Nothing surprising about these responses to Corzine budget address

The responses to the governor’s budget address fell within the range of accepted opinion, with Democrats praising Jon Corzine for making tough decisions and Republicans calling him out for increasing taxes.

Here is what the GOP had to say on its site:

Jon Corzine introduced his budget proposal for the coming year and…Surprise…he wants to raise your taxes again! Our Republican legislators have drawn a line in the sand. They sent a clear message today: “We’re with the taxpayers. We’re not supporting any budget that raises any taxes on anyone. Period.”

The Corzine $1.5 billion tax hike plan:

Raise property taxes $500 million by eliminating rebates for anyone who earns over $75,000 a year.

Raise property taxes ANOTHER $400 million by eliminating the property tax deduction from NJ Income Taxes (by the way, Obama wants to eliminate the deduction from your federal tax too!)

Raise income taxes $380 million

$400 million tax hike by eliminating the property tax deduction

$80 million in increased business taxes

$48 million tax hike on cigarettes, alcohol and wine

$30 million in increased motor vehicle fees

We’re in the midst of the worst recession since World War II. Economics 101: You don’t raise taxes in a recession!

Republicans understand this and are standing strong and firm. After 7 years of tax increases (more than 100), a 50% increase in state spending, and a TRIPLING of state debt, it’s time for all of us to draw a line in the sand and say “Enough!”

Interesting take. But I have a question: Given the constitutional requirement to balance the state budget and the massive deficit created by governors of both parties — $7 billion, according to Corzine — what would the Republicans do differently? They have a list of cuts — most of which are unrealistic, or directly target New Jersey’s poorest (in the urban areas).

Former Gov. Christie Whitman made it clear that budgets are policy documents, the places where elected officials walk the walk. In this case, the GOP reform plan would cut money targeted toward municipal consolidation, urban schools, the City of Trenton (which gets money because of the revenue it loses to state buildings) and urban aid. There are positive elements in the plan — some of the process reforms make sense, though the two-thirds rule on tax increases would dangerously tie the state’s hands (states that have enacted this rule have run into massive budget problems with some overturning the rule by public referendum).

I give the state GOP credit, though. The national party has offered nothing.

As for the Democrats — they are saying what one might expect them to say, given that most of them helped created this mess in the first place. Yes, tough decisions have to be made. But is anyone prepared to make them?

All this talk is nothing more than talk. We have three and a half months to pass a budget. Does anyone really believe it will look like the one Jon Corzine unveiled today?