GOP STRONG: CORZINE’S ECONOMIC PLAN WILL MEAN MORE HARDSHIP FOR MIDDLE CLASS TAXPAYERS

GOP STRONG

Fighting For Republican Victories 

Mike Ramaglia

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Mecca -201-852-1067                                                                       

  PASSAIC COUNTY --  Gov. Corzine’s economic recovery proposal for New Jersey is a political ploy that will hurt middle class families by driving up taxes while protecting public employees and those who made bad economic choices, say the leaders of GOP Strong, a Republican political action group. 

The organization is calling for the governor and the state’s Republican leadership to demand real, specific spending cuts and enact an immediate repeal of the states’ affordable housing mandates in an effort to stabilize the state’s sliding housing market.  

“It has taken a national economic crisis – and a looming governor’s race -- for Gov. Corzine to recognize that New Jersey has a rotten economy and a very poor business environment. But his solution is to increase spending that will be paid for by middle class homeowners through higher taxes” said Michael Ramaglia, a co-chair of the organization. 

“The governor only casually mentioned spending cuts, but we know from his record, those cuts will never come. He loves big government. He loves big government unions.  He cares nothing for the middle class families, which have to pay for his social agenda,” added Ramaglia.   

The governor’s plan calls for $4 billion to $5 billion new infrastructure spending as well as state takeover of foreclosed homes and financial support for local banks.  

“Where is the money going to come from for these projects and initiatives? It’s going to come from the backs of middle class taxpayers who get nothing from the governor’s bailout,” said GOP Strong co chair Michael Mecca of Clifton.

“He needs to tell us how he can offset billions in new spending with billions of dollars in spending cuts. But he won’t do that,” added Mecca.  “The governor’s plan is empty pre-election rhetoric with a big price tag attached.”

Robert Fass, an organization co-chair from Wayne said  the governor should be spreading the cost of the economic recovery more evenly.  “He should have called for a reduction in pension plans and health benefits for state employees and for removing the costly affordable housing mandate on towns and businesses  

“Gov. Corzine’s initiatives come at the expense of the middle class families who will pay for risky bank investments and foreclosure bailouts, which are better left to the private sector. As you can see, the federal bailout is not working very well and neither will Corzine’s bailout,” said Fass.

“The middle class can’t afford pensions and health benefits for themselves but thanks to Corzine and the legislature’s Democrat majority, they are forced to pay for Rolls Royce benefits for public employees,” added Fass.

Fass,  a business owner said business investment is lagging in New Jersey because of a tangle of regulations and fees including the latest mandate to pay a portion of their investment in facilities to an affordable housing pool. 

“I give the governor credit for finally publically acknowledging that New Jersey has a business image problems and that regulation has to reduced.  But it should not have taken a national crisis for him to recognize what everyone else has known for years,” said Fass.

Fass, added that the governor is stubbornly holding on to his affordable housing mandate that increase property taxes on existing homeowners, while negatively impacting their home values

“Housing prices are tumbling, yet Gov. Corzine remains wedded to a hideous housing policy that forces municipalities and business to spend money on overdevelopment of housing. It makes no sense to build hundreds of thousands of new housing units for people who can’t afford to buy them.” added Fass.

"The state needs a real economic stimulus policy that is based on tax cuts, for everyone,” added Ramaglia.