New Jersey Senate and Assembly Republicans want Gov. Phil Murphy to call a special session of the legislature to adopt economic relief for a state that has seen considerable unemployment and business closures as a result of COVID-19. Republican legislators say that millions of New Jerseyans are suffering from the “broad shutdowns and restrictions” related to the pandemic, with “looming tax increase on employers scheduled to go into effect July 1 threatens small businesses, nonprofits, and their employees.”

“We feel strongly that we cannot allow the continued harm that comes with continuing indecision and delay. More tenants will fall into debt, more communities will fall into disrepair, and more businesses and nonprofits will fail,” the legislators said. “People without access to the internet in rural and urban areas will fall farther behind, and job-crushing tax increases on every employer will further hurt those who are already hurting the most.” The request comes days before Murphy is scheduled to deliver his annual budget address. “We are concerned that your budget address next week and the 2022 budget, which will be separately discussed and enacted four months from now, will be used as a crutch to avoid taking the urgent action that immediate conditions require,” GOP senators and assembly members said. “Waiting until the next budget is enacted will be too late to prevent more business and nonprofit closures, and to stop an avoidable and destructive employer tax increase.”

Senate Republicans said the letter was signed by State Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Demarest ) on Thursday and delivered to Murphy on Saturday before they learned of his death. Read here: