Jon Whiten

Jon Whiten was formerly the Vice President for NJPP. In this role, he worked with the Board and leadership team to shape and execute NJPP's mission and strategic vision. He also led NJPP’s strategic communications efforts, managed its finances and operations, researched key economic justice issues and engaged in advocacy and outreach. Jon's research interests include but aren't limited to: economic development, corporate taxes, the minimum wage, working family tax credits and transportation. Before joining NJPP in October 2011, Jon worked for a decade as an editor, writer and entrepreneur, including as the founding editor and publisher of the Jersey City Independent. He has previously served as an editor for the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, a fact-checker for Columbia Journalism Review and an assistant editor at a community newspaper chain in Northern Virginia. His freelance work has been published in a number of national and local publications. Jon currently serves as the Deputy Director of State Communications at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Follow Jon on Twitter

Latest Transportation Funding Proposal Fails the ‘Fairness’ Test

April 25, 2016 • Tax and Budget
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to securing funding for critical improvements and modernization of our roads, bridges, train lines and other transportation assets.

Reality Check: David Tepper’s Move Will Hardly ‘Destroy’ New Jersey’s Budget

April 13, 2016 • Tax and Budget
The modest but important impact that Tepper’s move will have on New Jersey’s budget is being used by opponents of a common sense tax structure as an example of why the state should move away from taxes being based largely on the ability to pay.

Raising New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour Would Boost a Large and Diverse Group of Working Men and Women

March 23, 2016 • Economic Justice
Increasing New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021 would directly boost the pay of about 1 in 4 Garden State workers, or 975,000 men and women.

Closing Digital Divide Could Promote Economic Opportunity in New Jersey

March 22, 2016 • Economic Justice
Nearly 300,000 New Jerseyans are estimated to lack access to broadband service, particularly in rural parts of the state, hampering their ability to fully participate in the state’s economy.

New Jersey Has Lost its Wealthiest Resident But That Doesn’t Change the Facts About Wealth and Taxes

March 17, 2016 • Tax and Budget
While New Jersey may lose some wealthy residents in any given year, such as Mr. Tepper, the so-called “exodus” of wealth is a manufactured crisis.

Increasing New Jersey’s EITC to 40 Percent Would Make Tax Structure More Equitable

March 9, 2016 • Tax and Budget
If policymakers increase the EITC to 40 percent, New Jersey's poorest households would still pay the largest share of their incomes towards taxes, but not by nearly as much.

More Riders, Less Investment: A Blueprint for Failure on Public Transit in New Jersey

March 4, 2016
Despite transit’s clear benefit to New Jersey, the state has systematically shirked its responsibility to invest the dollars necessary to create a world-class public transit system that is reliable and affordable.

New Jersey’s Investment in Infrastructure is Fifth Lowest in Nation

February 25, 2016 • Tax and Budget
New Jersey’s investment in all types of capital improvements has also been declining, from 1.76 percent of the state’s economy in 2004 to 1.4 percent in 2013.

Four Key Fixes for New Jersey’s Tax Subsidy Programs Highlighted in New National Report

February 18, 2016 • Tax and Budget
Regularly forecasting budget impact, limiting annual spending, putting subsidies in the state budget and restricting corporations' ability to redeem more in credits than they owe in taxes are common-sense reforms desperately needed in the Garden State.

Budget Address Lacks Transportation Plan, Doubles Down on Cutting Taxes on Inherited Wealth

February 16, 2016 • Tax and Budget
The governor is holding out his proposed fix on transportation, apparently, until he can secure big tax cuts for New Jersey’s wealthiest families. But trading a gas tax hike for the elimination of the estate tax has absolutely no resemblance to “tax fairness.”