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Candidates wrangle on the airwaves
Originally appeared in the Trenton Times on 10/17/01
Republican Bret Schundler and Democrat Jim McGreevey fought hard last night in a live radio debate on the two main battle fronts in the governor's race: education and taxes.
Schundler, desperate to dent McGreevey's double-digit lead in the polls, has tried to link him to former Gov. Jim Florio as a "tax-and-spend liberal." McGreevey continued to attack Schundler's proposal for tax credits that would divert state revenues to private and parochial schools.
Schundler, 42, the conservative former three-term mayor of Jersey City, called his plan to eliminate tolls from the Garden State Parkway a "leveraged tax cut" that would cost just $130 million -- the $185 million collected annually in tolls, minus the $55 million cost to run the toll collections.
"Here I get to give you more back for every dollar than it costs the Treasury, and I give you a nicer road to drive," Schundler said. "Jim McGreevey doesn't support any tax cuts. That's why he doesn't support this."
McGreevey, 44, the Woodbridge mayor, said Schundler was dishonest. He said former Republican Gov. Thomas H. Kean called it irresponsible to eliminate the tolls without pegging an alternative source of revenue to cover $600 million in existing highway debt.
"New Jersey needs a governor who is going to be honest and straightforward," said McGreevey. "I can't get those tolls down in nine months and neither can Mr. Schundler."
The debate at the NJ 101.5 studios in Ewing became heated several times.
Schundler denied supporting a blanket law to allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons.
"Jim McGreevey is totally lying on my record on guns," he protested.
Schundler again became angry when McGreevey noted that Schundler responded "yes" to a Christian Coalition questionnaire asking whether he supported appointment of pro-life justices to the state Supreme Court. Schundler said it is McGreevey who has a "litmus test" for court appointments.
"And you don't (support appointment of pro-life justices)? You think it should be a litmus test? You don't think someone who is pro-life should be able to be appointed? Just answer the question!" Schundler snapped.
"This is a woman's choice," McGreevey said. "It's not Mr. Schundler's choice. It's not my choice. It's not the state of New Jersey's choice."
McGreevey said Schundler is the one promising big spending -- $3.2 billion, he said -- for populist proposals like axing the Parkway tolls and cutting seniors' property tax bills in half. He said Schundler cannot keep his promises.
Schundler says his proposals would cost no more than $600 million next year and, by including tax cuts, would stimulate the state economy, which he predicts will rebound by July.
McGreevey blasted Schundler's plan to use tax credits to boost scholarship donations for private schools.
"The big difference is he wants to take $600 million out of the public education system and put it into a private education funding scheme that nobody thinks will work," McGreevey said. "I want to be the governor who makes public education work for every child in New Jersey."
Schundler himself estimated his tax credits could cost the state $585 million, but he says they could move 80,000 children out of public schools for a net savings of $480 million.
At a State House news conference yesterday, Schundler highlighted his plan to give parents a 50 percent income tax credit, up to $500 per child, for expenses for education, including supplies, after-school programs, private school tuition and home schooling.
"The real goal here is to put dollars in the hands of parents," he said. "I've never heard Jim McGreevey criticize increasing spending for education. All I've heard him do is criticize parents having control of those dollars."
McGreevey, as a state assemblyman, voted for Florio's $2.8 billion tax increases, which passed by a single vote. Schundler's latest TV ad features photos of Florio and McGreevey, with a voiceover: "Remember the Florio disaster? Thank Jim McGreevey . . . Now McGreevey's plans promise even more tax hikes."
McGreevey, who also voted for Whitman's tax cuts, said last night, "I don't see any reason for raising taxes as governor. I'm going to be the governor who makes sure state government lives within its means."
But he has said it would be "irresponsible" to make an absolute pledge not to increase taxes, as Schundler has done, in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
State reports released Monday suggest Schundler has campaign cash problems. They show McGreevey still has $5.3 million of $9.2 million he has raised, while Schundler has $1.1 million of $6 million raised. Schundler denied a problem, saying he'll get $2.2 million in added public matching funds.
The next debate is 8 p.m. tomorrow at Rowan University. It will be shown live on Comcast Cable's CN8 network. The final televised debate Oct. 25 will be broadcast live on WPVI-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia, at 7 p.m. from The College of New Jersey in Ewing.
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