A sales-tax exemption measure designed to encourage major online retailers to locate in New Jersey has been introduced in the Legislature.The bill would help alleviate disparities between online retailers, who are not required to collect New Jersey's 7 percent sales tax unless they have a physical presence in the state, and bricks-and-mortar stores, according to Democrats. Amazon.com, the world's biggest online retailer, is in talks to bring two warehouses to New Jersey in exchange for a delay in charging its Garden State customers sales tax. The deal could bring 1,500 full-time jobs to a state where unemployment has hovered around 9 percent. The legislation specifies that the jobs must go to New Jersey residents. 

In response to the governor's budget proposal Tuesday, Democrats, who control the Senate and Assembly, say the governor should forgo the income-tax cut and redirect that revenue to offset New Jerseyans' property taxes, a plan they say is fairer.

High property taxes consistently rank as one of NJ voters' biggest concerns. A color coded, interactive map shows property tax changes from 2009-2011 during the first two years of Gov. Chris Christie’s tenure. Data includes the total tax levy, total tax rate, average home value, property tax bill on that average residence, average property tax rebate and the net average property tax bill when adjusted for that rebate. The two-year change is calculated for each from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ property tax spreadsheets. Despite the economic times, large reductions in state aid and sharp reductions in direct property tax relief Merchantville responded to and met those municipal challenges during the past two years. Cuts in rebates have left the mean average household paying $1,275 more than when Gov. Corzine left office. "http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0216/2014/

More than half of New Jersey’s registered voters disapprove of a proposed merger of Rutgers-Camden with Rowan University, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Tuesday. According to the poll, 57 percent of 914 adults interviewed by phone between Feb. 9 and 11 oppose the plan. Twenty-two percent support a merger and 21 percent are unsure. “Gov. Christie’s plan may be the most unpopular idea he has put forward to date,” said Rutgers-Eagleton Poll Director David Redlawsk, a professor of political science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Calling the numbers “stunning” in their “deep dislike” of the proposal, Redlawsk added that even Republicans did not line up behind the governor. The university’s Board of Governors will meet on the Camden campus today to hear comments on the merger plan. A student/faculty rally is also planned before the 1:30 p.m. session.

Primus Green Energy hopes to break ground next year on commercial plant. It may only amount to a drop in the bucket for a nation as thirsty for oil as the United States, but a Hillsborough company is betting it can convert wood pellets and other biomass into a renewable gasoline. Primus Green Energy, an 11-year-old company, already has produced fuel samples from a pilot plant located in a three-building complex off of Route 206, just north of Princeton. It now is building a demonstration plant at the facility and hopes to break ground next year on a commercial plant. http://bit.ly/xliEJs

Legislation that would let gay couples marry in New Jersey was passed Monday by the state Senate but would need to add three supporters to overcome Gov. Chris Christie’s promised veto. The Senate passed the bill, 24-16, adding 10 supporters since the bill failed 14-20 in January 2010. If the Assembly passes the bill, Thursday, it would head to Christie, who has said he will veto it. Such a veto could be overridden by a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature, meaning 27 votes in the Senate, any time through January 2014. http://on.cpsj.com/xLImA0