The state Assembly representatives of the 31st Legislative District, Nick Chiaravalloti and Angela McKnight, said they’ll support the millionaire’s tax backed by Gov. Phil Murphy if it’s posted, but they do not think the votes are there to move it forward.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Out of respect for Speaker Coughlin, Assembly Budget Committee chairperson Pintor Marin, and the legislative process, we did not feel a comment on the millionaires tax was necessary before June,” the two Hudson Democrats said in a joint statement.
“We are willing to support a millionaires tax if posted; however we know that we do not have the necessary votes in our caucus. We will continue to work with Speaker Coughlin in support of a budget that supports middle-class priorities and is fiscally responsible for all New Jerseyans.â€
Chiaravalloti and McKnight join their colleagues in the 33rd Legislative District, as well as state Senator Brian Stack and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, in backing the governor’s proposal which would raise the annual tax levy on anyone that earns a million dollars or more from 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent.
However, they seem to be taking a far more measured approach than their fellow local electeds, recognizing that there is a realistic chance Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) doesn’t post the bill and that they are still way short of getting it to Murphy’s desk.
Murphy would need 41 votes in the Assembly for the bill to advance, and as of this writing, he only has 11 votes confirmed.
The state legislature must approve a 2019-2020 budget, which is estimated to be about $38.6 billion, by June 30th to ensure there is no government shutdown.
Murphy previously said that he will not sign a budget that does not include a version of the millionaire’s tax.
