Alex DeCroce

FEEDBACK SOUGHT THROUGH ‘BUDGET BALLOT’ PROJECT 

            Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says Assembly Republicans will go directly to taxpayers to find out what they think the state should do to balance Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s proposed Fiscal Year 2009-10 budget.

           “It’s their money,” said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. “They should have a say in how it’s spent.”

         The “2009 Budget Ballot” project will be used by Republicans as they participate in upcoming budget deliberations. The budget ballots are now available online at the Assembly Republican website (njassemblyrepublicans.com) and will be distributed by Assembly Republicans at local venues such as town meetings.

BUT HE WARNS THE BATTLE TO RESTORE THE PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION IS ONLY A PARTIAL VICTORY, AND THE WAR AGAINST CORZINE’S PROPERTY TAX INCREASES MUST CONTINUE  

            Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, issued the following statement today in reaction to Gov. Jon Corzine’s partial concession to middle class taxpayers:

            “This was a victory for the middle class. If taxpayers didn’t raise such a strong public outcry about Corzine’s decision to eliminate the property tax deduction, you can bet your last dollar that it would have been in the final budget. I congratulate middle class taxpayers because the credit for Corzine’s sudden change-of-heart belongs to them."

           Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says figures that had been held back by the Department of Community Affairs for months only to be quietly released after Gov. Jon S. Corzine delivered his budget address on Monday show property taxes jumped 18.6% during the first three years of Corzine’s administration.

          “Since Democrats have been in control, property taxes have risen 54.8 percent,” said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. “How can you pretend to be on the side of middle class families when you more than double what they pay in property taxes?

        “Any lingering doubt about the fiscal ineptitude of the current administration will be put to rest by Corzine’s new budget. James Hughes, a respected economist from Rutgers, says the administration’s proposed cut in state aid to schools and municipalities coupled, a homestead rebate program that will be almost completely gutted, and elimination of the property tax deduction on their state income taxes could cost middle class taxpayers an additional $1,700 to $2,000.

        “For New Jersey taxpayers who are already saddled with the highest property taxes in the nation and are in danger of losing their homes and jobs during the worst recession in generations, Corzine’s budget is the equivalent of a knockout punch. I don’t consider anyone who would do this to families struggling trying to survive a friend of the middle class.”

Former Republican Mercer County sheriff candidate Jim McSorley confirmed today that he will not run for state assembly in the 14th District.

“My DNA is in the law enforcement end, but I know that they’re going to win those two seats,” he said.  

McSorley, who ran a long shot campaign against incumbent Sheriff Kevin Larkin last year, was heavily recruited by state Republicans to run with Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede, meeting with Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) and Minority Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) about the prospect.  Yaede could not be reached for comment, but is said to be undecided.  

The 14th is expected to be one of the few true battleground districts this year, with its two assembly seats held by freshman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) and long-time incumbent Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro).  

Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany)

UPDATED 

TRENTON – It looked like bedlam, but closer inspection revealed a perfect fault line.

The governor’s speech ended and that great mass of lawmakers spilled into the aisles and into the well of the chamber amid a crowd of reporters who heard them to a man or to a woman either applaud (if they were Democrats) or denounce (if they were Republicans) the 2010 budget speech.

“I think he did an admirable job,” said Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark). “We’re still going to be lower than the highest tax rate in New York. Only those that are making over $500,000 a year are getting a tax increase.”

“A three-quarters of one percent tax increase,” put in Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Montclair).

“We’re trying to spread the pain as much as possible in the midst of a global recession,” said Continuo. “But we are dedicated to preserving programs for the underserved.” 

             Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says the budget proposed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s represents a “total abandonment” of New Jersey’s dwindling middle class.

          “This budget will dismantle what’s left of the middle class in New Jersey,” said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. “People are losing their jobs, their homes and their savings, and all this budget does is guarantee them more pain.

         “Make no mistake. Instead of saving money by eliminating programs and permanently shrinking the size of state government, Corzine is choosing to raise state taxes and property taxes in the midst of the worst economy most people can remember in their lifetimes,” DeCroce added.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says Assemblyman Joseph Cryan should stop being “so modest and take the credit he and fellow Democrats so richly deserve for making New Jersey a national leader in so many categories.”

DeCroce took note that Cryan, who is also the leader of the state Democratic Party, was instrumental in helping Gov. Jon S. Corzine and former governors Jim McGreevey and Richard J. Codey transform New Jersey’s into the “undisputed champion of high taxes, wasteful spending, reckless borrowing and rampant corruption.”

Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) has accused Gov. Jon Corzine of breaking his 2005 campaign promise to keep the property tax rebate program. 

"The governor claimed that he recognized that property taxes in New Jersey were high and needed reform," DeCroce said in a statement released today. "No one interpreted that as eliminating or curtailing the only program that provides some relief to taxpayers. The ultimate effect of doing what the governor is suggesting is actually a tax increase. Even some members within his party recognize the impact this would have."

DeCroce said that Democrats promised that the rebate program would be "safeguarded" when they backed a 2006 sales tax increase aimed at property tax relief.

Democrat Wayne Marek is seeking a rematch against Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) and Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) in the 26th Legislative District.

Marek announced today that he filed his nominating petitions for assembly in the solidly Republican district, as well as for the Morris Plains School Board.  Since the elections are held on different dates, Marek can run for both. 

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, left, and Franklin Township Mayor Brian D. Levine

ROSELLE PARK – On a night of party revelry, two men here tonight appeared at least initially dejected.

There would be no candidates’ speeches at the Union County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner/Auction, and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan accepted the news with admitted disappointment.

“First it was five minute speeches then three minutes and now we’re down to no speeches,” said Lonegan when he was asked if he would be addressing the packed crowd at the annual event.

A second candidate for governor, Franklin Township Mayor Brian D. Levine, arrived with an envelope containing prepared remarks in his jacket pocket, but there was no need, he learned from Lonegan when Levine walked in the door to the small but swanky Solar do Minho banquet hall.

“The candidates are mingling, talking to people,” explained Union County GOP Chairman Phil Morin. “They’re getting their message out. If we do speeches, we’ll be here all night.”