Topic Category: General

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
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Najee Seabrooks

Last Friday, Najee Seabrooks, a violence intervention specialist with the Paterson Healing Collective, was shot and killed by Paterson police after he called for help while experiencing a mental health crisis. Najee’s tragic death exemplifies how police are unfit to handle many of the crises they’re tasked with responding to. And his death was entirely preventable: Najee’s colleagues from the Paterson Healing Collective arrived on the scene and attempted to de-escalate the situation, but police did not allow them to intervene. New Jersey is currently piloting programs, like ARRIVE Together, that pair police with mental health professionals for calls like this, but this does not go far enough in removing police from crises that do not need an armed response. It’s not a question of whether alternatives to policing exist, but whether state and local policymakers have the courage to support and expand them. [NJ Spotlight News / Taylor Jung and Bobby Brier] 

Public Hearings

With Governor Murphy’s address behind us, budget season is officially underway — and public hearings are right around the corner. The first hearing: this upcoming Tuesday, March 14, at Ramapo College of New Jersey. The hearings kick off the budget review process where advocates, policy experts, and members of the public can share their priorities with the Legislature to help dictate the final budget. Historically, communities have been shut out of a less-than-transparent budget process, so every opportunity for residents to share their thoughts is valuable — especially since that’s part of how the state-level Child Tax Credit came to fruition just last year. Want to testify? Sign up on the Legislature’s website (bonus points if you urge lawmakers to oppose corporate tax cuts in next year’s budget). [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

10

Speaking of corporate tax cuts… Remember when New Jersey gave Subaru a $118 million corporate tax credit to move their headquarters to Camden? Well, new data from Camden show that Subaru employs just 10 Camden residents out of its 786 employees in the city. This is yet another glaring example of how trickle-down tax cuts and tax breaks only benefit the corporations receiving them. If you want the broader public to benefit from corporate profits, we have a system for that — it’s called the tax code. Big shout out to New Jersey Working Families and local activists in the Camden We Choose coalition who petitioned the city for this information. [Gothamist / Nancy Solomon]

9

In climate news, advocates warned the state’s Department of Environmental Protection that New Jersey may miss its targets for reducing carbon emissions unless the agency acts fast on promoting electric vehicles and stopping new fossil-fuel power plants from opening. In a public hearing earlier this week, environmentalists pointed to nine other states that have banned the sale of gasoline-powered cars starting in 2035, asking why New Jersey has yet to implement its own rules requiring electric vehicles. “We need to move with appropriate haste to get CCII (California Car II) in place,” said Pam Frank, CEO of ChargEVC-NJ. “The Governor needs to match his rhetoric with action. We are behind and late on this for no reason we can understand.’’ [NJ Spotlight News / Tom Johnson]

3

More climate news: The state Board of Public Utilities opened the application window for three more offshore wind projects on top of the three already approved. More offshore wind is necessary for New Jersey to meet its clean energy goals — but that hasn’t stopped NIMBYs from criticizing proposed wind turbines, falsely tying them to recent whale deaths off the Jersey shore (there is zero evidence that any of the whale deaths were caused by offshore wind, while multiple whales were proven to be struck by ships). “The opposition to clean energy is incredibly transparent, led by bad-faith actors funded by the fossil fuel industry,” said NJPP’s Alex Ambrose. “It is obvious their goals are not to make New Jersey cleaner, safer, or more prepared for the climate crisis; their goals are only to protect an antiquated and dangerous source of energy.” [Fortune / Wayne Parry]

ICYMI

Congrats to NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez for being named to ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: Women in Business 2023! And a congratulations to the other heavy-hitting women recognized on the list. [ROI-NJ]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Bella, Sue Altman’s 9-year-old rescue puppy. Bella enjoys swimming in the Delaware River, hunting squirrels, glaring at corrupt politicians, and taking long naps on the couch. Bella recently attended a rally on hospital transparency and is a firm believer in high-quality and affordable health care for everyone. Woof!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
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$53 Billion

This past week marked the start of budget season in New Jersey! On Tuesday, Governor Murphy unveiled his proposal for next year’s budget, including increased funding for pre-K-12 schools, another year of the ANCHOR property tax relief program, doubling the Child Tax Credit (though not expanding eligibility), and much more. The $53 billion proposal also includes another full pension payment and a $10 billion surplus, two fiscally responsible moves that should improve the state’s credit rating and protect against the next economic downturn. However, the budget continues to underfund some key areas, and it rests on a shaky foundation as it calls for eliminating the Corporate Business Tax surcharge, robbing the state of critical revenue now and in the future. More on that below. [Politico / Dustin Racioppi]

$1 Billion

Remember last week when we thought that eliminating the Corporate Business Tax surcharge would cost the state $664 million in revenue per year? Now, according to Governor Murphy’s new budget proposal, state officials estimate the tax cut will cost the state much more: a whopping $1 billion in revenue every year. As a reminder, this tax cut would only benefit the wealthiest top 2 percent of businesses in the state — including mega-corporations that are not headquartered in New Jersey like Amazon, Walmart, and Bank of America — meaning that 98 percent of businesses here will see no benefit. [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

Price Gouging

The proposed $1 billion corporate tax cut comes at a time of record-breaking corporate profits which — according to new business data presented to the European Central Bank last week — are driven by companies price gouging consumers and using inflation as cover. Still, Governor Murphy defended the tax cut in his budget address, saying that companies will use the proceeds of the tax cut to create new jobs. However, we have 50 years of data that show corporate tax cuts do not trickle down, and we know that promises by corporations to create new jobs often ring hollow, as exemplified by Amazon’s recent move to pause construction at its second headquarters in Virginia despite $750 million in tax credits. [Reuters / Francesco Canepa]

Raids

So why does New Jersey need revenue from the corporate business tax? Because there are so many unmet needs across the state that are desperate for funding. Example A: The governor’s proposed budget continues to raid the state’s Clean Energy Fund, which pays for investments in renewable energy infrastructure and financial assistance for residents and businesses when purchasing clean energy appliances. Example B: The budget proposal once again underfunds NJ Transit, balancing its budget by raiding capital funds to cover operating expenses. The list of underfunded areas goes on, but these two moves, in particular, will threaten New Jersey’s air quality and ability to reach its clean energy goals, as former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Ed Potosnak of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters outlined in an op-ed published this past Monday. [NJ.com / Steven Rodas]

$1,000

Now for some good budget news: Governor Murphy’s budget proposal calls for eliminating fees for public defenders! Currently, those who need a public defender in New Jersey face state-mandated fees and can pay over $1,000 for legal representation — even if they prove they can’t afford an attorney. These fees, which can influence how clients navigate the justice system and plead in their cases, were exposed in a report by NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel back in October. “This is a constitutional right that is behind a paywall for some people. I would call on the Legislature to follow through with this,” said NJPP’s Marleina Ubel. [NJ Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]

ICYMI

On Monday, NJPP joined workers and advocates outside the State House to urge lawmakers to oppose cuts to New Jersey’s corporate tax rate. And on Friday, NJPP’s Sheila Reynertson joined Chat Box with David Cruz to break down why lawmakers should make the Corporate Business Tax surcharge permanent. Talk about a busy week! [NJ Spotlight News / David Cruz]

Pets of NJPP

We have a good one this week — and on theme! Meet Violet, Michelle Ancil’s 10-month old kitty who occasionally interns for the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. Violet’s favorite snack is a mango slice, and when she’s not napping on top of the fridge, she loves hanging out with her sister Ruby. Meow!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

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$5 Million

Eliminating the Corporate Business Tax (CBT) surcharge would cost the state at least $664 million in annual revenue, according to a report from NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson released earlier this week. The report finds that corporations with more than $100 million in annual profit would receive a $5 million tax cut, on average, while 98 percent of businesses in the state would receive nothing. The report also outlines how the surcharge is paid by businesses operating in New Jersey, including multi-national corporations that aren’t headquartered here like Amazon, Walmart, and Bank of America. Giving the biggest and most profitable corporations on the planet a huge tax cut right as federal pandemic relief funds are set to expire should make it difficult to balance future budgets and maintain investments in areas like education and transit infrastructure. Not good! [NJ Spotlight News / Rhonda Shaffler]

$1,000

Now for some good news: Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton) introduced legislation on Monday that would expand New Jersey’s Child Tax Credit. The bill would double the maximum tax credit for children under 6 years old to $1,000 and expand eligibility for the program to include kids up to 11 years old. The bill is similar to one that NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen proposed in a report last month where he calculated that an expanded Child Tax Credit would help 441,000 families — and 713,000 children — across the state. “This bill would provide much-needed relief for families by expanding the Child Tax Credit with larger benefits and so more children qualify,” said bill sponsor Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. “When families have the resources they need, it sets their kids up for success now and later in life.” [NorthJersey.com / Katie Sobko]

$1.9 Billion

Private prison giant CoreCivic generated a whopping $1.9 billion in profit in 2021, the same year that New Jersey’s ban on immigration detention went into effect. Now, in 2023, the world’s largest private prison corporation filed a legal challenge to the landmark law, claiming that not being able to renew their ICE contract at the Elizabeth Detention Center would hurt their profits. The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice criticized the lawsuit, comparing it to other attempts by mega-corporations to profit off the exploitation of immigrants. “Immigrant communities and New Jersey — we are not going to be threatened by greedy, for-profit corporations,” said Amy Torres, Executive Director of the Alliance. [Documented / Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio]

50,000

Despite Governor Murphy announcing his new Energy Master Plan, a proposal for a new power plant still has a chance to move forward in the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, which is home to 50,000 residents and one of several places the state classifies as an “environmentally overburdened community” (EOC). While New Jersey also finalizes rules for an environmental justice law enacted in 2020, a potential loophole would allow the proposed facility to open if it brings significant economic value to a community. NJPP Policy Analyst Alex Ambrose recommends that Governor Murphy end the Clean Energy Fund raids to more easily reach climate goals. “Murphy made a promise that he would immediately end the raids on the Clean Energy Fund. And he has not fulfilled that promise yet. So in two weeks is his budget address and we will see if he finally fulfills that promise because that source of funding will help reach a lot of his [climate goals,]” she said. [WHYY / Tennyson Donyéa]

ICYMI

In our latest TikTok, Alex Ambrose breaks down how state lawmakers have raided $2 billion from the Clean Energy Fund since 2010. Check out the math on how those funds could have been spent, from electric buses to bagels by clicking the link. [NJPP / TikTok]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Astro, the newest member of the Mir household. His guardian shares that his name should have been Velcro as he’s attached to their hip. He likes to run, chase, and play with his sister cat, Aria, who is not his biggest fan. Woof!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

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8

It was a busy Monday at the State House for NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel, who testified in opposition to numerous proposals that would roll back bail reform and upgrade criminal penalties for a variety of criminal offenses. Marleina joined dozens of policy experts, civil rights leaders, and residents harmed by the criminal justice system in opposing the “tough on crime” bills, telling lawmakers that they would be better served by investing in diversion programs, local violence intervention initiatives, harm reduction services, housing, and mental health services. In total, eight crime bills advanced through the committee despite mounting evidence showing that increased criminal penalties do not result in safer communities or less crime. “We all want safe communities. These bills might actually make it worse,” said NJPP’s Marleina Ubel. [NJ Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Muñoz]

50

Two of the “tough on crime” bills passed out of committee on Monday would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl possession even though direct service providers on the front lines of the overdose crisis warned lawmakers that these proposals would result in more deaths and a more toxic drug supply. “[Demand] has not gone away in the 50-plus years of harsher and harsher drug war enforcement. What these bills will do is destroy any faith that people who use drugs and people who live in neighborhoods targeted by the drug war once had in calling 9-1-1 to respond to an overdose and help someone,” said Caitlin O’Neill, co-director of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition. [WHYY / Tennyson Donyéa]

Mass Transit

As we rapidly approach budget season here in New Jersey, climate and transit advocates are urging lawmakers to sustainably fund NJ Transit and stop raiding the Clean Energy Fund. Over the last 13 years, state lawmakers have raided $2 billion from the Clean Energy Fund to pay for things unrelated to clean energy like mass transit, as reported by NJPP Policy Analyst Alex Ambrose last month. Now, all eyes are on the Governor to see if he keeps his promise of ceasing the raids on the Clean Energy Fund during his budget address in just a few short weeks. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

3

Speaking of NJ Transit, New Jersey residents are fighting three proposed gas-fired backup power plants — including one to power NJ Transit in Kearny. Black and brown communities often bear the brunt of pollution, and the proposed areas for the new plants are no exception. With Governor Murphy’s latest clean energy proposal only a few days old, community members and local leaders like Newark Mayor Ras Baraka are urging lawmakers to turn to cleaner sources of energy and advance climate justice. [ABC News / Wayne Perry]

100 Percent

More clean energy news: Governor Murphy announced a new executive order on Wednesday setting 2035 as a target date for New Jersey to be a 100 percent clean energy state. New Jersey consistently ranks among states with the worst air quality in the nation, which shouldn’t be a surprise given that 95 percent of energy consumed and 90 percent of energy produced in the state come from nonrenewable sources. The governor also announced that, by 2035, all new vehicles sold will be electric, helping remedy decades of air pollution from gas- and diesel-powered vehicles. [NJ.com / Steven Rodas]

Pets of NJPP

No pet this week (sorry!). If you have a pet you’d like featured, send a hi-resolution picture and some fun facts to dipaolo@njpp.org.

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

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Act Now!

There are nine (!!!) bills up in committee on Monday that would roll back bail reform and upgrade criminal penalties for a variety of crimes. Make no mistake, these bills will not make us safer, but they will result in longer prison sentences and exacerbate racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Take action now and tell your lawmakers that we can’t go back on bail reform. [ACLU of New Jersey]

Hollow

Lawmakers have shared their “thoughts and prayers” for victims of police violence, but they have done little to back up those sentiments with criminal justice reform policies. While several bills aimed at promoting police accountability and transparency have stalled in the Legislature, lawmakers are instead advancing “tough on crime” bills that will harm Black and brown residents. “Nationwide, we had lots of expressions of condolences and sympathy, right?” said Yannick Wood, Director of the Criminal Justice Reform Program at New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “But there has to be a shift in policy, there has to be movements on either directives or legislation to meet those words, otherwise, those words ring hollow.” [NJ Spotlight News / Taylor Jung]

Signed

Okay, now for some good news: Earlier this week, Governor Murphy signed the Temp Workers’ Bill of Rights into law — a huge win for workers across the state. The new law — which includes wage guarantees, workplace protections, and enforcement provisions — would not have been possible without the tireless advocacy of Make the Road New Jersey, New Labor, and various other labor and immigrants rights organizations. “This bill didn’t happen in a vacuum. It happened because a whole lot of people saw the wrong and wanted the right. I really want to thank them,” said bill sponsor Senator Joe Cryan. [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

Bold

More exciting news: The Star-Ledger Editorial Board endorsed an expansion to the New Jersey Child Tax Credit (CTC), calling on lawmakers to “go bold” and expand the program in next year’s budget. The editorial points to the CTC as a proven way to reduce child poverty and support hard-working families, citing NJPP’s recent report proposing a two-fold expansion to the CTC so more families are eligible and for higher credit amounts. Here’s a snippet from the editorial: “It’s one of the best investments that government can make because it pays back in dividends … The original effort passed with bipartisan support last year. Now, let’s go bold and expand it.” [The Star-Ledger / Editorial Board]

Feb. 28

The deadline to apply for ANCHOR property tax relief benefits is right around the corner! Eligible homeowners *and* renters have until the end of the month to apply. More information about the ANCHOR program and the application is available online or by calling 1-888-238-1233. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

ICYMI

Shout out to NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez for being named to ROI-NJ’s 2023 Power List! We appreciate the apt write up: “Yes, the opinion comes from the left — but it also comes with facts and figures.” We also want to extend a big congratulations to all of the other advocates and labor leaders recognized here! [ROI-NJ]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Tuna, a Jersey City cat who just turned nine years old! Tuna enjoys waking up early, basking in the sun, and working from home with her cat-parent Rachael O’Brien.

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

127,000

Big news out of the State House from Thursday: The Senate narrowly passed the Temp Workers’ Bill of Rights, sending the legislation to Governor Murphy’s desk (finally!). Make no mistake, this is a historic win that will guarantee New Jersey’s 127,000-plus temp workers the strongest workplace protections in the country. The bill — which requires equal compensation for temp workers, eliminates excessive agency fees, and bolsters anti-retaliation protections — faced strong opposition from the temp agency lobby. “This is just the start of us getting accountability for the workers who have really suffered from abuses, whether they be OSHA violations, minimum wage, overtime, unlawful transportation deductions,” said Joseph Niver, an attorney with Make the Road New Jersey. Sí se pudo! [NJ Monitor / Dana DeFilippo]

$227 Billion

More good news, but this time from across the river: New York Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled her $227 billion state budget earlier this week, which calls for an extension of the state’s corporate business tax surcharge. Similar to New Jersey, New York also has a surcharge on the state’s most profitable corporations that is set to expire at the end of the calendar year. With the revenue, Governor Hochul proposed increased funding for things like public education, health care, and emergency shelters. And to protect against a potential economic downturn, the governor also proposed depositing billions of dollars into the state’s rainy day fund, something New Jersey lawmakers have been reluctant to do in recent years. [The New York Times / Luis Ferré-Sadurní]

5

As if New Jersey lawmakers pushing for a trickle-down corporate tax cut wasn’t bad enough, they’re also advancing new “tough on crime” policies that will do little more than exacerbate racial disparities in the criminal justice system (what year is it again?). On Monday, the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee was scheduled to vote on a bill to establish a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for “assaulting law enforcement with bodily fluids” (read: spitting on a police officer). The bill was ultimately held, but not because mandatory minimums are misguided policy proven not to work at deterring crime, but “in sensitivity to the case of … [Tyre Nichols]” (watch the awkward explanation from Senator Greenstein here). Here’s what NJPP’s Peter Chen had to say about the bill: “If you think the bill is so bad that you can’t pass it because it would make you look terrible in the wake of a horrible tragedy instituted by violent police conduct, then perhaps you shouldn’t pass the bill at all.” [NJ Globe / Joey Fox]

$122 Billion

The child care crisis comes at an enormous financial cost to working families and the broader economy, according to a new report by the Council for a Strong America. The study finds that, in 2022, the lack of affordable child care cost $122 billion across the country in lost wages, productivity, and tax revenue. The study also found that nearly one in four parents reported being fired from their jobs due to a lack of affordable and reliable child care. More than half of U.S. residents live in a child care desert, and far more struggle paying for child care, which often costs more than college tuition. Fixing this will require big investments in child care infrastructure and in direct relief to low-income families at the state and national levels — two things that will require stable funding. “That’s where it comes to a head: If you’re not going to put the money in, then you can’t make policy changes that are needed,” said Julie Kashen, Director for Women’s Economic Justice at the Century Foundation. [The 19th / Chabeli Carrazana]

ICYMI

Speaking of the high costs of raising kids, NJPP released a new report earlier this week outlining ways to expand New Jersey’s Child Tax Credit so more kids and families qualify — and for a higher maximum benefit. If enacted, the proposal would benefit nearly half a million families, including more than 700,000 children. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Angus, from Absecon, who was featured on CBS Philadelphia earlier this week in his Eagles scarf. When he’s not watching football, Angus enjoys long walks and hanging out with his cat sibling, Pizza. Thank you, Debbie and George, for sending us this photo!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

37,000

A coalition of unions and advocates sent an open letter to Governor Murphy and legislative leadership last Friday urging them to extend the Corporate Business Tax surcharge to fund public services and programs that residents rely on. Instead of giving a tax cut to big businesses like Amazon and Walmart, the state could use revenue from this tax to expand pre-K to 37,000 kids, build 5,000 affordable homes, or purchase 1,500 electric school buses. Click the link to see NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson on NJ Spotlight News where she makes clear that giving a big tax cut to the most profitable corporations in the world sends the wrong message to families struggling to get by. [NJ Spotlight News / Rhonda Schaeffler]

Full

The Murphy administration told state pension officials to expect another full payment into the pension fund in next month’s budget address. This is great news for the retirement security of the state’s 800,000 current and retired government workers; it’s also great news for the state’s financial health after two decades of lawmakers skipping payments. However, with a potential economic downturn on the horizon — and lawmakers ready to give a big tax cut to the most profitable businesses operating in the state — it may be harder for lawmakers to make full pension payments in future years. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

Naloxone

Earlier this week, lawmakers backed a new bill requiring colleges and universities in New Jersey to carry naloxone. This proposal is the latest step in bolstering the state’s harm reduction efforts and follows Governor Murphy’s recent announcement that naloxone will now be available for free at pharmacies across the state. The bill also includes some coercive measures that run counter to harm reduction best practices, however, including a requirement that anyone who overdoses is transported to an emergency room after naloxone is administered, even if the person’s symptoms have resolved. “[Naloxone] should absolutely be made widely available on college campuses to staff and students alike to be prepared to respond to an opioid overdose,” said Jenna Mellor, Executive Director of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition. [NJ Spotlight News / Bobby Brier]

352,000

Up to 352,000 New Jerseyans are at risk of losing health coverage under NJ FamilyCare after President Biden signed an end to the federal public health emergency last month. While it’s unclear exactly how many residents will be moved off Medicaid plans, the Department of Human Services is sending redetermination documents to enrollees who will have to respond to remain insured. To prevent residents from losing access to health care, advocates and community groups are joining the state in outreach efforts to assist those who were disenrolled in obtaining new health coverage through the state marketplace. [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

9

Later today, the Memphis Police are scheduled to release body cam footage showing the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols. While the coverage of Tyre Nichols’ murder will be particularly painful because of its brutality, the uninterrupted trend of police violence should surprise no one. In the entirety of 2022, there were only 9 days when police did not kill people in the United States. According to Mapping Police Violence, killings by police averaged nearly 100 people per month. Click the link from the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice for resources on knowing your rights while protesting and how to create space for yourself to grieve and process the news. [New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice]

ICYMI

Big congratulations to NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez for being named to Senator Loretta Weinberg’s 2023 Women’s Power List! There are lots of friendly faces on the list, so make sure to check it out by clicking the link. [Insider NJ / Loretta Weinberg]

Pets of NJPP

Say hello to Triscuit, one of Alex Ambrose’s many cats. Triscuit enjoys torturing her cat siblings and eating their treats (seen here). We also have our first Pets of NJPP correction: Last week’s dog, Bella, belongs to Roxanne Sutocky of The Women’s Centers, not to Jasmine (sorry, Roxanne!). Meow!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

7

While lawmakers in New Jersey are poised to give a big tax break to the world’s biggest corporations, lawmakers in other states are proposing new ways to tax extreme wealth and make the tax code fairer for working families. In a virtual press conference on Thursday, legislators from seven states announced a coordinated effort to tax millionaires and billionaires at the state level to raise revenue to fund schools, infrastructure, and other public programs. The new proposals share the same goal but offer different approaches, like taxing capital gains, increasing the income tax for millionaires, and taxing the estates of wealthy heirs. “The point here is to make sure we do at the state level what is not being done at the federal level,” said New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera​​. [Washington Post / Julie Zauzmer Weil]

5.4 Percent

Speaking of extreme wealth … Remember when the business lobby claimed that millionaires would “flee” New Jersey if state lawmakers passed the millionaires’ tax? Well, new federal data once again debunks that claim. The number of millionaires in New Jersey (read: those who earn more than $1 million in annual income) increased by 5.4 percent from 2019 to 2020, the first year the millionaires’ tax was in effect. We said it then and we’ll say it now: New Jersey’s prosperity and fair tax policy go hand in hand. The very public services that the millionaires’ tax (and corporate business tax) fund — like top-notch schools and mass transit — are a big part of why so many people choose to call New Jersey home. [The Philadelphia Inquirer / Erin McCarthy]

16,000

Starting January 1, all children in New Jersey are eligible for health care coverage through the state’s Medicaid program, regardless of their immigration status. This is the latest phase of the state’s “Cover All Kids” initiative, and approximately 16,000 uninsured children will gain access to health care as a result. This new policy is a great example of the types of investments states can make when they have a tax code that requires the wealthiest individuals and most profitable corporations to pay their fair share. [NJ Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

Crime

In a new op-ed, ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha pushes back against the ongoing efforts to roll back bail reform, highlighting how there is no evidence to support that “tough on crime” policies actually reduce crime. Even with the latest data showing that violent crime is trending downward, that hasn’t stopped lawmakers from introducing numerous proposals to increase criminal penalties and mandatory minimum sentences. “Criminalizing more things will only result in more crime in our statistics — an unjust and self-perpetuating cycle. There will be more arrests, which will lead to calls for bigger police budgets, which will lead to more police presence in communities already suffering from the impacts of mass incarceration and over-policing,” Amol writes. [NJ Monitor / Amol Sinha]

250

One bright spot in criminal justice policy: New Jersey is expanding a pilot program that pairs mental health specialists with police officers in an effort to reduce police use of force. The success of the pilot in Cumberland County has been promising so far with more than 250 residents assisted and no reported injuries. Many instances of excessive police force stem from calls related to mental or behavioral health crises where a police response may not be the most appropriate, as NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel outlined in this report from 2021, and the state should continue to expand the use of alternative response teams, including those without a police presence. “In some cases, there are communities that do like the idea of a co-responder model,” said Marleina. “However, there are also communities that do not want law enforcement involved at all in certain kinds of crisis responses. All that is to say, I have mixed feelings.” [NJ Spotlight News / Bobby Brier]

ICYMI

Members of the United Black Agenda came out against the proposal to let the Corporate Business Tax Surcharge expire, saying it will expand the wealth of the already wealthy while leaving less for communities in need: “Handing a tax cut to big business doesn’t protect our communities from hard times, and instead will give our state fewer resources to support Black families and seniors.” [Insider NJ / United Black Agenda]

Pet of NJPP

Meet Bella (full name Portabella) to coworking pooch of Jasmine. Bella was born in Georgia and celebrated her first birthday on Christmas. Woof!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

Opportunity

Earlier this week, Governor Murphy delivered his annual State of the State address. The big theme: Opportunity for all. In the speech, the governor touted some big policy wins from the past few years, like raising the minimum wage, increasing school funding, and the new child tax credit. But, as the NJPP team highlights here in our Rapid Reaction, the speech was light on details and new proposals that would create opportunities for everyone who calls the Garden State home. Nor did the speech hint at how the state will continue to pay for investments that promote opportunity (more on this below), especially with federal pandemic assistance expiring and a recession potentially on the horizon. [NJPP / Sheila Reynerton, Peter Chen, and Marleina Ubel]

Tax Cut

A day after his State of the State address, Governor Murphy told Bloomberg TV that he plans to let the Corporate Business Tax Surcharge expire at the end of the year, amounting to a $600 million tax cut for the most profitable businesses operating in New Jersey. The surcharge, which is only levied on profits over $1 million (think of it as a corporate millionaires’ tax), was enacted in 2018 and has helped the state pay for many of the opportunity-building investments the governor highlighted in his speech. “With corporate profits at record levels and millions of New Jersey families struggling to keep up with rising costs, this represents the absolute worst of trickle-down economics,” said NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez. [ROI-NJ / Tom Bergeron]

$2 Billion

If you’re not convinced that state lawmakers will need revenue from the Corporate Business Tax Surcharge to support new investments that promote opportunity, know that the state can barely balance its budget as is. Case in point: Lawmakers have raided the state’s Clean Energy Fund every year since 2010 to plug unrelated budget holes, according to a new report by NJPP Policy Analyst Alex Ambrose. The diversions, totaling nearly $2 billion, have funded a hodgepodge of areas unrelated to clean energy despite the state’s overreliance on nonrenewable energy sources. “The Clean Energy Fund is one of the best tools we have to improve air quality, invest in clean energy technology, and help families afford new, energy-efficient appliances — but only if it’s used for its intended purpose,” said Alex Ambrose. [NJ Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]

ANCHOR

The Murphy administration has extended the deadline to apply for ANCHOR, the state’s new property tax rebate program, through the end of February. The extension comes a week after state officials announced that most eligible homeowners applied for their rebate, while only a small fraction of eligible renters have applied. This extension should provide the state with more time to promote the program so no one is left behind. [NJ.com / Brent Johnson]

5.8 Percent

A new report by JAMA Psychiatry finds that the enforcement of laws restricting abortion access is associated with a 5.8 percent increase in the suicide rate of young women. This underscores the urgent need to increase access to abortion care, even in states like New Jersey where abortion remains legal but cost barriers remain. “We want to ensure that everyone, regardless of their insurance status, regardless of their financial situation, (and) regardless of their immigration status, can have access to abortion care,” said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Vice President of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. [NJ Spotlight News / Bobby Brier]

ICYMI

Catch NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez on NJ Spotlight News where she shared her thoughts on Governor Murphy’s State of the State address. Specifically, Nicole warned against the recent push for “tough on crime” policies, saying they would intensify racial inequities in the criminal justice system without actually addressing the root causes of crime. [NJ Spotlight News / David Cruz]

Pet of NJPP

We were too busy following the State of the State this week to solicit pet pics from you all, so here’s another photo of Nicole’s cat, Bernie! If you want your pet featured next week, email me a picture at dipaolo@njpp.org with some fun facts about your furry friend. Meow!

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