John McKeon backs millionaire tax

Assemblyman John McKeon (D-West Orange) endorsed a millionaire’s tax today, a significant move for a Democratic legislator who represents a suburban Essex and Morris district.

“While the success of persons earning in excess of $1 million a year should be celebrated as beneficiaries of the Trump tax cuts they are in the best position to afford a small incremental increase in income tax on the money earned in excess of $1 million dollars a year,” said McKeon, who serves on the Assembly Budget committee.

The  eight-term Assemblyman credited Gov. Phil Murphy for offering a balanced budget that eliminates the state’s reliance on one-shot budget gimmicks.  He said Murphy’s proposed cuts and efficiencies will exceed $1 billion.

McKeon’s 27th district seat is safe Democratic. It has 34,703 more Democrats than Republicans, and he won his last re-election by 19,117 votes.

The idea that McKeon’s district is safe shows just how much the New Jersey political environment has changed. He represents towns that were once solidly Republican and are still high income areas: Millburn/Short Hills, Livingston, Madison, and Chatham Township.