I’m writing this column in a proud state of mind. New Jersey will no longer tax the extra pay our
men and women in the service earn while stationed in combat zones. If reading this sounds crazy
to you, it’s because it is. New Jersey was the only state in the entire nation that demanded a piece
of the pie our heroes earn while fighting for our freedom overseas.

Legislation to do away with this tax has been held up in Trenton for about two decades. Ending
this tax was one of my main objectives when I entered the legislature in 2018. I am happy to say
that after many talks with Governor Phil Murphy stating the case about how we need to trash this
tax, mission accomplished. The Governor has officially signed the bill to end this.

Doing so will put about $400 every year back in the pockets of our service men and women
stationed in combat zones. That is no small sum to our military families. I’ve served multiple
combat tours overseas. I’ve been there, gotten my paycheck and personally felt insulted for being
taxed for my time in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a sigh of relief for me that none of our brave men
and women ever have to experience that feeling again.

It struck me as absurd that for 20 years no legislative body felt that this was something important
enough to get passed. The million-dollar price tag to do away with the combat zone tax is a sixth
of what was approved in this year’s budget to provide legal services to illegal immigrants. There
has always been the money to do this, just not the motivation.

I want to thank the Governor for working with me on this issue and recognizing that military
men and women deserve to be treated like the true heroes that they are. While I may not agree
with most of the Governor’s policies, it doesn’t mean we have to be disagreeable.

God bless all of our men and women in the military, and God Bless America.