Letter: County Dems Slam Republican Property Tax Votes

The following is a letter to the editor from Leslie A. Huhn, New Jersey State Assembly Democratic candidate in the 24th District.

Democratic candidates Ed Selby, Leslie Huhn and Jim Nye on Monday blasted Republican legislators Steve Oroho, Alison McHose and Gary Chiusano for failing to override Governor Chris Christie’s veto of nearly $1 billion in aid to suburban school districts. Public schools serving students in the 24th District would have received more than $22 million in additional aid had the Governor’s veto been overridden.

State Senate candidate Ed Selby chastised State Senator Oroho for again failing to protect New Jersey’s shrinking middle class.

“Earlier this year Senator Oroho helped pass perhaps the largest middle class tax increase in New Jersey’s 224 year history.  Pension and benefit reform
legislation will require roughly 800,000 public workers and retirees to send more of their paycheck to Trenton each week.  Make no mistake, this is a tax. Senator Oroho finds it convenient to substitute terms like ‘contribution’, ‘fee’ and ‘toll’ when taxing New Jersey’s middle class and appeasing the far right fringe of his base.  I am astounded that residents earning more than $1 million annually have not been asked to share in any of the sacrifice.”

State Assembly candidate Leslie Huhn was outraged by Assemblywoman McHose’s and Assemblyman Chiusano’s failure to represent the interests of district residents.

“McHose and Chiusano have failed in their fiduciary responsibility to protect the economic interests of the overwhelming majority of their constituents.  Homeowners in our district are struggling.  Rejecting $22 million in aid that could have been used entirely for property tax relief is both unfathomable and unconscionable."

The proposed state budget would have shielded 99.8% of New Jersey’s residents from an income tax increase while providing property tax relief for every homeowner.  Residents should demand a change in leadership following this amazingly irresponsible vote.”

State Assembly candidate Jim Nye described McHose’s and Chiusano’s vote as just the latest action in a long record of failure to protect New Jersey’s children and seniors.  “Sadly the burden of the Governor’s cuts will fall squarely on the backs of our Districts most vulnerable residents. Children and seniors will be the ones hurt most in the form of lower quality schools and higher property taxes.”

The Democratic candidates have created a School Aid Loss Calculator to show constituents the loss of aid by school district due to Oroho’s, McHose’s and Chiusano’s failure to support the proposed state budget.  The calculator is available on their website at www.democratic24.org.