The NJBIZ Podcast, Walk to Washington edition: Ray Lesniak on tax breaks

Over four decades in the state Legislature, Ray Lesniak had a hand in some of the most important public policy issues facing New Jersey. He was the prime mover behind the push to bring legal sports betting the Garden State. And he was the primary champion of the state’s previous program of corporate incentives.

Now that he’s a private citizen, Lesniak, a Democrat, has continued his work on the tax break issue in conjunction with former Republican state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos. He boarded the chartered Amtrak train carrying participants in the 83rd annual New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Walk to Washington with the express purpose of building support for a new set of tax breaks.

Before setting out, he sat down for the first installment of the NJBIZ Podcast recorded on the train.

Lesniak called on the governor and legislature to end the logjam over incentives, arguing that “every day that we lose adds to the impression … that New Jersey is not a business-friendly state.” He argued that the proposal he and Kyrillos have worked out would “pump billions of dollars into the state’s economy and create thousands of jobs.”

Beyond tax breaks, Lesniak also offered his views on the chances that the Rutgers men’s basketball team will make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991.

Hear the whole interview above and check NJBIZ.com for the rest of the podcast, featuring interviews with Aisha Glover, president and chief executive officer of the Newark Alliance; Amy Mansue, RWJBarnabas Health chief experience officer and recipient of the Chamber’s 2020 leadership award; and other guests.