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Gov. Chris Christie started delivering on his promise of blasting "Corzine Democrats" for not providing tax relief to New Jersey residents.
The New Jersey Republican State Committee started airing a radio ad this week in which Christie talks about his accomplishments, arguing that New Jersey can afford to cut taxes.
Christie makes several claims in the one-minute spot, some of which PolitiFact New Jersey previously tested on the Truth-O-Meter.
Balanced Budget, No New Taxes
"For the third straight year, I signed a balanced budget with no new taxes."
Let’s get the balanced budgets claim out of the way first. It’s true. Christie signed three balanced budgets, as he is required to do. The state constitution forbids governors from running budget deficits.
But Christie wades into murky territory with his claim that no new taxes were included in those budgets.
Last July, after the fiscal 2012 budget was passed, Christie said the state budget had "no tax increases for any New Jersey family for the second year in a row."
PolitiFact New Jersey found the rates for the state’s three major taxes -- gross income, sales and corporation business -- have not increased under Christie.
However, between fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011, the state reduced funding for property tax credit programs and the State Earned Income Tax Credit. Several experts told PolitiFact New Jersey reductions in at least one of those programs could represent a tax hike.
Less Spending
"I cut hundreds of millions of dollars in wasteful spending -- in fact, our state budget is smaller now than five years ago."
Whether or not funding Christie has sliced from the budget during his tenure is "wasteful spending" is an opinion. But he is right to say that the state budget is smaller than five years ago.
Christie proposed in February to spend about $32.15 billion in fiscal year 2013. The budget he signed last week allocates $31.74 billion in spending.
That’s less than the budgets former Gov. Jon Corzine proposed and signed in fiscal year 2008 and 2009.
Corzine’s fiscal year 2009 ultimately spent less than the budgeted amount for fiscal year 2013, but since we can’t know what will ultimately be spent this year, that’s not an appropriate comparison.
Here’s a breakdown of budget proposals and appropriations bills since fiscal year 2007:
Fiscal Year
Governor’s Budget Proposal
Budget Governor Signed
2007
$30.87 billion
$30.82 billion
2008
$33.29 billion
$33.47 billion
2009
$32.97 billion
$32.87 billion
2010
$29.84 billion
$28.99 billion
2011
$28.27 billion
$28.36 billion
2012
$29.42 billion
$29.7 billion
2013
$32.15 billion
$31.7 billion
More Jobs
"The New Jersey Comeback has resulted in our best job growth in seven years."
What, if anything, the "New Jersey Comeback" has to do with job growth is not an area we plan on exploring here. In May, however, New Jersey did experience the best month of job growth in seven years.
New Jersey added 17,600 jobs that month over April. The last time the state added more jobs was in April 2005. That month the state gained 18,100 jobs.
Month-Over-Month Job Gains/Losses in New Jersey by Thousands:
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2005
-1.5
3.5
-4.3
18.1
-2.1
3.6
3.7
1.9
3.3
-7.4
7.3
2.1
2006
9.3
5.2
8.4
-3.8
-0.9
0.1
-0.1
4.7
-4.1
0.6
3.0
6.2
2007
-5.2
-6.6
3.6
1.2
8.2
2.5
-3.3
1.3
-11
15.2
-1.0
0.3
2008
12.1
-2.7
-1.8
-10.7
-10
-5.9
-12.5
-13.2
-8.4
-18.4
-20.3
-18.7
2009
-16.4
-13.7
-21.7
-21.5
2.4
-12.4
-10.5
-7.6
-1.5
-11.5
2.0
-0.2
2010
-10.0
-7.9
3.8
12.7
8.8
-3.7
-10.5
-11.1
-7.9
8.0
-1.4
0.5
2011
-6.0
4.0
2.0
6.2
-2.0
1.5
10.2
-1.2
3.2
3.8
6.7
2.7
2012
8.8
7.0
-3.7
3.2
17.6
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Our Sources
New Jersey Republican Party’s YouTube Channel, Governor Christie Tax Relief Radio Message, July 2, 2012
The Star-Ledger, Sen. Sweeney: Christie's special Legislature session is political theater to boost national profile, July 2, 2012
The Star-Ledger, Gov. Christie rejects 8 Democrat-backed bills, June 29, 2012
New Jersey Treasury Department: Office of Management and Budget, Prior Fiscal Year Publication Archives, accessed July 2, 2012
Office of Gov. Chris Christie, Governor Christie Delivers Third Balanced Budget Without Raising Taxes, Protects Key Priorities for New Jerseyans, June 29, 2012
PolitiFact New Jersey, Pro-Christie ad highlights balanced budgets as part of "reform movement," May 18, 2012
PolitiFact New Jersey, Chris Christie claims he balanced two budgets while facing $13 billion in deficits and didn’t raise taxes, Oct. 2, 2011
PolitiFact New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie says the New Jersey budget doubled property tax credits and had no new tax increases for the second consecutive year, July 24, 2011
PolitiFact New Jersey, Chris Christie touts accomplishments in video previewing State of the State address, Jan. 17, 2012
PolitiFact New Jersey, Vincent Prieto claims Chris Christie’s proposed budget is largest spending plan in state history, June 25, 2012
Tax Foundation, State Corporate Income Tax Rates, 2000-2012, accessed June 29, 2012
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, New Jersey Sees Largest Monthly Job Gain in More than Seven Years Employers add 17,600 jobs in May, June 14, 2012
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment, Hours, and Earnings - State and Metro Area, accessed July 2, 2012
New Jersey Legislature, Assembly Bill No. 3201, June 21, 2012
The Star-Ledger, Gov. Christie addresses special session of Legislature -- read the full text of his speech, July 2, 2012
The Star-Ledger, Christie pushes Legislature to support Senate Democrats' tax plan in special session, July 2, 2012
