Above: Gottheimer takes live questions from Fifth District constituents on this week’s teletown hall.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a telephone town hall with thousands of Fifth District constituents to discuss the most pressing taxation issues facing members of the North Jersey community. Gottheimer spoke about his fight to reinstate SALT — the state and local tax deduction — and to claw back more federal tax dollars to New Jersey. Teletown halls give constituents the opportunity to ask questions and share their opinions about the important issues being debated in Washington.

“This week’s teletown hall allowed me to connect with, and hear from, thousands of constituents across North Jersey, even while I’m here voting in Washington. What’s crystal clear to me is that we need to get costs down for families in New Jersey, and that starts with real tax cuts for our state,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “We must fight back against the Moocher States and fully reinstate the State and Local Tax Deduction, or SALT. It’s also why, working with our mayors, councils and first responders, we’ve help claw back 57% more of our federal tax dollars away from the Moocher States to our District since 2016. We must repeal SALT, keep clawing back federal tax dollars from Moocher states like Mississippi, and invest in critical infrastructure so that the people of New Jersey have their federal tax dollars work for them.”

Gottheimer was joined on last night’s call by Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera and board member of the New Jersey Society of CPAs, Norm Fleischer.

In Congress, Gottheimer has led the introduction of H.R. 4274, to reinstate the State and Local Tax deduction. Additionally, Gottheimer has sought other avenues of tax relief by leading a bipartisan coalition that introduced H.J. Res. 72 which allows Americans in States like New Jersey to deduct more in charitable contributions.

Through his dedicated Office of Return on Investment, Gottheimer has clawed back 57 percent more of our federal tax dollars since 2016, which is more than $392 dollars per household, through key grants like the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) excess equipment program and FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). Both programs have provided local investment totaling over $3 million and $2 million dollars respectively.

After the 2017 Tax Hike Bill gutted the SALT deduction, Gottheimer has fought constantly in Congress to repeal the SALT cap, as it has disproportionately affected North Jersey individuals, families, and small businesses. Capping the State and Local Tax Deduction has imposed massive tax hikes and has taken over $668 billion dollars from New Jersey families. All four counties Gottheimer represents had consistently claimed over $10,000 in SALT.

In Warren County, the average deduction was $12,588. In Sussex County, the average deduction was $14,267. In Passaic County, the average deduction was $14,714. Finally, in Bergen County, the average taxpayer claimed $24,783.  

Polling has shown that New Jersey families think they are overtaxed. In addition, nearly 60 percent of New Jersey CPAs advised their clients to leave the state because of the higher taxes. A Rutgers-Eagleton poll found that 79 percent of New Jersey complained about higher property taxes.

Facing out-migration issues because of high taxation, twice as many people moved out of New Jersey last year than moved in. New Jersey is the number one state in the nation for outmigration which continues to stifle economic development and growth.

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