New Jersey Policy Perspective produces independent research and analysis on policy solutions to advance social, economic, and racial justice. From data-driven reports to policy briefs and explainers, we work to provide lawmakers, legislative staff, advocates, community leaders, and reporters with the facts and figures behind the most pressing policy issues facing the Garden State.

Explainer

Closing Digital Divide Could Promote Economic Opportunity in New Jersey

March 22, 2016 • Jon Whiten • Economic Justice
Nearly 300,000 New Jerseyans are estimated to lack access to broadband service, particularly in rural parts of the state, hampering their ability to fully participate in the state’s economy.
Blog

NJPP’s Ray Castro Lands On ‘Power 50’ Health Care List

March 21, 2016 • NJPP Staff
Congratulations to New Jersey Policy Perspective's senior policy analyst Ray Castro, who landed on this year's "Power 50 Health Care" list compiled by NJ Biz
Blog

New Jersey Has Lost its Wealthiest Resident But That Doesn’t Change the Facts About Wealth and Taxes

March 17, 2016 • Jon Whiten • Tax and Budget
While New Jersey may lose some wealthy residents in any given year, such as Mr. Tepper, the so-called “exodus” of wealth is a manufactured crisis.
Testimony

Reject Estate Tax Repeal & Boost Assistance for Poor Families

March 15, 2016 • Raymond Castro • Tax and Budget
A tax cut that benefits just the wealthy few is glaringly out of step with budget priorities of New Jersey, will make it harder to restore earlier funding cuts and will make it nearly impossible to do much to tackle some of the state’s other big problems, like growing poverty.
Blog

Increasing New Jersey’s EITC to 40 Percent Would Make Tax Structure More Equitable

March 9, 2016 • Jon Whiten • Tax and Budget
If policymakers increase the EITC to 40 percent, New Jersey's poorest households would still pay the largest share of their incomes towards taxes, but not by nearly as much.
Video

Major Concerns Remain About Casino Expansion Push

March 8, 2016 • NJPP Staff
A key Assembly committee held a public hearing yesterday on the proposal to expand casino gambling in New Jersey, and as NJTV News reports, critics like NJPP president Gordon MacInnes were on hand to raise concerns about the plan - including the potential damage two new casinos could inflict on South Jersey's economy.
Testimony

Want ‘Tax Fairness’? Boost the Earned Income Tax Credit

March 7, 2016 • Brandon McKoy • Economic Justice, Tax and Budget
Unlike some of the other high-profile tax proposals being discussed right now by the legislature, boosting the EITC truly represents “tax fairness.”
Testimony

Increasing TANF Assistance to New Jersey Families is Long Overdue

March 7, 2016 • Raymond Castro • Economic Justice
The TANF cash benefit, which is $424 a month for a family of three, has not been increased in 29 years. Ronald Reagan was still president, and the Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” was the top hit of the day.
Testimony

Repealing TANF’s ‘Family Cap’ Makes Moral and Economic Sense

March 7, 2016 • Raymond Castro • Economic Justice
Recent national research has shown that these caps do not affect parental choices as intended but instead penalize the babies, who are denied cash assistance, and the families, which are driven deeper into poverty.
Blog

More Riders, Less Investment: A Blueprint for Failure on Public Transit in New Jersey

March 4, 2016 • Jon Whiten
Despite transit’s clear benefit to New Jersey, the state has systematically shirked its responsibility to invest the dollars necessary to create a world-class public transit system that is reliable and affordable.
Testimony

Closing Corporate Loopholes Would Make Tax Code Fairer & Boost Revenues

February 29, 2016 • Sheila Reynertson • Tax and Budget
Expanding combined reporting in New Jersey would level the playing field for all businesses in New Jersey while increasing the resources that states need to be able to invest in vital services like higher education, transportation infrastructure and public safety.
Testimony

Eliminating the Estate Tax Protects Inherited Wealth at the Expense of Shared Prosperity

February 29, 2016 • Sheila Reynertson • Tax and Budget
Losing the funds from this tax would seriously threaten investments in the assets that build a strong state economy for all of us, while benefitting very few.
Blog

NJPP Launches Kathleen Crotty Fellowship

February 26, 2016 • Carly Rothman Siditsky
This new fellowship will honor Kathy’s legacy by providing an eager student committed to public service with an intensive summer experience working in New Jersey policy and advocacy, under the guidance of experienced mentors at NJPP.
Blog

New Jersey’s Investment in Infrastructure is Fifth Lowest in Nation

February 25, 2016 • Jon Whiten • Tax and Budget
New Jersey’s investment in all types of capital improvements has also been declining, from 1.76 percent of the state’s economy in 2004 to 1.4 percent in 2013.
Blog

Four Key Fixes for New Jersey’s Tax Subsidy Programs Highlighted in New National Report

February 18, 2016 • Jon Whiten • Tax and Budget
Regularly forecasting budget impact, limiting annual spending, putting subsidies in the state budget and restricting corporations' ability to redeem more in credits than they owe in taxes are common-sense reforms desperately needed in the Garden State.
Video

NJPP’s Gordon MacInnes Provides Live Reaction to Governor’s Budget Address

February 17, 2016 • NJPP Staff • Tax and Budget
Among other things, he pointed out that the budget address lacked a fix for New Jersey's most pressing problem - the pending insolvency of the Transportation Trust Fund.
Blog

Budget Address Lacks Transportation Plan, Doubles Down on Cutting Taxes on Inherited Wealth

February 16, 2016 • Jon Whiten • Tax and Budget
The governor is holding out his proposed fix on transportation, apparently, until he can secure big tax cuts for New Jersey’s wealthiest families. But trading a gas tax hike for the elimination of the estate tax has absolutely no resemblance to “tax fairness.”
Blog

2017 Budget Preview: Plenty of Challenges and Many Unanswered Questions

February 12, 2016 • Sheila Reynertson • Tax and Budget
The state budget is more than a laundry list of government spending. It is an official statement of what counts - and doesn’t - in meeting the needs of the people of New Jersey and, hopefully, in investing in the assets that are proven building blocks of a strong economy.
Explainer

Lost Opportunities for New Jersey’s Children

February 11, 2016 • Raymond Castro • Economic Justice
Dwindling cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program has harmed families and children, but New Jersey can reverse course.
Testimony

Still No Answers to Key Questions on Casino Expansion

February 8, 2016 • Gordon MacInnes
Given New Jersey’s track record with gambling – one of big promises, a lack of delivery on those promises and little long-term economic benefit – one would think there’d be more caution and skepticism about expanding casinos to North Jersey.
Video

NJPP’s Gordon MacInnes Joins Legislative Leaders & Advocates Calling on New Jersey to Raise the Minimum Wage

February 5, 2016 • NJPP Staff • Economic Justice
"We’ve got a minimum wage, at $8.38 an hour, that doesn’t come close to allowing a full-time worker to have a chance in New Jersey.”
Testimony

New Jersey Should Apply for Local SNAP Waivers to Prevent Needless Hunger

February 4, 2016 • Raymond Castro • Economic Justice
For the state to willingly worsen the plight of struggling New Jerseyans is an indefensible policy that borders on the immoral. Legislators should do everything in their power to force the state to reverse course.
Explainer

Raising the Minimum Wage Would Boost New Jersey’s Working Men and Women

February 4, 2016 • Jon Whiten • Economic Justice
Inadequate wage floor keeps many workers in poverty.
Video

Closing Corporate Tax Loophole Would Make New Jersey a Fairer Place to Do Business

February 3, 2016 • NJPP Staff
“Our research clearly shows that most of New Jersey’s largest employers already operate in combined-reporting states and in some cases, have been doing so for decades."
Testimony

Two Key Decisions on SNAP in New Jersey Will Increase Hunger for Vulnerable Residents

January 28, 2016 • Raymond Castro • Economic Justice
SNAP serves the most vulnerable people in our state, and further cuts to the program will continue to push these families further to the brink.

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