Subject : JUST DO IT!! MOST NEW JERSEY HOMEOWNERS UNDERSTAND THAT PROPERTY TAX REBATES ARE A POLITICAL GIMMICK. THEY KNOW THAT MAILING YEARLY CHECKS LETS LEGISLATORS CLAIM THEY’RE DOING SOMETHING TO ALLEVIATE SKYROCKETING LOCAL TAXES. FORMER GOV. JAMES MCGREEVEY WANTED HIS NAME ON A CHECK THAT WOULD LAND IN MAILBOXES CONVENIENTLY DURING HIS REELECTION BID. THAT’S WHY HE PERSUADED THE LEGISLATURE LAST SPRING TO PASS A SO-CALLED “MILLIONAIRE’S “ INCOME TAX TO FUND HIGHER REBATES. NOW, ACTING GOV. RICHARD CODY PROPOSED TAKING REBATES AWAY TO BALANCE NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET. SURPRISE” HE’S NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE THIS YEAR. NEW JERSEY AND SEE REBATES FOR WHAT THEY ARE. BUT THEY ALSO REALIZE REBATES ARE THE ONLY RELIEF THEY’LL BE SEEING ANYTIME SOON FROM THE HIGHEST AND FASTEST RISING PROPERTY TAXES IN THE NATION. SO, OF COURSE, THEY DASH TO THE BANK AND CASH THE CHECKS AVERAGING $690. ANE EVEN THOUGH ENDING THE REBATES OFFERS ONE SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO THE STATE’S BUDGET CRISIS, THEY DON’T WANT THE CHECKS CUT OFF. THEY ALSO WANT A BETTER SOLUTION TO THE STATE’S BURDENSOME TAX STRUCTURE. RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS ROSE, ON AVERAGE, $1,886 BETWEEN 1993 AND 2003. FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME NEW JERSEYANS, THAT INCREASE WIPED OUT THE TOTAL INCOME TAX CUTS OF THE WHTIMAN ADMINISTRATION, ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM NONPROFIT INTEREST GROUP NEW JERSEY POLICY PERSPECTIVE. NEW JERSEY NEEDS A FAIRER TAX SYSTEM BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY, NOT ON PROPERTY OWNED. MOST STATES DEPEND ON PROPERTY TAXES FOR A THIRD OF THEIR TAX REVENUE, NOT 45%, AS NEW JERSEY DOES. THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE LITTLE BUT STUDY NEW JERSEY’S TAX INEQUITIES. IT PROMISES TO ACT, BUT TOO MANY LEGISLATORS FEAR THE POLITICAL RISK. HOPE’S ON THE HORIZON. A PROPOSAL FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM ADVANCED IN THE ASSEMBLY. THE IDEA ALSO WON ENDORSEMENT FROM AARP-NJ AND THE STATE’S BLACK MINISTERS COUNCIL. CODEY, WHO’S ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND FORMERLY OPPOSED THE CONVENTION, SAYS HE’S WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA IN THE UPPER HOUSE. SENATORS SHOULD IGNORE OBNOXIOUS ADVERTISEMENTS FROM FEARFUL GROUPS, INCLUDING THE STATE TEACHERS’ UNION AND NAACP, AND GET BEHIND THE IDEA. ULTIMATELY, VOTERS WOULD DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS. THEY WOULD SAY WHETHER THE STATE SHOULD HAVE A CONVENTION, CHOOSE DELEGATES, AND APPROVE OR REJECT DELEGATES’ PROPOSALS. ALL THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO DO IS GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER; NO GIMMICKRY NEEDED. I

RESPONSE: A great analysis that shows that both parties have been reluctant to address the high property tax issue here in N.J. The cutting of income taxes for the rich by Republicans which inevitably filters down as skyrocketing increases in property taxes is a scam. Democrats who yelled about Whitman debt and borrowing scams turned around and did the same thing with MCSLEAZY as governor which saw the scam budget balancing bond deals of MCSLEAZY costing in fees to set up the bond deal another $19.2 million....and that's without figuring of the interest payments that were just put off and on to our children.

At least here in Atlantic County the two Democratic candidates for Assembly, Jim Whelan and Damon Tyner have made it clear that they will support a Constitutional Convention to restructure the funding of education. It is inevitable that this will lead to an increase in other taxes – the income tax and possibly the sales tax. Not good; but so much better than what we have now – placing more of the burden on those better able to pay – the wealthy. Any wonder that our Republican Assembly guys, frank DOCTOR DEATH blee & kirk DOUBLE DIPPER conover have consistently opposed a Constitutional Convention. It’s time to bury DOCTOR DEATH and to retire the DOUBLE DIPPER to the video store.