Governor Signs Bill Making New JerseyEnvironmental Fee Highest in Nation Legislation that more than doubles the tax rate on regulated emissions was signed into law by Governor McGreevey on July 1, one day after it was approved by the Legislature during a marathon Sunday session to vote on the state budget. The bill, S-1508 (Codey)/A-2506 (Cohen), would increase the rate from $35 per ton of regulated emissions to $85 per ton, giving New Jersey the highest such rate in the nation by $30 per ton. The bill also allows NJDEP to increase permit renewal fees to a $50,000 maximum.
This is a grossly unfair tax increase on pharmaceutical, auto manufacturing, petrol-chemical, utilities, and food processing facilities. New Jersey industries have reduced air pollution emissions by 75 percent, and New Jersey now ranks 34th in the nation in the amount of air pollution emissions from industry. The rate of compliance of New Jersey facilities is over 99.94 percent based on actual field inspection data.
Industry's successes in pollution prevention have not been matched by a proportional improvement in the management of the NJDEP Title V program, which regulates air pollution emissions. Staffing and fixed costs remain fixed at a level designed for four times the amount of pollution and two times the number of facilities that now exist. Managerial philosophy, procedures and rules are a carry over from a time when New Jersey was a national industrial giant.
NJBIA believes the answer to the present problem is not to blindly pour large amounts of additional taxes into this troubled program, but to demonstrate environmental and managerial leadership by dramatically changing the existing system. For more information, contact Jim Sinclair at ext. 236 or jsinclair@njbia.org.
McGreevey Executive Order Steers State Contracts to Unions-Governor James McGreevey issued an executive order requiring contractors supplying uniforms, apparel and footwear to state agencies to comply with a long list of new qualifications designed to steer contracts to union-only firms. Executive Order #20, issued on June 11, is the Administration's latest effort to give unions a virtual monopoly over state contracts at taxpayer expense. Executive order #20 also sets an ominous precedent that could eventually extend to vendors supplying other products and services to the state.
Under the executive order, a vendor cannot win a contract unless it:
- waives its right to resist a union drive to organize their workforce;
- recognizes a union automatically, waiving an election by employees, whenever a majority of workers sign cards indicating an "interest" in union representation;
- agrees to only layoff employees for cause, thereby eliminating layoffs due to economic conditions; and
- pays an hourly wage high enough to support a family of three, as determined by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Like project labor agreements, the Governor's executive order effectively shuts out competition from qualified nonunion bidders and hands hundreds of thousands of dollars in state contracts to union-only firms. The inevitable result is higher costs for New Jersey taxpayers. For more information, contact Jeff Stoller at ext. 209 or a href="mailto:jeffstoller@njbia.org">jeffstoller@njbia.org.NJBIA Forms Women Business Leaders Network-In an effort to encourage NJBIA's women business owners, top executives and business leaders to take a more active and visible role in Association and legislative activities, NJBIA has formed the Women Business Leaders Network. More than 20 women business owners and executives attended the inaugural meeting in Mount Laurel on July 10, and more than 125 women business leaders are scheduled to attend meetings on July 18 in Teaneck and July 25 in Jamesburg.
Women make up half of the workforce and are becoming an increasing percentage of the number of business owners and top executives of New Jersey companies. The network is aimed to ensure that women business leaders have their voices heard in Trenton on such key business issues as business taxes, health benefit costs and paid family leave. For more information on the network or to attend one of the meetings, contact Sara Bluhm at ext. 204 or sbluhm@njbia.org or Peggy McGough at ext 221 or pmcgough@njbia.org.
NEW JOBS Night at the Meadowlands, September 25-Sign-up now for the New Jersey Organization for a Better State "Night at the Meadowlands" fund-raiser. This premier NEW JOBS event will be held Wednesday, September 25, at the Pegasus Restaurant, Meadowlands Racetrack, in East Rutherford. This year, more than ever, it is important to support our probusiness legislators from across the state as well as probusiness candidates in the upcoming fall elections. Increased business taxes, paid family leave and onerous environmental regulations will result if the business community does not work to elect probusiness candidates. This great networking event will begin with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner and live racing at 7:00 p.m. The price is $200 per person. Tables of 10 are still available for $2,000. To register, call Sherry Esteves at 609-393-7707, ext. 219. To learn more about NEW JOBS, call Jim Sinclair at ext. 236 or jsinclair@njbia.org.
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