DeCroce likens Corzine's toll road tactics to political extortion
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterAssembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce today issued a release criticizing Gov. Jon Corzine's methods of selling his plan to increase tolls, likening them to a "political blackmail plot."
"Corzine’s claim yesterday that property tax rebates and tax relief could be in danger unless his 800% toll hike and nearly $40 billion borrowing scheme is approved is tantamount to political extortion," DeCroce said.
“The threat also confirms what Republicans have been saying for two years that unless an amendment to the state constitution is approved to guarantee the permanency of property tax relief, promises by Corzine and Democrats to the contrary were meaningless,” DeCroce added.
The Republican leader said Corzine should also stop promising specific transportation instrastructure improvements in exchange for support for his toll hike plan, according to the release.
The governor's office issued a counter statement this afternoon.
"The Governor is being open and honest about the scope of the problems facing New Jersey, and about the consequences of continuing the status quo," said spokesman Jim Gardner. "He has put forward a financial restructuring and debt reduction plan to break the cycle of financial imbalance and fiscal mismanagement.
Gardner said Corzine believes it's important to inform the public about the benefits of is proposal, which include securing funding for transportation infrastructure for the next 75 years and eliminating half of the state's bonded debt.
"He is presenting his proposal to the public, the Legislature and everyone with a stake in New Jersey's future, and welcomes a debate on any reasonable alternative," Gardner said.
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Come up with a plan, DeCroce
This marks your 20th year as a legislator, Alex. Where the hell is your plan?
You watched on the sidelines for years as the Republicans and Whitman gambled the pension system away and increased our debt astronomically.
Corzine is here to clean up the mess YOU created, and you think it's blackmail?
After 20 years of failure, it takes a lot of guts to stick your head up on this one.
And I don't like the toll plan. But I don't like hyocricy from the people who put us in this mess, either.
Pot.. Kettle..
Sinking us another $40 billion into the hole is "cleaning up" the mess? I often wonder whether it's the imagination or the courage that our political leadership shows lacking when, rather than tackle spending, they propose an absurdly regressive tax and prepare to borrow. When tomorrow comes around, who will have "put us in this mess" then?
At least DeCroce and the
At least DeCroce and the Republicans have recommended budget cuts (billions of dollars worth), which is the real solution to the state's financial problems. It's mainly the Democrats that have consistently pushed these legitimate suggestions to the side. I don't think you can place blame on Whitman's ineptitude onto DeCroce.
Political extortion
Now aren't these the same rebate cuts that were part of the Republican "tax cut" plan last June? Now in the state of the state speech the governor stated that he will present a budget with 2 to 2 1/2 billion dollars in cuts in order to keep spending at its current level. Lets not ignore that this is part of his proposed plan and lets hold him to itif it is not included. If Senator DeCroce can come up with a better plan to bring down debt service, fix highways and bridges and continuing rebates without invoking fantasy land changes, more power to him. Until then he and Kean Jr. are just demagoguing the issue to the detriment of finding a solution to a mess for which both parties ( and the public) are responsible. Please lets not have 2 years of stirring up temper tantrums instead finding a responsible remedy.
Its DeCroce's fault?????
Formerly Anonymous, how to put this politely...are you on crack?
About the only thing the Democrats in this state have actually succeeded at in the last six years is advancing the fiction that both parties are equally to blame for the fincial mess the state is in.
Whatever the Whitman administration did or didnt do, it pales in comparison to the looting of the state treasury over the last 6- 7 years. it's not even debatable.
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