Rosemary Becchi

Rosemary Becchi was born in Meadowsbrook, Pennsylvania. Becchi attended the University of San Diego for undergraduate study, earned a J.D. from the Gonzaga School of Law, and earned a master's of law from the Georgetown University School of Law.[1]

Becchi's career experience includes working as a tax policy lawyer and consultant, and as a strategic advisor and counsel with law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. She has worked as an attorney and advisor with the Internal Revenue Service, as tax counsel with the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, and as vice president of federal government relations at Citigroup and Fidelity Investments.[1]

Becchi has been affiliated with nonprofit Running Start, The Tax Coalition, and federal political action committee Maggie's List.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Rosemary is a leading tax policy lawyer and consultant who works as a Strategic Advisor and Counsel at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where she specializes in tax and financial services matters. Rosemary began her career in the public sector at the IRS as an attorney and advisor before moving on to the majority staff of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee as tax counsel. It was during her time on the Finance Committee that Rosemary co-authored the "529 college savings plans," that are used today by parents across the country to help their children pay for college. She has also held in-house executive positions, including as vice president of federal government relations at Citigroup and Fidelity Investments.

Rosemary also has been a political advocate both on the national and local level. She has authored multiple commentary pieces on tax and financial services issues. She has served in a leadership role of the Tax Coalition, including serving as the chair. Most recently, Rosemary was Chairman of the Board of Running Start, an organization dedicated to getting more women elected to public office. Rosemary is also the New Jersey Chair for Maggie's List.

As a result of seeing the harm inflicted on families and businesses from high taxes and uncontrolled government spending, Rosemary started Jersey First, a non-profit organization with the mission to educate and advocate for policy solutions to lower taxes, reduce government spending and help put New Jersey's economy back on track.

While Rosemary has achieved a highly successful professional career, her family has always been her priority. Rosemary often is found at her daughters' hockey games, driving to dance, or preparing for her families' (including her sister, brother, niece and nephews) weekly Sunday dinner. Rosemary lives in Short Hills with her husband, Scott and their three daughters.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

1.

Debt, Deficit, & Taxes: In New Jersey, the state's fiscal problems are among the worst of all 50 states. Yet the Governor and Legislature have adopted a record-spending budget, increased spending by $4 Billion over two years and continues to raise taxes. We need to end government's addiction to deficit spending and raising taxes. The reckless cycle of raising and spending tax dollars has made New Jersey unaffordable and, on the national level, put our national security at risk - because a nation heavily indebted to the rest of the world will become economically unstable, and an unstable economy will lead to collapse. It is far past time for government to get responsible.2.

Immigration: Congress has completely abandoned its responsibility to fix our broken immigration system. We need to secure our borders, while also being compassionate towards those who have worked hard and established families in the United States. But compassion is not an excuse for failing to protect our national sovereignty, identify who is entering our nation, deal with visa overstays and streamline the citizenship process. The misguided and reckless declaration of sanctuary states and cities is a direct result of Congressional inaction, and it only serves to make our communities unsafe and complicate societal problems.3.

Healthcare: We need to preserve coverage for pre-existing conditions and provide access to quality health care for everyone, including the elderly and those amongst us with disabilities. The current health care system is too expensive and unsustainable. Medicare for all is a proposal that will short change our seniors, doubling our taxes and bankrupting our nation. We need to eliminate the barriers for more competition in the health care market and provide families access to the care and types of policies that fit their needs, not a one-size-fits all model. We also need to make health care costs transparent and remove the prospect of expensive surprise medical billing.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The data is clear. Our students are leaving the state for college and not returning to New Jersey. Businesses are leaving New Jersey because the tax burden is too high. Families are leaving because they simply can't afford to live here any longer. While many of the causes are driven by state policies, Garden State taxpayers are sending far more dollars to Washington than we are getting in return with federal investments - and that must end. Issue by issue, we must look at what is in the best interests of the people of New Jersey and what policies will promote a future where people can make their version of the American dream work here in New Jersey.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

If people in Congress knew they had a set time to actually get something done in Washington, they would not go down there trying to be something. They would have to actually accomplish the things that voters elected them to do rather than build a career in politics. I proudly support a Constitutional Amendment that would limit members of Congress to three House terms and two Senate terms.

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