The release of the Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup recommendations is an important step in creating a better economic future for New Jersey.
While we need time to digest and fully analyze many of the specific recommendations, the most important accomplishment of the workgroup is that it points us in the direction that the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce has long advocated - toward a more economically competitive and affordable New Jersey.
Many of the long-term and systemic economic problems the workgroup identifies will be tough to solve and will require sacrifices and compromises on all sides. We need to fully vet the recommendations with all involved parties so everyone understands the direct impact and the unintended consequences that could result from them.
The recommendations that emerge from this debate should be incorporated into an Economic Master Plan that the N.J. Chamber of Commerce believes New Jersey needs to achieve long term economic growth and vitality.
I have had the privilege of working with many of the members of the workgroup on tax reform and on the Transportation Trust Fund and I know the quality of their work and the value of their insight. They all have the best interest of New Jersey in mind and that certainly shows in the work they have done here.
Further, I want to congratulate and thank Senate President Steve Sweeney, Sen. Paul Sarlo, Sen. Steven Oroho and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald for their work on this initiative. We all hope that the bipartisan spirit in which this workgroup was supported will continue as we look to move forward with its recommendations.