Q&A: Why are tax incentives taking center stage in NJ?

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy took aim at $11 billion in tax credits handed out under his predecessors, casting them as a failure and proposing new awards that cap how much the state would give out.

Murphy, a Democrat, criticized the tax incentive programs, which were issued during Republican Chris Christie's tenure and expire this year, in his first State of the State address Tuesday. Murphy said the state "awarded" $11 billion — $8 billion of which came under Christine, who left office last year — over 13 years.

"To those who bemoan our inability to pay for even the most basic items in our budget, let me say that this, simply put, is nuts," Murphy said.