Webber: They Look Like Tax Hikes

Asm. Jay Webber (R-Morris)

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Asm. Jay Webber (R-Morris)
Asm. Jay Webber (R-Morris)

In case you’ve missed it, Save Jerseyans, the Governor’s $34+ billion FY 2015 budget proposal is drawing flack from liberals and conservatives alike for including “revenue enhancements” such as a brand new tax electronic cigarettes and an expansion of our state’s sales tax to include online retailers.

The company line is that these aren’t tax hikes because the state would simply apply preexisting rates to previously exempt items; for example, electronic cig users would pay the same tax rate as regular smokers do for their regular cigarettes. 

One prominent conservative legislator disagrees, Save Jerseyans. You know him. Jay Webber (R-Morris), a member of the General Assembly and former NJ GOP chairman, recently told NJ.com’s Matt Friedman that he doesn’t see the distinction between enhancements and hikes:

“As a general matter, these look to me to be tax increases,” Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris) said. “So unless I see something different that makes me think differently over the next couple months, I see them as tax increases.”

Asm. Webber’s not wrong. There isn’t a meaningful difference here. If an item wasn’t previously taxed but now it will be taxed, then that’s a tax hike no matter how you choose to slice it. Everything else is mere semantics.

The problem, of course, remains Democrat control of the legislature. Governor Christie is obligated to offer a balanced budget by law. When the legislature considers any and all significant spending cuts off-the-table, then the only remaining options are (1) tax/fee hikes and/or (2) new borrowing, which is the exact species of irresponsible nonsense that candidate Christie ran against in 2009.

That’s why I’ve said, again and again, we can’t work with these people UNTIL the day when there’s the will, strategy and resources in place to BEAT these people.

We’re starting to slide backwards, folks. Sorry to be a Monday buzz kill but it’s true! Culprit #1: the arb cap’s expiration facilitated by Vince Prieto’s radicalized chamber will, in all likelihood, ruin an otherwise solid, bipartisan strategy to bring property tax increases under the rate of inflation over time.

The implications are grim for us AND for the state’s Republican presidential prospect. Chris Christie built a national brand on (1) tough-talking honesty and (2) fiscal responsibility. At this point, the Administration can’t do much to affect the end game of Bridgegate, and whatever damage that’s inflicted to his credibility is likely a done deal, and if property tax rates start exploding again, then despite the fact that many in the general public won’t appreciate the nuance, there’s no one to blame but the Democrat leadership for gutting the key pillar of the Cap 2.0 reform.  

Governor Christie can, however, salvage his claim on having never proposed a tax hike by withdrawing support for “revenue enhancers” which, as he well knows and has articulated in different contexts, never really seem to enhance revenue so much as convince folks to shop (or live) elsewhere.

There’s another way. “Americans for Prosperity has fought this tax in several other states and now in New Jersey, while making the case that this will put local business in our state at a further disadvantage,” said AFP-NJ state director Daryn Iwicki. “Scores of e-cigarette retailers have verified as much; testifying before committee about how this new tax will hurt their business and force them to cut jobs or curtail hiring. Americans for Prosperity not only strongly disagrees with this proposed tax, but disagrees that it is needed to find $35 million in revenue to fund the gap in the budget.”

Strike the tents and call the banners, Guv. The best strategy, from both a political and policy perspective, would be to call a special session and task the legislature with finding $35 million to cut and, if they refuse, use his considerable social media skills to try and make them hurt for it.  Anything else is tantamount to a capitulation, Save Jerseyans, and we absolutely can’t afford it nor can the big man in charge.

 

Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8405 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.

4 Comments

  1. Cut the millions from Christies. “Legal defense budget” … He won’t even show the bill? That’s fiscal responsibility? Gimme a break !

  2. There cannot be a strategy to beat these people (Democrats) when Republican leaders allow Democrats to draw the legislative districts.

  3. The Governor has a line-item veto. He can cut spending himself. He doesn’t need the legislature.

  4. You have a veto pen and a fork, Mister Governor. I suggest you lay off the latter and use the former more often.

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