Years before the national economy collapsed, New Jersey's finances were buckling after years of careless tax increases, irresponsible borrowing and needless spending.

We recognized the warning signs and have been proposing many solutions to bolster the state's fiscal standing.

In the last four years, we proposed more than $6 billion worth of budget cuts, including more than $780 million from this year's budget, which Governor Corzine said was cut to the bone.

Unfortunately, Corzine and Democratic legislators shunned the reform our state needs and did not eliminate a single program. Instead, they chose to raise taxes by more than $1 billion, steal property tax relief from 1.2 million more middle-class families and use a one-time federal bailout and deferral of pension and school aid payments to make it appear as if they cut spending, when this budget is higher than the one before Corzine took office. As the governor says, the facts are stubborn.

This budget will cost the average middle class family $1,200, according to a Rutgers University economist.

That is why not a single Republican voted for this budget.

This budget simply ignores the state's problems. It has left a deficit of at least $7 billion for next year – another burden for working families and seniors.

For the hard-working middle-class taxpayers, we will continue to fight for limiting spending to income received, capping budget growth and requiring voter approval for major tax increases.

This appeared as a Letter to the Editor in The Record of Bergen County on July 12, 2009.

05/01/10
Budget Address Targets Problems & Sets Stage For Bright Future