New Jersey businesses are focusing on tax and regulatory reform as the primary issues for gubernatorial candidates in the 2025 election year. Michele Siekerka, President and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), emphasized these points during her appearance on "State of Affairs with Steve Adubato."
"Tax reform and regulatory reform – it’s all about affordability and the cost of doing business and being regionally competitive here in the State of New Jersey," Siekerka stated. She highlighted that New Jersey is currently not competitive in these areas.
Siekerka pointed to the lengthy process required to obtain environmental permits as a significant challenge, which often leads companies to develop projects in other states with shorter permitting times. "It takes our companies a significantly long time to get a new project online," she explained, stressing the need to streamline processes like permitting, licensing, and inspections.
In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy vetoed a bill supported by NJBIA that aimed to establish the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review (GEARR) Commission. This proposed commission had received near-unanimous bipartisan support from the Legislature. Siekerka noted that this legislation would have created a review board where businesses could address regulatory concerns collaboratively.
She expressed hope that legislative leaders would collaborate with the governor's office to create legislation making New Jersey more responsive to business needs.
The interview aired on "State of Affairs with Steve Adubato" on NJ PBS on Saturday and WNET-13 on Sunday.
