New Jersey Hit Hardest By New Tax Law, Report Says

New Jersey will have the highest percentage of taxpayers facing a tax hike this year as a result of the Republican rewrite of the federal tax code, according to a new report. The Tax Policy Center, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., said in a report Wednesday that 10.2 percent of New Jersey taxpayers will see their tax bills rise.

DREAMers need real tuition equality. N.J. lawmakers can take a big step Monday | Opinion

Our state policymakers can mitigate the federal government's attacks on immigrants by taking actions that would honor New Jersey's history as the golden door for immigrants and maintain our state as a welcoming, inclusive place. One way is to help all New Jersey students attain their educational goals in the state they call home.

Donald Trump may not like what these Jersey Republicans did

Three New Jersey House Republicans -- more than any other state -- were among the 10 lawmakers who most often broke away when a majority of their party and a majority of Democrats were on opposite sides, according to Congressional Quarterly 's annual vote studies. Likewise, Garden State Republicans lined up against President Donald Trump 's policies more often than those from all other states, even as they supported him more than three-fourths of the time.

Mike on Murphy’s tax hikes: Expect backlash. Julie: Not terrifying. Plus, tips for the gov

Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democratic, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers.

Bridgegate defendants fight to stay out of jail

The two former Christie administration officials convicted in the Bridgegate scandal are seeking a delay in the start of their prison terms. Bill Baroni, who served as deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Bridget Anne Kelly, former Gov. Chris Christie's deputy chief of staff, were convicted in 2016 in connection with a scheme of political retribution involving the shutdown of several local access lanes to the toll plaza of the George Washington Bridge.

Supreme Court justices call for civility: ‘Let’s stop this nonsense’

President Trump's call for unity and bipartisanship during his State of the Union on Tuesday wasn't the only appeal for a break from the hyper-partisan atmosphere that has engulfed Washington, D.C. Along with the president, justices on the Supreme Court on at least two separate and unrelated occasions in as many weeks spoke to the need for civility. Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, during a speech at Stockton University in New Jersey last week, and again by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who sits on the opposite side of the ideological spectrum from Gorsuch, in two different events.

Menendez stronger after charges dropped, but he still faces Senate ethics probe

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez's biggest hurdle to re-election was removed Wednesday when the Justice Department announced it no longer would try him on criminal corruption charges. "Case closed, both in terms of the court and in terms of the political impact for his re-election campaign,'' said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Trump infrastructure plan seeks to shift burden to states

When President Donald Trump called for a $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment in his State of the Union address, he didn't pledge that the federal government actually would provide that much money for roads, bridges, rail and waterways. To the contrary, Trump's plan counts on state and local governments working with private investors to come up with much of the cash.

Powerful GOP Appropriations chair Frelinghuysen to retire

Veteran Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has announced he will not seek re-election. The New Jersey Republican was facing his first competitive re-election race in decades and joins a growing roster of GOP veterans who are heading for the exits.

Murphy Sworn In as New Jersey Governor

Philip Dunton Murphy was sworn in as New Jersey's 56th governor, vowing to make good on economic promises unfulfilled by his Republican predecessor and counteract what he called catastrophic social and fiscal policy by the Trump administration. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. senior director, pledged to help foster a "stronger and fairer" New Jersey that creates higher-wage jobs, increases public-school funding, provides free access to community college, helps small businesses and ensures the wealthiest pay "their fair share" in taxes.

As New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s term nears end, his approval rating sinks to 13 percent

In the days after Superstorm Sandy ravaged New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie crisscrossed the state, assessing damage, hugging evacuees and projecting the image of a man in charge. In a famous show of bipartisanship, he welcomed President Obama to New Jersey as the state sought federal funds to help with damage.

For Democrats, path to majority runs through New York, New Jersey

If there's going to be a Democratic wave in the 2018 midterm elections, look for it to wash ashore in New York and New Jersey. House Democrats have targeted all but one Republican - Rep. Chris Smith in New Jersey's reliably conservative fourth district - in the two states, where former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton beat President Trump in 2016.

Most N.J. lawmakers did the right thing on GOP tax bill. But how about with spending cuts? | Opinion

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate passed a GOP tax bill that rewards profitable corporations and wealthy families while putting middle-class and low-income families across the country at risk. All but one of New Jersey's 14 members of Congress -- including four of the state's five Republican House members -- voted against the bill.

Oroho, Doherty endorse Lonegan for 2018 congressional bid

A Republican congressional candidate seeking to reclaim the 5th District for his party in November 2018 has picked up endorsements from two of northwest New Jersey's most conservative state senators. The campaign for Steve Lonegan announced that state Sens. Steven Oroho, R-24th Dist., and Michael Doherty, R-23rd Dist., have endorsed the former Bogota mayor in his bid to replace U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist.

Hospital exec who worked for Corzine to head Murphy transition

On an Election Night when the results exactly tracked what public-opinion polls had projected, one of the few surprises was the unexpected appearance at Gov.-elect Phil Murphy's victory party of former Gov. Jon Corzine, who has kept a low profile since leaving office in 2010 - especially after the bankruptcy of his Wall Street brokerage a year later. Then another reminder of the Corzine era surfaced Wednesday, when Murphy made his first appointment as governor-elect in naming Jose Lozano the executive director of his transition committee.

Guadagno rallies Sussex GOP in Newton 2 days before Election Day

Calling her Democratic opponent's stances on raising taxes and a sanctuary state a "gift," the Republican nominee for governor rallied her base in Sussex County less than 48 hours before Election Day during a stop on her 21-county bus tour. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno said New Jersey "can't afford" Phil Murphy and his pledge to raise taxes by $1.3 billion during a Sussex County Republican Committee-sponsored rally at the Newton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5360 on Sunday afternoon.

Are NJ rent and house prices so high because we have too many school districts?

When people gripe about New Jersey having so many school districts, with more educational systems than municipalities, it's generally to complain about paying for too many administrators. Tim Evans, the research director for New Jersey Future, said that fragmentation encourages the 'ratable chase' in which cities and towns crave commercial properties but try to avoid residential development, in many cases regardless of whether it contains an 'affordable housing' component.

N.J. lawmaker’s Hurricane Sandy cell phone tower bill just got a major boost in Senate

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.'s bill to speed up cell phone tower repairs after a hurricane or other disaster received a major endorsement Sunday when Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he would work towards passage his chamber. Schumer, D-N.Y., said the recent hurricanes emphasized the need for residents hit by such storms to have cell service restored as soon as possible.