Bill was one half of 2-part attempt by Dems to raise taxes on rich, restore benefits to seniors and disabled
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New Jersey Minority Leader Alex DeCroce points to the Democrats and says, "Tax, Tax Tax!" as he argues against the "millionaires tax" and reinstating benefits to seniors and the disabled today at the Statehouse.
TRENTON — The state Assembly voted 46-31 to pass a bill that would reinstate property tax rebates worth $563.2 million and prescription drug benefits worth $55.5 million to seniors and the disabled, sending it to the Senate for consideration.
The bill was one half of a two-part attempt by Democrats to raise taxes on the rich — the "millionaires tax" — to restore state benefits for seniors and the disabled in Gov. Chris Christie's $29.3 billion budget.
Tempers flared as lawmakers debated the proposed tax today.
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“I think this is a defining moment and New Jersey is watching us,” said Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester). “They will find out today who stands with the 600,000 senior citizens struggling to pay their taxes and keep their homes, and who stands with the 16,000 millionaires simply being asked to pay their fair share in a shared sacrifice this budget season.”
The Assembly was placed "under call," which meant all lawmakers had to go on the record with whether they supported property tax rebates for seniors — with a yes, no or abstention — instead of leaving the chamber and being recorded as not there.
"A tax is a tax is a tax," said Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Union). "This is a new tax that will scare more moms and pops out of this state. It will scare more businesses out of this state. And there will be less resources to help the most vulnerable."
While Republicans accused Democrats of pandering to senior voters — a charge that has been thrown around a lot over the past few weeks — Democrats shared stories of seniors crippled by the bill, including a tale of a call from a shocked grandfather who said he would never be able to see his grandchildren again because he could not pay for flights.
Democrats began to place pressure on Republicans, who would be needed to override any veto by Christie.
Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) read a list of the numbers of seniors and disabled household in each of the districts represented at least in part by Republicans — from 9,971 in District 24 to 40,761 households in District 9.
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Democratic state Assembly members consult the rules of the General Assembly after a challenge from their colleague and Republican state party Chairman Jay Webber (R-Morris) of a bill that would restore property tax rebates and prescription tax benefits to seniors and the disabled. The challenge was denied."They have to go back and talk to these people," Burzichelli said.
Republicans called the Democrats’ efforts a spectacle.
“I’ve been in this chamber something around 12 years, and I have seen political theater in here before. But I’ll tell you, the person who wrote the script today deserves an Emmy or an Oscar,” said Assemblyman Sam Thompson (R-Middlesex).
Christie attempted to take away some of the Democrats’ thunder Wednesday by saying he found money to restore funding to senior prescription drug programs that were to be cut in his budget. But Democrats said his idea is a proposal, and that their bill guarantees the funding from the $637 million they anticipate in revenue from the millionaires tax.
Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris) made a procedural move to try to get the bill that devotes the revenue to rebates and prescription drugs thrown out by arguing it was outside the rules of the General Assembly. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) denied the motion, and Webber’s appeal was rejected.
By Matt Friedman and Lisa Fleisher/Statehouse Bureau
| Democratic lawmakers advance ‘millionaires tax’ |