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New Jersey BPU Adopts Community Solar Regulations

New Jersey BPU Adopts Community Solar Regulations

On February 19, 2019 the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“BPU”) formally adopted its proposed regulations (the “Regulations”) regarding the Community Solar Pilot Program (the “Pilot Program”).  Although there are some minor clarifications, and 339 published comments, there are no material changes to the proposed regulations that were published for comment on October 1, 2018.

The first year…

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New Jersey Legislation and Regulation to Watch in 2018.

An income tax increase for millionaires, a minimum-wage hike and an effort to legalize recreational marijuana will likely be atop New Jersey officials’ agenda in 2018.

Governor Elect Murphy and the Democrat-controlled state Legislature are expected to pursue marijuana legalization as well as the so-called millionaire’s tax and an increase in New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Two other…

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Part 6- Defining Public Accountability for PPPs

Accountability has long been recognized as the cornerstone of successful public management.

In an environment of proliferating partnerships, the tools of government needed to maintain accountability are not the same as those needed for insular agency activities. PPPs change the dynamics of public accountability by involving private partners in government decision making and program delivery. The…

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Part 5- The Uniqueness of PPP

PPPs reflect a unique relationship between the government and a private firm- the government retains ultimate responsibility for the delivery of the good or service, but becomes a partner with the private sector in decision making and delivery.

While there are many reasons for the creation of PPPs, they are often justified on

one fundamental assumption and one fundamental presumption. The accuracy…

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Comparing the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts

The Joint Committee on Taxation released a report Thursday comparing the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, highlighting differences that include where tax brackets begin, the standard deduction, maximum rate on business income of individuals and the child tax credit.

For personal income tax, the House version of the tax bill consolidates the current seven income tax bracket…

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Part 4. PPPs Contrasted with Outsourcing and Privatization

PPPs are often associated with other government reforms or functions involving the private sector. For example, the outsourcing of government functions (transferring them to the private or nonprofit sector) is an effort to achieve greater fiscal control and more efficient service delivery. Government outsourcings is an application of the classic make or buy decision to government operations, even…

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House Tax Bill-next steps

The House took a step toward arriving at a final tax bill Monday, setting up the process to reconcile the differences between the Senate-passed tax overhaul and the House’s own bill passed last month.

Congressional leaders have said they want to arrive at a final tax bill by Christmas and intend to iron out the differences between the two chambers’ legislation over the next several weeks.

The…

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The tax bill, reconciliation & the ACA

The tax bill making its way through Congress will more than likely get rid of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate.

As the House and Senate versions of the tax bill are reconciled, lawmakers are likely to agree on eliminating the requirement to purchase health insurance, Kevin Brady, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, said. (AP)

The Senate scrapped the mandate in the version…

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Part 3.What Public–Private Partnerships Are

Part 3.What Public–Private Partnerships Are

Even with their ubiquity, there remains some ambiguity as to what exactly constitutes a PPP. For this article, however, we focus on a more specific, emerging form of PPP that gives the private sector a greater role in decision making and assumption of risk in the joint venture.

The private sector has long been involved in infrastructure projects, under arrangements by which the private sector,…

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Part 2. What Public–Private Partnerships Are and What They Are Not

Part 2. What Public–Private Partnerships Are and What They Are Not

What Public–Private Partnerships Are and What They Are Not

After years of underfinancing much-needed repairs and maintenance to America’s infrastructure—by as much as $2.2 trillion, according to some estimates—digging out of the current deficit will be costly. And with state and local governments facing tight budgets, it may be decades before the work will be affordable. The lack of resources for…

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Public–Private Partnerships: Public Accountability

Public–Private Partnerships: Public Accountability

Public–private partnerships (PPPs or P3) are growing in popularity as a governing model for delivery of public goods and services. In recent years, the state of California for instance has partnered with the private sector to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain two state infrastructure projects—the Presidio Parkway transportation project in San Francisco and the new courthouse in…

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What GOP Plan For Health Care Reform May Mean For You?

What GOP Plan For Health Care Reform May Mean For You?

The House GOP Health Care Reform Plan provides a blueprint for eliminating important elements of the ACA and replacing them with a more market-oriented approach.

On Wednesday key Capitol Hill committees started debate on the controversial new Health Care legislation

Both President Trump and the House GOP plan contemplate using tax credits to subsidize the purchase of health insurance.

Hearings on…

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This week in Congress.

This week in Congress.

The Senate will consider resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) and confirmation of the president’s appointees to federal agencies. The House will be taking up litigation reform legislation and appropriations legislation to fund the Defense Department through the remainder of fiscal year 2017. The highest profile activity in Congress this week, though, is expected to…

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In Congress: Votes on several Cabinet nominees Expected

In Congress: Votes on several Cabinet nominees Expected

Today the Senate is scheduled to resume legislative business with an afternoon vote scheduled on the nomination of Rex Tillerson to serve as the Secretary of State under President Trump. On Tuesday, the Senate will take up the nomination of Elaine Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to serve as the Secretary of Transportation.

Votes on several other Cabinet nominees can…

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In Congress this Week.

In Congress this Week.

The Senate this week will continue to move forward on the consideration of the New and 45th president’s cabinet picks while committees on both sides of the Capitol begin to conduct their formal organizational proceedings for the 115th Congress.

On Monday members will take up 11 legislative measures under suspension of the rules, all within the jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce Committee,…

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The election of Donald Trump creates a drastic shift in government relations strategies in DC.

The election of Donald Trump creates a drastic shift in government relations strategies in DC.

With a new year, companies and not for profits should be reevaluating their government affairs programs just as they will review their tax, marketing and financial planning. More significantly, this year, a new U.S. government will form, and a new presidential administration commence.

U.S. and foreign businesses and industries should accordingly carefully review their government relations,…

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Italian Referendum: Lessons Learned

Italian Referendum: Lessons Learned

In an earlier comment we wrote that: “The ‘populist’ movement that inspired the raise of Trump and Sanders  may be about to surge through Europe. If so, it will change drastically the Continent’s political landscape in ways not seen since  World War II”.

In Italy, the last polls published before Sunday’s referendum showed a widening opposition to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s proposed…