Category: Friday Facts and Figures

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 868,541 | Deaths: 22,690
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

New Blueprint *and* Index!

This was a big week at NJPP as we introduced two landmark publications: the Blueprint to Secure a Just Recovery and the State of Opportunity Index. Created in close collaboration with dozens of partners, the Blueprint includes 65 policy recommendations to usher in a pandemic recovery that centers equity and justice for all. The Index is a new, interactive tool that measures how residents are doing in their communities across eight categories: Economic Security, Education, Employment and Earnings, Health, Housing, Immigrants, Police Use of Force, and Transportation. Taken together, these new tools highlight how New Jersey residents are faring and where targeted policy solutions are necessary. Read more about the Index and Blueprint by clicking the link; they are also easily available under the “Publications” drop-down menu on the NJPP homepage. [NJPP]

Budget Calculator

Speaking of interactive tools, the folks at NJ Spotlight News have unveiled a new budget calculator where you can attempt to balance the state budget based on your policy priorities. Want to end the sales tax cut on yacht purchases? Here’s your chance! Our takeaway from this tool: funding a pandemic recovery for all — with money left over for a healthy reserve fund — is easy once you end Christie-era tax cuts. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer and Colleen O’Dea]

9.3 Million

In a new op-ed, NJPP President Brandon McKoy outlines how pandemic relief has proven successful at keeping families out of poverty — as long as they qualify to receive it. By excluding undocumented immigrants from relief, federal lawmakers have left 9.3 million residents across the country behind simply because of their status. “This not only harms those families — who already were more likely to catch COVID-19 or lose their job because of it — but all of us.” It’s time for state lawmakers to fill in the gaps left by the federal government and provide relief to undocumented families. [NJ Spotlight News / Brandon McKoy]

Two-Thirds

There is no such thing as race-neutral tax policy. Case in point: Repealing the cap on state and federal tax (SALT) deductions would not only disproportionately benefit wealthy residents, but widen the racial wealth gap, according to a new study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). How? Repealing the SALT cap would favor taxpayers with higher incomes and those who own valuable property — and these taxpayers are disproportionately white. If repealed, two-thirds of the tax benefits would go to white families earning more than $200,000 per year, while a mere 5.1 percent of the benefit would go to Black households at the same income threshold. [Forbes / Sarah Hansen]

12 Million

Some good news in the fight against food insecurity: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended its universal free school lunch program through the end of the 2021-2022 school year. The program, which was set to expire in September, allows all children to eat free — and not just during the lunch hour. The waivers cover meals outside of traditional mealtimes as well as boxed meals that parents can pick up for children attending school virtually. In total, the program is estimated to benefit 12 million children across the country. [The Washington Post / Laura Reiley]

ICYMI

Progress 2021 is right around the corner! Register now for the first event in our virtual speaker series, Meeting the Moment, featuring Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Governor Phil Murphy. [NJPP / Progress 2021]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Rosie, co-working pup of Mara Novak, Co-Executive Director at NJ 11th for Change. Rosie is a 5-year-old rescue pup. She’s originally from Tijuana, which may explain why she’s not a fan of snow or cold weather. She is super shy, but is fond of ferry rides and her purple octopus (Mara did not specify if this is a toy octopus or another pet we’ll have to feature here). Woof!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 848,566 | Deaths: 22,461
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

1 in 3

New Jersey just hit a big vaccine milestone: More than 2.3 million people — representing more than one in three adults — are now fully vaccinated! This number should continue to climb as more than half of adults in the state have received at least one dose. State officials are aiming to vaccinate 70 percent of adults by the end of June and, on Monday, vaccine eligibility will expand to include anyone 16 or older. Racial inequities persist in vaccine rollout, however, with a mere 15 percent of administered doses having gone to Black or Hispanic/Latinx residents. [NJ.com / Matt Arco]

13

In a powerful editorial, the Star-Ledger has come out in support of providing pandemic relief to undocumented residents who have gone 13 months without relief. The Editorial Board notes that a recovery for all is not only the moral thing to do — especially considering undocumented immigrants were disproportionately harmed by the pandemic — but the fair thing to do. “There are an estimated 460,000 undocumented immigrants in Jersey, and our economy depends on them, especially now. They pay $600 million in taxes each year to the state. They have contributed $1.3 billion in payroll tax over the last decade.” [NJ.com / Star-Ledger Editorial Board]

9 of 10

Earlier this week, Governor Murphy announced new financial assistance for residents enrolling in the state’s health care exchange, GetCoveredNJ. Nine out of 10 residents enrolling in the marketplace will now qualify for assistance thanks to additional funding from the state and the federal American Rescue Plan. The new subsidies will also help middle-income families as the income threshold has been increased to 600 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, or those earning up to $76,560 for an individual and $157,200 for a family of four. [State of New Jersey / Office of the Governor]

$6 Billion

New Jersey is projected to have a $6 billion surplus this year — but it’s unlikely that any of those funds will make it into the state’s “Rainy Day Fund” as Governor Murphy plans on draining the account next year. Without a robust reserve fund, New Jersey will remain especially vulnerable to future economic downturns. This is precisely why the state had to borrow billions of dollars last year at the height of the pandemic, as the “Rany Day Fund” was left empty for over a decade after the Great Recession. “We do have an opportunity to continue building that emergency savings account, and we should,” said NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson. “It has to be a priority.” [NorthJersey.com / Stacey Barchenger]

$40,000

In a new op-ed calling for student loan debt forgiveness, Caroline Barcia and Lily Antonowicz of the NJ Anti-Poverty Network outline how high debt loads make it difficult for young adults to make ends meet and fully participate in the economy. In total, more than 43 million student borrowers owe an average of $40,000 in student loan debt, according to the latest federal data. “This is not simply a matter of less expendable income for borrowers,” write Caroline and Lily. “The financial hardships of student loan repayment hold people back from starting their lives, and force people to choose between essential needs.” [NorthJersey.com / Caroline Barcia and Lily Antonowicz]

ICYMI

Interested in meeting Eddie Glaude, Jr.? Here’s your chance! Sponsors for NJPP’s virtual speaker series will receive access to exclusive green room meet and greets with Progress 2021 keynote speakers … including Dr. Glaude. Learn more about sponsoring Progress 2021 by clicking the link. [NJPP / Progress 2021 Sponsorships]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Max, co-working pup of Julie Borst of Save of Schools NJ. Max is about to turn 2-years-old. He’s a “retired” racer who never raced. He is extremely chill (how fitting that he’s surrounded by snow in this photo) and spends most of his days sleeping. He loves going on walks and his favorite treat is a frozen Kong filled with peanut butter and applesauce. He also loves to give “hugs” (read: pretends he’s a lap dog) and will do anything for a belly rub. Julie’s daughter makes sure he’s smartly dressed in bandanas and sweaters when it’s cold. Woof!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 834,182 | Deaths: 22,286
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$2.1 Billion

Big news from our neighbors to the north: Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York Legislature have agreed to provide pandemic relief to immigrant workers! The $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund is expected to benefit approximately 290,000 workers who were excluded from receiving federal stimulus payments. The program creates two levels of aid. Tier 1 provides $15,600 (the equivalent of $300 per week for one year) for eligible undocumented workers who lost their job during the pandemic; workers who do not qualify for Tier 1 will instead receive $3,200, equal to the three rounds of stimulus checks that most Americans received over the last year. As NJPP Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi writes here, this law should act as a roadmap for New Jersey, as state lawmakers have yet to provide immigrant workers with pandemic relief. [NJPP / Vineeta Kapahi]

Hunger Strike

Earlier this week, undocumented workers across New Jersey launched a hunger strike to protest 13 months without federal or state pandemic relief. Protesters are calling on Governor Murphy and state lawmakers to stop leaving immigrant workers behind in the state’s pandemic recovery and, instead, follow the lead of states like New York, New Mexico, Illinois, and California by creating programs to support immigrant families. “This is sending a message — people who have been hungry for over a year are willing to do this and go without food for multiple days to show how much this is a life or death situation without relief,” said Sara Cullinane, Director of Make the Road New Jersey. [NJ.com / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

320-to-1

As many workers struggle to make ends meet during the pandemic, advocates and federal lawmakers alike are shifting their focus to the ever-increasing CEO-to-worker pay gap. In 2019, the average pay ratio of corporate CEOs and their workers was 320-to-1, up from 61-to-1 in 1989. This report by NBC News highlights how, during the pandemic, large companies changed compensation policies to further boost CEO pay while low-paid essential workers received little or no increase. In one instance, a hospital network CEO saw his total compensation rise 13 percent to $30.4 million while essential workers made less than $15 an hour. To rein in this runaway inequality, Senators Sanders (D-VT), Warren (D-MA), and Markey (D-MA) introduced the “Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act,” which would penalize companies that pay CEOs 50 times more than their average worker. [NBC News / Gretchen Morgenson]

44 Percent 

On Tuesday, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal unveiled a new, interactive dashboard detailing every use of force by police officers across the state. The dataset shows that police are more likely to use force on people of color than anyone else; since last year, officers reported using force on Black people 2,434 times, representing more than 44 percent of all force despite Black residents making up less than 20 percent of the state’s population. “We are committed to making New Jersey a national leader on policing reform, and our Use of Force Dashboard is a central piece of that effort,” state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. The portal is modeled after NJ Advance Media’s The Force Report, a 2018 report that found stark racial disparities in how police officers use force. [NJ.com / Blake Nelson, S.P. Sullivan, and Nick Devlin]

$4.3 Billion

In this week’s budget hearings, lawmakers questioned Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio on the state’s decision to borrow $4.3 billion last year to balance the budget during the height of the pandemic. The treasurer, as well as Governor Murphy, have defended the decision saying there was no other choice — and they’re right. At the time, no one knew how long the pandemic would last, when vaccines would be developed and deployed, or whether the federal government would step in and provide states with much-needed aid. The only other choice was severe cuts to state programs and the safety net, which would have caused unnecessary hardship for millions while slowing the state’s ultimate recovery. Further, any conversation about borrowing is incomplete without mentioning the state’s total lack of a Rainy Day Fund. As many of you probably know, NJPP has sounded the alarm for years, warning lawmakers that the state would be unprepared for the next recession without sufficient reserves. [NJ.com / Samantha Marcus]

ICYMI 

Infrastructure week is finally here — and it could include some progressive taxes on the nation’s biggest corporations! President Joe Biden has a new corporate tax plan to help pay for his infrastructure priorities. Reforms include: raising the corporate tax rate from 21 to 28 percent, closing offshore tax loopholes, and reining in corporate tax breaks. Read more here, via ITEP. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy / Steve Wamhoff]

Act Now!

New Jersey can and should provide pandemic relief to immigrant workers — it’s not only the moral thing to do, but smart economic policy. Show support for the immigrant workers fasting for relief by emailing your lawmakers in support of a #Recovery4All via Make the Road New Jersey. [Make the Road New Jersey / Act Now!]

Pets of NJPP

Sorry, there’s no pet this week. If you have a furry (or scaly or feathery) friend that you would like featured, please send me a high-resolution photo and some fun facts at dipaolo@njpp.org. Thank you!  

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 807,970 | Deaths: 22,047
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$0

As federal lawmakers look to claw back the 2017 Trump tax cuts, a new report highlights just how much the federal tax code is tilted to benefit big corporations. In 2020, at least 55 of the largest U.S. corporations paid zero dollars in federal income taxes despite billions of dollars in profits. These corporations — including household names like Nike, FedEx, and HP — collectively brought in $40.5 billion in pretax income in 2020. Instead of paying $8.5 billion in taxes, as these companies should have, they collected a whopping $3.5 billion in tax rebates. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy / Matthew Gardner and Steve Wamhoff]

$0.14

In response to Georgia’s new voter suppression law, Governor Murphy is calling on film production companies to relocate to New Jersey and take advantage of the state’s film tax credit program. The problem? Film tax credits are one of the worst investments a state can make. Case in point: a new study out of Massachusetts found that their film tax credit program only brought in $0.14 for every dollar spent. “Of course companies should rethink their priorities in light of Georgia’s restrictive voting laws,” said NJPP President Brandon McKoy. “But New Jersey would be smart to avoid this race to the bottom.” [NorthJersey.com / Dustin Racioppi]

Voting Rights

As states across the country look to suppress voting rights, New Jersey is taking big steps to increase access to the polls. Earlier this week, Governor Murphy signed early voting legislation into law, paving the way for in-person early voting 10 days before this year’s general election. This is a great policy, for sure, but New Jersey is still far from a healthy democracy. “Any expansion of the voting process is great. But we have a cancer at the heart of our democracy right now with the county line ballot,” said NJPP Trustee Julia Sass Rubin, a Rutgers University professor. Until New Jersey abolishes the line, party insiders — not voters — will continue to determine who wins primary elections. [Politico / Matt Friedman]

72 Percent 

A new poll finds that an overwhelming majority of New Jersey voters — 72 percent — support the Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA). The RFA would not only codify Roe v. Wade in state law, but expand access to reproductive health services by removing financial barriers to birth control, abortion, and pregnancy care. Despite New Jersey’s record of supporting reproductive freedom, the RFA has yet to receive a hearing in the Legislature. Read the polling memo and findings by clicking on the link. [National Institute for Reproductive Health]

$0.19

Electric buses would help combat climate change, make our communities healthier, and result in big savings for the state, according to a new NJPP report by 2020 Crotty Fellow Nausheen Rajan. The report finds that electric buses cost far less to maintain and fuel when compared to NJ Transit’s current diesel bus fleet. The state currently pays $2.81 per mile to fuel diesel buses; electric buses would only cost $0.19 per mile in fuel costs. “Transitioning from diesel to electric buses is a common-sense, cost-effective approach to combating climate change,” said Nausheen Rajan. [NJ Spotlight News / Jon Hurdle]

Save the Date! 

We are thrilled to announce the first event in NJPP’s Progress 2021 virtual speaker series: Meeting the Moment, featuring Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.! This conversation between NJPP President Brandon McKoy and New York Times Bestselling Author Eddie Glaude will explore ways to center racial equity in the nation’s pandemic recovery. Registration opens next week, so stay tuned for another email. If you or your organization is interested in sponsoring, click the link for more info. [NJPP / Progress 2021 Sponsorships]

ICYMI

Want to learn more about the roadmap to bus electrification? You’re in luck! On Monday, Nausheen Rajan will join Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and representatives from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and Rocky Mountain Institute to talk about electrifying NJ Transit’s bus fleet. Click the link to register. [Environment NJ / Register Now!]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Dolly Parton, one-year-old rescue mutt and co-working pup of Amy Torres, Executive Director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. Dolly likes eating loudly during conference calls and barking during public testimony. Woof! 

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 777,521 | Deaths: 21,795
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

9

New Jersey is one step away from enacting early voting! On Thursday, the Senate passed S3203 by a 28-8 vote, sending the proposal to Governor Murphy’s desk. The bill would require each county to open between three and seven polling places for nine days, including weekends, prior to general elections. This stands in stark contrast to efforts in other states, namely Georgia, to pass voter suppression laws. “There are few rights more important than a citizen’s ability to vote,” said Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex), a longtime sponsor of early-voting legislation. “Passing early voting and implementing electronic poll books will ensure our fundamental right to have our voices heard.” [NJ Spotlight News / Colleen O’Dea]

15,000

On Wednesday, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice unveiled a new policy platform to make the state fairer and more welcoming for immigrants and their families. The platform calls for: banning new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention contracts; making public places like schools and hospitals safer and their data more secure; strengthening the Immigrant Trust Directive and making it permanent; and removing harmful terms like “alien” from state language. The campaign launch coincided with the release of new research by NJPP Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi which found that more than 15,000 immigrants have been ordered deported in New Jersey over the last five years. [NJ 101.5 / Michael Symons]

74 Percent

As the 50 year anniversary of the War on Drugs approaches, advocates across the state are calling on lawmakers to follow Oregon’s lead by decriminalizing all drugs and treating substance use as an issue of public health. Rooted in racism, the drug war has not met any of its stated goals; it has not reduced drug use, limited drug supply, nor has it kept people who use drugs or their communities safe. Instead, it has deepened racial inequities, as Black residents make up 74 percent of those imprisoned for drug use even though Black and white residents use drugs at similar rates. “There is a throughline between slavery, the failure of Reconstruction, through redlining to the chain gangs, all the way to the drug war,” said the Rev. Charles Boyer, a member of Abolish the Drug War coalition and Director of Salvation and Social Justice. “It’s critically important that we see it that way, that we see it as a moral issue and see people in full humanity.” [NorthJersey.com / Dustin Racioppi]

First

Earlier this week, the city of Evanston, Illinois approved a first-of-its-kind reparations program for Black residents. The policy is meant to help close the racial wealth gap and provide restitution for the harms of slavery and racist housing policies. The program, which could act as a model for states like New Jersey, will grant qualifying households with up to $25,000 for down payments or home repairs; the initiative is funded by revenue from the city’s tax on recreational cannabis. Spearheaded by Alderwoman Robin Rue Simmons, the new policy was guided by a historical report on city policies and practices that impacted Black residents over the last century.”The strongest case for reparations by the City of Evanston is in the area of housing, where there is sufficient evidence showing the City’s part in housing discrimination as a result of early City zoning ordinances in place between 1919 and 1969 when the City banned housing discrimination,” city officials wrote. [NPR / Rachel Treisman]

June

Great news for commuters: the Biden administration is moving ahead on approving the Gateway Tunnel. In a House Transportation Committee hearing on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg underscored the importance of the project and the consequences of inaction on the nation’s economy. After years of delays and inaction under the Trump administration, the Department of Transportation now hopes to complete the project’s environmental impact statement by the end of June. [NJ.com / Jonathan D. Salant]

Act Now!

Act now to urge your lawmakers to support New Jersey’s immigrant communities with policies that are fair, humane, and reflect our values of inclusion and respect for human dignity. This action alert lifts up the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice’s new Fair and Welcoming Platform. [New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice]

ICYMI

On Thursday, frontline workers and advocates from across the state called for a state budget that meets the needs of the moment and funds New Jersey’s pandemic recovery. If you missed the virtual roundtable, you can watch a recording by clicking the link. [For The Many NJ / Facebook Live]

Pets of NJPP

Last week you met Lucky, now meet his dog brother Bear! Like Lucky, Bear is also a rescue dog — he’s also really big. Bear can be a bit jealous and possessive, but he’s a good boy nonetheless. In addition to play fighting and snuggling up with his brother, Bear likes walking around “The Island” in Trenton with the other neighborhood pups. Woof! 

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 754,817 | Deaths: 21,561
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

293

Not sure who needs to hear this, but the pandemic still isn’t over yet. Not by a long shot. Case in point: New Jersey now has the highest rate of new COVID-19 cases in the nation at 293 new cases per 100,000 people. This is more than double the national average of 113, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials believe the recent spike in cases is caused by highly contagious variants of the coronavirus. So, while vaccines are more available and restrictions are slowly being lifted, please continue to social distance, wear a mask, and wash your hands. [NorthJersey.com / Scott Fallon]

100,000

The American Rescue Plan is much more than $1,400 stimulus checks — it also includes the biggest expansion to health coverage since the Affordable Care Act. The law will make health insurance more affordable and accessible to those currently without coverage; it will also provide tax credits to low- and moderate-income families who already purchased coverage for 2021 on the state health exchange. In total, the changes are expected to help 100,000 New Jersey uninsured residents get coverage, with an additional 14,000 low-income residents expected to receive enough assistance to bring their premiums down to $0. This is a big deal. [NorthJersey.com / Lindy Washburn]

65,000

On Thursday, the U.S. House voted to allow undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children to stay here and eventually become citizens. The bill provides the same protections as the DREAM Act, which was signed into law under the Obama administration; it also extends temporary protected status to immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti. In total, the bill would protect approximately 65,000 residents in New Jersey from deportation. “For far too long America’s dreamers have suffered under a cloud of fear and uncertainty,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell. “Our legislation will protect these young Americans and keep families together.”  [NJ.com / Jonathan D. Salant]

May 17

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has pushed back the deadline to file federal income taxes to May 17 in an effort to give taxpayers more time due to hardships caused by the pandemic. The state deadline is still April 15, but Senator Paul Sarlo has already introduced a bill to align the state’s deadline with that of the federal government. Last year, both the federal and state tax deadlines were extended due to the pandemic. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

323

The NJPP team is truly saddened by the tragic shootings in Georgia earlier this week and mourn the eight people whose lives were cut short by white supremacist, misogynist, anti-Asian violence. While we may want to think that this sort of hate has no home here in New Jersey, white supremacist propaganda has surged in the Garden State over the last year. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), New Jersey went from having only 12 incidents of reported hate propaganda in 2017 to 323 in 2020. “This exponential rise in hate serves to spread fear and to recruit even more people to the cause,” said Scott Richman of the ADL. “We must act quickly to push back against this tide with a whole-of-society approach.” [NorthJersey.com / Hannan Adely]

ICYMI

Advocates from across the state came together (virtually) earlier this week to call on the Legislature to pass the Reproductive Freedom Act. The bill, which would codify Roe v. Wade in state law and expand access to abortion care, has yet to receive a hearing. [NJ Spotlight News / Raven Santana]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Lucky, co-working pup of Dena Mottola Jaborska! Lucky is a four-year-old rescue pit bull mix who loves her brother Bear dearly (keep an eye out for Bear next week). Lucky and Bear spend lots of time together, mostly play fighting and napping. Lucky enjoys swimming in the Delaware River and walking the path in Stacey Park with his dad Pierre, the only Jaborska strong enough to walk him. Woof!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 732,560 | Deaths: 21,340
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$1.9 Trillion 

Big news this week: On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law. The $1.9 trillion relief bill will help the U.S. economy recover from the pandemic with direct relief payments, extended unemployment benefits, rental assistance, tax credits for workers and families, aid for state and local governments (more on that below), and so much more. These investments are targeted to those most harmed by the pandemic, recognizing that what’s best for workers and families is ultimately what’s best for the economy. Read this short report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for a breakdown of the law’s major provisions. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]

$10.2 Billion

New Jersey will finally receive some much-needed federal relief! The American Rescue Plan includes $10.2 billion for state and local governments in New Jersey to pay for COVID-related costs and make up for revenue shortfalls. Approximately $6.4 billion will go directly to the state, while county and municipal governments will receive $3.6 billion. This aid will help prevent drastic layoffs of teachers, firefighters, and other essential public employees, prevent cuts to critical services and safety net programs, and help people and small businesses who have been hit hardest by the pandemic and recession. [NorthJersey.com / Stacey Barchenger]

43 Percent

Among New Jersey’s young adults, Latino men are dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate than any other demographic group, according to new groundbreaking reporting by WNYC/Gothamist. While Latino men comprise only 12 percent of New Jersey’s young adult population, they account for 43 percent of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities among adults under 50 years old. As NJPP has previously reported, Latinos are overrepresented in the state’s essential workforce; they are also the least likely to have health insurance, as undocumented immigrants are excluded from most private and public health insurance programs. This article is a must-read, especially for folks still on the fence about whether undocumented immigrants should qualify for pandemic relief. [Gothamist / Karen Yi]

88,000

After the pandemic exposed some enormous gaps in New Jersey’s public health infrastructure, Governor Murphy’s budget proposal looks to close them by boosting health insurance enrollment, covering all kids, and staffing up the state Health Department. The budget includes $25 million to reduce monthly premiums in the individual market and $20 million to enroll the remaining 88,000 uninsured children in the state. The Cover All Kids initiative expands eligibility for NJ FamilyCare, the state’s Medicaid program, by raising the income threshold and opening up the program to all children regardless of their immigration status. “The proposal is a strong effort to meet the needs of the moment and help New Jersey recover from COVID,” said NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom-Trundy. [NorthJersey.com / Susan Livio]

$7.5 Trillion

With the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement budget down more than 20 percent since 2010, the federal government is projected to lose $7.5 trillion over the next decade from people cheating on their taxes. According to Chye-Ching Huang of the Tax Policy Center at NYU Law, “the wealthiest are the prime beneficiaries of the status quo.” The top 1 percent of filers account for at least 28 percent — and as much as 70 percent — of the gap between taxes owed and taxes paid. Restoring funding for the IRS would not only fix this problem but also pay for itself. [The New York Times / Chye-Ching Huang]

ICYMI

NJPP was pleased to join the New Jersey Hospital Association in launching the #ImaBigShot website to provide comprehensive vaccine information as eligibility expands to more residents. Vaccines are essential to ending the pandemic and having a strong recovery. Click through for more info. [New Jersey Hospital Association / I’m a Big Shot]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Charlie, Staci Berger’s co-working pup and the luckiest dog around. If you’ve ever been on a Zoom call with Staci, you have probably seen Charlie wander in and/or heard him snoring. He’s a rescue mix from West Virginia, approximately 10 years old, a thief of any food left unattended — and he’s especially partial to sneaking sips of coffee, wine, and sometimes scotch even though he isn’t 21 years old yet. 

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 712,585 | Deaths: 21,094
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

1

This week marks the one-year anniversary of New Jersey’s first confirmed case of COVID-19. Since then, the pandemic has tragically claimed the lives of more than 21,000 New Jersey residents, with the total number of confirmed cases fast approaching 10 percent of the state’s total population. This article by NJ Spotlight includes an interactive timeline of significant stories and milestones from the past year. [NJ Spotlight News / Colleen O’Dea]

10 Million

The nation’s pandemic recovery is stalling due to a lack of consistent federal relief, according to a new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The report, which measures how the pandemic has impacted the nation’s economy over the last year, finds that the CARES Act helped keep the economy afloat in 2020, but only temporarily. Job growth came to a halt in the fall, and the nation remains 10 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels. This job loss has disproportionately harmed low-paid workers, Black and Latinx workers, workers without a Bachelor’s degree, and immigrant workers. The findings of this report underscore the need to properly fund a pandemic recovery that leaves no one behind. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities / Chad Stone and Matt Saenz]

$600 Million

Just as the nation’s pandemic recovery has stalled due to a lack of sufficient relief, New Jersey’s recovery could face a similar fate if immigrant residents remain ineligible for state and federal aid. New Jersey has one of the largest shares of immigrants in the nation; leaving these residents behind is not only cruel and unfair (immigrants pay more than $600 million in state taxes every year) but also a drag on the overall economy. “If other states can do this, so can we, and so should we, because if we don’t, our recovery will be tremendously weaker, it will be slower, and we can’t afford that,” said NJPP President Brandon McKoy at a press briefing organized by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation earlier this week. [NJ 101.5 / Patrick Lavery]

June 30

Governor Murphy has extended a state moratorium on utility shutoffs through June 30. The ban on shutoffs covers electric, gas, and water utilities and, for residents with school-aged children, internet access. According to the state Division of Rate Counsel, overdue utility bills have surpassed $700 million, with more than 1.2 million electric, gas, and water customers in arrears. If these stats do not convince you that more federal relief is necessary, I’m not sure what will. [NorthJersey.com / David Willis]

4

Care about the state budget? Well, here’s your chance to tell the Legislature what you would like to see included in next year’s appropriations bill. The budget committees in the Senate and Assembly have scheduled four public hearings (all virtual) for residents to testify in support of their budget priorities. Click the link for more info on this year’s budget process, along with information on how to sign up to testify. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

ICYMI

Make the Road New Jersey unveiled a new policy platform packed with recommendations to fully recover from the pandemic and advance racial equity. Proposals include using wage boards to raise the pay of essential workers and those left behind from the $15 minimum wage, providing pandemic relief to immigrant workers, transferring funding from school resource officers to student support services, and much more. [Make the Road New Jersey]

Pets of NJPP

The pets are back! Meet Slinky, Levi Rodman’s pet snake — the first snake ever to be featured in Friday Facts and Figures! Slinky likes to eat one frozen mouse a week, is really good at finding hiding spots, and enjoys hanging out near warm lamps. Slinky will turn one year old later this month, so please join us in wishing Slinky a very happy birthday!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 692,931 | Deaths: 20,816
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$44.8 Billion

It’s every policy wonk’s favorite time of year: budget season! In his annual budget address this past Tuesday, Governor Murphy proposed big investments to fund the state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget proposal increases funding for public health, schools (pre-K through college), transit, and support for working families. These are all key drivers of strong communities and a strong economic recovery. The budget includes no new taxes as it relies on stronger than anticipated revenue collections and billions of dollars in borrowed funds from the current fiscal year. More on that below. [NJ.com / Samantha Marcus]

$1 Billion

One big question mark hangs over Governor Murphy’s budget proposal: does New Jersey have the resources to sustainably fund these new investments? That’s why, on Monday, advocates from For The Many NJ called on lawmakers to #FundTheRecovery by closing corporate tax loopholes and ending Christie-era tax cuts. By bringing the sales tax back to 7 percent, reinstating the estate tax, and closing loopholes in the state’s combined reporting law, New Jersey can raise more than $1 billion annually to invest in our communities. “This year, like past years, our state needs to continue to adopt new, fairly derived and sustainable funding sources,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director of New Jersey Citizen Action. “There are still plenty of meritless tax advantages that the wealthy enjoy here in our state.” [NJ 101.5 / Michael Symons]

1996

Governor Murphy’s budget proposes a full payment into the state pension fund — the first full payment since 1996. This is incredible news, both for the retirement security of 800,000 public workers and for the state’s finances. After Governor Christie Todd Whitman cut the state income tax in 1994, state lawmakers routinely skipped full pension payments, often making no payment at all. This kicked the can down the road, leaving future taxpayers (read: us, right now) to make up for the deferred payments. With a full pension payment, one of the nation’s most underfunded pension systems is on a path to fiscal solvency. [The Wall Street Journal / Joseph De Avila]

14th

In non-budget news, cannabis is now legal in New Jersey! With the stroke of a pen, Governor Murphy signed three bills into law on Monday morning that decriminalize marijuana and set up the regulatory framework for a legal cannabis market. New Jersey is now the 14th state in the nation to legalize cannabis. This follows more than three years of negotiations, a lopsided ballot question, and a last minute mixup over how to handle penalties for those under 21. This is huge news and a big step towards abolishing the failed drug war. A big congratulations to everyone who helped make this possible! [NJ.com / Amanda Hoover]

$400

There’s a new universal basic income pilot program in New Jersey! In Paterson, 100 low-income residents will be selected at random to receive $400 a month, no strings attached. The program, funded by a donation from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, is open to single residents earning less than $30,000 and families with a combined income under $88,000. Applications are expected to go live next month. [News 12 New Jersey]

ICYMI

Calling all current or newly-minted graduate students — NJPP is looking for a summer fellow! The Kathleen Crotty Fellowship honors the legacy of our late board chair with an intensive, paid summer experience researching policy under the guidance of policy analysts at NJPP. Applications are due by March 1. [NJPP / Crotty Fellowship]

ICYMI 2 

Congratulations to NJPP President Brandon McKoy on being named to the 2021 ROI-NJ Influencers: Power List! ROI-NJ correctly notes that Brandon pushes for policies backed by hard facts and figures, and he isn’t afraid to push elected officials when they don’t deliver on their progressive promises. [ROI-NJ / Influencers: Power List]

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy. 

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 675,713 | Deaths: 20,432
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

3.6 Percent

Just as the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and amplified racial inequities across the state, access to vaccines is similarly stratified along race and class lines. Of the 1.37 million vaccine shots administered for which demographic data were recorded, only 3.6 percent have gone to Black residents; 5 percent of shots have gone to Hispanic/Latinx residents. In an effort to advance greater vaccine equity, the state has a new “vulnerable populations plan” that includes pop-up vaccine clinics and partnerships with community groups, civic centers, and places of worship. [NJ Spotlight News / Lilo Stainton]

1

Life expectancy in the United States dropped by one year during the first half of 2020, the largest recorded decrease since World War II. Life expectancy for Black residents decreased by 2.7 years, to 72; 1.9 years for Hispanic/Latinx residents, to 79.9; and 0.8 years for white residents, to 78. “Black and Hispanic communities throughout the United States have borne the brunt of this pandemic,” said Dr. Kristen Bibbins-Domingo, a health equity researcher and dean at the University of California, San Francisco. [AP News / Marilynn Marchione]

11 Million

On Thursday, Senator Bob Menendez unveiled legislation to overhaul the nation’s immigration system, creating a pathway to citizenship for 11 million immigrants. The proposal, described as a humane response to a four-year assault on immigrant families under the Trump administration, would allow almost all immigrants without documentation to apply for citizenship, offer expedited status for those brought to the U.S. as children, increase legal immigration, and invest $4 billion in Central American nations to reduce migration from the region. [NJ.com / Jonathan D. Salant]

$100 Million

New Jersey is taking a big step toward advancing environmental justice with a $100 million investment in electrifying the state’s transportation sector. The initiatives, announced on Tuesday by Governor Murphy, include electrifying buses, garbage and delivery trucks, and heavy-duty cargo handling equipment at the state’s ports. This should help combat climate change and reduce pollution in the state’s urban centers, where automobile transportation is the largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions. [NJ Spotlight News / Tom Johnson]

Today

State lawmakers are meeting this afternoon in a last-ditch attempt to legalize and decriminalize recreational cannabis. Negotiations hit a snag earlier this week, and time is ticking. There are currently two marijuana bills on Governor Murphy’s desk, but he has threatened to veto them over a contradiction in the two bills on penalties for underage use of marijuana. The deadline for Governor Murphy to act on those bills is fast-approaching, as the Assembly’s next quorum will trigger the deadline. The next Assembly quorum is scheduled for next week. [NJ.com / Amanda Hoover and Brent Johnson]

Act Now to Legalize Cannabis!

Last November, New Jerseyans voted to legalize recreational cannabis by a two-to-one margin. Since then, state lawmakers have failed to reach a deal on enabling legislation. As a result, more than 6,000 residents have been arrested for marijuana offenses. Use this action alert from the ACLU-NJ to urge your lawmakers to reach an agreement on legalization and decriminalization now! [ACLU-NJ / Act Now]

Pets of NJPP

We have two pets this week! Meet Dottie and Teddy, the coworking cats of Rebecca Roberts. While Dottie is older than Teddy (they are 15 months and 6 months old), Teddy already outweighs his sister. Rebecca is convinced Teddy is going to be a giant. One thing they share in common: on a scale of 0-10, their floof level is 11.

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy.