The president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey discusses the region's response to COVID-19, the pace of its recovery and the outlook for the rest of the year and into 2022.

Business groups say the new state budget represents a missed opportunity to bridge the gap between the COVID-19 recession and a robust economic recovery. The budget – which the Legislature sent Gov. Phil Murphy on June 24 – includes a record $46.4 billion of spending, $52 billion in revenue, more than $6 billion in federal aid and a $10 billion surplus.

“If I enact changes to the tax code in partnership with the Legislature that accomplish the exact same thing as this program, and those enactments benefit and provide opportunity to all businesses, there’s no longer a need for that program," the Republican gubernatorial candidate tells NJBIZ.

Although the practice has been legal in New Jersey since 2018 for professional leagues - and seen billions of dollars in wagers - state law still prohibits bets from being placed in the state on university teams and games.

The June 24 vote on legislation overhauling many parts of the state’s $14.5 billion incentive programs is now postponed until June 30, the last day before all 120 members of the state Legislature break for summer recess.

This year's spending blueprint includes $52 billion of revenue, a $10 billion surplus and roughly $6.5 billion from the Biden administration under the American Rescue Plan.

New legislation would provide government officials with an additional 60 days beyond the current Aug. 21 deadline to enact an ordinance welcoming or blocking such enterprises from opening and operating within their communities.

But, the governor said he was floating a waiting period between when lawmakers send a spending plan to his desk and when he ultimately signs it, as representatives in the Democratic-controlled Legislature face criticisms.

Applications for Sustain and Serve NJ, under which nonprofits throughout New Jersey have used $14 million in state subsidies to purchase 1.5 million meals from 340 restaurants to go toward residents in need, will be available online between June 28 and July 18.

Business groups contend the state can act now to prevent the increases, given a $6.5 billion federal relief package under the American Rescue Plan and $10 billion of surplus money, but it is opting not to.

The legislation was approved in a party vote during the June 22 Assembly Budget Committee hearing, even though a copy of the 197-page measure was not available to the public. It was later approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The main spending bills were passed by their respective budget committees with little time for public review, drawing the scorn of Republican lawmakers and good government advocates.  In the case of the Assembly version, it was approved just 11 minutes after the full text was released to the public.