Childless, but struggling: No $500 N.J. rebate for you | Letters – NJ.com

So, the way I’m reading this, Gov. Phil Murphy and Democrat legislative leaders have agreed to apply a millionaires tax surcharge on those making between $1 million and $5 million, while providing a guaranteed, one-time rebate of up to $500 to married couples making less than $150,000 annually (and singles making less than $75,000) as long as they have at least one dependent child.

The purpose, according to Murphy, is to help those who truly need a break.

According to the Star-Ledger’s article, “Murphy said he’d like to see the rebate checks recur annually, but that would depend on future budget negotiations.”

So, while the tax surcharge will be permanent, an ongoing annual rebate is subject to “future negotiations.” Where is the continued relief for those who really need it?

Secondly, what about a middle-class retiree couple making less than $150,000, with NO dependents. Sorry, no relief for you. Instead, many in this category will be forced to continue to survive on Social Security, without even the one $500 rebate. This is another shell game of taxing New Jersey residents.

Dennis Pante, Flanders

Millionaires tax, rebate have Kennedy-like vibe

President John F. Kennedy said in his 1960 inaugural address, “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

In keeping with JFK’s principle, Gov. Phil Murphy and Democrat legislative leaders have agreed to provide New Jersey with a true millionaires tax.

This new tax will also attack the scourge of income inequality by providing relief to certain middle- and lower-income families. Kudos also to the Democratic legislative leadership for supporting this needed reform in the age of COVID-19.

Robert R. Salman, Marlboro

Climate change lawsuits waste resources

It seems Americans are more divided on the issues than ever before except for one: the environment.

Most people accept that climate change is happening and that we must act swiftly and decisively. However, with every complex public policy issue, the devil is in the details.

As recently reported by this publication, two dozen state and municipal officials from Essex, Hudson and Union counties, and state Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman, R-Somerset, believe the best response is to commence litigation immediately against energy manufacturers for damages from climate change. The City of Hoboken actually sued several companies earlier this month.

The reality is that every one of us must take responsibility. We all willingly use and rely on energy products daily — from driving, to heating our homes, to cooking meals and operating schools. Over the last six months, our household reliance on energy increased significantly, given the stay-home orders.

While toilet paper and bread were in short supply in the first months of the pandemic, the ability to meet our energy needs was never in doubt. Companies like ExxonMobil even stepped up to fill a void, converting one of its plants to produce much-needed hand sanitizer and donating it to multiple states including New Jersey.

As an elected official, I’ll be honest. This type of lawsuit might garner public officials some positive press, but won’t do much to address the problem at hand.

The time and resources that will be devoted to this legal battle would be much better spent if officials worked with manufacturers to supplement their ongoing efforts to reduce their environmental footprint, not sitting across each other in a courtroom and spending taxpayers’ money on lawyers.

Carl Manna, Councilman, Borough of Dumont

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