TRENTON, N.J. – Is Governor Phil Murphy out of touch?
On the eve of his first-ever ‘State of the State’ address, on leading business group believes that’s the case.
_
“Gov. Murphy wants to grow government and previously proposed a big tax increase, so we worry about what taxes or fees he will try to hike this year,” said Laurie Ehlbeck, state director of The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in New Jersey. “Right now New Jersey has some of the highest property taxes in the country and was ranked rock bottom among states for overall tax burden. The problem is that when small businesses can’t anticipate their costs they don’t thrive, and they don’t hire…”
“The piling on of labor mandates can also be costly and tie the hands of small businesses,” added Ehlbeck. “The Governor’s stated desire to quickly raise the minimum wage to $15 will be very tough for many restaurants and other small businesses hiring entry-level or unskilled workers. The economic reality is that if the business has slim profits and can’t raise prices because customers won’t pay, a small business owner may be forced to cut hours or eliminate jobs. That actually hurts people seeking a first job.”
“It seems as though the Governor’s financial background at Goldman Sachs leaves him with little understanding of the everyday challenges entrepreneurs face all over New Jersey,” said Ehlbeck. “Perhaps if he were in their shoes he would try to make the Garden State more business-friendly, which would improve the economy and stop all the people who are leaving for other states in droves.”
_
Murphy’s elitist orientation is further evidenced by his obsession with niche/fringe ‘social justice’ issues as well as his ‘let them eat cake attitude’ clearly evidenced by his decision to hide during a botched storm response at a swanky restaurant and, most infamously, his apparent decision to ignore the plight of alleged rape victim Katie Brennan.
_
