South Jersey Democrats Rail Against Gov. Phil Murphy's Task Force Probing Tax Credit Programs

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NEWARK, N.J. (CBS/AP) -- A task force has found that a Camden hospital chaired by one of New Jersey's most powerful Democrats collected $13 million in state tax incentives by claiming it was considering moving some of its operations to Philadelphia, when that was apparently not an option.

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The task force, which is investigating the state's business tax credits, presented its findings on the Cooper Health System at a hearing Thursday. Cooper's chairman is George Norcross, a longtime Democratic powerbroker who holds no elected office.

In a joint statement , Mayor Frank Moran, city council president Curtis Jenkins, freeholder director Louis Cappelli Jr. and Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez said they're "deeply appalled" by Murphy's administration "relentless, unfounded and disingenuous attacks" on Camden businesses.

"For months, Gov. Murphy has claimed, with zero evidence, that $11 billion in taxpayer money has been squandered because of lucrative tax credits given to huge companies," the statement said. "Perhaps in the age of Donald Trump the governor has learned all the wrong lessons of leadership and adherence to the truth."

The panel said Cooper certified in 2014 that it was considering moving some suburban Camden offices to Philadelphia, and that getting the tax credits was a "material factor" in deciding whether to keep them in New Jersey

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The task force said the health system, however, answered "no" in its application when asked if jobs were at risk of leaving the state.

Messages left with Cooper and Norcross seeking their comment were not immediately returned.