Assembly Democrats

BUH-DUM-BUMP: THE PEOPLE'S COURT
IS BACK IN SESSION
He's Tanned, Rested & Ready: Let's Ask Judge Wapner
To Decide on Assembly GOP's Claims

(TRENTON) -- Even with last night's retreat on their threatened lawsuit to block property tax reform, Assembly Republicans have left their door open for a legal challenge to more than $2 billion in property tax cuts, with the Assembly Minority Leader intoning, "I guarantee somebody's going to file a lawsuit" (Star-Ledger, January 31).Who better to mediate such a dispute than the most famous judge in America: Judge Wapner? Of course, Judge Wapner presided for 2,484 episodes of small claims complaints while the Assembly Republicans want to disallow more than $2.25 billion in needed property tax relief.

But what New Jersey resident would Rusty the Bailiff escort into the courtroom on the Assembly Republicans' side for a face-off with middle-class taxpayers?

Considering that 95 percent of New Jersey homeowners would be guaranteed at least a 10 percent property tax cut under the plan that passed the Assembly with broad bipartisan support, it would be up to the state's richest to take the fateful step. Accordingly, the choices on the A-list of potential plaintiffs are quite limited:

* Publishing scion and two-time presidential candidate Steve Forbes

* Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman

* 2005 GOP gubernatorial nominee and multi-millionaire Doug Forrester

* Hoboken resident Eli Manning

Remember, Assembly Republicans: "Don't take the law into your own hands -- you take 'em to court."

-- A draft complaint is attached. --

ASSEMBLY GOP for )
Christine Todd Whitman, )
Douglas Forrester, ) SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
Steve Forbes, )
Eli Manning, et al, ) LAW DIVISION, MERCER COUNTY
Plaintiffs, ) DOCKET NO.
)
v. ) CIVIL ACTION
)
NJ PROPERTY TAXPAYERS, )
Defendants ) COMPLAINT

Plaintiff Assembly GOP by way of complaint against the defendants states as follows:

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

1. This action seeks, on behalf of New Jersey's wealthiest residents, to impede a property tax relief plan that would provide much-needed credits of up to 20 percent to over 1.8 million New Jersey homeowners while also doubling relief to tenants.

2. $250,000 does not go as far as it used to. (See, e.g., 2007 Neiman Marcus Catalog.)

3. Whereas the Assembly GOP definition of "renters in need of relief" is limited to individuals with Bay Head or Mantoloking shore houses or luxury box agreements at Giants Stadium.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Assembly GOP demands judgment against the Defendants as follows:

A. Declaring that the provision of $2.2 billion of property tax relief to the residents of this State who need it the most, on the basis of genuine financial need and a basic sense of fairness, as well as sixteen years of precedent in basing a rebate program on income levels, violates the New Jersey Constitution.

B. Enjoining Property Taxpayers from "cashing their checks" (See, e.g., Assembly GOP Press Conference, Jan. 30, 2007).

C. Awarding costs of attorney, accountant, and investment advisor fees as a result of increased billable hours needed to find legal loopholes to reduce Plaintiffs' tax liability.

D. Ignoring the fact that 24 members of the Assembly GOP voted for this proposal.

FOR RELEASE:
January 31, 2007

CONTACT:
Press Office
(609) 292-7065