Murphy defends probe of tax credit program to union leaders

ATLANTIC CITY — Gov. Phil Murphy continued his attack against the state’s controversial tax incentive program Monday, telling labor leaders that reform is needed to protect both taxpayers and union jobs.

Speaking at the Laborers’ International Union of North America Eastern Region conference at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Murphy defended his task force’s investigation into the state Economic Development Authority and its use of more than $11 billion in tax credits.

A damning audit of the authority — ordered by Murphy when he took office and released earlier this year — found the tax credits were routinely awarded to politically connected firms and failed to either create or retain an adequate number of jobs relative to the incentives provided.

Murphy, a Democrat, and South Jersey power broker George Norcross have recently engaged in a public dispute over the program’s effectiveness in Camden and the legality of the task force investigation. Norcross, an ally of Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney, claimed that Murphy’s task force investigation was designed to “strike back” at South Jersey Democrats.

Read more: https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/politics/murphy-defends-probe-of-tax-credit-program-to-union-leaders/article_95f011cb-ff6a-5c2c-bdaf-e591bfa95bb6.html