Oroho: More Proof that New Jersey’s High Taxes Are Driving Residents Away and Reducing Needed Resources
Senator Steven Oroho said published reports that New Jersey’s wealthiest resident moved to Florida for tax purposes at the end of last year is more proof that high tax rates do drive people from New Jersey. He also said that every time a high net worth individual moves, the state loses valuable resources to fund important programs, including many safety net services.
Sen. Oroho said it’s clear that high-income individuals are willing to flee New Jersey’s high tax burden, close their businesses and move to low or no tax states. (Wikipedia)
“My legislative colleagues, especially my fellow members on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, have heard me repeatedly caution that it’s not hard for high income people with homes in Florida or other states to relocate permanently and reduce their New Jersey income tax liability to zero,” said Oroho. “Unfortunately, that exact scenario has once again been played out, and New Jersey will lose several hundred million dollars in tax payments just as a result of one such move.”
According to the report, David Tepper, with an estimated net worth of nearly $11 billion, relocated to Florida late last year. A January 1, 2016 reorganization moved his firm, Appaloosa Management, along with employees to Florida as well.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Residents Should Prepare to Defeat North Jersey Casino Ballot Question
Recognizing the profound and devastating economic consequences for their legislative district, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove voted against legislation paving the way for north Jersey casinos.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove say that residents should prepare to defeat a ballot question that would allow casinos outside of Atlantic City. (Flickr)
Following through on their pledge to constituents, each member of the 9th District delegation vehemently opposed and voted ‘NO’ on companion legislation SCR-1 and ACR-1, which proposes amending the State Constitution to permit the establishment of casinos in two other counties located at least 72 miles from Atlantic City.
Despite the delegation’s ‘NO’ votes, both SCR-1 and ACR-1 were passed by both the State Senate and General Assembly on March 14 of this year. Subsequently, a statewide ballot question will be presented to the voters for the 2016 November General Election to decide if the State Constitution will be amended to allow casinos outside of Atlantic City.
Singer Bill to Prevent Recidivism, Help Families Become Self-Sufficient Passes Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to prevent recidivism of released drug offenders by allowing these individuals to access job training and workforce education was advanced by the New Jersey Senate.
The state’s welfare reform program, WorkFirst NJ, emphasizes work as the first step toward building a new life and a brighter future. (WorkFirst NJ)
“This commonsense measure will allow more individuals to forge a path to a brighter future by eliminating the unnecessary exclusions established under current law,” Senator Singer said. “Improving access to job training will help those who have served their time secure meaningful employment and transition off government assistance, easing the financial burden on the state.”
Kean & Holzapfel Honored by Humane Society for Work Protecting Animals
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Jim Holzapfel were honored for their work protecting the state’s animals and pets by the New Jersey chapter of The Humane Society of the United States.
Sen. Tom Kean was presented with the 2015 Humane State Legislator Award by Kathleen Schatzmann, New Jersey Senior State Director for the Humane Society. (SenateNJ.com)
They were each presented the 2015 Humane Legislator of the Year Award at the Humane Society’s 5th Annual New Jersey Humane Lobby Day.
“I’ve always believed that how we treat animals, both individually and as a state, is a reflection of our values,” said Kean (R-Union, Somerset, Morris). “We can be compassionate, generous and humane not just through our personal actions, but also through the laws with statewide impact that we help to advance.”
Sen. Jim Holzapfel speaking at the Humane Society’s 2016 New Jersey Humane Lobby Day after being presented the organization’s 2015 Humane State Legislator Award. (SenateNJ.com)
“We’ve worked to put New Jersey at the head of a nationwide effort to put puppy and kitten mills and their inhumane practices out of business,” said Holzapfel (R-Ocean). “We’re focusing on new legislation that would keep convicted animal abusers from repeating their crimes and ensure safe living conditions for all of the pets in our care.”
Pennacchio Announces Budget Resolution to Increase & Prioritize State Pension Payments
As the FY17 budget process is beginning, Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris) said that he will introduce a state budget resolution to increase the governor’s proposed pension payment by $500 million without raising taxes.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio will introduce a budget resolution to increase the governor’s proposed pension payment by $500 million in the FY17 state budget without raising taxes. (SenateNJ.com)
The Senator’s resolution would use funds from the larger-than-anticipated surplus if there are no fiscal emergencies by the end of the next fiscal year. It would still leave the FY17 State Budget with approximately $300 million in surplus, similar to the surplus for many of the recent Christie budgets and even higher than several Gov. McGreevey budgets.
“New Jersey Republicans have always said we will support making the biggest, fiscally responsible state pension payment,” Pennacchio said. “I endorse freezing all spending in the governor’s FY17 budget as he proposed it and eliminating any of the usual requests for legislators’ spending additions. As long as there are no fiscal emergencies in the next couple of months, we can increase the governor’s proposed record-high pension payment by as much as $500 million and keep the same surplus we have had in recent years. We can do this without raising taxes, cutting public services and jeopardizing job growth.”
Committee Advances Two Connors-Rumpf-Gove Veterans’ Initiatives
Two veterans-centered legislative initiatives sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove concerning property tax relief and housing have been advanced by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove sponsor legislation addressing property tax relief and housing issues related to veterans. (Flickr)
The first measure, S-265, would require the State to annually reimburse each municipality for the cost of providing disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. The 9th District delegation issued the following statement following the Committee’s advancement of the measure:
“This legislation would provide direct property tax relief and would lift an unfunded State mandate that cost municipalities throughout the entire state more than $66,232,734 in 2015.
Kean, Beck, Oroho Introducing Legislation to Support NJ Charities
Senate Republicans Tom Kean, Jennifer Beck and Steven Oroho are introducing legislation on Monday to boost charitable giving to New Jersey nonprofits that are on the front lines serving millions of children and families.
Senate Republicans Tom Kean, Jennifer Beck and Steven Oroho will introduce legislation establishing a state income tax deduction for gifts to New Jersey charities. (SenateNJ.com)
This legislation will establish a charitable deduction for state income tax filers on the money and gifts they provide to charities operating in New Jersey. This new bill is a modified version of bipartisan S-334, originally created and introduced in 2007 by Senate Republican Leader Kean.
“New Jersey is blessed to be served by an array of charities supporting children, families and seniors in need,” said Kean (Union, Somerset, Morris). “A host of nonprofit educational, cultural and civic organizations make our communities safer and stronger. As we have learned on many occasions, such as the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, charities are often the first to mobilize to help in times of crisis before government resources are available.”
“Nonprofit organizations work tirelessly for communities, help the state and local governments provide essential public services and create jobs and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages,” said Beck (Monmouth). “Yet it’s extremely difficult for nonprofits here to garner steady charitable giving from residents and small business owners, because, by most measures, New Jersey ranks dead last and second to last in the nation in overall tax burdens.”
Committee Passes Oroho Estate Tax Phase Out & Retirement Income Tax Cut
A pair of tax-cut bills sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) was advanced by the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee.
Legislation by Sen. Steven Oroho would phase out the estate tax and cut taxes on retirement income. (SenateNJ.com)
Tax-cut legislation championed for years by Senator Oroho to phase out New Jersey’s “estate tax” was approved 9-0. That bill, bipartisan S-1728, would increase the tax exclusion from the current level of $675,000 to $1 million the first year and complete the elimination over five years.
“We are a big step closer to eliminating the nation’s highest death tax — a reform that would allow parents, grandparents, employers and farmers to stay in New Jersey and pass to future generations the assets that they’ve worked their whole lives to earn,” Oroho said. “This estate tax phase out would restore our competitive economic position by enticing capital back to New Jersey. Just as we enacted $2.3 billion in bipartisan business tax cuts in 2011 to increase financial resources and jobs, we should get this tax cut on the books now to retain more capital and opportunities for the people of this state.”
Advanced: Singer Bill Expanding Access to Job Training to Prevent Recidivism of Released Drug Offenders
Legislation would allow persons with drug convictions to participate in Work First New Jersey; expand access to job training to help families become self-sufficient
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to expand access to job training programs for those with drug convictions to prevent recidivism has been approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
The state’s welfare reform program, WorkFirst NJ, emphasizes work as the first step toward building a new life and a brighter future. (WorkFirst NJ)
“For those who have been convicted of a drug crime, the road to recovery is long, treacherous and nearly impossible to traverse without help,” Senator Singer said. “Expanding access to job training and workforce education goes a long way to helping all families in need – not just some – become self-sufficient without having to rely on general assistance.”
Singer Bill to Improve Access to Integrated Behavioral and Primary Healthcare Clears Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to improve coordination between primary and behavioral healthcare services has cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Sen. Robert Singer’s legislation allows for better coordinated and comprehensive primary and behavioral healthcare services. (©iStock)
Senator Singer’s bill, S-1710, allows ambulatory care facilities to provide primary health care and behavioral health services under a single license.
“To provide quality, comprehensive healthcare for all New Jerseyans, we must ease the process of integrating behavioral health and primary care services,” Senator Singer said. “Forcing facilities to obtain multiple licenses just so they can provide a full spectrum of health services is an unnecessary restriction that only serves in blocking patients from accessing the care they need.”
