Reaction To Governor Christie’s Tax Cut Speech

Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a millionaire's tax increase and says it is time to give New Jersey residents a tax cut. Read Democrat & Republican reaction to the speech.

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Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D)

“The only thing the governor accomplished today is prove that he’s willing to be irresponsible with the state’s finances and that he’s more than willing to be dishonest in the process. His demand for the immediate implementation of a tax cut that won’t take effect until next year may help his personal political ambitions, but it would do nothing for the taxpayers of New Jersey. Nothing will be lost to the taxpayers by being patient. He would put the state’s economic health at risk so that he can hype a story about an economic recovery that hasn’t happened for the great majority of working people in the state.

“We rejected his plan for a tax cut for the wealthy in favor of a property tax cut for the middle class and we will insist on implementing the cuts in a responsible way. He is rationalizing his proposal with revenue estimates that are twice as high as other states and have been criticized by most economists as unrealistic. We all hope the state’s economy performs better than expected but it would be irresponsible to gamble on a tax plan before we know the state’s finances are stable.

“The governor further revealed his misguided priorities by vetoing the tax cut for the working poor we sent him and now he wants to hold it hostage to his self-promoting plan to rush the property tax plan into place.

“With unemployment a full point above the national average, with a ranking of 47 among the states in economic growth, an increase in property taxes of 20 percent, the second-highest mortgage foreclosure rate and the highest poverty level in the state’s history, the state’s economy is not performing well under Governor Christie. He ignores these hard facts when he tells his self-promoting story, but the people who live under these conditions know the truth.”

Senator Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth)

The Democrats’ budget plan makes it clear: they will only give money back to the taxpayers if they cannot find a way to spend it first.

It should be the other way around. We should be giving tax relief back to families and job creators first, then spending what we can afford.

Our economy will only turn around if middle income families, job creating businesses, and out-of-state employers looking for a place to relocate have some certainty that our state is getting more affordable and government is committed to living within its means.

Right now the only certainty they have is that Trenton Democrats will fight tooth and nail against letting people keep more of their own money.

Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee Chairman Paul A. Sarlo (D-Bergen)

“Last week we passed – and the governor signed – a balanced budget that contains the money for our property tax cut.

“With revenues so unstable and the state’s recovery lagging, the prudent and conservative thing is to wait to ensure that we can afford it. Everyone wants to cut taxes, but we can’t do that if the result is just taking money from taxpayers out of a different pocket.

“Regardless of the governor’s rhetoric today, no tax cut would even take effect until 2013. There’s more than enough time for us to make sure the numbers work in taxpayers’ favor. The governor’s insistence that we need to pass a tax cut right here and now does not stand up to the truth or the smell test.

“Eighteen years ago, the first Governor Christie became a national Republican darling by promising the moon and the stars, and in the process sent New Jersey into the fiscal tailspin that we’re still trying to pull out of. Now, the current Governor Christie, hearing the same ‘hallelujah chorus’ of national GOP bigwigs, is threatening to push the state right back into that exact same nosedive.”

Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset)

“Let’s get this straight, folks – this governor is no hero to middle-class New Jerseyans and the poor.

“He can pose all he wants in front of the TV cameras, but the mean-spirited vetoes of property tax relief for the middle-class and senior citizens and income tax relief for the working poor are what really matter. Not to mention his opposition to affordable housing, women’s health care and legal services for working class New Jerseyans.

“Facts are facts, and the fact is this governor has failed repeatedly when it comes to providing tax relief for the middle-class.”

Assembly Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex)

“Today’s harangue by Governor Christie represents the height of hypocrisy. He raised taxes on New Jersey’s working poor in his first budget and now he’s vetoed the Earned Income Tax credit, which would have cut their taxes. He raised the property tax burden on seniors and the middle class by reducing property tax rebates and now he’s come out in opposition to a plan that would triple property tax relief. He crafted outrageously inflated revenue projections that even he doesn’t believe in an effort to game the system and now he’s angry that Democrats have taken a more responsible path to middle class property tax relief.

"Today wasn’t about tax relief for New Jerseyans. It was about Governor Christie’s need to be before a television camera as he auditions for another job. His higher taxes on the working poor, higher tolls for commuters and higher property tax burden for seniors and the middle class should be a lesson to all of us. Governor Christie’s true agenda is reflected in what he does and not in what he says.”

Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon)

“It’s reasonable to presume that while Gov. Christie today was preening in front of the cameras, somewhere in New Jersey a woman was wondering where she was going to receive quality health care. Thanks to Gov. Christie, that health care is more difficult to find and afford.

“It’s reasonable to presume that while Gov. Christie today was preening in front of the cameras, somewhere in New Jersey a working class family was wondering where they would get the legal help they need to fight an injustice. Thanks to Gov. Christie, such help likely isn’t there.

“It’s reasonable to presume that while Gov. Christie today was preening in front of the cameras, somewhere in New Jersey a middle-class family was worrying about how they were going to pay their property taxes and keep their home. Thanks to Gov. Christie, that question remains unanswered, especially for the 9.2 percent who are unemployed under his watch.

“New Jerseyans are suffering under this governor, and it’s time to put the theater aside and confront reality, and the reality is that Democrats have offered tax relief only to see it rejected by this governor over and over again.”

Assembly Republican Conference Leader Dave Rible (R-Monmouth and Ocean)

“The Corzine Democrats think the game is over since Governor Christie signed the fiscal 2013 budget last week. They are mistaken. Assembly Republicans are ready to work overtime and deliver the relief promised to the most overtaxed people in the country.

“Corzine Democrats always seem to have an excuse for delaying important policy reforms. No one can rest until we give hard-working middle-class families in this state what they were promised: tax relief. Reducing the state’s tax burden is a key priority and it shouldn’t have to be held captive while the Democrats are missing in action.”

New Jersey Republican Party  Chairman Samuel Raia

“Governor Christie was elected to take on the big problems and today he once again rose to the challenge and proved why the people of this state choose him to navigate New Jersey through the wreckage left by eight straight years of Democrat control. The families and businesses of this state not only need tax relief but they deserve it and Governor Christie and Republican legislators are ready and willing to deliver on that promise today. Legislative Democrats have a choice – join Governor Christie and compromise to deliver middle-class tax cuts right now or break their promise to the people of New Jersey and reverse the progress of the last two years. It's time for them to act.”