Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew voiced strong opposition to tax hikes proposed by the New Jersey Policy Perspective, warning that the suggested measures would make the state less affordable and drive more residents to leave the state. The think tank's report calls for reversing a prior tax cut, which brought New Jersey's sales tax rate down from 7% to 6.625% and would expand the scope of sales tax to include professional services such as attorneys and accountants.

"New Jersey is already draining its residents with some of the highest taxes in the nation," said Congressman Van Drew. "Now they want to worsen the situation by raising our sales tax and imposing a new tax on basic professional services. The idea of taxing people for services like consulting a lawyer or accountant—simply to navigate the state's already burdensome tax code—is absolutely outrageous. These proposals ignore the real impact they will have on middle-class families and small business owners who are already stretched thin. Higher taxes are not the solution. New Jersey is already generating record revenue, yet the state government continues to overspend. Our focus should be on how to spend more responsibly, not on yet another round of taxes that will push families to the brink."