NJPP: Gov. Murphy’s Budget Makes Big Investments to Fund Pandemic Recovery

Earlier today, Governor Murphy unveiled his FY 2022 state budget. The proposal makes critical investments in public health, education, support for working families, and much more. In response to the budget address, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.

Brandon McKoy, President, NJPP:

“In the face of an ongoing public health crisis, the governor’s budget meets the needs of the moment with big investments in public health, housing, schools, and much more. These are the building blocks of strong communities and a strong economy, both during normal times and especially now during a pandemic.

“State government has an important role to play in New Jersey’s economic recovery, and Governor Murphy’s budget recognizes that reality. Learning the lessons of the past — specifically that investments made today will make the difference between a sluggish recovery and a strong one — the budget proposal rejects austerity and spending cuts that only served to fuel racial and economic disparities. Yes, the budget is supported in part by borrowing, but those funds are buffered by strong revenue collections that are being invested in smart, fiscally responsible areas with long-term benefits. This is a marked difference from budgets of the past that borrowed funds to simply support regressive tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected.

“While this budget has a lot in it to celebrate, it falls woefully short in one key area: it lacks pandemic relief for undocumented residents. This is a frustrating development that will harm our immigrant neighbors and loved ones who are suffering through the pandemic more than most. Immigrants are an integral part of New Jersey’s communities and economy, and while other states have prioritized critical pandemic relief, we continue to fail on this important front. We look forward to working with the Legislature to fix this in the final budget. It’s imperative that no one is left behind in New Jersey’s pandemic recovery.”