The 84-page report from a Murphy-appointed task force also alleges that South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross provided “inaccurate” testimony to lawmakers at a Senate committee hearing in November 2019.

A rundown of issues the Legislature took up during the most recent session but did not resolve.

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and CEO Patrick Harker spoke Jan. 14 at the NJBankers Economic Leadership Forum in Somerset on Jan. 17.

The Senate President's sentiment echoed the reaction of the business community from earlier this week.

"It is not perfect but we are more than halfway up the mountain and it has made a huge difference for so many lives in our state. Let's make sure we don't slip back down that mountain," Gov. Phil Murphy said at a round table discussion and bill signing Jan. 16 at JFK Medical Center in Edison.

The 84-page report highlights a culture in the NJEDA of "getting to yes," even if the agency could not determine whether applying companies were at risk of leaving the state.

In 2017, a 12-member group Gov. Chris Christie convened two years earlier issued a list of recommendations to universities on curtailing assault on campus. This week, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a measure to create a new body to continue that work.

The governor originally put $235 million on hold from the state's 2020 spending plan in June 2019, amid opposition from lawmakers.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will provide $200,000 to launch the Center and New Jersey Institute of Technology will provide quarterly updates on the use of funds and progress.

The program will focus on eight industries: life sciences, information technology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, food and beverage, finance and insurance, and film and digital media.

“While we can all support the concept of a ‘fairer and stronger’ economy, the social programs that comprise the 'fairer' economy must be paid for by the economic progress of a stronger business climate,” said New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken.

If signed by the governor, New Jersey will become the first state in the country to mandate that employers provide one week of pay for each year of service for their workers when more than 50 employees are laid off.