New Jersey

New Jersey Republicans
by Karla Garcia

           The state of New Jersey was admitted as a state in December 18, 1787. Today, it has an estimated population of 7,988.000. Its population boomed in the 1980’s and as a result a new New Jersey has sprouted. It is the nation ninth most populous state; 74% of its population is White, 12.71% Black and 9.6% from Hispanic origin. In 1990 New Jersey had more people (7.7 million) than New York City (7.3 million) it had far more than Pennsylvania (5.9 million) an its has been generating more new jobs than New York and its neighbor Pennsylvania. Most of the oil tanks, farms, and swamplands of the Jersey Meadows have become sports places and office complexes. New Jersey pharmaceutical firms lead the nation in sophisticated research and it is the leader in telecommunications.   New Jersey’s personal income per capita is $31,053 and its median Household income is $40,927.
           In the 1996 presidential election 36% of the voting population voted for the Republican candidate Dole (82% of the voters voted for him in the presidential primary.)   The Republican Party has always fought for a less intrusive government that does “not ride on the backs of the people.”   Today, they are still leading this fight and to insure that this goal is met the Governor of New Jersey, Christine Todd Whitman proposed $1 Billion in property tax relief in a five year plan designed to reduce the average New Jersey school tax bill by one-third. The plan will provide direct relief to taxpayers, returning an average of $600 per year to nearly 2 million homeowners.   The Homestead Rebate program that already returns an average of $324 million per year to those who are eligible will continue. Under this new initiative, homeowners will receive a check from the program that returns the greater amount. The House GOP plan provides for $792 billion in tax relief over the next 10 years. The House plans includes 10% income tax cuts rates phased in over 10 years, cut the top rate for most investments held at least a year from 20% to 15%, and eventually repeal taxes on inheritances (Death Tax). In July, the state Legislature passed the first energy deregulation bill in the nation. Under the new legislation sponsored by assembly Majority Leader, Paul DiGaetno and Senator Peter Inverso people will receive an immediate 5% electricity rate cut by August 1, 1999. Consumers will save up to 10% over the next three years and thanks to the 105th Republican Congress people are now reaping the benefits of the first budget surplus since 1969 and the first tax cut in sixteen years. In addtion, the Republicans propose a plan that will allow marriage couples to claim a stamdard deduction of $8,600, $1,400 more than it is now allowed.
           New Jersey Republicans want tax cuts to “stop government over taxation.” To do, so the state assembly passed four tax relief bills on February 18th designed to ease tax burdens on people and at he same time increase development. One of the bills sponsored by Jack Collins exempts 261.000 low-income New Jersyans from paying income tax. Two bills seek to provide tax relief by supplying $35 million in aid for municipalities and school districts that share public services or regionalize. The measures were based on suggestions from Governor Whitman’s Property Tax Commission.
           Among her environmental initiatives Governor Whitman approved the purchase of valuable acreage to protect wildlife, preserving the purity of drinking water and acquire recreational open space and farmland.    In New Jersey, Governor Christie Todd Whitman is leading the efforts to preserve a million acres of open space and farmland. In last November’s state-wide referendum, New Jersey voters approved a permanent and stable source of funding for natural resources and historic sites preservation. In addition, farmland and open space funds have been established in 92 municipalities and 16 counties; 334 farms covering nearly 51,000 acres have been preserved under this program. Whitman’s goal is to triple the pace and preserve 300,000 total acres during the next four years and 1 million acres in the coming decade. Including the one million acres already preserved through the Green Acres and Farmland Preservation program, the initiative will result in the preservation of more than 40% of the total land in the in the state of New Jersey. Governor Whitman is not just committed to preserve “open space” she is also committed to preserving “a successful future that will heavily depend in revitalized urban ares.” She created the nation’s first rehabilitation subcode for older buildings which is making it more economical and practical for developers to reclaim old buildings in the cities and bring them to life once again. The program (subcode) encourages the reuse of New Jersey’s older buildings by eliminating regulatory barriers to investing in such buildings. Whitman also signed into law Brownfieldss legislation that facilitates the develoment of commercial properties that are contaminated by environmental hazardous. Whitman initiated a new air permit program to improve air equality and reduce the bureaucracy and established a means of settling environmental disputes by mediation instead of litigation.   She now serves as a chairperson of the national Governor’s association natural resources committee.
           Governor’s Whitman’s social reforms include a welfare reform proposal that would limit recipients to five years of benefits and enforce tougher jobs requirements, while increasing funding for child care and job placements. She also proposed a school funding plan based on recently enacted core standards in seven academic subject areas si that every child in every public school has equal educational opportunity.
           Moreover, Republicans are working hard to save Social Security, strengthen Medicare, help with the high cost of prescription drugs, create more jobs and build a strong national defense.