Democrats who control the state Legislature are fighting Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy on his campaign promises to sign a millionaires’ tax into law and establish recreational marijuana in the state.
The back and forth has set the stage for a Murphy-Legislature battle after the new governor unveils his budget proposal in less than a week.
But according to a poll taken late last year, New Jersey voters back Murphy’s plans to tax millionaires and weed even though a majority of residents agree the state is taxed enough.
Sixty percent of New Jerseyans “strongly support” taxing the sale of recreational marijuana if it’s made legal in the state and another 16 percent “somewhat support” it, according to a Rutgers Eagleton Poll released Wednesday.
On the flip side, only 15 percent said they “strongly oppose” taxing recreational cannabis, according to the poll. Another 5 percent “somewhat oppose” the hypothetical tax.
A proposal to raise taxes on New Jersey’s millionaires also cuts in Murphy’s favor among voters: 49 percent “strongly support” it and 19 percent “somewhat support” it, compared to 17 percent who strongly oppose it and 9 percent who said they somewhat oppose the plan.
Both measures have hit roadblocks in the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature.
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, though he supported a millionaires tax multiple times in recent years, now says it’s the “absolute last thing” he will consider.
On recreational marijuana, there’s currently not enough support in the state Senate to approve legislation.
Any revenue gained by a tax on either millionaires or recreational marijuana is much needed by the new governor, who has a long list of campaign promises that come attached with a high price tag.
But just because residents take Murphy’s side on those taxes plans doesn’t mean voters will always have his back when it comes to any additional new taxes. In fact, it’s more likely than not that they won’t.
And an overwhelming majority — 79 percent — say they pay too much in taxes and only 17 percent say they get their money’s worth for what they give, according to the poll.
Murphy will unveil his first budget proposal on March 13.
Eagleton surveyed 1,203 New Jerseyans by cell phone and landline between Nov. 15-27. It’s part of Eagleton’s “2018 State of the Garden State” survey. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
credit:nj.com
