Free Republic

The all-out war South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross III declared against Gov. Phil Murphy this week won’t just be a battle of words. It will be a political firefight. Norcross, who’s at the center of criticism over how his company and other entities tied to him allegedly benefitted from lucrative tax incentives, all but said Murphy can expect to face a Democratic primary challenge in 2021.

George Norcross III, the South Jersey Democratic power broker long at odds with the governor, has declared all-out war on Phil Murphy, calling him a “liar” and “politically incompetent.” After enduring a steady drumbeat of criticism over how his company and other entities tied to him allegedly benefitted from lucrative tax incentives meant to help revive the city of Camden, Norcross went on the attack. He lambasted a special governor’s task force deployed to investigate the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in connection with those tax incentives, as well as the governor.

The other leader of the state Legislature has now rejected Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposal to pour another $250 million into property tax relief for New Jersey residents next year if lawmakers agree to his plan to raise taxes on millionaires. That means Murphy and his fellow Democrats who lead the Legislature could be headed for another tense state budget battle in the coming weeks — and raises the possibility once again of a state government shutdown. State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said in a statement obtained by NJ Advance Media on Wednesday night that “I do not share the...

European, Asian and Canadian companies are taking advantage of the weaker dollar to buy their U.S. counterparts at a record pace, increasing investment in the United States but also raising fears about a potential loss of jobs and autonomy. "We could be looking at the world's largest tag sale if we continue to see declines in the dollar," said Donald Klepper-Smith, chief economist at DataCore Partners. In the latest large deal aided by a weak dollar, Commerce Bancorp, which is based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, agreed Tuesday to be acquired by Toronto-Dominion Bank of Canada in a cash-and-shares deal...