, Tools for Building a Healthy Budget.

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Governor Murphy’s Budget Recognizes That You Can’t Cut Your Way to Prosperity

Posted on by Jon Shure

Governor Murphy unveiled his FY 2023 state budget earlier today in the first in-person budget address since the start of the pandemic and at a time when the state for the first time in years has abundant resources to invest in the public good. The proposal makes critical investments in property tax relief, education, support for working families, and much more. In response to the budget address, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) released the following statement.

Jon Shure, Interim President, NJPP:

“New Jersey’s finances are stronger today than they’ve been in more than a decade — proof that progressive tax policy is fiscally responsible tax policy. The economy is not an abstract concept, but something we all build together by making sure all families have the resources they need to make ends meet.

“Governor Murphy’s budget proposal recognizes that you can’t cut your way to prosperity. Affordability doesn’t come from reducing public investments that help people get ahead, but by funding the building blocks of strong communities. This year’s budget increases investments in education at every level, expands access to affordable health care, and funds the creation of new, affordable homes. These sorts of investments are how we build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out — not the top down.

“With one in ten residents living in poverty, and millions more struggling to get by, the state’s robust financial condition presents lawmakers with a historic opportunity to think even bigger. By expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and other assistance that puts cash back in the pockets of workers and their families, and supporting innovative policies like a state-level child tax credit, lawmakers can advance equity and make New Jersey affordable for all.”

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