Trenton, NJ – Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli rolled out a 10-point affordability agenda on Wednesday, vowing to reverse what he described as decades of failed Democratic policies that have left New Jersey with the highest property taxes in the nation and one of the heaviest tax burdens overall.
Ciattarelli, a two-time small business owner, said his “Garden State Affordability Agenda” would deliver long-term relief to families, seniors, and young residents, contrasting his plan with what he called gimmicks like tax rebates. He warned that his opponent, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, would continue the policies of Gov. Phil Murphy and President Biden.
“This election may very well be the last chance New Jersey has to change course and become an affordable place to live, work, and retire,” Ciattarelli said, adding that the state’s American Dream was “on life support.”
The Republican nominee’s plan includes cutting and capping property taxes, overhauling the state’s school funding formula, and eliminating subsidies tied to offshore wind and climate initiatives. He also vowed to slash corporate and income taxes, roll back spending increases from Murphy’s two terms, and withdraw New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which he claimed would save ratepayers more than $300 million annually.
Other planks include attracting college graduates to stay in-state by refunding tuition differences, installing an Auditor General to root out waste and fraud, and modernizing state government with a Chief Technology Officer. Ciattarelli also called for a four-week “cooling off” period for state budgets to allow public review before votes.
The GOP nominee cast his plan as the only viable path to making the Garden State affordable again, while arguing that a Sherrill administration would mean “nothing will change for the better and it’s almost certain to get worse.”
Key Points
- Jack Ciattarelli unveiled a 10-point affordability agenda targeting taxes, energy, and spending.
- The Republican nominee promised to roll back Murphy-era policies and overhaul school funding.
- Ciattarelli warned that rival Mikie Sherrill would extend Democratic control in Trenton.
New Jersey’s affordability fight just became the central battleground of the governor’s race.