Republican Senate Budget Leaders Say They Won't Join Corzine on Road to Fiscal Disaster

All six Republicans on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee rejected Governor Corzine's election-year budget today because its reliance on one-shot revenue and gimmicks will create a fiscal crisis that pushes the state closer to insolvency.

"Governor Corzine will push through a budget that will guarantee multi-billion dollar deficits for years to come," Senate Republican Budget Officer Antony Bucco said. "It would be inexcusable to vote Yes on this spending plan when 'Governor Deficit' hasn't said one word about how he will make up for billions of dollars one-shot revenues in future years."

Senator Kevin O'Toole said that "extraordinary" measures the governor says he is taking this year to balance this budget look just like the irresponsible "extraordinary" measures taken to balance the past seven budgets. "New Jersey Democrats aren't pushing through an irresponsible budget full of gimmicks and one-shots just because of the current economic crisis. They are pushing through an irresponsible budget because that's what Governor Corzine and his supporters have always done. The state wouldn't be pushing billions of dollars of expenses onto our children if Democrats had budgeted responsibly over the last seven years."

Senator Steven Oroho said that New Jersey can't afford the proposed tax increases and said he doubts they will be temporary as the governor claims. "To say that these taxes are temporary is to ignore the looming multi-billion deficits we will face far into the future. For my Democrat colleagues, the temptation to keep these taxes in place and even raise them will be irresistible."

Senator Marcia Karrow said the budget will cost the state more jobs, forcing more people and their incomes to flee the state. "New Jersey already has the highest unemployment rate in our region. Adding taxes during this terrible recession is a sure formula for stalling economic recovery and pushing even more New Jersey residents out of their jobs and out of the state."

Senator Phil Haines said that a budget that eliminates rebates for 1.7 million in a state with the highest property taxes in the nation is a terrible blow to Middle Class New Jersey. "By eliminating property tax rebates and reducing school and municipal aid, this budget does not represent a commitment to property tax relief," Haines said.

Senator Joe Pennacchio said the budget shows again that Governor Corzine's promises of support for government transparency and accountability are hollow. "Through months of hearings, the Corzine administration hasn't provided taxpayers and lawmakers with honest answers. It was impossible for me to vote for a budget that was promoted with half-truths and evasions. New Jersey needs change and it needs budget reform."

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