Appearing on News 12’s “Power and Politics” last weekend, NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka said that if New Jersey wants to improve its falling business climate ranking, it needs leaders who seek the input of the state’s job-creators before making critical policy decisions.
“Power and Politics” host Erik Landskroner specifically asked Siekerka about the recent findings of CNBC’s 2025 “America’s Top States for Business,” which showed New Jersey slipping five places to No. 30 in the national rankings. The report measures all 50 states on 135 different metrics in 10 key categories on business competitiveness to determine the rankings.
Siekerka said the news wasn’t a surprise given New Jersey’s affordability issues and its reputation for being unfriendly to business because of high taxes and excessive regulation.
"Business needs to feel comfortable that policymakers are going to listen to what they need, that when business has a seat at the table, which, frankly, Eric, we have not had a seat at the table for quite some time now,” Siekerka said. “Businesspeople are job creators ... Job creation should be the number one priority of any policymaker.”
Siekerka noted that last month NJBIA presented the two gubernatorial candidates – Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill – with NJBIA’s 28-plus page policy document, the “2025 Blueprint for a Competitive New Jersey,” at a reception attended by more than 400 business leaders who came to hear firsthand from candidates about their priorities if elected.
“We had both the candidates who actually sat in the room and listened to each other and talked policy and not politics,” Siekerka said. “I will tell you when they both presented, once again, if even one-tenth of what they said that night was able to come to fruition ... this business community would be ecstatic, and in a much better place.”
Siekerka said the business community is optimistic that change will occur no matter which candidate succeeds Gov. Phil Murphy, who has served two terms and cannot run for re-election due to Constitutional term limits.
“The candidates were incredibly well received that night,” Siekerka said. “There was a lot of energy and momentum for the campaign to come. So yeah, I think the business community has a big bounce in our step ... we’re excited about where we’re going to be a year from now.”
To watch the entire News 12 interview, go here and scroll to the scroll to the 33-second mark.