GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS ON MINIMUM WAGE
AN IMPASSE ON THE GAS TAX AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
STATE AUDITOR FINDS EVIDENCE OF WIDE-SPREAD ILLEGAL TIRE DUMPING
REMINDER ABOUT EMV COMPLIANCE BY OCTOBER 1, 2017
NJGCA SEPTEMBER EVENTS: PIF TRAINING CLASS ON SEPTEMBER 7^TH, BREAKFAST MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 14^TH IN ROXBURY, FAMILY FUN DAY TO SUPPORT BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF NJ ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24^TH IN WEST WINDSOR.
 

The first item this week contains good news and bad news. On Monday, the Governor’s Office called to invite us to a press conference to be held the following day, where the Governor planned to veto the $15/hour minimum wage legislation.  Eric attended the event, as did many members of the coalition that has been fighting to stop a $15/hour minimum wage over the past year.  This is the good news.  The bad news is that the Legislature plans to bypass the Governor and pass a resolution (which governors do not have the authority to veto) to amend the NJ Constitution and require employers to pay their workers a minimum wage of $15/hour.  This question would appear on the November 2017 ballot for voters to decide, at the same time that they go to the polls to elect a new Governor. I am sure that this issue will motivate many union members and Democratic-leaning individuals to vote in November '17. Democrats are seizing on this opportunity to encourage people who are likely to vote for a Democratic candidate for Governor, to get to the polls in November 2017.  NJGCA will be joining our coalition partners to wage a public relations campaign throughout the next 14 months, asking voters to reject a $15/hour minimum wage.  It’s an uphill battle, but it’s a battle we must fight.  To read the press release that I wrote following the Governor’s veto, please CLICK HERE. 

Governor Christie vetoes $15/hour minimum wage at a grocery store in Pennington.  NJGCA and other coalition members were present to support the Governor's action.
 

Although the issue of the gas tax has occupied a large part of my summer, it remains unresolved, and all indications are that things won’t be fixed anytime soon… certainly not before the November elections. I have been saying for the past two years that an increase in the gas tax is inevitable, and I must continue to maintain that position. Never did I expect that such an impasse would exist given the critical urgency of the tax increase.  For weeks, I have been describing the negotiations as a “food fight” in Trenton, but it now seems that all sides have stopped throwing food at each other, and simply have chosen to leave the room and not even continue discussing the issue.  In our meetings with many legislators throughout the summer we repeatedly offered compromise solutions, including a lowering of the proposed 23¢ increase, or a phase-in of the tax, which may be acceptable to legislators who are unhappy with such a large increase all at once.  However, since there are legislators who want an increase greater than 23¢, and who were compromising by agreeing to a 23¢ increase, any support that can be mustered for a lower gas tax is met with staunch opposition from those committed to only supporting a solution which will fully-fund the TTF. 
 
We have also suggested that the increase be phased in, beginning with only a 15¢ increase and gradually going to 23¢ over a three-year period. Although that’s politically more acceptable, mathematically, it will not solve the problem of replenishing the TTF. We also continue to ask legislators to consider permitting self-serve as a means of saving 10¢ a gallon and softening the blow to motorists of any gas tax increase that is implemented. As I discussed last week, I’m happy that there has now been more open public discussion about self-serve and I still continue to get mixed reaction from legislators. Those reactions range from, “I love the idea, why haven’t we done this sooner?” to “I’ll never support it, and it will happen over my dead body.” It’s easy for me to predict that self-serve is going to be another long-term slugfest if we are to prevail.
 
I have an update on the tire recycling issue that I first brought up a few weeks ago. My concern was, and continues to be, that YOU will be facing additional burdens and responsibilities relating to the proper recycling and disposal of scrap tires.  My recent concern stems from the fact that the Office of the State Auditor and the Department of Environmental Protection recently came out with a report stating that illegal tire dumping is a much bigger problem in New Jersey than we originally thought.  Of course, I have great concern over this because tires are a great environmental hazard particularly in today’s environment where we are concerned about things like the Zika virus carried by mosquitoes. Junk tires have proven to be a major source of a breeding ground for mosquito larvae and we must demand that tires be disposed of legally and safely in order to protect the public safety.
 
However, a second concern is that this report will bolster the arguments of the environmentalists and the legislators who want more oversight of the process of tire recycling.  Again, my goal is to make sure that my members are doing things correctly, and are not overly-burdened with the responsibility of keeping documentation and manifests of how and where your tires are disposed of by the company that YOU PAY to legally and properly have them removed from your property.  To read the report that the State Auditor released, please click HERE.  To read the summary of the report, click HERE.
 
I have another important reminder about an issue that affects all business owners – EMV chip cards and new EMV credit card processing equipment. By October 1, 2017, just about a year from now, all pay-at-the-pump credit card processing equipment must be EMV compliant.  This is a painful and burdensome requirement, as the cost of retro-fitting a pump is about $6,000/pump.  Many of you have also thought of replacing your dispensers altogether, and the cost of replacing a dispenser is about $17,000.  This is a major investment!  If any of you have questions about what is required of you, please do not hesitate to call the office at 732-256-9646 and ask for Debbie. 
 
Finally, I wanted to give everyone a look ahead at what’s happening in September at NJGCA:

1. Wednesday, September 7^th at 7:00 AM -- PIF training class at NJGCA HQ in Wall Township. In order to be licensed as a Motor Vehicle Emission Inspector, you must complete this course and pass a “Written Exam” given by the State of New Jersey. NJGCA offers this training in a ONE DAY State approved training program that will provide an understanding of inspection related issues including EPA Regulations, Safety, Diesel, Customer Service and the NJ State Specific Curriculum. This specially tailored NJGCA course fulfills all requirements. CLICK HERE FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM. With any questions, please call Debbie at 732-256-9646
2. Wednesday, September 14^th at 9:30 AM – NJGCA Diner Tour at The Roxbury Diner, 101 Route 10 East, Succasunna, NJ.After a few months off this summer, NJGCA is back on the road with four NJGCA Breakfast Meetings before the end of the year.We’ll be starting off on Wednesday, Sep. 14^th in Roxbury, for all of our Morris County friends.We have a strong membership in this area and we hope that a free breakfast and a chance to catch up on all that has been going on in the Association will be enough to get you out of the shop for a couple of hours.With any questions or to RSVP, please call Jacy at 732-256-9646.If your shop is in Morris County, you can expect both emails and phone calls inviting you to join us, so save us all the trouble and RSVP ASAP.
3. Saturday, September 24th from 9 AM to 1 PM -- Finally, I am so very excited to tell you about an event that our member Jacki Stergion (owner of Skillender’s Service Center) is hosting with the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the West Picnic Area, Mercer County Park in West Windsor. Jacki’s family was personally touched by Traumatic Brain Injury when her husband suffered a slip and fall accident in her shop in 2011. The Family Fun Day on September 24^th is designed to give children a special day of fun and enjoyment, and allow parents and caregivers a precious few hours of much-needed respite. This event is free for children and families, and has been made possible by some very generous contributions of time and money. However, Jacki is still looking for anyone who may be able to help. If you have any special skills or hidden talents (face painting, clowns, balloon twisting) or you know anyone who might be interested in volunteering their time for this very worthwhile event, please reach out to Jacy at 732-256-9646. Additionally, the Brain Injury Alliance always welcomes donations, and any monetary contributions will be recognized on the back of a tee-shirt being given to all children at the event. This event is a very personal cause for our member and we think it is so great that she has found a way to give back to the community. NJGCA will be out supporting Jacki on September 24^th and we hope that you will get involved, too! Please contact Jacy at 732-256-9646 if you are able to help or are interested in attending. Click HERE for an informational flyer with additional details about the event.

Thanks for reading -- See you all next week!

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

09/02/2016:
Here's how special interests lined up in fight over $15 minimum wage in N.J.
Gov. Christie's veto of a bill that would phase-in a $15 minimum wage for New Jersey has not ended the battle as Democratic legislative leaders now vow to put it on the 2017 election ballot as a constitutional amendment. That effort will surely unleash a huge public campaign by supporters and detractors. But a behind-the scenes fight has already been waged over the bill, with big-time business interests who pushed lawmakers and Christie to oppose it, while unions and other interests lobbied for it. Some lobbied by testifying at public hearings, while others met privately with lawmakers and policy makers. For a look at who applied pressure — as well as their campaign donations to the six Democratic and Republican leadership committees in 2016 — based on a NJ Advance Media review of lobbying and campaign finance records, please click the link above. You will see that NJGCA and many other small business groups are on the list and have been exerting both time and money to protect your interests!
 
09/02/2016:
Tobacco Industry Works to Block Rules on E-Cigarettes
The e-cigarette and cigar industries have enlisted high-profile lobbyists and influential congressional allies in an attempt to stop the Food and Drug Administration from retroactively examining their products for public health risks or banning them from the market. The campaign targets a broad new rule that extends F.D.A. jurisdiction to include cigars, e-cigarettes and pipe and hookah tobacco. The bipartisan effort has featured a former senator who did not register as a lobbyist before going to work for the cigar companies and a former Obama administration official, now a private consultant, who is trying to undo his earlier work reviewing the rule. In addition, one member of Congress introduced industry-written legislation without changing a word of it. The battle shows how, nearly two decades after the $200 billion settlement between tobacco companies and state attorneys general to compensate the public for health consequences of smoking, the industry still wields extraordinary clout in Washington. With its army of more than 75 lobbyists, tobacco-aligned companies have argued that the F.D.A.’s so-called Deeming Rule could hurt public health by forcing a large share of e-cigarette companies out of business.
 
8/30/2016:
Christie vetoes $15 minimum wage bill
Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have looked to gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next five years. Christie, speaking Tuesday inside the Pennington Quality Market, called the bill a job-killer and a “complete pander to folks who are uninformed because they neither receive the minimum wage nor pay it.” The measure, put forth by Democrats in the Legislature, called for an increase in New Jersey’s minimum wage, currently set at $8.38 per hour to $10.10 per hour, and would have included subsequent hikes of $1 to $1.25 per hour plus the rate of inflation until the $15 per hour cap was met. Democrats have already indicated that they plan on taking the issue to next year’s ballot in the form of a voter referendum. “We have to fight this fight now,” Christie said. “Between now and next November.” The method has already proven successful for advocates of hiking the minimum wage. In 2013, voters agreed to raise the minimum wage to $8.25 per hour and tie all future increases to the consumer price index.

8/25/16
Walgreens Feels Tobacco Heat
A shareholder group within Walgreens is striking a match under the major drug-store chain, filing a formal request for it to review its practice of selling tobacco products. This week, the New York-based Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, which also is a Walgreens shareholder, announced the filing of a proposal requesting that the Deerfield, Ill.-based drug chain’s board of directors review the risks of selling tobacco.  The group also requested the disclosure of lobbying expenditures.  The proponents of the resolution argued that “the sale of tobacco products, which are known to carry serious health risks, in Walgreens pharmacies exposes the company to significant and long-term risks that may impact shareholder returns.” Chief among these concerns is “the impact this contradiction will have on Walgreens’ brand image as a company focused on health.” The shareholders decided to file the resolution because management failed to respond to their requests for further study of the topic in ongoing dialogues, the statement said.