NJ Legislative Update
NJ’s race for next Governor begins to shape up.
A recent Democratic gubernatorial primary poll conducted by Hart Research for Jersey City mayor Steve Fulp shows a tightening of the race:
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Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) leads Fulop, 20%-14%,
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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at 12%,
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Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) at 11%,
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New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller at 9%,
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Former Senate President Steve Sweeney at 8%.
Polling is very difficult to determine as one out of every four Democrat in this poll was “undecided”. Voter apathy is another factor, after being bombarded with Ad’s last fall for the Presidential race many voters are tuned out or unaware of the primaries. Congresswoman Sherill seems to be the favorite to win the Democrat nomination on June 10th. On the Republican side, former NJ Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is pulling away from Bill Spadea and Jon Bramnick.
New Jersey lawmakers begin to dissect Governor Murphy’s proposed budget.
In late February Governor Murphy laid out his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that must be balanced by the of June. Governor Murphy made several suggestions on where state resources should be spent. He also offered up ways the state could close their current running deficit. These taxes include admission to ‘participatory sports’ facilities like batting cages and bowling alleys. From batting cages and driving ranges to bowling alleys and skating rinks, it could soon cost more to use a wide range of “participatory sports” facilities in New Jersey. If Gov. Phil Murphy has his way, New Jersey’s 6.625% sales tax will expand to cover several services and transactions now tax free, drawing revenue needed to support a record-high proposed annual budget.
Murphy’s overall sales tax proposal, which needs approval from already skeptical legislators, would generate nearly $280 million annually in new revenue, according to estimates drafted by the Department of the Treasury. To raise those funds, New Jersey would begin taxing things that include digital services, interior design and vehicle trade-ins, according to budget documents.
However, the budget process is now in the hands of the NJ Legislative branch. They must work on a balanced budget bill and send it to the Governor so he can sign it into law. Many legislators in the majority party (democrat) have serious issues, in an election year, with these revenue raisers.
Murphy’s pitch to hike taxes comes during his last year in office since he cannot run for reelection under term limits written into the state Constitution. And he’s asking lawmakers to approve the increased levies just as many of them are gearing up for elections.
In November, control of the 80-member Assembly will be in contention, and Democrats are hoping to retain their wide majority. Meanwhile, the deadline to pass the new state budget is July 1. While Republicans, currently in the minority in both the Senate and Assembly, have widely panned the participatory sports tax proposal, many Democrats have also sought to distance themselves from the governor’s tax plans in recent weeks.
This is an ongoing negation that will get ironed out in the last week of June, but as of now these taxes look to be in trouble. The New Jersey Legislature will resume normal committee meetings and voting sessions in the May and June time frame before the legislative session will go on summer recess starting in July.
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