10 WAYS IN 10 DAYS:
Governor Corzine Has Failed New Jersey
TRENTON - In the final stretch of this critical election, the New Jersey Republican State Committee is reminding voters about Jon Corzine's record of complete failure as Governor. In this campaign, Governor Corzine has promised to double down on the failed policies of his first term and spend the next four years running New Jersey further into the ground. New Jersey can't afford another four years of Governor Corzine's failure, lost jobs, and high taxes.
#7 Transportation Nightmare: Corzine Wanted 800% Increase In Tolls...Settled For $800 Million
"‘Why does this state have to bang on the people? Every time you turn around they want more and more,' said Fred Lederer, a 75-year-old retiree from Stratford. ‘We should stop hurting the little guys.' (Carly Rothman, " Toll-hike hearing draws divided crowd", Star Ledger, 09/23/08)In 2008, Governor Jon Corzine tried to cram an 800% toll increase down New Jerseyans' throats. The plan further proved just how out of touch Jon Corzine really is. New Jerseyans were outraged and the plan was widely panned, ultimately causing Corzine to abandon his misguided proposal after lobbying hard for its adoption. But for this Governor, his first, last, and only answer to our state's problems are higher taxes and higher fees. Corzine dropped his plans for an unimaginable 800% toll increase, and opted to raise them by $800 million instead. For the thousands of New Jerseyans who travel the Parkway, Turnpike and Atlantic City Expressway, toll increases drastically affect their incomes and budgets. These families, already struggling to get by in Corzine's economy, are further squeezed by this Governor's insistence on taking more money from family budgets and sending it to Trenton.
Then, Jon Corzine had little regard for the deteriorating economy and hiked tolls anyway. Now, Jon Corzine has promised to raise taxes on income and gasoline if he is reelected with complete disregard for the consequences. New Jersey can't afford four more years of Jon Corzine's failures.
Corzine's Toll Hike in 2008 cost New Jerseyans $800 million. (FY08 Budget)"For weeks, legislative leaders in Trenton have said that the plan, which called for a toll increase of as much as 800 percent over the next 15 years, is not viable. And in recent days, Mr. Corzine, in his clearest statement yet about its bleak prospects for passage, conceded that his proposal was "politically dead."" (Richard G. Jones and David W. Chen, "Corzine Weighs Options on Toll Increases" , New York Times, 04/30/08)"Tolls on the Garden State Parkway will increase 15 cents - 10 cents on ramps. The average 22-mile trip on the New Jersey Turnpike will increase 50 cents. Tolls for trucks will rise even more - $2.05 for the average trip on the Turnpike and 60 cents on the Parkway south of Exit 105."(Editorial: "Taking a toll on commuters", Asbury Park Press, 11/29/08)
"Corzine refuses to accept two indisputable facts: New Jersey doesn't need higher tolls and its residents cannot afford higher tolls, especially in wake of the 2008 economic meltdown. New Jersey residents have already been burdened with 102 new taxes costing more than $6 billion in the past six years. These toll hikes will just add to that burden. " ("Toll Rage", NJ Assembly Republicans)"Under Corzine, taxes on top wage earners, alcohol, cigarettes, and businesses have all gone up. His latest proposal would raise taxes on gasoline." (" Hope and Change in New Jersey", National Review, 10/22/09)