CRYAN BLASTS CHRISTIE’S OPPOSITION TO $2 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

TRENTON--Just one day after Republican Right Wing Conservative gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie stood by silently as RNC Chairman Michael Steele called President Obama's economic recovery plans "nonsense," New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman Joseph Cryan blasted Christie for his refusal to accept $2 billion in property tax relief for New Jersey from President Obama's economic recovery plan. Cryan said Christie's opposition to the federal stimulus funds shows that he is more interested in joining with his fellow right-wing Republicans to obstruct President Obama's agenda than working toward common sense solutions for New Jersey.   

"At a time when New Jersey families are facing unprecedented economic challenges, it's unconscionable that Chris Christie would reject $2 billion in federal money for property tax relief," Cryan said. "New Jersey deserves a governor who will work with President Obama to turn our economy around, not play partisan games with our taxpayer dollars."

Last week, the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services' reported that New Jersey would lose $5 billion in federal economic recovery money if the state refused to accept funds with conditions set forth by the federal government, a position held by Christie. A rejection of these funds would include $2 billion in education funding, which would directly result in a $2 billion property tax hike across New Jersey, while also depriving the state of critical funding for jobs, unemployment insurance, and the state energy program.
 
Christie has been outspoken in his opposition to accepting these funds, going so far as to praise right-wing governors like Sarah Palin and Mark Sanford for turning down federal stimulus money, saying their refusal "makes sense. If they're going to put strings on that money that are going to tie your hands and make you expand programs and not be able to have the freedom of choice that people elected you for, then you shouldn’t take the money.” ["Hannity," Fox News, 5/18/09]