WEST ORANGE - "People are really struggling."

That's what Josh Gottheimer said at the beginning of his comments Friday morning at the First Mountain Preschool.

Before reading to students, the CD-5 congressman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said he aims to fix that.

New Jersey, by any measure, is an expensive state.

Republicans have long talked about the state's "unaffordability"  In this election cycle, at least, many of the six Democratic candidates for governor are doing the same.

Gottheimer touted a "Lower Costs Plan."

He said a preschool was the perfect setting because preschool and child care costs are "just too expensive."

As governor, Gottheimer said he would double the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000 and make pre-K and the school breakfast and lunch program universal.

Housing is another problem.

He said the state needs more housing, which in itself could lower, or at least stabilize, the overall cost of new houses for families.

One of the problems, he said, is an approval process that can take time - and then, more time. Local planning and zoning boards have control of local development and Gottheimer wants to offer incentives and regulatory changes to accelerate that process.

Moving onto rising utility bills, Gottheimer said, generally speaking, that we need more of everything. That means solar, wind and nuclear.

He said producing more energy in New Jersey means the state would no longer need to buy energy generated by coal-fired plants in West Virginia.

"That's the dirtiest energy on the planet," he said.

The congressman also talked about lowering health costs by making sure drug prices are as low as they can be and by promoting better care.

He also wants the state to produce more food, pointing out that his district includes the farmlands of Sussex County.

A Democratic event would not be complete these days without a Donald Trump mention.

Gottheimer faulted the president's recent address to Congress for saying nothing about lowering costs or restoring the SALT deduction, which Trump seemed to endorse during the transition period.

That makes it imperative for a governor to act.
Gottheimer previously announced plans to reduce both property and income taxes.

Combined with his proposals unveiled today, this seems like an awfully large lift.

And the congressman acknowledged there will be naysayers who will say his plans are impossible.

"I won't accept that," Gottheimer said, contending that of all the candidates in the race, he has presented the most detailed plans on making New Jersey less costly.