Republicans: Many of the bills will mean a loss of revenue to the state without guaranteeing the money will come back through increased business Watch video
TRENTON — Legislative Democrats today called on Republicans to support a package of bills they say will boost the state’s economy.
“Our Republican colleagues in the Legislature and the governor have an opportunity here. They have an opportunity to show that we stand together to help the working men and women New Jersey,” said Senate Majority Leader Babara Buono (D-Middlesex). "They need to support this legislation. We’ve heard chattering in the background already raising questions as to whether or not there’s going to be a partisan battle on Thursday.”
About 30 of the bills are scheduled for votes in Senate and Assembly sessions on Thursday and Monday. Democrats have spent the last month holding extra committee sessions to advance the bills, most of which offer tax breaks, credits and incentives to companies doing business in New Jersey.
Republicans and some liberals say that many of the bills will mean a loss of revenue to the state without guaranteeing the revenue will come back through increased business or employment.
The liberal-leaning New Jersey Policy Perspective said an earlier version of just one bill (S1646), which overhauls the corporate tax code so corporations pay income taxes based only on the sales they make in-state, was projected result in a $250 million revenue loss.
New Jersey’s unemployment rate is currently 9.2 percent.
“The bottom line is that you’ve got to at some point take a proactive step,” said Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union).
Although they called for bipartisanship, Cryan and Buono ripped into Republican Gov. Chris Christie for vetoing the renewal of a tax for high-income earners and cutting services for the poor in the last budget, and for his combative style.
“No amount of his signature nasty and dismissive attacks, delivered with a sneer and dripping with sarcasm, will help our friends, our family and our neighbors,” said Buono.
Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said Buono's remarks came off as anything but bipartisan.
"Wow, that’s some bipartisanship," he said. "Her remarks read like they’re right out of the pure partisan play book."
Although several of the bills the Democrats are promoting have Republican sponsors, Senate Republicans responded to the press conference today by listing seven bills their members have written but Democrats have refused to consider.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. bill would allow job training to unemployed without jeopardizing benefits
• N.J. credit card debt lawsuits surge in bad economy
• Tough economy causing surge in credit card debt litigation in N.J.
• Protest planned at office of Assemblyman Alex DeCroce over unemployment remark
• Gov. Christie plans to sign bill capping police, firefighter raises at 2 percent through arbitration
• Gov. Christie cites N.J. job growth in past month as proof his policies are working