(TRENTON) — Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver and Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan released the following statements Tuesday on Gov. Chris Christie calling a special session of the Legislature:
Speaker Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic):
“We offered the governor a reasonable alternative that provides a realistic cap immediately as opposed to an unworkable plan that would not be in effect until next year. We will listen to what the governor has to say, but hope he sees the light and signs our tougher new 2.9 percent property tax cap into law.
“We know that property taxes continue to be the top concern of New Jerseyans. That’s why on Monday I assigned nearly three dozen property tax reforms to 12 Assembly Democrats for thorough analysis during the summer in preparation for legislative action in the fall.
“Our effort will be a responsible review that brings smart reform to New Jersey. We will not hurriedly slap together a plan that fails to bring real relief to New Jersey and cripples our ability to educate children and provide for public safety. We will do this right, without the showboating and sound bites others apparently prefer.”
Majority Leader Cryan (D-Union):
“It’s easy to see why Gov. Christie is turning to a special session to divert attention away from his budgets that cut $2.8 billion in property tax relief while shoving nearly two dozen new taxes onto New Jerseyans, but the public will not be fooled.
“Senior and disabled citizens will see through his plan when they don’t get their property tax relief. Hard-working homeowners will see through his plan when they get their higher property tax bills later this year. Millionaires, meanwhile, will enjoy their Christie tax break.
“It took the governor five months to present his plan, yet he expects it to be approved with little or no review in a matter of weeks. That’s not how democracy works.
“We have already committed to reviewing his and other ideas over the summer in anticipation of legislative action this fall, and that will continue to be our plan, no matter how many times the governor looks to show off.”
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