New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Kanitra Discusses Policy Challenges in the Garden State on ALEC TV

As the 51st Annual Meeting unfolded, New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Kanitra sat down with ALEC TV to discuss the challenges of New Jersey’s policy landscape.

“In states like New Jersey, being able to keep extreme ideas from becoming law is important. So it is important for me to be here this week to learn about everything that’s been going on nationally and how I can bring that back to the Garden State.”

Kanitra’s journey from mayor of a small beach town to a state assemblyman has been fueled by frustration with the policies emanating from New Jersey’s statehouse in Trenton. As a mayor, he relished the hands-on impact he could have on his community, leading bike parades and managing local events. But the increasing influence of what he described as “craziness” from state-level policies pushed him to seek a broader platform.

“I got frustrated… and that’s why I decided to make the pivot,” Kanitra explained.

At the state level, Kanitra acknowledged that much of his work is defensive—an effort to slow down or stop policies he sees as harmful. However, he has managed to pass a few pieces of “common sense, middle-of-the-road” legislation in his short tenure. These include measures addressing cybersecurity in schools and streamlining the process for veterans to become police officers. But in a state controlled by another party, these victories are the exception rather than the rule.

Kanitra’s focus on the border crisis has garnered significant attention. After a fact-finding mission to the U.S.-Mexico border, he released a report highlighting how New Jersey’s policies incentivize illegal immigration, costing the state billions.

“In a $56 billion budget, $7 billion of it, directly or indirectly, was the result of illegal immigration,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Kanitra remains committed to his role in the state assembly and to the broader fight for families and small business in New Jersey. At ALEC, he is actively involved in the Task Forces on International Relations and Homeland Security, which align with his focus on law and order—a critical issue for the Jersey Shore communities he represents.

As the interview drew to a close, Kanitra touched on the proposed congestion tax on commuters traveling into New York City. The tax, he argued, would place an undue burden on blue-collar workers who can least afford it.

“A lot of people from New Jersey that are just going in for blue collar jobs. And if you’re going into New York City and you’re going to make 40, $50,000 or less in some positions, how on earth do they expect people to afford that?” he asked.

Kanitra’s presence at ALEC underscores the importance of representation from every state in national policy discussions. While his victories may be incremental, he remains undeterred, continuing to advocate for policies that he believes will protect the interests of his constituents and all New Jersey residents.