JACK'S PLAN TO FIX NEW JERSEY
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MAKE NEW JERSEY AFFORDABLE AGAIN
Jack will cap property taxes to a percentage of assessed home value so that working families and young people can afford to buy a home, while expanding the senior property tax freeze.
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Jack will reduce state spending by 30%, keep future budget growth to no more than the rate of inflation, and aggressively use the line item veto pen to eliminate and prevent waste.
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Jack will reduce the Corporation Business Tax by one percent per year for five years, taking it from the highest rate in the nation to one that is competitive nationally.
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Jack will reduce income taxes for all taxpayers, consolidate tax brackets, prohibit tax increases on home improvements, and make student loan interest tax deductible.
Jack will attract more young people to move to New Jersey by refunding the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for anyone who attends college here, and then lives and works in the state for a minimum of three years upon graduation.
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REFORMING GOVERNMENT SO IT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE
Jack will enact eight-year term limits for all state legislators to match the eight-year term limit of the Governor to promote fresh ideas and new leadership in state government.
Jack will mandate that all state employees return to an in-person, 5-day work week immediately, and fully end remote work for public employees.
Jack will create the NJ Department of Government Efficiency (NJDOGE), elevate it to a cabinet position, and put his Lieutenant Governor in charge of targeting and weeding out unnecessary spending and fraud in government through audits and investigations.
Jack will also use NJDOGE to review and audit the 3,000 seats on the nearly 500 unelected boards and commissions across the state, and use his appointment power to consolidate, reshape and streamline them with the goal of accountability.
Jack will immediately reform the NJ Board of Public Utilities, freeing it from control of the utility monopolies that consistently raise gas and electricity rates, as well as insurance premiums.
Jack will reform the state budget process to mandate a two-week “cooling off period” between when a spending bill is drafted and when it is voted on so legislators, press, and the public have time to read it - ending the ability of politicians to use the threat of government shutdowns to rush through bloated budgets and pork-barrel spending.
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Jack will promote a “Customer First Initiative” in all state offices that entitle visitors to courteous, prompt, efficient, and responsive service, borrowing an initiative once implemented by former Governor Tom Kean.
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ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN FAIR & HONEST ELECTIONS
Jack will require all voters to produce photo identification at the polls before they cast their ballot and will ensure official state ID cards are readily available for all legal residents who should need one. All vote-by-mail voters would need to certify their identity and citizenship to election officials in advance of receiving a ballot.
Jack will further reform the state vote-by-mail law by modeling it after Florida law, requiring that all ballots must be received by 8:00pm (the close of polls) on Election Day in order to be lawfully counted. Jack will also expand the number of Early In-Person voting sites in each county, and require that Early In-Person voting days for the primary election be expanded to match that of the general election
Jack will sign a bill modeled after legislation proposed by Senator Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa), requiring the NJ Attorney General to create a Voter Fraud Task Force within the Division of Criminal Justice to investigate and prosecute voter fraud.
Jack will expand voter registration efforts beyond the current “motor voter” law, and ensure the same protocol currently followed at New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices is extended to those who purchase hunting, fishing and trapping licenses through the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife or its license agents, as well as those who apply for gun permits, business licenses and construction permits.
Jack will look for efficiencies in the state’s Boards of Elections and Superintendent of Elections Offices; and prohibit County or Municipal Political Chairs from being members of Boards of Elections.
Jack will also adopt Florida’s ballot counting system, which allows counties to start counting mail-in ballots 25 days before Election Day and require results from early voting to be posted within 30 minutes of the polls closing.
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RESTORING LAW, ORDER & RESPECT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
Jack will repeal the Immigrant Trust Directive (Sanctuary State policy) and ban municipalities from declaring themselves Sanctuary Cities. Those who disobey could have municipal aid withheld from Trenton until they comply.
Jack will oppose the release of police internal affairs and personnel records going back decades – as well as going forward – and restore long-standing protections afforded to law enforcement.
Jack will oppose Civilian Review Boards with or without subpoena power (local governing bodies in executive sessions are the appropriate domain for all disciplinary cases to be heard), protect “Qualified Immunity”, and eliminate mandatory “Use of Force” reporting when a firearm is NOT discharged.
Jack will fix “Bail Reform” loopholes that currently allow violent and repeat offenders to walk free by appointing conservative state judges and county prosecutors, as well as revising the current bail reform law to toughen rules governing juvenile offenders.
Jack will support reforms that expand Community Policing that encourage towns to hire police who live in town, increase the importance of residency in the hiring process, and use property tax relief programs to incentivize local hiring.
Jack will restore the COLA for police and fire (PFRS) pensions. Following that, he will protect those pensions by mandating absolutely NO changes for current workers, retirees, or future recruits, nor other compensation changes that would make a career in law enforcement less desirable.
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STOPPING SUBURBAN SPRAWL & ADVANCING SMART HOUSING POLICY
Jack will support affordable housing in New Jersey, but not mandated housing construction in every municipality. The current law has resulted in residential overdevelopment in communities that have limited infrastructure, no mass transit, and very few, if any, low-to-moderate income job opportunities.
Jack opposes the current model because it is gobbling up open space, chasing wildlife from its habitat, increasing pollution from more idling cars on already congested roads, leading to more local flooding from stormwater management issues, and driving up property taxes due to endless legal fees and additional local services.
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Jack supports a regional approach - focused on driving population growth to transit hubs and urban centers, where self-sustaining local economies are desperately needed - including regional contribution agreements (i.e., RCAs) and quotas based on state Department of Labor statistics. He believes that approach must come via a real legislative solution - not a judge - and, if need be, a constitutional amendment.
Jack supports impact fees on new warehouse development to ensure that when infrastructure improvements are necessitated by the development, the developer pays for it, not already overburdened taxpayers.
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PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CHILDREN
Jack will reform the state school funding formula, set a statewide standard on per-pupil spending and then allow that money to follow the student, while instructing the State Department of Education to get off the backs of higher-performing districts while concentrating on under-performing districts.
Jack will coordinate the expansion of pre-K utilizing existing private day care providers, making sure the money aligns with parent choice and student needs.
Jack will expand charter schools and loosen restrictions on the inter-district public school choice program to allow parents real choices in the schools their children attend - modeling it after Florida’s school voucher program.
Jack will no longer allow the tail to wag the dog as it relates to the NJEA union bosses. No more will they be allowed to bully their own members into a system that siphons dues money from teachers into the coffers of a hyperpartisan political operation, which turns around and spends tens of millions of dollars pushing candidates and issues that a vast number of teachers don’t agree with.
Jack will make 3+1 community college program offerings mandatory for all state colleges and universities, promote partnerships between county colleges and Vo-Tech with local employers, and create a workforce development job pipeline in every county.
Jack will promote pension reforms for teachers and other faculty that create options for a Defined Contribution model for new teachers, as opposed to forcing them into the current Defined Benefit model. Teachers deserve more choices, not fewer.
Jack will implement a true Parents' Bill of Rights that provides transparency to parents by requiring K-12 curriculum sources to be posted online at the beginning of each school year, and reform requirements for sexual and social education to make content age-appropriate for elementary, middle school-aged, and high school children.
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MAKING ENERGY POLICY AFFORDABLE – AND REALISTIC – AGAIN
Jack will draft and implement a new Energy Master Plan that promotes an all-of-the-above energy policy.
Jack will repeal unrealistic and unaffordable state mandates and timelines regarding electric vehicle sales, household appliances, home renovation, and home construction – which would make New Jersey even more expensive and punish working and middle class residents the most.
Jack will ban offshore wind farms from being built off our coast and along our Jersey Shore.
Jack will withdraw New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
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MODERNIZING NEW JERSEY’S APPROACH TO TRANSPORTATION
Jack will seek to create the Garden State Transportation Authority, folding New Jersey Transit, the Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority into a single governing body appointed by the Governor. In this structure, the Commissioner of the NJ Department of Transportation will become the Chairman of the Board.
Jack will fight New York’s egregious congestion pricing scheme, which financially punishes working families, commuters, small business owners, and others all so New York can bail out their lawless subway system and corrupt mass transit agency.
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FINDING COMMON GROUND ON ABORTION RIGHTS
Jack is the proud father of four children and being a dad is the greatest thing that has ever happened to him. He also understands that any decision to terminate a pregnancy is deeply personal. As governor, he won’t pretend to know what is inside a woman’s heart or head. He believes that with certain reasonable exceptions/restrictions agreed upon by the vast majority of Americans, this decision should be between a woman, her partner, her faith, and her healthcare professionals.
Jack respects that this issue evokes strong feelings from well-intentioned people on both sides of the issue, and his personal position is as follows: 1) Prohibit elective abortions after 20 weeks while ensuring all women have access to high-quality prenatal care and education; 2) Support parental notification for minors seeking an abortion - the fact that a 16-year-old in New Jersey needs her parents’ permission to get her ears pierced, but not get an abortion is absurd; 3) Oppose taxpayer funding of abortion; 4) Oppose the so-called “Reproductive Freedom Act” signed into law by Governor Murphy that allows abortion up to the moment of birth; and 5) Support education and innovative approaches to reduce teenage and unwanted pregnancies.
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DEMANDING AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE
Jack will end any rejection or limitation of health insurance coverage for pre-existing medical conditions and ensure that all specialists who previously treated a pre-existing condition will be considered “in-network” when someone changes plans.
Jack will empower the Department of Banking and Insurance to crack down on insurers to lower costs, as well as prevent the improper withholding of claims and the misuse of the preauthorization process designed to inflate profits and unfairly deny coverage to people who have paid for it.
Jack will ensure health insurance plans cover all out-of-network expenses for emergent medical care, and support state-sponsored reinsurance programs/reimbursement systems that address catastrophic care claims in order to stabilize health insurance markets and make coverage more available and affordable.
Jack will encourage new free-market health systems that make care more accessible and affordable while guaranteeing patient choice.
Jack will partner with the federal government to better invest Medicaid dollars to encourage, empower and promote clinics in the community that provide access to high-quality and culturally competent healthcare to those who experience barriers to healthcare, such as the uninsured and working poor.
Jack will never support cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits for seniors.
Jack will oppose a one-size-fits-all vaccination schedule, support medical and religious exemptions for vaccines, and create a parental rights ombudsman in state government to give parents more of a voice on key issues, including those seeking a philosophical vaccine exemption.
Jack will improve access to healthcare, including mental health services, through a permanent law for telemedicine or telehealth in which patients, including lower-income workers, are guaranteed the choice of remote or in-person visits to see a physician.
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HONORING OUR STATE’S VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES
Jack will preserve funding for military and veterans’ affairs and the earned benefits of veterans. He will enact a “veteran is a veteran” policy, providing programs and benefits to all veterans regardless of the dates or location of their service - including eliminating the requirement that a NJ National Guard member serve in federal active duty
status to qualify for the veteran's state income tax deduction.
Jack will partner with the federal government to bring the Governor’s and Mayors’ Challenges to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families to New Jersey, and provide families and caregivers of veterans who commit suicide bereavement counseling.
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DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS
Jack will pledge to revisit and reform/repeal any law that violates an individual’s constitutional right to due process, and grandfather in any firearm that was legally purchased, but that is deemed illegal in subsequent legislation.
Jack will standardize the process by which firearms ID cards and gun carry permits are
processed and approved, and oppose all increases in related fees.
Jack will speed up gun permit application processes with “fast track” status for applicants who face imminent danger (e.g., victims of domestic violence).
Jack will promote and fund additional resources to address the underlying, serious mental health crisis in our country that too often manifests itself in gun violence.
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RESPECTING AND PROTECTING FELLOW CITIZENS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
People living with intellectual and developmental disabilities are full members of our communities, and they deserve the same access to opportunity, dignity, and support as every other New Jerseyan.
Jack's administration will work in close partnership with our state’s dedicated nonprofit, faith-based, healthcare, and community organizations to ensure that these individuals are not underserved or forgotten.
Jack will focus on:
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Safe and Comfortable Housing that is tailored, accessible, and secure to the special needs of this population
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High Quality, Safe, Accessible Healthcare that meets both their medical and behavioral health needs. This includes working in partnership with New Jersey’s educational institutions to ensure our new generation of healthcare professionals are prepared to serve the needs of this population
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Meaningful Employment and Recreation Opportunities that allow individuals to live full, engaged lives
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Strong, Inclusive Education for school-age children living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring that they receive the specialized support and resources they need to learn, grow, and succeed in getting a free and appropriate public education.
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Protection from Abuse and Neglect for all those living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. My administration will ensure that we work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable among us from the fear of mistreatment, abuse, or neglect. We will work together to ensure family support systems and advocacy resources are fully available to all who need them.
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PRIORITIZING QUALIFICATIONS, NOT PARTISANSHIP ON THE SUPREME COURT
Jack will break from the failed tradition of artificially providing partisan balance on the State Supreme Court, and instead pick the best and most qualified nominees (regardless of party affiliation) who will apply the law as written by the legislature, not endeavor to make law that resulted in the failed Abbott and Mount Laurel decisions.
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NEW JERSEY'S JEWISH COMMUNITY, ANTISEMITISM, AND ISRAEL
Jack has spent years building deep and personal relationships throughout New Jersey’s various and diverse Jewish communities. He has come to know the unique challenges these communities face.
As Governor, Jack will continue to engage with the Jewish community by:
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Appointing an Attorney General and State Police Superintendent who are intimately familiar with the various Jewish communities and their unique needs, and are ready to work with the Jewish community on day one.
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Establishing an Advisory Council on Jewish Affairs.
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Enacting tough, first-in-the-nation legislation to combat antisemitism, both on college campuses and in the wider community. This legislation will be driven by the IHRA definition of Antisemitism.
Jack will also Strengthen Ties with Israel by reviving the New Jersey-Israel Commission to:
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Foster economic, scientific, educational, and cultural ties with Israel, recognizing it as one of New Jersey's most important trading partners.
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Increase bilateral trade between New Jersey and Israel
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PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE HUNTING, FISHING & CONSERVATION
Jack will reform hunting and fishing regulations to streamline government processes such as permitting, and seek ways to expand access to publicly funded lands and to account for modern methods of hunting and fishing that are utilized safely in other states.
Jack will change the composition of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council to ensure that all participants in our state’s multifaceted fishing industry are fairly represented.
Jack will focus keenly on New Jersey’s membership with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to ensure its rules and processes account for our unique coastline and varied fishing practices, ensure proper and scientific stock management, and don’t harm our vital fishing industry which provides millions of dollars to our economy from both recreational and commercial fishing.
Jack will replace current Attorney General Matt Platkin on Day One with an AG who respects all constitutional rights, including Second Amendment rights, and will review all legislation and policies for constitutional flaws to remedy or repeal them, and reevaluate the state’s position in pending lawsuits by citizens challenging state laws as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.
Jack will veto bills that infringe on the Second Amendment or on other rights of sportsmen and women to hunt, fish and trap. He will protect the independence of the NJ Fish and Game Council and will base policies on wildlife science, not political science.
He will allow the annual bear hunt and consider the advice of the NJ Fish and Game Council and wildlife biologists on other outdoor sportsman issues.
