Bill Spadea discusses his position on supporting New Jersey’s tech and innovation ecosystem. This sector is a vital part of the state’s economy, both historically and as we compete with other states and countries for top talent.
This conversation is the third in a series and will be followed by a discussion with Josh Gottheimer.
Summary: Bill Spadea, longtime radio host and gubernatorial candidate, emphasized the role of technology in revitalizing New Jersey’s business and manufacturing sectors. Drawing on his background in a family-owned machine shop, Spadea outlined a plan to expand opportunity zones and attract tech-based manufacturing—particularly in pharmaceuticals and electronic components—by slashing the corporate business tax to 3%. He noted that although New Jersey still houses the infrastructure for clean-room pharmaceutical production, many operations have moved out of state due to high costs and regulatory burdens. Spadea also backed the use of tariffs as a long-term strategy to stimulate domestic manufacturing and support tech-based industry independence. Citing pandemic-era supply shortages, he pointed to gaps in U.S. production of essential medical components like hypertonic saline as evidence of the need for onshore manufacturing. His approach favors targeted tax incentives, regulatory reform, and public-private partnerships to rebuild high-tech industry in the state. “Lower taxes are an investment in future revenue,” Spadea said, calling on state leadership to mirror federal efforts to restore U.S. manufacturing strength.
