South Jersey Senators Reaction to Governor’s Veto of a Bill to Protect Interstate Tax Agreements

TRENTON – Senator Jim Beach, Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Senator Troy Singleton and Senator Jeff Van Drew issued the following statements on the Governor’s veto to Senate bill 878 which restricts authority to terminate reciprocal personal income tax agreements with other states:

“I am extremely frustrated with the Governor’s decision to veto this piece of legislation,” said Senator Beach (D-Burlington/Camden).  “For the last 40 years, many of South Jersey’s residents have benefited from the reciprocal agreement with Pennsylvania and we must ensure no governor can end that agreement on a whim.”

“There are many South Jersey residents that work in Philadelphia and many Philadelphia residents that work in South Jersey,” said Senator Cruz-Perez (D-Camden/Gloucester).  “Governor Murphy’s conditional veto of legislation restricting the authority to terminate the Reciprocal Personal Income Tax Agreement is not in the best interest of the people, it is not good for our businesses and it is bad for South Jersey overall.”

“The Governor’s decision to veto the reciprocal agreement legislation is disappointing, and flat out unfair to those living in South Jersey and working across the river,” said Senator Singleton (D-Burlington).  “Many of my constituents commute to work to Pennsylvania and depend upon the two states having a stable economic relationship.  This decision will undoubtedly be detrimental to them.”

“New Jersey’s residents and businesses have greatly benefited from the Reciprocal Income Tax Agreement since its inception in 1977,” said Senator Van Drew (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland).  “We have experienced the threat of this agreement coming to an end by a past administration, and it is in our best interest to ensure those benefiting from this agreement, whether in state or out-of-state, have the confidence in knowing that this agreement will be here.  The Governor’s conditional veto of legislation restricting the authority to terminate the Reciprocal Personal Income Tax Agreement does not spread the confidence needed to best serve New Jersey.”