The debate over the coming tax cut, whatever form it will eventually take, continues to rage on in the State of New Jersey. A welcome change indeed, considering the 115 taxes and fees the Democrats in Trenton threw our way before Governor Christie took office.
Yesterday, Assemblyman Lou Greenwald (LD-6) decided to show up late to the party and weigh in. In a display of utter desperation to grab a headline on websites like Save Jersey and PolitickerNJ (well played, Assemblyman, you won that round), Greenwald has openly challenged Governor Christie to a televised debate on the tax cut plans put forward by the Assembly Democrats and the Governor…
You’ll remember that the Governor’s plan is an income tax cut of 10 percent for every person in New Jersey, and an increase in the Earned Income Credit for those who do not make enough to pay state income taxes. Under Christie’s plan, every single New Jerseyan would get to keep more money than they are keeping now.
The Assembly Democrats plan, which is not the same as the Sweeney plan that is likely being negotiated between the Senate President and the Governor’s office now, would cut taxes for some New Jerseyans by 20 percent, but would include tax increases on others. It’s a job-killing, wealth-chasing, class warfare move aimed only at attacking the Governor, not results for our state and its economy.
So to try and pretend there are merits to his plan, Greenwald, the Democrat Majority Leader, wants to hit the airwaves on NJTV in a debate against Christie moderated by Michael Aron. What a monumental waste of time that would be.
First, Governor Christie and the Senate Democrats have been openly debating this issue for quite some time. Polling has been done on the plans, New Jerseyans are aware of the conversation taking place in Trenton to bring down taxes somehow. This is not campaign season, this is budget season. Real things need to get done and they need to be done soon. Putting on some dog and pony show on NJTV that would be seen by almost no one would be nothing more than an attempt by Greenwald to raise his statewide image in hopes that he could maybe run for Governor himself next year. If Greenwald does run and receive the nomination, something I doubt will happen in 2013, he will have his chance to debate Governor Christie on all sorts of things. I understand why he might want to practice now, but c’mon Assemblyman, do it on your own time.
And Lou, who are you kidding? Would you really want to let Governor Christie embarrass you on statewide television like that?
Christie debating Lou Greenwald would be like watching a sword fight between Douglas Fairbanks Jr and Helen Keller