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NJGOP: The Most Callous and Crippling Budget in New Jersey History

September 24, 2020
NJGOP: The Most Callous and Crippling Budget in New Jersey History
 


Trenton, NJ – Governor Murphy cried wolf and duped the New Jersey Supreme Court into letting him borrow nearly $10 billion in the name of the COVID-19 crisis. His pitch to the people of New Jersey was that it was absolutely necessary to saddle future generations with additional debt in order to plug critical budget holes today.

Here is a list of just a few of those critical spending items that Governor Murphy has prioritized in his 2020 budget:

  • $4 million in funding for Essex County’s First Tee golf program.
  • $1 million for the Hinchliffe Stadium project in Paterson.
  • $150,000 to the Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum in Edison.

At the same time, this budget rigs the numbers so many seniors, people with disabilities and low- and middle-income homeowners won’t receive the Homestead property-tax relief benefit.

And even though New Jersey’s private sector has shouldered 100% of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, with this budget Governor Murphy is telling more than one million students, seniors, commuters, unemployed workers and struggling small businesses owners that it’s not enough. He wants more. As a result, he’s pushing these new tax hikes for this year:

  • An income tax on job creators
  • An employee payroll tax increase
  • An almost 10 cent per gallon tax increase on gas
  • A toll increase of approximately 30%, and
  • An increased tax on health care plans

In response, NJGOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt offered the following comment:

“Phil Murphy doesn’t get it and doesn’t care. This is the most shocking and callous budget in New Jersey history. Businesses are closing and the unemployment line is growing. Yet, he piles on debt and taxes to feed his liberal wish lists while you try to feed your family.

“New Jersey leads the nation in the outmigration of jobs and people. We have the worst business climate in the region. Republicans have proposed common sense reforms like tax fairness agreements and caps on spending, but they are ignored by Democrats who would rather buy votes with pet projects like sports stadiums and golf programs. We can’t change Trenton’s selfish tax and spend mentality in Court. We’ve tried that. If we’re going to end single party rule in this State, stop self serving politicians, and end Phil Murphy’s dictatorial reign, it has to be on Election Day. Voters need to send in their ballot this year and send Phil Murphy the message that change is coming.”