Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
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COVID-19 Cases: 249,380 | Deaths: 14,616
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

4 Million

More than 4 million New Jerseyans voted in this week’s November 3 general election, representing the most votes cast in state history. As it stands, 67.1 percent of voters turned out, but all votes have yet to be counted. There are still outstanding provisional ballots, ballots dropped off in-person at polling locations, and late-arriving mail-in ballots (in New Jersey, all mail-in ballots are valid if they are postmarked by Election Day and arrive by November 10). New Jersey voters overwhelmingly supported Joe Biden over President Donald Trump, with the former Vice President receiving approximately 59 percent of the vote. The only House race yet to be called is in CD-2, where incumbent Rep. Jeff Van Drew currently holds a slim lead over Democratic challenger Amy Kennedy. [NJ Globe / David Wildstein]

Public Question No. 1

New Jersey is the latest state to legalize recreational cannabis, as voters overwhelmingly approved Public Question No. 1 with more than 60 percent of the vote. This is a huge win for social and racial justice in the Garden State, as Black and Latinx residents are disproportionately arrested for marijuana possession even though residents of color use marijuana at the same rate as white residents. It’s now up to state lawmakers to pass enabling legislation with governing rules and regulations for the new industry.  “This is exciting, the Legislature has its marching orders delivered by the people,” said Amol Sinha, Executive Director of the ACLU of NJ. “We need to see implementation of enabling legislation as fast as possible and legislation that centers racial justice.” Voters in Arizona, Montana, and South Dakota passed similar measures to legalize marijuana, while voters in Oregon passed a ballot measure to decriminalize all drug possession. Needless to say, the War on Drugs was a big loser on Election Day. [NJ.com / Amanda Hoover]

2,261

On Wednesday, New Jersey released 2,261 people from state prisons and halfway houses under a first-in-the-nation law shortening sentences for inmates serving time during the COVID-19 pandemic. This represents more than 15 percent of the state’s prison population, and is the largest mass prison release in New Jersey history. The policy, known as the Public Health Emergency Credit Act, was passed earlier this year to acknowledge that social distancing is not always possible in prisons and that a prison sentence should not be a death sentence. Inmates with less than a year left on their sentence qualified for early release, except for those convicted of murder and some sexual offenses. The ACLU of NJ spearheaded this effort along with other racial justice organizations. [NorthJersey.com / Stacey Barchenger]

Get Covered NJ

$15

In a huge win for workers and their families, Florida’s minimum wage will rise to $15 after more than 60 percent of voters approved Amendment 2 on Tuesday. The increase will phase in over the next few years, with the minimum wage increasing to $10 in September 2021 and then increasing by a dollar every year after until it reaches $15 in 2026. According to the Florida Policy Institute, this will raise the wages of more than 2.5 million workers, most of them women and people of color in the service and tourism industries. Congratulations, Florida!  [Orlando Sentinel / Caroline Glenn]

ICYMI

This has been a big — and stressful — week for many of us. Do what you can to take care of yourself this weekend, and catch up on any sleep you may have missed as you watched the election returns or tirelessly refreshed your Twitter feed.

Pets of NJPP

The pets are back! Meet Louie, NJPP Crotty Fellow Marleina Ubel’s pup-in-law. Louie has an amazing name (duh), loves playing with his squeaky cookie toys, has a surprisingly deep growl, and has a bit of an underbite. He’s also super adorable, so thank you Marleina for sharing him with the world. Woof! 

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

Programming Note: Friday Facts and Figures will not publish next week, but we’ll be back in your inbox on November 6. Remember to submit your ballot by Election Day, Tuesday, November 3!

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: 225,430 | Deaths: 14,484
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

1,000

Be careful out there — New Jersey could be facing a second wave of COVID-19, as new cases have doubled in the past month and are now averaging more than 1,000 per day. According to Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist at Montclair State University, “We’re heading into that sort of high risk for community spread designation. We don’t have this contained anymore.” Health officials have signaled that this is a statewide issue, with private indoor gatherings likely contributing to the uptick in cases. On a separate note, Governor Murphy is self-quarantining after two members of his senior staff tested positive for COVID-19. On behalf of NJPP, we wish the staff of the governor’s office well and hope everyone stays healthy. [Karen Yi / Gothamist]

31

Last week, an additional 1.1 million workers across the country applied for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. This marks the 31st week in a row where new UI claims were far greater than the worst week of the Great Recession. This should serve as a stark reminder that the economy, workers, and families alike are still struggling. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans continue to hold up new COVID relief measures, including an extension of the $600 increase in UI benefits from the CARES Act, which expired at the end of July. As Heidi Shierholz from the Economic Policy Institute states here, “Blocking more stimulus is not just cruel, it’s terrible economics,” as this relief was spent immediately and locally, supporting millions of jobs. [Economic Policy Institute / Heidi Shierholz]

Yes to Everything

New Jersey’s housing market is booming, as residents from New York City are seeking more space to work from home. The state’s luxury real estate market in particular is busier than ever, according to Michele Kolsky-Assatly of Coldwell Banker Realty in Bergen County, even with the newly enacted millionaires’ tax. “The uptick of taxes on millionaires, I can’t see it hurting us, really, because the people that are buying are wealthy people,” Kolsky-Assatly said. “I don’t know that that will take precedence over lifestyle.” When asked whether home buyers are coming from New York City, Hoboken, or other areas, Gene Amsel of the Greater Bergen Realtors replied, “Yes to everything.” And while these quotes are merely anecdotes, the real estate data backs it up, as the volume of contracts on homes priced above $1 million are up 40 percent from last year, while homes priced above $2.5 million are up 67 percent over last year. [The Real Deal / Akiko Matsuda]

$0

Earlier this week, the NJ Transit Board of Directors passed a new budget which avoids fare hikes, despite COVID-19 decimating the transit agency’s ridership and revenue collections. Fares were originally expected to cover $993.7 million of the 2021 operating budget, but due to COVID-19, those projections have been revised down to a mere $374 million. NJ Transit was able to balance its budget without fare hikes thanks to $991 million in federal aid through the CARES Act. The budget is also supported by $386 million in state aid, $129 million from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and $82 million in federal clean energy funds. According to NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett, keeping fares stable was a big priority given the number of essential workers who rely on local bus service. [NJ.com / Larry Higgs]

$16 Trillion

A new study by Dana Peterson, a former global economist at Citigroup, Inc., puts a price tag on the cost of racial bias in the United States. According to Peterson, who resides in northern New Jersey, closing racial gaps would have generated an additional $16 trillion in economic output since 2000. The study points to racial disparities in housing, education, pay, policing, voting, access to credit, and much more. By closing the numerous gaps between Black residents and their white counterparts, the U.S. could gain an additional $5 trillion in economic activity over the next five years. “At all these different levels of society and achievement, there are these roadblocks,” Peterson said. “It’s pyramidal.”  [Bloomberg / Saijel Kishan]

ICYMI

NJPP Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi moderated a roundtable discussion yesterday on the state of immigrant women in New Jersey during the COVID-19 crisis, and ways state and federal lawmakers can ensure no one is left behind in the nation’s pandemic recovery. The panel discussion features Dr. Yana Rodgers and Dr. Andrea Hetling of Rutgers University, and Alejandra Sorto of the ACLU of New Jersey. [Facebook Live / NJPP and Make the Road NJ]  

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: 216,994 | Deaths: 14,408
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

2 to 3 Times

A new report by NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom finds that New Jersey’s Black and Latinx residents are two to three times more likely to be harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic than their white counterparts. This is happening all across the state, the report finds, not just in the counties hit first or hardest by the pandemic. No matter how you measure it — positive COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths — residents of color are disproportionately impacted due to the nation’s long history of racist policies and the underfunding of public health initiatives, especially those that advance equity. As Brittany tells PIX 11 News, “This, of course, goes back to policies of segregating, whether it’s segregated neighborhoods, segregated schools, access to nutritious food.” [PIX 11 / Christie Duffy]

800,000

It’s official: New Jersey has launched its own state-run health insurance marketplace, Get Covered New Jersey, and hundreds of thousands of residents will pay less for health care as a result. A state-based exchange will allow New Jersey to go beyond the minimum requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by extending the open enrollment period, offering more subsidies for low- and moderate-income residents, and offering more choices. The average premium for 2021, when including federal tax credits and new state subsidies, will drop to $117 a month, compared to $164 a month last year. This is welcome news to the 800,000 residents whose health coverage has been threatened by the Trump administration’s ongoing sabotage of the ACA. [NorthJersey.com / Lindy Washburn]

8 Million

The lack of federal COVID-19 relief has pushed eight million U.S. residents into poverty since May, according to new studies from researchers at Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and Notre Dame. After the CARES Act expanded the social safety net and provided millions with stimulus checks and expanded unemployment insurance benefits, the aid is now largely exhausted and poverty has spiked to levels higher than before the pandemic started. “These numbers are very concerning,” said Bruce D. Meyer, an economist at the University of Chicago. “They tell us people are having a lot more trouble paying their bills, paying their rent, putting food on the table.” This should underscore the need for immediate and significant relief from the federal government. Democrats in Congress passed the $3 trillion HEROES Act in May, but the proposal has yet to go up for a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate. [The New York Times / Jason DeParle]

March 15

On Thursday, Governor Murphy extended the state’s moratorium on utility shutoffs through March 15, 2021. This means that no household in the state can have its electricity, gas, or water shut off due to non-payment. For households where children are attending school remotely, the moratorium also applies to internet shutoffs. “Our message to residents is clear — as this pandemic and its economic fallout continues, we will continue to have your back,” said Governor Murphy. “And as the winter months get closer and closer, no one should fear losing the ability to heat their home.” [NJ.com / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

ICYMI

Notice anything different about this week’s Friday Facts and Figures? That’s because NJPP has a new logo and visual identity — one that is as clear and concise as our research, as bold as our policy solutions, and as adaptable as our staff. Click the link to read more about the thought process behind our new look and website. [NJPP / Brandon McKoy]

Pets of NJPP

We have another reader-submitted Pet of NJPP! Meet Oliver, Lizzie Foley’s co-working pup. While Oliver has called New Jersey for the past year and a half, he was born in Puerto Rico, where he was abandoned at and rescued from a golf course. After completing puppy training bootcamp for a week, Oliver was declared “not very interested in obedience,” which Lizzie can attest to. He is not a fan of the outside word and hates going for walks, but he is a fan of diet dog food, even though he really doesn’t need it.

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

Friday Facts and Figures is a brief digital newsletter focusing on data points from NJPP reports, research, and policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 211,148 | Deaths: 14,373
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

52 Percent

Public schools have reopened across the state, but not all students are having the same back-to-school experience. As of September 13, sightly more than half (52 percent) of New Jersey students are in districts with fully remote programs; roughly one-third (32 percent) are in districts offering hybrid programs; eight percent of students are in “combination” districts, which offer different reopening plans within the district; and two percent are in districts with fully in-person instruction. Due to ongoing problems with segregation and underfunding, the state’s reopening plans are unequally available to students of different races and ethnicities. For example, white students are more likely to be enrolled in a district that offers at least some in-person instruction, while Black and Hispanic students are more likely to be enrolled in a district that is fully remote. As NJPP Special Analyst for Education Policy Mark Weber writes here, this is “yet another example of how inadequate and inequitable funding is creating different systems of schooling for different students.” [NJPP / Mark Weber]

Public Question No. 3

This November, New Jersey voters will get to decide whether redistricting — the process by which state legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years after a new census is complete — should be delayed if census results come in late. If approved, Public Question No. 3 would create a new deadline, February 15, for New Jersey to receive census results; if the results arrive after the deadline, the state would delay redistricting and instead use the old district lines for another two years. Good government watchdogs like the League of Women Voters, along with racial and social justice advocacy groups, oppose the amendment, saying it would leave the growing number of Black, Latinx, and Asian voters without adequate representation for two more years. “Communities of color are asked to wait two years in order to have the representation due to them,” said Henal Patel, director of the democracy and justice program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. [Asbury Park Press / Stacey Barchenger]

10.7 Million

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that we may be years away from a full economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession. BLS reported an increase of 661,000 jobs in September, representing a significant slow down after the nation added 8.1 million jobs in the preceding three months. In total, the U.S. economy is still down 10.7 million jobs from February. The report also found a big uptick in long-term unemployment, with 7.3 million workers unemployed for at least 15 weeks and 2.4 million who are unemployed for 27 weeks or longer. According to Elise Gould at the Economic Policy Institute, “The recovery has been more successful for white workers than Black, Hispanic, or Asian workers. While all groups saw improvement in September, the unemployment rate for Black and Hispanic workers remains significantly higher than for white workers.” [Economic Policy Institute / Elise Gould]

$95 Billion

State and local lawmakers award more than $95 billion in “economic development” tax credits per year, despite little evidence that they succeed at creating new jobs or growing local economies. To put this number in perspective, $95 billion could fund the annual state budgets of 11 states combined, or all of the federal government’s food assistance programs. Every dollar spent in corporate tax subsidies is a dollar that doesn’t go toward essential public programs and services that communities rely on. “However you figure it, taking that much money out of state and local budgets and handing it to crony capitalists imposes a massive cost on taxpayers and crowds out spending on basic government services such as roads, schools, and public safety, especially in lower-income communities,” writes John Mozena. [The American Conservative / John Mozena]

ICYMI

It’s hard to believe the state budget was signed less than two weeks ago. For those of you who need a refresher, the NJPP team put together this budget breakdown, highlighting some of the biggest changes to the tax code and the state’s spending priorities. [NJPP / Sheila Reynertson, Brittany Holom, Vineeta Kapahi, et al.]

Pets of NJPP

Meow! Meet Maisy, NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson’s co-working cat. There’s really no need for a writeup here, just enjoy the adorable photo.

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

Friday Facts and Figures is a brief digital newsletter focusing on data points from NJPP reports, research, and policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 205,889 | Deaths: 14,340
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

More Than a Dozen

If you haven’t heard the news yet, President Donald Trump has tested positive for COVID-19. Hours before President Trump announced his test results, he was in New Jersey for a high-dollar fundraiser at his golf club in Bedminster, possibly exposing others — despite knowing that his aide Hope Hicks, who was on Air Force One with him earlier this week, had recently tested positive for coronavirus. According to attendees of the event, the President was not wearing a mask while he sat down with more than a dozen donors for a roundtable discussion. Governor Phil Murphy has announced that the state has already started contact tracing efforts, urging all attendees of the event to “take full precautions, including self-quarantining and getting tested.” This is a stark reminder that the threat of COVID-19 is still very real, and we should all continue to wear masks and practice social distancing. [NJ.com / Brent Johnson]

Roe v. Wade

Big reproductive justice news in New Jersey: Governor Murphy, Senator Loretta Weinberg, and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle joined advocates in the Thrive NJ coalition earlier today to unveil legislation to codify Roe v. Wade into state law and expand access to abortion care. The Reproductive Freedom Act declares the fundamental right for all New Jerseyans to access comprehensive reproductive care without government interference or discrimination, ensures coverage for all by expanding access to safe and affordable reproductive health care for all, regardless of immigration status, and repeals medically unnecessary and harmful regulations that create barriers to accessing abortion care. As NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson stated in the bill announcement, “When someone is denied abortion care because they can’t cover the cost, research shows they are more likely to remain in poverty for years. That’s oppression. And this bill puts an end to it.” [NPR / Sarah McCammon]

$4.7 Billion

New Jersey’s new budget makes the largest ever public pension payment in state history at $4.7 billion. This commitment to keeping the state’s worker retirement fund solvent during the COVID-19 economic downturn stands in stark contrast to budget decisions of the past when state lawmakers chronically underfunded the pension, regardless of the state of the economy. This also sets an example for other states during the pandemic, where pension payments are being skipped altogether or severely cut. “For other states facing unprecedented budget challenges in the year ahead, New Jersey’s approach demonstrates how policymakers can commit to maintaining fiscal discipline and rely on nonpartisan, data-driven analysis to point the way,” writes David Draine of The PEW Charitable Trusts. [The PEW Charitable Trusts / David Draine, Corryn Hall, and Emma Wei]

Most Unequal

The recession brought on by COVID-19 is the most unequal in modern U.S. history, according to a new analysis by The Washington Post. “It’s an even more unequal recession than usual,” said Ben Bernanke, who chaired the Federal Reserve through the Great Recession. “The sectors most deeply affected by COVID disproportionately employ women, minorities and lower-income workers.” At the peak of the pandemic, low-paid workers lost their jobs at about eight times the rate of high-income earners, according to the analysis. And while the nation has recovered nearly half of the jobs lost, the recovery has been much slower for mothers of school-age children, Black men and women, Hispanic men, Asian Americans, young workers, and those without college degrees. Definitely give this a read, as there are plenty of interactive graphics that show just how stark the job loss disparities are. [The Washington Post / Heather Long, Andrew Van Dam, Alyssa Fowers, and Leslie Shapiro]

ICYMI

Big congratulations to NJPP President Brandon McKoy for being recognized in ROI-NJ’s People of Color Influencers list for 2020! Here’s a great line from Brandon’s feature: “Whether you agree or disagree with his positions, you know they come from research, not reactions.” As Brandon likes to say, #MathIsReal. [ROI NJ / ROI Influencers of Color: 2020]

Pets of NJPP

Meet NJPP Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi’s new nieces, Callie and Dory, five-month-old chihuahua dachshund mixes from Georgia and now proud Jersey girls. Callie is a super taster — she takes her time with her meals, savoring every bite. Dory will happily clean her plate and yours with no hesitation. Both girls enjoy feeling the sand in their toes during long walks on the beach and visiting their cousins Sasha and Tucker. Most of all, they love each other and their lucky dads. Woof!

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

Friday Facts and Figures is a brief digital newsletter focusing on data points from NJPP reports, research, and policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 201,552 | Deaths: 14,300
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$32.7 Billion

On Thursday, the state legislature passed a $32.7 billion state budget that Governor Murphy is expected to sign, bringing New Jersey one step closer to finally enacting a millionaires tax. The budget deal avoids big cuts to state programs and services (great news!), but it relies on $500 million more in borrowing and cuts the governor’s proposed pension payment by $200 million (not great news). The deal also extends the corporate business tax surcharge at 2.5 percent (more good news!), but it does not end tax breaks for yacht purchases or limousine rides. All things considered, this is a good budget given the economic fallout from COVID-19, as the state will be able to sustain and expand state investments as we recover from the pandemic. Governor Murphy is expected to sign the budget on Tuesday, so keep an eye out for a rapid reaction from the NJPP team next week. [Bloomberg / Elise Young]

Opaque

This year’s budget represents a remarkable change in how New Jersey responds to economic downturns, but the process by which we got here is nothing to celebrate. Calling the creation of this year’s budget opaque and exclusionary, even by Trenton standards, NJPP President Brandon McKoy explains how process is policy in this op-ed in NJ Spotlight: “The basic point is that New Jersey’s state budget — the most important thing it does every year — is developed by a process that marginalizes the public at large and locks out leaders of color at crucial moments. While the governor and legislative leaders have made statements in support of the fight against systemic racism, all continue to fall short in their actions around the budget. A process that privileges the views and voices of white leaders and marginalizes those of Black leaders, by definition, upholds systemic racism, regardless of the intent of individual actors.” [NJ Spotlight / Brandon McKoy]

21

One big highlight in the budget deal that has largely flown under the radar: an expansion to New Jersey’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The refundable tax credit for low- and moderate-income workers will both increase (to 40 percent of the federal credit) and be expanded to include young adults aged 21 and up; under the current program, childless adults must be at least 25 years old to qualify. As NJPP Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi explained to NJ 101.5, “That eligibility criteria is based on the assumption that workers who are under 25 are dependent on their families, but the reality is that many New Jersey workers are financially independent or even support their families.” This change to the tax code will boost the incomes of tens of thousands of New Jerseyans and help stimulate local economies across the state. [NJ 101.5 / Michael Symons]

9.2 Percent

New Jersey’s EITC expansion is definitely something to celebrate, but new data from the Census Bureau show that state lawmakers will have to do much more to truly reduce poverty in the Garden State. The data from 2019 highlight how, even during an economic expansion, New Jersey’s poverty rate (9.2 percent) remained higher than it was prior to the Great Recession (8.7 percent in 2008). The poverty rate among women (10.0 percent) was higher than that of men (8.3 percent), and Black (15.6 percent) and Latinx (15.8 percent) New Jerseyans were nearly three times more likely to live in poverty than their white peers (5.8 percent). This data, while the most recent from the Census Bureau, undercounts poverty in New Jersey for two reasons: it is from 2019 and thus does not capture the economic fallout from COVID-19, and; these figures use the Federal Poverty Line to measure poverty, which does not account for New Jersey’s high cost of living. [NJPP / Vineeta Kapahi]

692,000

The new census data also show that New Jersey’s uninsured rate increased in 2019 for the first time since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was fully enacted, likely due to the Trump administration’s sabotage of the landmark health law. In 2019, approximately 692,000 New Jersey residents did not have health care, representing a 6.8 percent increase in the state’s uninsured rate from the year prior. As NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom explains, “These increases were not spread equally among all New Jerseyans. A hostile national environment toward people of color and immigrants, including the fear and uncertainty caused by the Trump administration’s public charge rule, have made it increasingly difficult to boost health care enrollment. In New Jersey, approximately 343,000 Latinx residents were uninsured in 2019, an increase of 7.5 percent in the uninsured rate from 2018.” [NJPP / Brittany Holom]

ICYMI

David Tepper is back in New Jersey! For those who are unfamiliar, David Tepper is a hedge fund billionaire and the wealthiest person in New Jersey. After moving out of the state in 2015, right-wing lawmakers and corporate lobbyists cited him as proof of “millionaire tax flight” — even though he never cited taxes as his reason for moving and the state did not have a millionaires tax in place when he moved. Now he’s back in New Jersey, and I really want everyone who cited him as an example of tax flight to eat their words. [Politico / Matt Friedman]

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

Friday Facts and Figures is a brief digital newsletter focusing on data points from NJPP reports, research, and policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 198,361 | Deaths: 14,266
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$1 Million

We did it! After more than a decade of advocacy by grassroots activists, anti-poverty advocates, and policy analysts — including all of your favorite wonks at NJPP — New Jersey is bringing back the millionaires tax! The change to the tax code, announced yesterday by Governor Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, will create a new tax bracket for earnings over $1 million. This is a huge victory for tax fairness and will help fund New Jersey’s COVID-19 recovery. As NJPP President Brandon McKoy told The New York Times, “Calling on the state’s wealthiest residents to help fund New Jersey’s pandemic recovery is both smart and just policy, especially now during an economic downturn that has disproportionately harmed low-paid workers and communities of color.” Thank you all so much for helping us make this possible! [The New York Times / Tracey Tully]

$0.0025

Even with a millionaires tax, there is still much more work to be done to truly advance racial equity and economic justice in the tax code. One possible way to accomplish this: a micro-cent tax on high-speed financial transactions that are processed in New Jersey, including stocks, futures contracts, and derivatives. This would raise additional revenue from Wall Street and could tamp down excessive stock market speculation. As NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson explains here, the proposal would impose a $0.0025-per-transaction tax on persons or entities that process 10,000 or more financial transactions through electronic infrastructure located in the state. This could raise as much as $13 billion (!!!) a year, which could help the state meet its current and future obligations, pay off debt service, and fund expansions to the social safety net — and more. [NJPP / Sheila Reynertson]

$2.5 Trillion

Have any doubts that income inequality harms workers, their families, and the broader economy? A new study by the Rand Corporation finds that, if income had been distributed as evenly over the past five decades as it was in 1975, the median full-time worker in the U.S would earn about $92,000 a year. In reality, that worker earns just $50,000. Further, if per-capita GDP growth in the U.S. was evenly distributed over that time period — instead of going almost entirely to the top 1 percent — the bottom 90 percent of earners would collectively take home $2.5 trillion more in income each year. Bookmark this article for the next time someone tells you income inequality doesn’t matter. [New York Magazine / Eric Levitz]

686,000

Growing divides between the haves and have-nots are often stratified by race due to centuries of discriminatory state and federal policies, including many that are still on the books to this day. As it stands, undocumented immigrants and mixed status households are largely denied access to the safety net — even here in New Jersey — including many programs that they pay into. In this op-ed, NJPP Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi outlines concrete ways to lift low-paid working families out of poverty by expanding access to both pandemic relief (there are currently 686,000 immigrants in New Jersey who have been excluded from pandemic aid)​ and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Vineeta sums it up nicely here: “By taking steps to ensure support for New Jersey residents excluded from pandemic relief and addressing inequities in our tax code, state lawmakers can support families at the margins of poverty, challenge anti-immigrant bias and racism, and build a foundation for a stronger recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.” [NJ Spotlight / Vineeta Kapahi]

Under Threat

Last year, state lawmakers expanded access to driver’s licenses to all New Jersey residents — regardless of their immigration status. This law is now under threat by new regulations proposed by the state Motor Vehicle Commission, which would impose unreasonable burdens on many driver’s license applicants. Specifically, the regulations would require applicants who do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) to provide either proof of an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that indicates SSN ineligibility. The issue here is that many immigrants may not feel safe sharing their personal information with a federal administration that has a track record of hostility toward immigrants. Fortunately, there is another path forward, as the state could follow the lead of New York and simply accept an affidavit declaring that an SSN has not been issued to the applicant.  [NJPP / Vineeta Kapahi]

ICYMI

Excited about the millionaires tax? Us too! If anyone tries to tell you the millionaires will move out of New Jersey, please send them this column in Forbes by economist Richard McGahey, where he breaks down how “millionaire tax flight” is a huge myth that is not reflected in any data. Not only does he cite a study from the last time New Jersey enacted a millionaires tax (spoiler: millionaires didn’t flee), but he also explains how wealthy individuals are rich in no small part due to states having strong infrastructure and an educated and diverse work force — things that aren’t possible without government investments and robust revenue streams to fund them. [Forbes / Richard McGahey​]

Pets of NJPP

The pets are back! I’ve been trying not to show any pets twice, but I couldn’t resist sharing this picture of NJPP Research Director Nicole Rodriguez’s cat, Bernie, celebrating yesterday’s deal on the millionaires tax. Cheers! And as a disclaimer, please do not give alcohol to your pets.

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

Friday Facts and Figures is a brief digital newsletter focusing on data points from NJPP reports, research, and policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
Sign up here.

COVID-19 Cases: 195,414 | Deaths: 14,225
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

1.2 Million

Even with businesses starting to reopen across the state, the economic fallout from COVID-19 is far from over. According to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, more than 1.2 million residents across the state can’t afford regular access to food. This represents a 33 percent increase prior to the pandemic, and serves as a stark reminder that the state and federal government must do more to help families who are struggling financially due to the pandemic. As NJPP Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi told The Wall Street Journal, the current economic crisis is shining a spotlight on existing inequities, with Black, Latinx, and low-paid workers making up a disproportionate number of those who are unemployed. [The Wall Street Journal / Joseph De Avila]

7 Percent

On Labor Day, workers from labor unions and immigrants’ rights groups marched in Elizabeth in support of stronger workplace protections and enforcement during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The march coincided with the release of a new NJPP report by Vineeta Kapahi, which found that challenges faced by workers due to the pandemic are compounded by stagnant wages and a lack of strong worker protections. The report found that wages in New Jersey have not kept pace with productivity since the 1970s — especially for low-paid workers. Wages for the state’s lowest paid workers have only increased by 7 percent, or 68 cents per hour, since 1979. Meanwhile, the hourly pay of the state’s highest paid workers has increased by 62 percent, or $22.92, over the same time period. “People are still struggling to feed their families, even with a full-time job, and people are still unsafe in the workplace,” Vineeta told NJTV News. [NJTV News / Brenda Flanagan]

300,000

Earlier this year, New Jersey expanded access to driver’s licenses to all residents, regardless of their immigration status or where they were born. The benefits of this policy — safer roads and a stronger economy — now hang in the balance, as newly proposed regulations by the state Motor Vehicle Commission could undermine the impact of the law. The proposal would ask new potential drivers to provide proof of ineligibility for a Social Security Number from the Social Security Administration before they can apply for a standard driver’s license. This is a huge barrier to effective implementation of the new law, as it would force undocumented immigrants seeking a license to provide their personal information to a federal administration that has no problem targeting immigrants for deportation and separating parents from their children. Unless this rule is reconsidered, an estimated 300,000 immigrants could be left out from the new driver’s license expansion law. [NJ.com / Amanda Dominguez]

Unlawful

Some good census-related news for New Jersey: a federal court ruled Thursday against the Trump administration’s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from counting in the census. Calling the Trump administration’s memorandum an “unlawful exercise of the authority granted to the President,” U.S. District Court judges in the Southern District of New York blocked federal officials from making any attempt to follow the order. This ruling is critical for protecting the accuracy of the census, which the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to sabotage, as a full count is necessary for the federal government to fairly determine how many representatives each state sends to Congress and how much federal aid each state receives. New Jersey was part of a coalition of states that sued to block the order. [NJ.com / Blake Nelson]

67.7 Percent

More good news on the Census: New Jersey has surpassed its self-response rate from 2010, with 67.7 percent of state residents filling out the census form mailed to them. This is a remarkable feat for the state and its full-count campaign, especially since the Trump administration shortened the census collection period by a month, but New Jersey still has a long way to go to make sure everyone is counted. “It will be exceedingly difficult to get every person, and particularly the very hard to count populations, counted by Sept. 30 because of the compressed time window,” said Census 2020 New Jersey Coalition coordinator Peter Chen. [NJTV News / Michael Hill]

ICYMI

Thank you to everyone who turned out for last night’s Celebration of Progress virtual reception with keynote speaker Dr. Darrick Hamilton! We laughed, we cried (Ray Castro’s remarks were incredible and included a heartfelt thank you to his wife, Terry), and we were all stumped by the trivia. Seriously, thank you all for making last night a huge success. Although this was a free event, NJPP still needs your support to ensure that we can continue our work and have new policy victories to celebrate in 2021. Click the link to help fund the facts! [NJPP / Fund the Facts​]

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

Friday Facts and Figures is a brief digital newsletter focusing on data points from NJPP reports, research, and policy debates in New Jersey and beyond.
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COVID-19 Cases: 193,422​ | Deaths: 14,195​
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Leading the Way

In the absence of federal leadership on the fiscal crisis brought on by COVID-19, states must lead the way in funding the recovery and preventing economic calamity. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), New Jersey is setting an example other states should follow. ITEP points to Governor Murphy’s budget proposal, including the millionaires’ tax and corporate business tax surcharge, as a sure way to protect and expand investments in education, health care, the social safety net, and more. Taxing the wealthiest individuals is among the best options states have to balance their budgets, ITEP outlines, as high-income taxpayers have fared comparatively well during the pandemic, pay less in taxes than before, and often pay the lowest state and local tax rates. Here’s ITEP’s advice for state lawmakers across the country: “All states should follow New Jersey’s lead and consider equitable revenue-raising solutions in their pandemic responses in the coming months.” [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy / Meg Wiehe and Carl Davis]

0

With zero public budget hearings scheduled by state lawmakers, For The Many NJ organized one instead! On Thursday, advocates, policy experts, and members of the general public gathered via Zoom for The People’s Budget Hearing, where dozens testified in support of taxes on wealthy individuals and big corporations to balance the state’s budget. The speakers were united against deep spending cuts, with CWA NJ Director Hetty Rosenstein stating, “We urge the Legislature not to fall into knee-jerk austerity.” Advocates also flagged issues with Governor Murphy’s budget proposal — like excluding immigrants from pandemic relief and cutting funding for community colleges — urging state lawmakers to do more to ensure no one is left behind in the state’s recovery. [NJ Spotlight / John Reitmeyer]

500,000

On Tuesday, Governor Murphy signed a landmark bill that will allow all residents — regardless of their immigration status — to obtain professional and occupational licenses. This is a huge policy win, as New Jersey requires professional licenses for more occupations than any other state. The law, spearheaded by Make the Road New Jersey, will benefit the state’s 500,000 undocumented residents. As NJPP Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi stated in Governor Murphy’s bill signing announcement, “Expanding access to professional licenses will strengthen New Jersey’s workforce and provide economic opportunity to thousands of families across the state. By removing barriers to occupational licenses, more immigrants will be able to pursue the careers for which they have trained, increase their earnings and tax contributions, and help fill critical worker shortages.” [NJ.com / Brent Johnson]

20,176

An additional 20,176 New Jersey workers filed unemployment insurance (UI) claims last week. This number, while much lower than the peak of 214,836 new claims during the first week of April, is still much higher than average weekly claims before the pandemic hit. “As long as this pandemic continues to show its power over our economy, the Labor Department will continue to pump vital, family sustaining benefits into the bank accounts of out-of-work New Jerseyans,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. The state Labor Department has applied for FEMA’s grant program to provide jobless workers with an additional $300 in weekly UI benefits, but those payments will not be distributed until at least October. [NJ.com / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

434

With the school year about to begin, more than two-thirds of New Jersey’s school districts — 434 — will open with a hybrid in-person and remote schedule. Another 242 districts will open all-remote with students learning at home, while 68 districts will open with all in-person classes. These numbers, from the state Education Department, follow Governor Murphy’s announcement earlier this summer that school districts may open fully remote if they cannot safely open schools in-person. “We all know this will be a school year unlike any other,” said Gov. Murphy at his latest COVID-19 briefing. [NJ.com / Kelly Heyboer]

Join Us!

We are less than a week away from NJPP’s Celebration of Progress! Join us on Zoom this upcoming Thursday, September 10 at 6:00PM. This is a free event and will include New Jersey-themed trivia. Register here! [NJPP / Celebration of Progress]

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