Wirths implores governor to veto bag tax

SPARTA — Assemblyman Hal Wirths wrote a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy today calling on him to veto a bill on his desk that would tax plastic and paper carryout bags 5 cents.
“New Jersey is a very expensive state to live in, with the cost of living increasing twice as fast as inflation. That is the reason our poverty and working-poor rates are rising,” said Wirths (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris). “The last thing our struggling residents need is to be literally nickel and dimed. The lower a person’s income the more important every last penny becomes.”
Wirths referenced a study by United Way called ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) that found 41 percent of New Jerseyans are working poor because of high taxes and expensive cost of living. The study also found that although inflation has increased by 9 percent over the past decade, the cost of living increased twice as fast.
“Though the bill excludes participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, and Work First New Jersey program, it does not go far enough to help people who do not qualify for these programs but are still poor,” Wirths noted.
He also advocated on behalf of charities who serve the underprivileged, providing food and clothing among other items in plastic and paper bags. Those charities, such as Meals on Wheels, would be taxed on every bag they purchase to help the needy.
“Non-profits across the state use millions of carryout bags to help feed people and provide them with clothing among other necessities. Suddenly what seems like a small fee becomes a potentially crippling expense.
“Having grown up in a family that was middle class on a good day, I am sure you understand how every last penny counts,” Wirths wrote to Murphy. “I implore you to veto this bill. It only serves to take more money out of the pockets of the impoverished and those who work to serve them.”