Companies benefitting from EDA tax credits should disclose their political giving immediately, grassroots group says. – NJ.com

By Mara Novak

As political director of NJ 11th for Change, I fight to bring transparency and accountability to New Jersey’s government. It is disturbing to grassroots advocates across the state to learn that many of our elected officials do not serve the voters of New Jersey. In the past few months, we have heard that New Jersey taxpayers are on the hook for $11 billion in corporate giveaways given to politically connected companies across our state by the Economic Development Authority. Yet despite the massive amounts of largesse the EDA has bestowed on these companies, taxpayers know almost nothing about how this money is being spent by recipient companies.

The South Jersey political machine led by unelected insurance broker George Norcross feeds off of this lack of transparency. It’s how he’s made it this far without sustained scrutiny. We already know from documents revealed in a lawsuit that Holtec, a South Jersey nuclear power company that received $260 million in tax incentives and counts George Norcross as a board member, hired Norcross’ insurance company,

Meanwhile, Holtec CEO Kris Singh and leaders of NFI Industries loaned hundreds of thousands of dollars to General Majority PAC, a super PAC that supports Norcross’ political agenda. NFI is even moving its headquarters into the same Camden building as Norcross’ insurance company – paid for by taxpayers. They are all in bed together, at our expense.

Transparency is the best disinfectant to such incestuous deals. The EDA needs to immediately require all tax credit recipients to disclose their contracts and political giving. That’s the only way to ensure these programs aren’t rewarding political cronies at our expense.

Report: Grand jury issues subpoena to N.J. state agency that awards corporate tax breaks

Politico reported on Sunday that the Economic Development Authority has been served a subpoena, according to unnamed sources.

Norcross and his allies in the Legislature, particularly Senate President Steve Sweeney, are threatened by Gov. Phil Murphy’s ongoing investigation into these incentive programs. They are throwing up a full court press defense via trumped up lawsuits (one lawyer characterized the tax breaks as both legal and moral). They have enlisted surrogates like Chris Christie, of all people, to defend the EDA, its board members, and of course, King George himself.

Norcross’s nervous attack dogs are also waging a war of words in the press and on social media. Instead of working cooperatively with the governor to get to the bottom of this unfolding scandal, legislative leaders beholden to Norcross and Sweeney are threatening to hold the governor’s entire legislative agenda hostage – for example, by blaming the ongoing investigation for the failure to advance a bill that would legalize medical marijuana.

I work as a pre-school teacher, and I know this response for what it is: A temper tantrum by emotionally immature children. Voters across our state aren’t fooled by such tricks. Good governance is a principal that unites voters of all stripes. We reject any effort by legislative leaders to hold key agenda items – like marijuana legalization and property tax relief – hostage by craven politicians in thrall to the Norcross machine. New Jersey residents deserve political leaders who will fight for them – not obedient followers who will seek to protect their wealthy friends.

This isn’t just a South Jersey problem. Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo’s chief of staff, Phil Alagia, serves on the EDA Board and enabled these excesses. It’s way past time for legislative leaders to recognize that they need to serve their constituents – not elected party bosses like DiVincenzo and Sweeney, and certainly not unelected bosses like Norcross. It’s time for our elected officials to work with, not against, the governor, to reform this rogue agency and to pursue a truly progressive agenda for our state.

Mara Novak is political director of NJ11th for Change.

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