Peter Chen 陳逸群

Senior Policy Analyst @njpolicy, previously @acnjforkids. Deranged Cubs fan.
Find me in the other place:

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

One thing this illustrates broadly: a flat-funded budget is a cut.

If budgets (and revenues) don't increase by inflation, then programs are facing functional cuts.

FY2026: $60.86B in June 2027 dollars
FY2027: $60.74B in June 2027 dollars

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

Alternatively, more than half the increase in state expenditures since 2018 are simply inflation.

What's left? The main drivers are full pension payment, school funding, and cash to homeowners for prop tax

We can debate legislative add-ons but it's a tiny part of the change

[ROI-NJ @ROINJNews]

New Jersey’s state spending grew about 64% from fiscal 2018 through fiscal 2026, nearly twice the 33% increase in inflation, according to a new Garden State Initiative report. Budgeted revenues rose about 61% over the same period. https://t.co/hR6BawH072

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

When folks want to cut, cut, cut, which piece should NJ cut? Pension payments? School funding? Prop tax relief?

State govt employment is already down more than 25% since 2006.

There's not much to cut!

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

@terrencemcd to be fair, not clear that the supreme court knows what the first amendment means either

[Charles Stile @PoliticalStile]

https://t.co/IEi9RAGY7a

Take a few minutes to watch @AnneCarusoPhoto sensitive portrait of members of NJ's trans community and their push to codify gender affirming care into law. It also features two of the most warm and generous grandparents you'll find on the planet.

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

@J_Schneider Luigis Italian Tradition in Newark

[Alex Ambrose @alexfromNJ]

This is big: @NewJerseyOAG and @NewJerseyDEP are teaming up to take action against the illegally operating Vineland data center.

Whether $1m is enough for a wealthy corporation to take this seriously is to be seen. But the threat of further actions just might do the trick...

[Shlomo Schorr @OneJerseySchorr]

For decades, Reporters Roundtable was a real staple for those who closely followed New Jersey politics.

It allowed reporters to offer their thoughts, opinions and knowledge in a way they couldn't necessarily do with an article, while also providing more context to the stories of the week.

Hope @mynjpbs can bring it back, or at least a version of it.

[Jen Icklan Eckert @jicklan]

The last #ReportersRoundtable w/ our current team & thank you to our amazing crew and reporters. For the last 6 yrs., it was a true honor to EP the long-running series. “If you’re a reporter - NJ never lets you down.” - Michael Aron
https://t.co/mn4Zovz7x9

[Brenda Flanagan 🇺🇸🇺🇦 🇨🇦🌲😸 @BFlanaganNJ]

NJ Spotlight News: September 18, 2026
The final Reporters Roundtable
https://t.co/GMQAXuJU96 via @YouTube

[Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1]

Children worry their families can't afford food after Trump's SNAP cuts:

In Texas, a 6-year-old stood in front of her family's refrigerator, hoping food would magically appear.

In Delaware, an 11-year-old wondered why her family could no longer afford Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

In New Jersey, four siblings wanted their mother to buy groceries — but she had to tell them she couldn't. https://t.co/DrLwQkN0ih

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

starting to think they might not actually support the troops

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

Are The Tampa Bay Rays Ruining Baseball?

[Codify @CodifyBaseball]

THE TAMPA BAY RAYS HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN BASEBALL

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

More reason that NJ needs mandatory combined reporting now!

[Brenda Flanagan 🇺🇸🇺🇦 🇨🇦🌲😸 @BFlanaganNJ]

How (and which) US companies exploit "the world’s hot new corporate tax haven." From @NYTimes

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. https://t.co/q3shfLzFbg

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

Check out more info at https://t.co/FqzTZIQdlH

[Peter Chen 陳逸群 @ptrchn1]

Importantly, ALL jobs that are eligible for *paid* temporary disability and family leave benefits have the right to be reinstated to their same or equivalent job.

Previously many workers fell in a gap where they were eligible for PAID leave but could still be fired for taking it

[Shlomo Schorr @OneJerseySchorr]

Legislation expanding New Jersey's Family Leave Act job to include more employees who wish to take paid or unpaid leave will officially go into effect on July 17th.

The law reduces the minimum threshold for covered employers from businesses with 30 employees to businesses with 15 employees, allowing employees the right to be reinstated after taking family temporary disability leave insurance or unpaid family leave.

Additionally, the new law reduces the amount of time for which an individual must be employed from 12 months to 3 months, while also cutting the number of “base hours” required from 1,000 to 250.

Over 400,000 workers in the state are expected to be affected.

[njdotcom @njdotcom]

Can nuclear power lower your N.J. electric bill? Sherrill opens state to bids. https://t.co/MuRTJvvupH

[Sophie Nieto-Muñoz @snietomunoz]

Last month, I sat in on 50 hearings over two days — nearly all detained immigrants were denied bond. Attorneys said immigration court has become a "horror show" and "deportation machine."

“It’s going to take years to undo a lot of this."
https://t.co/L330PrPj0s

[Insider NJ @INSIDER__NJ]

After Supreme Court Narrowly Upholds Birthright Citizenship, Make the Road New Jersey Condemns Trump’s Ethnic Cleansing Campaign Against Immigrants - https://t.co/lbb3f5htxU