TRENTON – Democratic Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, (D-20), Union, has introduced four bills to lower the gross income tax rates over three years, but not for all all taxpayers as Gov. Chris Christie wants.

Cryan’s package of bills would cut gross income tax cuts by 10 percent.

A2213: This would reduce the tax over three years for joint filers earning no more than $200,000 and for individuals earning no more than $100,000.

A2212: This would reduce the tax over three years for joint filers earning no more than $250,000 or individuals earning up to $125,000.

A2211: This would cut the tax over the same period for those making $150,000 and $75,000, respectively, for joint and single filers.

A2210: And this would reduce the rates over three years for those making $100,000 and $50,000, respectively, for joint and single filers.

The rate reductions would occur by 3 percent in 2013, 3 percent in 2014 and 4 percent in 2015.  After 2015, it stays at a 10 percent reduction rate in future years.

Asked why he introduced a tax cut that was unpopular with his party, Cryan said he believes the party should be giving the middle class a hand.

"I happen to think we ought to be looking to give tax cuts for working class people in the state," Cryan said. "We ought to look at it and see what we can do. I'm of the view I think working class people are taking it on the chin. Why wouldn't we look to give them a hand?"

During his State of the State address, Gov. Chris Christie proposed a plan for an across the board 10 percent cut in income taxes.  The plan was decidedly unpopular with Democrats, who decried it as a tax cut for the wealthy.  To bolster their claim, they cited figures from the office of Legislative Services that showed the cuts would do little for the middle class.

Christie has doubled down on the proposal, while Democrats say they plan to come up with a plan to cut property taxes, which they say will be more beneficial to lower wage earners.

Cryan has been at odds with his party since a failed attempt to unseat Speaker Sheila Oliver.