HACKENSACK – Josh Gottheimer prides himself on his bipartisanship.

In today’s polarized political environment, that’s not easy.

In Gottheimer’s case, his proclaimed centrist stance draws criticism from the left wing of his own party and also from some Republicans, who still see him as an ultra-liberal.

No matter.

During a “state of the 5th District” address Wednesday, Gottheimer stressed the need to seek bipartisan consensus. In fact, he said that just about all he has accomplished in Washington since being elected in 2016 stems from his work with the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of moderate House members.

He’s convinced his stance resonates with the people even if it does not with the extremes of both parties.

“People just want us to talk to each other – to be reasonable,” he said.

Or put another way, Gottheimer said that the nation’s adversaries are the Chinese government and Vladimir Putin, “not each other.”

He spoke of bipartisan legislation passed in the last Congress that is helping New Jersey and the nation.

That included a massive infrastructure bill, legislation to help the nation’s microchip industry and gun safety legislation

At the same time, there were recent accomplishments that Democrats undertook themselves.

Front and center was last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, which included money to combat climate change and lower drug prices.

In particular, Gottheimer spoke of a provision that caps the monthly cost of Insulin at $35 for those on Medicare.

The congressman described the state of the district, which ranges over parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties as strong – “like a rock.”

He said he’s proud of what he called “Jersey values,” which he described as supporting good schools, a women’s right to choose and strong environmental safeguards.

But there is work to do.

Gottheimer never tires of pointing out that New Jersey taxpayers send more money to the federal treasury than they get back in aid from Washington. To that end, he likes to take about “clawing back” money from the feds to help towns in the district. He said that since he’s been in Congress, about $7.5 million has been clawed back for assistance to firefighters grants.

That brings us to SALT, or the federal tax deduction for State and Local Taxes, which has been capped at $10,000 since 2017. Gottheimer said this was a way for what he calls “moocher states” to get back at New Jersey. The problem is that while the House has passed bills to eliminate the cap, the effort has stalled in the Senate.

Gottheimer is not giving up.

He and a bipartisan group of House members from impacted states – mostly New Jersey, New York and California – held an event last week calling for repeal  of the cap, How that ends up faring in the Republican-controlled House remains to be seen.

In assessing the district – and state – Gottheimer acknowledged some obvious problems.

He said taxes are too high across the board and that “red tape” regulation in New Jersey is legendary – and not in a good way.

The congressman said it is frustrating to see people move away soon after their last child finishes high school.

Republicans, of course, make this point all the time.

He called for more tax incentives to encourage businesses and people to stay put.

“Imagine what this will do for the Fifth District,” Gottheimer said hopefully.