The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce does not represent New Jersey business

By endorsing Governor Corzine’s fiscal restructuring plan and calling for the elimination of property tax relief, The New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce has demonstrated that its does not represent New Jersey business interests.

As a leader of a regional chamber, the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, I was initially angry and dismayed that the State Chamber would endorse Governor Corzine’s plan to raise tolls by 800% on the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway, and that they would do so even before Corzine released the details of his plan. That they called for the State to abandon property tax relief as one of their conditions for supporting Corzine’s plan convinced me that the State Chamber very much a part of the problem in Trenton.

The State Chamber’s website states that its goal is “to represent the varying interests of our members and to help them clear burdensome regulatory hurdles that stifle growth.” When I looked to see who the State Chamber’s members were, I realized that by endorsing Corzine’s plan, they were in fact being true to their goal. The State Chamber’s board of directors is dominated by the management of insurance companies, utilities and banks, all of whom are dependent of government regulation for their success and to thwart competition in their industries, and by large real estate developers who are dependent on government approvals to build their projects. In other words, special interests.

The State Chamber, which is best known for its annual “Walk to Washington” party on Amtrak where the government elite and wannabees schmooze with the special interest business elites and wannabees, does not represent the interests of the majority of New Jersey businesses that struggle in an increasingly unfriendly environment to compete in the market place, provide livable wages and benefits to their employees, and pay taxes, fees and utility bills.

The public needs to know that there is a difference between their local and regional Chambers of Commerce and the State Chamber. Local and regional chambers are comprised of your neighborhood business, large and small. They promote their towns and regions, provide networking and educational opportunities and advocate for business interests with local government representatives. Local and regional chambers, many of which have been dues paying members of the State Chamber, have relied on the State Chamber to represent our interests in Trenton. We now need to look elsewhere for statewide support and representation.

The Governor’s plan to raise tolls by 800% plus inflation might be good for insurance companies, gas and electric and phone companies, but it is not good for the majority of New Jersey business, their employees and customers.

New Jersey’s government needs to do what businesses do during difficult times or when they’ve made poor decisions. Cut expenses, do more with less, reduce payroll, as difficult as that can be. They need to provide superior service for competitive taxes and fees. Otherwise businesses and citizens will continue to go elsewhere.