On Friday, members of For The Many NJ sent an open letter to Governor Murphy, Senate President Scutari, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, and members of the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees calling for the extension of the Corporate Business Tax surcharge.
“This is exactly the wrong time to be giving the most profitable corporations a $600 million tax cut. Such a gift for corporations and their shareholders takes away resources from our schools and infrastructure and undermines funding for areas that promote opportunity for all,” the letter states.
The Corporate Business Tax surcharge is a 2.5 percent tax on corporate profits exceeding $1 million. The surcharge is paid by the top 2 percent of the wealthiest corporations operating in the state, including multi-state corporations like Amazon and Walmart that make profits in New Jersey but are not headquartered here. The tax cut is estimated to cost the state at least $600 million annually.
“The wealthiest 2 percent of businesses should be paying more, not getting a tax cut when everyday New Jerseyans are struggling,” the letter continues. “We keep hearing about kitchen-table issues and middle-class New Jerseyans. How will corporate tax cuts help them?”
The letter was signed by 28 organizations and labor unions, including: New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, ACLU of New Jersey, Latino Action Network, 32BJ SEIU, CWA, and the New Jersey Education Association.
The letter calls for lawmakers to extend the Corporate Business Tax surcharge so the state can continue investing in the programs that make New Jersey an engine of economic growth and opportunity.
A copy of the letter can be read here.
