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Would-be governors still differ on taxes
Originally appeared in the Press Plus on October 26, 2001
EWING TOWNSHIP - Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim McGreevey said Thursday that to meet a potential budget deficit as governor, he would cut government services rather than raise taxes.
"We're not going to raise taxes," McGreevey said during his final debate with Republican Bret Schundler, held in the Concert Hall at the College of New Jersey.
"We need to understand that the most important responsibility of the next governor is to attack waste and mismanagement," he said.
Schundler repeatedly has said he would not raise taxes under any circumstances.
Once again Schundler said he would not raise taxes and in fact plans to cut taxes.
McGreevey's promise not to raise taxes was a departure from his previous statements on the issue, when he said it would be irresponsible to rule out a tax increase.
McGreevey said he made a mistake in voting for the tax increases enacted under former Gov. Jim Florio.
Asked if he would vote for the tax increases again, McGreevey said, "I think the answer is clearly no."
In recent weeks, the Schundler campaign has focused relentlessly on McGreevey's vote in favor of Florio's tax increase package, saying a vote for McGreevey is a vote for higher taxes.
Bill Pascoe, Schundler's campaign manager, predicted McGreevey's pledge hours before the debate.
"After incessantly repeating the phrase, 'I want government to live within its means,' in the first three debates of this campaign, I predict that tonight the robo-candidate from Woodbridge will make the most insincere 'no-tax increase' pledge in New Jersey political history," Pascoe said.
"I thought he (McGreevey) really brought the fight right to Bret Schundler," replied McGreevey spokesman Richard McGrath. "Jim McGreevey is for progressivism in the state and Bret Schundler wants to handcuff us to take us back in time."
Southern New Jersey issues took on an unexpected early focus, as McGreevey criticized the controversial, recently completed Atlantic City Connector and further questioned whether casino gaming has even helped residents of the resort.
"Steve Wynn's tunnel in Atlantic City" was a prime example of wasteful spending, McGreevey said.
McGreevey, calling himself "the governor of south Jersey," said he would make Atlantic City the economic engine for southern New Jersey that he says it has failed to be.
"I don't think the promise of Atlantic City has even been delivered for Atlantic City," McGreevey said in an implicit criticism of the city's current administration.
McGreevey promised to improve transportation infrastructure throughout the region by creating a statewide transportation plan.
Schundler reiterated his support for a motor speedway in Cumberland County and the completion of Route 55.
"I opposed the (Newark) arena deal which would have ended up having the Sixers fans and the Flyers fans (in southern New Jersey) subsidizing north Jersey teams, and wouldn't that have been horrible?" Schundler said.
In this final debate, McGreevey was clearly on the defensive at the start, as questions centered on potentially vulnerable issues.
The Woodbridge mayor tried to steer the debate towards Schundler's record as mayor of Jersey City but was questioned on his own record on taxes and his political ties to politically connected law firms.
McGreevey once again called Schundler's education plan "untested and reckless."
Schundler, in turn, said McGreevey is unwilling to think "out of the box" and is "afraid to take a new approach."
A testy exchange occurred in the middle of the debate after Schundler said McGreevey would require the state to offset the costs of increasing the minimum salary for public-school teachers.
"That's not true," McGreevey said during Schundler's statement.
"I'm not going to sit here any longer and listen to Mr. Schundler misrepresent my record," McGreevey said later.
Immediately following McGreevey's statement, the candidates had an opportunity to question each other.
"This will be fun," Schundler quipped.
"What's your favorite cereal?" McGreevey jokingly asked.
"Grape nuts, because it reminds me of you," Schundler replied.
"He just can't stop," McGreevey retorted.
McGreevey once again questioned Schundler on gun control and abortion.
"You made a commitment to the gun lobby," McGreevey said. "How are we to believe that you are walking away from these convictions?"
"Jim McGreevey has spent about $20 million saying I support the right for people to carry concealed weapons," Schundler retorted, saying the charge was untrue and that he only supported limited exceptions that McGreevey himself supported.
"Bret, this is almost incredible," McGreevey said with obvious exasperation, noting that he had voted for the landmark assault-weapons ban.
McGreevey later accused Schundler of distorting his record on crime.
"There are two kinds of statistics, statistics you look up and statistics you make up," McGreevey said. "And Bret, you made up those statistics."
By the close of the debate, both candidates continually exchanged looks of exasperation towards each other.
Before the debate, Schundler had over 50 supporters, the McGreevey campaign had five busloads of union members from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades on hand to support his candidacy.
Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, chairman of the Republican National Committee, was on hand for the debate.
"My presence here tonight indicates that myself and the president are firmly behind Bret Schundler," Gilmore said.
Today, Schundler will attend a rally at 810 Asbury Ave. in Ocean City at 8:30 a.m. He also will appear before the editorial board of The Press of Atlantic City and at the education conference of the New Jersey School Boards Association in Atlantic City.
(Press correspondent Jason Butkowski contributed to this report.)
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