Democrat,

The past couple of weeks have been very difficult for our Party as we’ve honored the extraordinary life of Lt. Governor, Sheila Oliver. In our collective grief, however, we've been able to find strength among each other as a community. We know that Lt. Governor Oliver's work has touched countless lives, and we are committed to keeping her memory alive by continuing to talk about her, the transformative work she undertook, and the profound changes she brought to our state. Over the next few weeks, you will hear from us about the ways that we will continue to honor her legacy. Our hearts continue to go out to her family, loved ones, and friends who feel her loss every day.

Also this week Governor Richard J. Codey announced his decision to not seek reelection to the New Jersey Senate after an extraordinary 50 years of dedicated leadership. As the Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, I join New Jerseyans across the state in expressing our profound gratitude to Governor Codey for his service. His dedication, passion, wit and determination have left an indelible mark on our state, and his legacy will inspire generations of public servants to come. We wish him the very best in all his future endeavors and look forward to continuing to work alongside him to build a brighter and more inclusive future for our state.

You can read my full statement on Governor Codey’s decades of leadership and service here.

This week, Governor Murphyannounced that over 1.3 million taxpayers who received property tax relief benefits last year through the ANCHOR program will soon receive a letter confirming their eligibility for this year’s program and a notification that they will not need to re-file an application to receive a check or direct deposit in most circumstances.

“This will no doubt be welcome news for millions of residents across the Garden State,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Not only will the benefit increase considerably for many seniors, but the process will be a whole lot easier for residents across the board. I want to thank the Treasury and the Division of Taxation for working around the clock to simplify the road to a more affordable New Jersey.”

The Murphy administration continues to demonstrate its commitment to the financial well-being of New Jersey residents. This announcement will simplify the process of receiving property tax relief benefits for working families and taxpayers and, coupled with an extended application timeline and efficient benefit distribution, reflects the administration's efforts to make New Jersey more affordable for all its citizens.

Additionally, between August 22nd and 28th, the Division of Taxation will begin mailing applications to 2 million residences to try and reach additional homeowners and renters who have not applied for the program but may also be eligible . These applicants will have until December 29, 2023 to file an application and benefits will be distributed on a rolling basis within 90 days of filing.

This week, we celebrated the 1-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act becoming law. The legislation is doing exactly what it promised: lowering health care and prescription drug costs for families, bringing new jobs to our communities, and spurring crucial investments in clean energy that will continue to deliver benefits to future generations of New Jerseyans. As we reflect on the past year's achievements, The Inflation Reduction Act stands as a testament to the Democratic Party’s commitment to economic well-being and security for all. That’s why it’s so important that we send President Biden and Vice President Harris back to the White House next year to finish the job and elect Democrats up and down the ballot who will protect and build on the progress we’ve made.

Here’s how the Inflation Reduction Act is delivering for New Jerseyans:

• 1.7 million seniors and other Medicare recipients are saving money because of Biden’s caps on out-of-pocket prescription and insulin costs, free vaccines, and inflation rebates; while 325,500 New Jerseyans now have health insurance through the ACA and will benefit from savings of about $800/year;


• Capped out-of-pocket prescription expenses for seniors on Medicare while expanding ACA coverage and savings;


• As the most comprehensive climate legislation in history, it will reduce pollution, improve local air/water quality, expand clean energy job opportunities, and give hardworking NJ families $183.1 million in home energy rebates to help cut energy costs and make the switch to renewable energy sources;


• The most sweeping climate legislation in history creating new clean energy jobs, reducing pollution and lowering home energy costs for NJ families;


• Supporting NJ’s 937,436 small businesses, 99.6% of all businesses in the state, by helping them save money through tax credits, and reducing unemployment rates with 403,200 new jobs created - including 3,100 jobs in clean energy; and


• Created over 400,000 new jobs in NJ, reduced unemployment, expanded tax credits for NJ’s small businesses.

— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.

P.S. On Monday we were thrilled to introduce the NJDSC Youth Texting Bank, an incredible opportunity for young people in New Jersey to make a real impact on our upcoming (and crucial!) election this November. The text bank will be happening every Monday from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM on Zoom link will be sent upon registration.

In this digital age, texting has become an effective way to engage with our community and encourage active participation in the democratic process. Young people have the power to mobilize their peers and make a real difference. Plus, no prior experience is required – all you need is your enthusiasm and dedication to the cause, access to a smartphone, computer, or tablet, and a stable internet connection or Wi-Fi!

RSVP HERE now to secure your spot in the NJDSC Youth Texting Bank!