Laura Fortgang
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QUESTION 4: What should state government’s role in economic development be?
WHO WE ARE
It’s the responsibility of state government to protect and enhance the prosperity and well being of its residents. A thriving economy and good jobs close to home, are an essential part of that responsibility. I want New Jersey to be a GREAT place to do business and a GREAT place to work and raise a family.
Well cultivated business and government partnerships lead to progress that benefits everyone–projects in infrastructure, in brownfield development, job-training and other educational opportunities, community, arts, culture, and even health and wellness initiatives. Employers are attracted to a region for many reasons including bottom line questions and a lack of unreasonable restrictions of course, but also for an educated workforce, quality of life and quality of education for families, good healthcare and recreational opportunities, and possibly above all, access to one of the largest markets in the Western Hemisphere. New Jersey is ripe and always has been to be the incubator of industry and innovation in every generation. And when we invest in these strengths, we are investing in a positive cycle whereby our taxbase grows, our communities improve, and more employers and families choose to stay here or move here for all that New Jersey has to offer.
That’s the reality I see for us, but recently a cynical cycle has obstructed true growth in our state.
THE CURRENT SITUATION
Let’s be clear, corporate “tax” incentives as currently implemented are taxes that individuals and families pay to large companies who don’t in return pay much in taxes to the state. Behind these programs is a threat that employers won’t keep jobs in New Jersey or move to New Jersey unless tax payers pay up. For the last five years, pay up we did. In fact, in that time, New Jersey paid TWICE the national average per job under our incentive programs, any cap on payouts was eliminated–sky’s the limit on paying giant companies “incentives” to stay when more than 75% would have stayed without any extra payment at all. And these billions of our dollars were doled out without any effective oversight or accountability. In fact there is evidence of criminal fraud in how some applications were handled. On top of all this, many millions of dollars from this program have directly benefited a few individuals who were instrumental in creating and implementing it in the first place. Whatever their intentions were, the self-enrichment shows at minimum a conflict of interest that deeply undercuts the public’s trust in government. And yet, the majority of the current incumbents in Trenton voted to extend these initiatives. I think we were foolish to extend that program. I would not have voted to continue.
TURN THE PAGE
New Jersey can turn the page on that cynical cycle and we can start to do it this week by voting for solutions-oriented legislators on November 5th. We need evidence based programs with transparency and oversight, every time we spend a penny in state-government. When done right, what was “spending” becomes an INVESTMENT. For me the question will always be, what is the return for the people of New Jersey if we make this investment? What could we invest in with the hundreds of millions of dollars we are spending in a flawed incentive program? We could invest in job-training and higher education for a direct return on that investment. We can partner with job creators, our neighbors in NY and PA along with Federal partners to finally build a 21st century transportation system that would bring so much more commerce to New Jersey. And perhaps most importantly, we can be honest brokers again with the people’s money. With our money. I promise you, it is not too late to bring more integrity to Trenton and swing the power balance in favor of New Jersey’s residents.
Since getting involved in state politics and government 3 years ago, I have met so many wonderful people deeply committed to public service. Some are elected representatives, some work in agencies or think tanks, some are labor leaders or business owners trying to make their state a better place for families. These servant leaders push back every single day against corruption and damaging policies based on ideology instead of solutions. I look forward to joining them in January as a representative of the 26th district in the New Jersey General Assembly.
VOTE NOVEMBER 5th
Thank you to the editor of this publication for the opportunity to address important questions in state government these past few weeks. Please consider the answers of all the candidates, as well as the candidate who has refused to answer, and vote for the two who will best serve you and your family. I hope I will be one. Thank you.
