New Jersey’s Democratic-controlled legislature sent Republican Gov. Chris Christie a budget plan Monday that raise taxes on the state’s wealthiest individuals but puts off Christie’s own call for an across the board 10 percent tax cut for all income earners.
Christie said the bill was aimed at holding tax relief hostage, according to
njspolight.com and threatened a veto of the so-called “millionaire’s tax” hike included in the measure.
“I will not allow New Jersey to go back to the same failed policies that nearly put our state over a fiscal cliff,” " Christie said.
State Senate Republican leader Thomas Kean Jr. also criticized the Democrats for including a $183 million special surplus fund in the measure that would be needed to offset a tax cut in the event that state revenues actually grow by 7.3 percent, as the governor’s office has predicted.
“To sequester $183 million is to say you don’t trust the governor’s revenue estimates,” said Kean, noting the tax cut should have been included as a key part of the $31.7 billion budget plan.
Christie is expected to veto millionaire tax provision, which adds more than 10 percent to the top tax bracket for an estmated 16,000 New Jersey millionaires. Democrats want to use the increased revenue to offset property tax credits for senior citizens making up to $250,000 and non-seniors who make up to $150,000.
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