HADDONFIELD – Gov. Chris Christie made it clear to a town hall audience here that pressure must be applied to the Assembly Democrats to ensure N.J. residents see a tax cut in the upcoming fiscal year budget.
Christie told residents in a school gymnasium here that “If we get on top of the Assembly Democrats in the next 19 days we will see a tax cut,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
He singled out, as he has done previously, Democratic Assemblyman Lou Greenwald for particular criticism.
Christie said Greenwald wants to let towns impose income and sales taxes on residents. “He said if you let towns do that it’ll lower your taxes. You’ve heard this before. He promises you that you’ll see your property taxes go down.”
Christie said there is no reason taxes can’t be reduced in the fiscal year 2013 budget. “The only people standing in our way are Lou Greenwald and the Assembly Democrats.”
He said the Senate Democrats are ready to cut taxes.
There had been a deal reportedly agreed to between the administration and Senate Democrats on cutting taxes some weeks ago but an announcement was postponed when some lawmakers raised objections because they had been left out of the loop, according to sources. Other sources said Sweeney wanted to take another shot at bringing Assembly Democrats on board.
The Senate Democrats’ plan does not include a millionaire’s tax; the Assembly Democrats are still pushing for reinstatement of the tax on high wage-earners, but Christie has said a millionaire’s tax is DOA.
Earlier stories:
Sources say Sweeney, Christie were prepared to announce deal
Sweeney: Millionaire’s tax not part of Senate Dems’ plan
