Why do companies connected to George Norcross get N.J. tax breaks?
Who is George Norcross? And why is New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy convening a task force to look into a state program from which Norcross and his allies have reaped benefits?
Listen 13:05
George Norcross III leans in to talk to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during an event at Cooper Medical Center in Camden, where Norcross is Chairman of the Board. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
The Economic Opportunity Act is a program that offers jumbo tax breaks to draw companies to New Jersey — or to keep ones that threaten to leave. But at least one person is reaping huge benefits from the program — South Jersey businessman and powerbroker George Norcross. Who is he? Why do elected officials seem to carry out his bidding? And why did companies connected to him manage to score $1.1 billion in tax breaks? On this episode of The Why, WNYC reporter Nancy Solomon talks about her reporting with ProPublica about Norcross’s involvement with the program.
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