Tom Kean: Democrats Still Thirsty for Taxpayers' Money

Senate Republican Leader Thomas H. Kean (Essex/Morris/Somerset/Union) issued the following statement after supporters of a water tax held a news conference to show their support for legislative Democrats who are sponsoring bills that would impose the levy.

"A day after Governor Corzine signed what Democrats have disingenuously called a 'historic, no-new-taxes budget, ' water tax supporters are already campaigning at the State House for a Democrat proposal to impose yet another new tax," Kean said.

"The Trenton Democrats' sorry record of over 100 tax and fee increases in just six short years is destroying the state's economy and making New Jersey completely unaffordable. The new budget already will cost ratepayers an estimated $737 million over five years by reviving a tax that's levied every time they flip a light switch. Now the Democrat tax machine is planning to grab money from taxpayers every time they turn on a faucet.

"Jobs, businesses and investment are fleeing our State in unprecedented numbers thanks to a flood of Democrat corporate, income and inheritance taxes. The sales tax was hiked to provide property tax relief that has now been reduced or eliminated for many low-income and middle class taxpayers. Now in the wake of a stream of broken promises, they are asking voters to trust them that a new water tax will go to open space, when in reality it's just as likely to be swallowed up to eliminate a deficit next year that the governor now estimates at $1.7 billion.

"Instead of drowning the middle class with a new water tax, the Democrats should work with Republicans to enact a common sense agenda of government reform, economic development and tax relief."