The New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s staunch efforts to champion New Jersey’s business community are reflected in an NJ ELEC report this week showing the association as the fourth most active lobbying advocacy group in 2024.
A report released this week by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission showed that New Jersey lobbyists in 2024 spent more than $103 million on efforts to influence legislation and executive actions in Trenton, a 4.1% overall spending increase from 2023.
NJBIA allocated the fourth highest amount of lobbying dollars of all state advocacy groups in 2024 at nearly $644,000.
NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka thanked her Government Affairs staff, led by Chief Officer Christopher Emigholz, for their commitment to the business community, particularly for its hard-fought advocacy against a new $1 billion Corporate Business Tax against New Jersey’s largest job creators last year.
“Our Government Affairs staff works tirelessly for New Jersey’s business community every day, which is essential given the constant tax and regulatory challenges often thrown at them,” Siekerka said.
“We take great pride in what good policies we help get to the finish line and bad policies we can help to stop. But what often goes unnoticed is how even bad policies are greatly mitigated by our Government Affairs team due to their research, relationships and resolve. No matter what the policy or issues, our job creators can rest assured our team has their best interests at heart.”
NJBIA’s Government Affairs team includes Siekerka, Emigholz, Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer Ray Cantor, Vice President of Government Affairs Althea D. Ford, Vice President of Government Affairs Elissa Frank, Government Affairs Manager Marcy DePula and Government Affairs Associate Jaimie Freeman.
NJBIA was deeply involved in some of the policy issues that drew the most overall attention of lobbyists during 2024, including the adoption of the $56.6 billion state budget for 2024-2025, which also included the separate issue of the $1 billion Corporate Transit Fee.
In response to the new tax levied by Gov. Phil Murphy, NJBIA committed to a ‘Do Better for Business’ advocacy, media and awareness campaign.
Other top policy issues that NJBIA successfully fought against included a bill establishing occupational heat stress standards and a packaging product stewardship act.
To see the 2024 achievements of NJBIA’s Government Affairs team, click here.
