Gov. Jon Corzine last month warned nearly 150 mayors assembled at the state house that unless his 800 percent toll increase plan is approved, there will not be enough money to fund property tax relief in this year’s budget.
The governor’s threat, which is tantamount to political extortion, is confirmation of the Corzine administration’s failure to provide sustainable and permanent property tax “reform” despite its claims to the contrary.
When property tax rebate checks were mailed last year prior to Legislative elections, Mr. Corzine and his Democrat allies heaped praise upon themselves claiming the rebates were the real deal – that they were lasting cuts, not merely an election-year gimmick.
Our governor’s recent behavior, tells us otherwise.
Not even six months after the checks arrived, what little tax relief taxpayers received is suddenly threatened because Mr. Corzine has now made property tax rebates part of his massive road tax equation.
While Assembly Republicans call for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the permanency of the relief, Gov. Corzine and Democrats promised sustainability through an increase in the state sales tax.
Incredulously, it is now tied to an outrageous proposal that will see tolls rise on our state roads for the next 75, possibly 99 years.
It is reprehensible that New Jersey taxpayers are being used as pawns in what equates to a political blackmail plot.
The governor’s strong-arm tactics are repugnant behavior for any elected official, much less the head of state.
They also reveal a disturbing pattern – it’s the governor’s way or the highway.
Unfortunately, in this case, Mr. Corzine is the only one who will soon be able to afford the “highway.”
Peter Biondi, R-16th
The writer is the N.J. Assembly Republican Conference Leader.
