CORZINE vs. CORZINE
- ROUND ONE: TRUST AND TAXES -

"The old politics of tax, borrow and spend has failed New Jersey."
- Jon Corzine, New York Times, February 19, 2006

"When I announced my candidacy in December, I pledged a campaign of substance rather than slogans, a campaign of ideas rather than insults, a campaign of straight talk, not false promises."
- Jon Corzine, speech at his campaign kickoff, March 30, 2005
'HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?
THERE WILL BE NO NEW TAXES!'

"Corzine said he would not increase taxes and was confident that he could balance the budget by cutting waste and scaling back spending."
- New York Times, December 12, 2004

"Corzine will ensure lasting (property tax) relief by hard-wiring rebates into the state budget in a responsible way that can be paid for without raising other state taxes."
- Corzine for Governor 2005, Campaign Position Paper

"(Corzine wil)] fully restore property tax rebates - doubling them for most families - to 2004 levels, and then grow them 40 percent over four years."
- Corzine for Governor 2005, Campaign Position Paper

"(Corzine) also said honesty in discussing property tax reform would be a pressing issue going forward."
- The Trenton Times, February 21, 2005

'WE WILL LESSEN YOUR PROPERTY TAX BURDEN,
AND WE WILL DO SO IMMEDIATELY!'

"New Jerseyans deserve immediate property tax relief that is real and fair, and that's exactly what they will receive under a Corzine Administration."
- Corzine for Governor Press Release, October 3, 2005

"I will not offer an unfunded short-term hope and a prayer on property taxes."
- Jon Corzine, Primary Night, June 6, 2005

"If we are able to grow the economy we will be able to grow revenues without increasing taxes. And I have no intent on raising taxes. I have intent on growing this economy so that we get the revenues to invest back into our school system, to invest in our health care system. And, by the way, I believe that there are a lot of other alternatives to fix the Transportation Trust Fund other than going to the taxpayer and increasing their burden."
- Jon Corzine, NJN debate, September 20, 2005

"I didn't say I was open to tax increases. I don’t think we’ll have to...I'm not considering raising taxes. It's not on my agenda. We have a very high tax structure. I'm not considering it."
- Jon Corzine, The Star-Ledger, October 23, 2005

"Governors unfortunately have to make tough choices and make tough decisions. Some of them will be on how you spend money and some may be how you raise it. But I have no intention of increasing taxes."
- Jon Corzine, The Star-Ledger, October 23, 2005

"'There is no question we have a serious, serious problem in New Jersey with regard to property taxes,' Corzine said. "I intend to tackle that."
- Trenton Times, November 10, 2005

"I will keep my pledge on property tax rebates...For me, my oath and these pledges are a personal commitment...And, in turn, I ask you - the citizens of New Jersey - to hold me accountable."
- Inaugural address of Jon Corzine, January 17, 2006

"First of all, (regarding my plan to increase property tax rebates by 40 percent over four years) it's 40 percent after we restore the middle class to where it was in the 2004 calendar year - which is actually the 2005 budget year; it's one of those confusions that constantly is made - which gets it up to (an average of) $680. And then we'll grow 40 percent from that. And we would start in the calendar year of 2006. It would be $680 plus $68."
- Jon Corzine, The Star-Ledger, October 23, 2005

'YOU MUST HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT I SAID!
I NEVER SAID NEVER. DID I?'

"Corzine says the heavy tax burden in New Jersey leaves no room for a net increase. But when pressed, he says he will back an increase in the income tax if it is linked to a decrease in the property tax. 'The burden of taxation is going to have to shift,' he says. 'You're not going to reduce property taxes and just not have funding for schools.'"
- The Star-Ledger, October 28, 2005

"After the last two months, I'll be the first to acknowledge that some things will have to wait. In this case, while I recommend that we increase existing rebates 10 percent, we will have to put off restoration of the rebate cuts made last year."
- Governor Corzine's Budget Address, March 21, 2006

'LET ME MAKE ONE THING PERFECTLY CLEAR.
YOUR TAXES WILL GO UP.'

"Corzine promised to implement a more progressive tax structure 'sooner rather than later.' But he insisted that no tax hikes were off the table. And he said he was considering a gross receipt tax for business - a fancy name for a sales tax."
- Asbury Park Press, Editorial, February 18, 2006

"The host asked (Governor Corzine) if residents should expect to pay more (in taxes) this year. 'In all honestly I can't answer that question, but if you ask me to put a probability on it, I'd probably say yes.'"
- The Trentonian, February 19, 2006

"Reluctantly, I am forced to seek net new tax revenues of about $1.4 billion, primarily through a 1 cent increase in the general sales tax along with a modest extension of that tax into some services."
- Governor Corzine's Budget Address, March 21, 2006

"But let me be clear, I expect the final budget to ... raise taxes...To those who thought my financial background would mean I had some magic bullet in my holster to balance the budget, I am sorry to disappoint you.�
- Governor Corzine's Budget Address, March 21, 2006

"Tax increases are a last resort. As we studied our financial circumstances, I concluded that the sales tax should be the primary tool for generating new revenue. That recommendation came after carefully considering the potential impact of raising our already high level of income taxes on the state's overall economic competitiveness."
- Governor Corzine's Budget Address, March 21, 2006

'DID I PROMISE TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES? THEN WHY AM I
GUARANTEEING THAT THEY WILL RISE EVERY YEAR?'

"We need to cap the annual increase in the property tax, not a new cap on spending, but a cap on the increase in the property tax bill itself. We can fashion provisions to cope with inflation, population growth and changing needs. But no homeowner, no property owner, should have an increase in their annual property tax bill greater than 4 percent."
- Governor Corzine, Address to the Legislature, July 28, 2006

"(Corzine) said he hopes to hold property tax increases to no more than 3 percent annually and give local governments authority to implement their own taxes. Speaking on radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM, Corzine said he would like to cut the state's highest-in-the-nation property taxes as part of an ongoing tax reform effort, but said keeping annual hikes in check seems more realistic. Property taxes have increased about 7 percent annually in recent years, helping boost average property taxes to $6,000, twice the national average. 'Hopefully we'll get it down to 3 percent or less,' Corzine said."
- Associated Press, October 16, 2006

'DID I PROMISE IMMEDIATE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF?
THESE THINGS TAKE TIME. YOU MUST HAVE PATIENCE.'

"We all have to acknowledge that the reforms we implement will take time before the public feels the results."
- Governor Corzine, Address to the Legislature, July 28, 2006

"People shouldn't be looking for instant gratification."
- Governor Corzine, Philadelphia Inquirer, September 14, 2006

# # # # #