Sweeney Addresses SJ Chamber on Need for Fiscal Reforms

Emphasizes Recommendations of ‘Path to Progress’ In Discussion with Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey

MOUNT LAUREL – Continuing to advocate for the fiscal and economic reforms needed to avert looming financial crises, Senate President Steve Sweeney met with the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey for its forum “Meet the Policymakers” today where he emphasized the importance of the recommendations of the Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup, the blue ribbon panel that has proposed a range of cost-saving reforms.

Senator Sweeney spoke about how the “Path to Progress” report issued by the 25-member study group provides a working blueprint to achieve the operational and structural reforms needed to restore financial stability and affordable government.

“Over the past few months, we have been working hard to spread the word on the various proposed reforms and recommendations the workgroup has provided us to restore New Jersey’s economic health,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “The Path to Progress report lays out the fiscal and structural reforms needed to avert financial problems and provide the resources to invest in future growth and opportunity.”

The discussion included proposals to address soaring pension and benefit costs, hold down property taxes, make government and school districts more efficient, assess the efficiency of our tax structure and leverage state assets. The forum offers the opportunity for those hearing the recommendations to provide input, which is one of the primary goals of the meetings Senator Sweeney and other members of the study group have had with groups across the state.

“Having Senator Sweeney here today to discuss the Path to Progress report with the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey has provided valuable insight and produced constructive dialogue,” said Debra P. DiLorenzo, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey. “The opportunity to ask questions and discuss some of the challenges we currently face to Senator Sweeney resulted in optimism for the future.”

The Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup held its initial organizational meeting on January 30, 2018. Over the course of six months, the Workgroup held meetings that included presentations by policy experts on critical issues and robust discussion of the pros and cons of potential solutions. The Workgroup issued its report and recommendations on August 9, 2018.