Unable To Trim Budget Fat, Governor Considers Serving Up The Unhappy Meal

Senate Republicans reacted today to Governor Jon Corzine's expressed willingness to consider a "sin" tax on fast food:

It is disturbing that Governor Corzine and other Democrats would consider taking another bite out of the budgets of working New Jerseyans by taxing the low-cost meals served by "fast-food" restaurants.

Presumably, it wouldn't be a sin worthy of excessive taxation to eat $28 foie gras at a four-star restaurant. Diners would only fatten up the taxman if they bought burgers off the dollar menu. "Let them eat pâté" seems to be the Democratic answer to those worried about the growing cost of living in our state.

Following on the heels of his failed 800 percent road tax plan, we believe the public will find the idea of a new, ultra regressive tax on Happy Meals hard to swallow. Governor, people want you to trim the fat in state government -- serve up a value meal for taxpayers, as it were. They don't want you to tax their children's french fries.

"The Democrats seem intent on taxing the poor and middle class alike to feed the ravenous appetite for badly run programs that do nothing to make New Jersey more affordable. This gluttonous approach to government will give New Jersey taxpayers indigestion for years.

The Democrats fiscal policies are squandering the cornucopia of resources and talent that New Jersey enjoys. The near limitless banquet of new programs and mandates for special interests must be reined in and state government put on a lower-spending diet.

Failing this, the state will be starved of future revenues and find itself unable to provide critical services. The Legislative Leadership should give up their voracious hunger for additional revenues, and reject this half-baked tax proposal.