State of New Jersey Archives: on Tax Reform
Phil Murphy:
Wealthiest 1% pay far lower share of taxes
Rather than holding bankers accountable for wrecking the global economy, Governor Christie and the insiders in Trenton kept looking out for special interests while all the economic gains went to those at the top. In New Jersey, the wealthiest
1% continue to pay a far lower share of their income in state and local taxes than the lowest-income residents. Phil will put the interests of New Jersey's working and middle-class families ahead of Wall Street by:-
Creating a public bank to invest in Main Street, so that NJ money is put to work for NJ, not for Wall Street;
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Ensuring tax fairness by enacting a millionaire's tax and closing loopholes for wealthy individuals and large corporations; and
- Holding bankers accountable by prosecuting financial fraud.
Source: 2017 N.J. gubernatorial campaign website, Murphy4NJ.com
Jun 6, 2017
Chris Christie:
Put the death tax on life support
In 2017, the death tax will be put on life support and, by 2018, the death tax in New Jersey will officially be dead itself. People often flee our state in their senior years because we tax them to death while they live here.
To add to the burden, we then tax them again more than any other state AFTER they die. People will now be able to choose New Jersey rather than one of the other 49 states in their later years because we will stop soaking them in their senior years.
New Jersey's estate tax has risen from a $675,000 exclusion to a $2 million exclusion on January 1st. On January 1, 2018, New Jersey will no longer have any estate tax at all.
This will be game changing tax reform for New Jersey's economy, our families and their small businesses.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to N.J. Legislature
Jan 10, 2017
Tom MacArthur:
Kept taxes low as Mayor; do same federally
As a Mayor and Councilman, Tom kept taxes among the lowest per person in the region and under Governor Christie's 2% property tax cap, while still protecting vital services like police and public safety. In Congress, Tom will push for comprehensive
tax reform that makes our federal tax code flatter and simpler, incentivizes savings and investment, sound financial planning and affordable elder care for seniors. As part of any reform efforts,
Tom will advocate for ending the death tax, while keeping the mortgage interest and property tax deductions because of their importance to making homeownership affordable and the real estate market sound in New Jersey.
Unlike his opponent, Tom believes the best way to remedy income inequality is by expanding economic and educational opportunities for all, not punishing people for their success and engaging in class warfare that divides Americans.
Source: 2014 N.J. House campaign website, TMac4congress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Jeff Bell:
America's tax system is outrageously complicated
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Higher taxes on the wealthy"?A: Strongly Oppose. America's tax system is outrageously complicated and therefore gives far too much power to an increasingly political IRS.
We need a simple tax code with the widest possible definition of income and the lowest possible rate. This is most easily achieved by means of a gross income tax with a flat rate.
Source: Email interview for 2014 N.J. Senate race with OnTheIssues
Jul 1, 2014
Chris Christie:
Cap property tax and interest arbitration awards
One of the things that drove people out of New Jersey in the past decade was high property taxes. In 2010, together, we capped them. The 2% cap has worked. In these past two years, property tax growth has been the lowest in two decades.
But the job is not finished. Property taxes are still too high. So today, I ask for you to join me in enacting a new property tax relief initiative that tackles the root causes that are driving up property taxes in the first place.
First, some context: the 2% cap we've already enacted has worked for a reason. We've done it by controlling costs. We accompanied it with reform of an interest arbitration award system that needed fixing.
As you know, the interest arbitration cap was not permanent--it is set to expire this April, unless we act. So I ask you today, let us renew the cap on interest arbitration awards and make the cap permanent.
Source: 2014 State of the State address to N.J. Legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Chris Christie:
2012: Across-the-board tax cut; 2013: exclude over $400K
Buono said in an interview on MSNBC: "Christie's idea of jumpstarting the economy is to propose a trickle-down income tax cut." Buono keeps repeating this claim about Gov. Chris Christie that leaves out significant details and has accuracy issues.
Previously, Buono tied the Republican governor's support of an income tax cut to it disproportionately benefiting the wealthiest New Jerseyans. The Truth-O-Meter ruled that claim, and this new one, as False.In January 2012 Christie proposed cutting
income tax rates by 10% across-the-board over 3 years; higher-income taxpayers would have seen a greater decrease because they pay more in income taxes. But after Democrats cried foul, the governor backed off that plan and endorsed a Democratic proposal
to cut income taxes only for income under $400,000.
Buono is correct that Christie proposed a tax cut last year. But Buono leaves out that the governor dropped his original proposal in favor of a Democratic tax-cut plan that he's supported since July.
Source: PolitiFact.com on 2013 N.J. governor debates
Mar 5, 2013
Robert Menendez:
We cannot simultaneously cut the deficit and cut taxes
Menendez [says] his Republican opponent supported tax cuts for the wealthy. Menendez has sought to present himself as the champion of the middle class, and to lump his opponent with the extreme wing of the Republican
Party, arguing that he cannot simultaneously cut the deficit and cut taxes, as Kyrillos has proposed. (Menendez borrowed from Obama, who borrowed from former President Bill Clinton: "That arithmetic doesn't work.")
Source: Associated Press on 2012 N.J. Senate debate
Oct 5, 2012
Chris Christie:
Reduce all income tax brackets by 10% and restore EITC
In my budget, I will fulfill a promise I made to all the people of New Jersey in 2009. Real relief from the heavy income tax burden that has strangled our families and forced many to move away. I propose to reduce income tax rates for each and every
New Jerseyan. In every tax bracket. By 10% across the board.
I also propose to fully restore the earned income tax credit for New Jersey's working poor, which we were forced to cut during the dark days of 2010, when growth was gone & we had no money.
Understand what this means--every New Jerseyan will get a cut in taxes. The working poor. The struggling middle class. The new college graduates getting their first job. The senior citizens who have already retired. The single mom. The job creators. The
Source: N.J. 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 17, 2012
Chris Christie:
Keep property tax rebate program
Lonegan said he would do away with property tax rebates and equalize school funding in all districts to lower property taxes. Christie said he would keep the rebate program.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger coverage: 2009 N.J. gubernatorial primary
May 26, 2009
Dick Zimmer:
N.J. receives back only 61 cents on every federal tax dollar
Zimmer said Lautenberg’s done nothing to improve the “measly” 61 cents returned to New Jersey for every dollar the state pays in federal taxes. “Sixty-one cents,” said Zimmer. “If I give that to you, Senator, will you give me back a dollar?
Of course you won’t because it’s a bad deal. And, it’s a bad deal for New Jersey. We don’t have to be satisfied with 61 cents we send to Washington for our taxes.”
Source: 2008 N.J. Senate Debate reported in Gulf South Free Press
Nov 1, 2008
Murray Sabrin:
Eliminate AMT, death tax, and tax on tips
Maverick Murray highlighted the first five steps in deconstructing the Internal Revenue Service and help jumpstart the American economy. Murray said, "There are five specific areas that we need to start with immediately to help jumpstart the American
economy. This will be part of my economic agenda during my first year as US Senator."- Eliminate Veterans and their spouses from paying any federal taxes whatsoever
- Eliminate taxes for second incomes and part-time jobs.
This will be a boon to the hardest working part of the American economy--families and entrepreneurs.
- Eliminate the tax on tips.
- Eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax. This tax continues to burden middle class families throughout New Jersey and
America and it must be abolished."
- The death tax needs to be buried once and for all. What does it say about our society when we actually punish families dealing with the loss of a loved one?
Source: Press release, "IRS", in 2008 N.J. Senate race
Apr 15, 2008
Robert Menendez:
Repealing the estate Tax only benefits the wealthiest 1%
Q: Should recent tax changes be made permanent? KEAN: I believe NJ residents should not pay a single penny more in taxes until we have wholesale government reform. This means making the federal tax cuts permanent. I will fight to end the Marriage
Penalty Tax for good, ensure that the Alternative Minimum Tax does not entrap the middle class and repeal the unfair Death Tax that penalizes hardworking people for the achievements of a lifetime.
MENENDEZ: Tom Kean Jr’s solution is to make permanent
President Bush’s tax cuts to the wealthiest 1%-of which he is one. My opponent wants to eliminate the estate tax for the wealthiest one half of 1%-of which he is one, as well. I believe in fair and fiscally responsible tax cuts. I sponsored an amendment
to protect middle-class families from the alternative minimum tax. I’ve supported tax cut packages that would have provided meaningful relief to families. If the cuts are made permanent, $2 trillion will be added to our debt over the next decade.
Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate [X-ref Kean]
Sep 2, 2006
Thomas Kean Jr.:
Repeal the unfair Death Tax & the Marriage Penalty Tax
Q: Should recent tax changes be made permanent? KEAN: I believe NJ residents should not pay a single penny more in taxes until we have wholesale government reform. This means making the federal tax cuts permanent. I will fight to end the Marriage
Penalty Tax for good, ensure that the Alternative Minimum Tax does not entrap the middle class and repeal the unfair Death Tax that penalizes hardworking people for the achievements of a lifetime.
MENENDEZ: Tom Kean Jr’s solution is to make permanent
President Bush’s tax cuts to the wealthiest 1%-of which he is one. My opponent wants to eliminate the estate tax for the wealthiest one half of 1%-of which he is one, as well. I believe in fair and fiscally responsible tax cuts. I sponsored an amendment
to protect middle-class families from the alternative minimum tax. I’ve supported tax cut packages that would have provided meaningful relief to families. If the cuts are made permanent, $2 trillion will be added to our debt over the next decade.
Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate
Sep 2, 2006
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021