Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose

McHOSE SAYS TALK OF LAYOFFS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A SCARE TACTIC
May 18, 2006
Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose/973-726-0954
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

McHOSE SAYS TALK OF LAYOFFS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A SCARE TACTIC

Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose said today Personnel Commissioner Roberto Torres' claim that 20,000 state workers would lose their jobs should the Legislature fail to enact a one percent sales tax increase is nothing more than a scare tactic being used to evoke support for a controversial tax proposal.

"I am extremely disturbed by these remarks," said McHose, R-Sussex, Morris, and Hunterdon. "Bottom line, all this talk of massive layoffs is nothing more than a ploy being used by the Administration to stir up support for the sales tax hike."

McHose said there is neither a need to increase the sales tax or layoff state workers.

"The savings Governor Corzine hopes to realize by raising the sales tax can be achieved through other means," McHose added. "Make no mistake, Governor Corzine is taking the easy way out by proposing to raise the sales tax. The Administration can't go around screaming 'the sky in falling' when they proposed a budget that increases state spending by nearly $3 billion."

McHose strongly urged Governor Corzine to eliminate all waste from the budget and pursue spending cuts before increasing a single tax.

"The budget does not need to be balanced on the backs of taxpayers or state workers," McHose said. "Last year, Assembly Republicans proposed more than $1 billion in spending cuts. Unfortunately, Democrats failed to take many of our suggestions seriously. We need to put an end to Trenton's addiction to spending."

McHose noted that there are only six weeks left in the budget process and the Administration needs to work quickly to revise their fiscally irresponsible spending plan.

"Enough of the scare tactics and tax hike threats," concluded McHose. "We can resolve this financial crisis if we work in a bipartisan fashion to trim the state budget. Everyone can surely make do with a little less."

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