New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vowed yesterday to slash income taxes to revive the state’s economy and make it more competitive with its neighbors.
“We’ve got to do that,” the Republican governor said in an interview on Bloomberg Radio. “You can’t be competitive when your top marginal rate is three times your neighbor.”
New Jersey has a top income-tax rate of 9 percent, compared with 3 percent in Pennsylvania. New York’s also is 9 percent.
Garden State homeowners also are burdened with the highest property taxes in the nation.
Christie, who noted that the state’s revenues have been virtually flat, said he hoped to cut taxes within a year or two.
He has already battled the Democratic-run Legislature over taxes, having devoted a bill to extend a tax surcharge on the wealthy. The governor did get lawmakers to substantially reduce state spending.
Christie said his focus in the short term will be to continue to hold down spending.
“There are going to be some worthwhile programs that are cut,” Christie said.
“I can’t spend money I don’t have. I’m not Barack Obama. I can’t print it,” he said on WOR’s “The John Gambling Show.”
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(Source: NY Post)
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9 Responses
If he pulls it off, it would be very bad news for New York.
How about joining the other states that are suing the federal government over the mandates in Obamacare?
Your Sister,
What mandates? Any state is welcome to opt out of Medicaid, turning down the federal money. Since the feds pay a lot of the cost, it can set whatever strings it wishes on the program.
He still refuses to deal with the biggest problem: Nearly six hundred school districts. The entire state of Maryland gets along perfectly well with only 24. Force consolidation of school districts and you will have huge savings in property taxes. (In NY that would require a voter referendum; is that the case in NJ?)
Akuperma, I have a solution to your problem – Paladino! If Cristie is tough, get to know Paladino. A person with too much money to corrupt with a driven ambition to change things in Albany. Running for just one term so he won’t be indebted to those Rabbi’s and political hacks (you know, like the ones that denounced him at a press conference) all over the state. And let us not forget: if someone is bi-partisan in this race, it is him. A registered democrat until just a few years ago (and didn’t change affiliations to win a primary like Bloomberg did) and supported democratic candidates (with his views) just this year.
Dave Hirsch,
Given Paladino’s penchant to make bigoted comments, distribute pornographic emails, and engage in name-calling, you are right that he can’t be corrupted by Albany — he is already a morally corrupt individual. Paladino is also an ignoramus as he is promising to do things that are explicitly prohibited by the State Constitution.
#5 – if Paladino wins, he’ll still have Democrats controlling at least one house of the legislature. New York needs to become seriously pro-business (perhaps even “right to work”, not to mention cut taxes). The only industry the state has been pushing lately was blowing bubbles in lower Manhattan – and that burst.
#4- Maryland has virtually no local government smaller than county level (with Baltimore City being a county). It has no towns, no boroughs, and virtually no villages or cities (and the ones they do have control very little).
Maryland also has an industry that owns “the” printing press, which is why it has low unemployment and rising incomes.
Lower taxes & less spending by the govt??? What a novel concept!!
I wish Obamanation would hear this!
Charlie, seeing the recent (stinky) Paladino mailing, I wouldn’t call any Republican corrupt. Clean up your mess first.
NJ legislature is also overwhelmingly democratic. Christie has no picnic fighting them all day. Paladino at least promises a fight (that looks like he can handle), unlike Cuomo.