Property Tax Gimmicks - Lonegan is right!

A recent Christie add attempted to play the typical New Jersey entitlement card by attacking Steve Lonegan's tax plan. The comment in question was where Lonegan called the state's property tax rebate system a "gimmick". The joke here is that Christie's ad people have so little respect for New Jersey voters that they really expect people to get fired up over this. And they are probably correct. New Jersey's voters frankly so routinely vote against their own interests, they are only outdone by Michigan voters.

While you may not agree with Lonegan's tax proposals, he is absolutely correct about one thing. The property tax rebate program is a complete joke. It was instituted to provide political cover for weak politicians in both parties who didn't have the courage to deal with the issues behind property taxes spiralling out of control. It was then perpetuated as a give away program for people who didn't pay property taxes AT ALL. If that isn't a gimmick, I don't know what is.

And kudos for Lonegan for bringing it out. And shame on Christie for acting like a New Jersey Democrat. If you really want to change this state, bad policy like the rebate program need to be looked at seriously.

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Lonegan versus Christie

I have made a point not to comment on the emerging challenger's race for New Jersey Governor. The reason is that I like both candidates for very different reasons and I would like to see them trully highlight their ideas and plans. But, as this is New Jersey, that is apparently not going to happen.

Down in the polls since the beginning, Lonegan has been running a slew of negative attack adds against Christie. He also seems to have support from some very thinly veiled front organizations that have a small list of achievements but great attention to this race-including running negative adds on Lonegan's behalf.

My gut feeling right now is that Lonegan is a real turn off. His polling may tell him he is doing the right thing but as a conservative, he is showing a liberal's complete lack of class. Instead of attacking Corzine and the mess that Democrats have created in this state, he is firing at Christie and firing in typical Jersey low form. And now Christie is replying in kind.

Note to Chris and Steve: Clean it up. Direct your fire at Corzine. And let's hear the meat, not mudslinging.

UPDATE: Jake here. I couldn't agree more. I respect Lonegan, but he needs to clean up his act and stop using scare tactics that will hurt conservative efforts down the road.

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