Politics & Government
Gov. Christie Outlines Plans for Fiscal Discipline
NJ Governor addressed a packed crowd at Princeton University on Friday.
Money doesn't grow on trees, Gov. Chris Christie, told a packed crowd at Princeton University on Friday, and that's why he has capped New Jersey property taxes, cut public sector jobs and rejected the so-called “millionaire’s tax.”
“When we approached the budget in 2011, we made a decision that because the people in New Jersey are the highest-taxed citizens in America, that taxes are high enough and we are not going to put up with any further tax increases," Christie told a crowd of students, residents and businesspeople.
Previous administrations were willing to fund almost any special interest group that requested a handout, Christie said.
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As a result of that open-wallet policy, New Jersey residents fled the state for those with lower taxes including Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
“We don’t have a money tree, yet the politicians of New Jersey have treated our citizens like the money tree," Christie said.
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The governor’s initiatives have included eliminating the “millionaires tax” for individuals and small businesses earning over $400,000 a year. Half of those subjected to this tax last year were small businesses, Christie said.
The governor has also cut funding to public sector jobs, forcing the private sector to replace those jobs and helping to grow the economy.
Afterward Christie’s talk on Friday Princeton University President Shirley M. Tilghman said she thought governor’s words were effective.
“I think he is a very good public speaker and articulates his position extremely clearly,” Tilghman said.
