The Florio Syndrome, Pt. 2

New Jersey's new governor, Jon Corzine, has proposed tax increases affecting every person in New Jersey while asking for a 10% increase in homeowner rebates (stage 1 of his 40% in 4 years plan). Mr. Corzine's $30.9 Billion budget calls for higher taxes on commerce (the sales tax, up a penny), higher taxes on water, higher corporate taxes, higher taxes on alcohol (5 cents for beer, 10 for wine and booze), higher taxes on cigarettes ($7 a pack? 100 miles south they're $3 a pack), and higher taxes on expensive, gas-guzzling automobiles (I agree here, my car gets 28 mpg). Mr. Corzine is also planning to cut 1,000 from state payrolls, though that number is a mere fraction of the 8,000 added over the previous three years. Mr. Corzine's plan would exempt those earning less than $25,000 from state income tax.

NJ Republicans offer a budget $2.6 Billion lower than Mr. Corzine's plan. The Republican state chairman, Tom Wilson, attacked Mr. Corzine's proffer before it was tendered, appearing rather foolish and incredibly partisan. The NJ GOP should have worked on the finer points of the proposal; instead they've continued screaming 'Taxes!' without any information to support it. It's Doug Forrester all over again.