State of New Jersey secondary Archives: on Budget & Economy
Cory Booker:
We will not be able to cut our way out of the jobs crisis
While the economy has started to come back, good-paying jobs didn't come back. Washington, however, doesn't seem to get it. We will not be able to cut our way out of the jobs crisis. The defeat of many aspects of President Obama's jobs plan, on
the basis that it meant a short-term spending bump, is emblematic of Congress's inability to reconcile smart spending and investment now with long-term deficit reduction efforts that will help ensure our economic prosperity.
We must act to empower those who are suffering now, removing roadblocks that prevent them and their families from getting back on their feet. Doing that is about more than simply protecting the most vulnerable or those at risk of falling from
the middle class into poverty. It means providing help to people who are likely to spend the extra money they have in their paychecks every month--a hand up that will create benefits throughout the economy.
Source: 2013-2014 New Jersey Senate campaign web CoryBooker.com
Nov 3, 2013
Hirsh Singh:
The Federal Reserve has caused a lot of damage
The Federal Reserve has caused a lot of damage to the American economy. The biggest problem is that the Fed has failed to stabilize the value of the dollar. The result has been a boom-bust cycle that has limited growth, jobs and wages. Today's real
unemployment rate is 10%, not 3.6%. America needs 10 million more jobs. To achieve this, the Fed must stop its meddling, stabilize the dollar at a non-deflationary level (in terms of commodity prices) and let businesses operate.
Source: 2020 New Jersey Senate website HirshSingh.com
Feb 5, 2020
Hirsh Singh:
New Jersey should get more of its tax dollars back
Singh said, "my number one agenda is infrastructure." Singh said, "New Jersey spends around $140 billion a year in federal taxes, but we get around $98 billion back. New Jersey's GDP represents 3.12% of the total U.S. GDP, making it the 8th largest
GDP contributor in the nation. Singh wants the federal government to start respecting that impressive number by fixing the deficit New Jersey receives in federal funds, which currently sits at $42 billion.
Source: Daily Caller blog on 2020 New Jersey Senate race
Dec 30, 2019
Jack Ciattarelli:
5% to 10% reduction in the state government workforce
Streamline and Modernize Government to Save Tax Dollars & Do More with Less- Reform civil service and achieve a 5% to 10% reduction in the state government workforce, which at 65,000 employees is far too large and expensive.
- Use savings to
implement state-of-the-art technologies that vastly improve the efficiency of state government (i.e. the DMV) and make life easier for citizens and businesses.
- Slash regulations that kill jobs and hurt New Jersey's economic competitiveness.
- Bi-Partisan Communications to Strengthen New Jersey
- Organize and host monthly work meetings with the leadership of both the State Senate and Assembly, as well as with the entire New Jersey congressional delegation.
- New Jersey gets just 60-
cents back in federal investment for every tax dollar we send to Washington, D.C.--the worst in the nation. This new level of cooperation is aimed at fixing that imbalance and stop New Jersey from getting cheated.
Source: 2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial campaign website Jack4Gov.com
Jan 17, 2017
Jack Ciattarelli:
Lower property taxes, grow the economy
New Jersey's property taxes are the highest in the nation and our state is ranked the worst place to do business. Jack Ciattarelli's top priorities are making
New Jersey more affordable by lowering property taxes and growing the economy.
Source: 2020-21 New Jersey governor campaign website Jack4NJ.com
Apr 2, 2020
Jack Ciattarelli:
Pandemic restaurant restrictions devastated the economy
Ciattarelli has criticized Murphy's handling of the pandemic, saying that his administration's policies cost lives in nursing homes, that the state botched the vaccine rollout, and that Murphy's restrictions on restaurants devastated the economy.
He also said Murphy has failed New Jerseyans by focusing on progressive goals like marijuana legalization instead of the state's long-standing fiscal problems.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer on 2021 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Feb 1, 2021
Jeff Bell:
Return to gold-dollar convertibility now
As a veteran of Ronald Reagan's gubernatorial & presidential campaigns, Bell clings to the antique notion that the purpose of a political campaign is to embody an idea & that a successful campaign can force the political class to take the idea seriously,
no matter how far outside the mainstream. "I'm a one-issue candidate," he says. "I don't really want to get into state issues. With no money, my only real opportunity is to be known for just one thing." So Bell, an eloquent and ardent pro-lifer,
defense hawk, and foreign-policy interventionist, ties nearly every issue he's asked about back to the destructive power of paper money.
"Why is it so important to return to gold-dollar convertibility now?" his letter asked the unsuspecting Republican
voters of New Jersey. "Things have gone too far for limited half measures to work." A return to the gold standard, he concedes, would of course result in higher interest rates, as the dollar sought its own level of value without direction from the Fed.
Source: Weekly Standard on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Sep 1, 2013
Jeff Bell:
Restore the gold standard
Question topic: Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.Bell: Strongly Agree.
Question topic:
Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.
Bell: Giving back control of our money from the Federal Reserve to the people by restoring the gold standard.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Jeff Bell:
Fed's zero interest rate policy extends Great Recession
Bell says voters have a question he can answer: Why is the economy still so bad? "Voters are not just upset about the economy," Bell said. "They were certainly upset, but they were also puzzled: why so few jobs are being created so long into a recovery."
"I offered an answer to that problem," he added. At the center of the economy's lackluster recovery, he said, is the Federal Reserve's zero interest rate policy, which he blames for the lack of job creation and for denying people the ability to save.
The U.S. needs to undergo a "fundamental monetary reform," he said.
That belief is what prompted Bell to run again in the first place, he said. Since 1982, he has continued working on tax and monetary reform at a series of Washington
DC-based think tanks and consultancies. "It just struck me that the whole cycle was going to go forward with no further debate on Fed policy unless I decided to come back to New Jersey and run," he said.
Source: The Wall Street Journal on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Jun 4, 2014
Josh Gottheimer:
Invest in R&D and infrastructure, and shrink our debt
From our property and local taxes, to our state and federal taxes, homeowners here pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. It's part of the reason we've seen people and companies, small and large, packing up and leaving town, and taking
good-paying jobs and their investment with them. But here's the good news: New Jersey is in the economic heartland of America; the heart of our nation's financial infrastructure is only a few miles away and some of the top life science companies in
the world call our state home. The question is: How can we maximize these assets and get our economy humming again?
We need to eliminate incentives for moving headquarters, jobs and production overseas, shrink our deficits, and reduce our debt.
We also need to set aside the revenue for an Infrastructure Bank to rebuild our transportation and infrastructure. We should also invest in R&D, so we can continue to pump out first-rate innovation.
Source: 2016 New Jersey House campaign website josh4congress.com
Nov 8, 2016
Murray Sabrin:
Federal Reserve is one big scam
Sabrin said his main priority is restoring financial sustainability, and he raised particular concern with the Federal Reserve System, calling it "one big scam." He also presented a plan to restore sustainability.
"That means having market-based interest rates, reducing spending to what the people will pay for in taxes so they don't have deficits, and freeing up the economy from the strangulation of regulations, which are now
80,000 pages in the Federal Register," he said. "For the average person who wants to start a business,
they look at all the regulations that they have to go through and they say, 'I can't do this.'"
Source: The Times of Trenton on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Mar 10, 2014
Murray Sabrin:
Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity
Question topic: Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.
Sabrin: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Phil Murphy:
COVID: Grants and loans to nearly 55,000 small businesses
The pandemic has slammed small businesses across America, so, our economic focus has been squarely where it should be -- on helping our hard-hit small businesses and encouraging new ones to grow. Through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority,
nearly 55,000 small businesses -- by the way, many of them owned by women, people of color, and veterans -- have received a truly lifesaving grant or a loan, and some of our nascent startups have received guarantees for vital new capital.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Phil Murphy:
Largest investment in infrastructure in New Jersey history
We are leaving for the next generation a rail system wholly different than the one we inherited. We are making historic investments in our roads and bridges. We are reimagining our airports and seaports. We are embarking on the largest infrastructure
investment program in the history of our state. These transformative investments will reap tremendous returns for our economy, create good-paying jobs, and attract innovative companies to the state that want a world-class infrastructure system.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Rich Pezzullo:
Balance your budget and provide affordable services
As a businessman,
Rich understands the importance of balancing a budget and providing services at prices which a customer can afford.
Source: 2018 New Jersey Senate campaign website pezzullo.com
Jan 1, 2018
Rik Mehta:
Supports a balanced budget amendment
Rik supports a balanced budget amendment because the federal government needs to live within its means, just like American families, seniors, and small businesses do each and every day. In the Senate, Rik would vote to make the
Trump individual tax cuts permanent and vote to raise or eliminate the current $10,000 SALT cap to alleviate pressure on New Jersey homeowners who--thanks to Trenton Democrats--pay the highest state and local taxes in the nation.
Source: 2020 New Jersey Senate campaign website RikForNJ.com
Mar 18, 2020
Seth Kaper-Dale:
Create state bank to invest in economy
The idea of a public bank is that the capital investments made by the people of New Jersey to the state, stay in the state. The mission for the NJ state bank will likely include loans to counties and municipalities for
infrastructure projects, buying out mortgages of homes in contested processes of foreclosure and providing low interest loans to NJ university students to make higher education affordable.
Source: 2018 New Jersey Governor website KaperDaleForGovernor.com
Aug 8, 2017
Doug Steinhardt:
Will stand up against runaway liberal spending
Joe Biden and Phil Murphy spend taxpayer dollars like they're going out of style! That means we carry the burden of out-of-control taxes and higher prices on everyday goods. In LD23, we know how to spend within our means and we make tough choices when
we need to make them. As your Senator, Doug will always stand up against higher taxes and runaway liberal spending to make New Jersey an affordable place to live and raise a family.
Source: 2021 New Jersey State Senate website Steinhardt4Senate.com
Oct 4, 2022
Andy Kim:
Mitigate risk of recurring damage due to extreme weather
- Supported reforming the National Flood Insurance Program to protect New Jersey homeowners from unreasonably high rate increases; and
- Passed legislation into law to make our roads and
infrastructure more resilient and mitigate the risk of recurring damage due to extreme weather as a part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Source: 2024 New Jersey Senate campaign website Kim.House.gov
Sep 26, 2023
Curtis Bashaw:
Cut reckless and wasteful spending to bring inflation down
Inflation is rising faster than wages are growing, so every month New Jerseyans have less money to buy groceries, gas, or save for the future. Home ownership is becoming nearly impossible for young families. These prices are painful for
Americans who are trying to provide the basics for their families and save for college and retirement. We need to cut reckless and wasteful spending to bring inflation down and lower the cost of living for hard-working Americans.
Source: 2024 New Jersey campaign website CurtisBashawForSenate.com
Oct 7, 2024
Mikie Sherrill:
Provide financing to repurpose infrastructure for housing
I will work to provide financing and assistance to municipalities to help them repurpose underutilized infrastructure, like converting commercial buildings into housing units.
By supporting new housing and redevelopment, municipalities can boost their tax base without burdening homeowners with higher rates.
Source: 2025 New Jersey Governor campaign website MikieSherrill.com
Feb 28, 2025
Edward Durr:
Our Government has become too large
Our Government has become too large. They seem to have their hands in everything. We must remind them that they work for the people. I would like to see a reduction in Government and the State turned back over to the people.
There has been deals done without any oversight. Quid pro quo has been the standard in Trenton. Government is to help people live their lives, not a place where politicians can become rich.
Source: 2025 New Jersey Gubernatorial campaign website 3D4NJ.com
Mar 4, 2025
Jon Bramnick:
Overturn the recently enacted housing mandates
Overturn the recently enacted housing mandates passed by the legislature that will continue to overdevelop our communities, burdening the
infrastructure, crowding classrooms, and straining emergency services.
Source: 2025 New Jersey Gubernatorial site BramnickForGovernor.com
Mar 9, 2024
Mikie Sherrill:
I will tackle congestion and our aging infrastructure
New Jersey needs affordable, accessible public transportation that our families and commuters can rely on. As governor, I will tackle congestion and our aging infrastructure by investing in mass transit while maintaining and upgrading our roads and
rails. For every one dollar spent on infrastructure, we generate five dollars in economic activity. That is a great return on investment and an economic driver for our state and region.
Source: 2025 New Jersey Governor campaign website MikieSherrill.com
Feb 28, 2025
Stephen Sweeney:
State needs a stable and predictable funding process
For Sweeney, budget reform tops his list of priorities. He stressed the need to create a more stable and predictable funding process for programs and services across the state. "We've got to fix the budget process so it's reliable and predictable for
people," Sweeney explained. "We can't keep putting people on a yo-yo where they get funding one year and lose it the next. That's not how you build trust or deliver results."
Source: TAPinto on 2025 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Feb 11, 2025
Steve Fulop:
Ensure dedicated funding for Affordable Housing Trust Fund
The Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) was created to provide municipalities, for-profit, and nonprofit developers with financial assistance to encourage the development of affordable housing across the state.
As Governor, Fulop commits to ensuring dedicated funding for AHTF to develop housing for residents at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI), paying particular attention to providing housing for families earning below 50% AMI.
Source: 2025 New Jersey Governor campaign website StevenFulop.com
Feb 25, 2025
Cory Booker:
GOP is dismantling the protections of Americans' safety
What we are the party of is a party of protecting residents, protecting veterans, protecting first responders, protecting American safety from his illegal actions like shutting down FEMA. I mean, just think about that
for a second or shutting down something like NOAA in a time of outrageous weather patterns that are causing flooding and more hurricanes. They are dismantling the protections of Americans' safety.
Source: CNN SOTU 2025 interview on 2026 New Jersey Senate race
Feb 9, 2025
Cory Booker:
Republican budget cuts present moral threat to country
Hakeem Jeffries and Cory Booker, hosted hundreds of supporters at the Capitol in protest of Republicans' upcoming push to pass a budget reconciliation bill they hope will cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending. "That bill, we believe, presents one of the
greatest moral threats to our country that we've seen in terms of what it will do to providing food for the hungry, care for the elderly, services for the disabled, health care, health care for the sick and more," Booker said.
Source: NBC News, "Sit-in", on 2026 New Jersey Senate race
Apr 27, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 06, 2026