(WEST ORANGE, SEPTEMBER 4) - Schundler for Governor campaign manager Bill Pascoe today issued the following statement:

“Everyone knows that Jim McGreevey cast the deciding vote in favor of Jim Florio’s infamous 2.8 billion dollar tax hike in 1990. But few remember that the Florio-McGreevey tax increase wrecked the state’s economy and triggered huge job losses for New Jersey’s families.

“When the Florio-McGreevey tax hike passed, New Jersey lost 250,000 jobs. As Bret Schundler travels to every corner of this state during the campaign, we are going to remind voters that Jim McGreevey’s deciding vote to raise taxes by 2.8 billion dollars caused job losses and higher unemployment in almost every single county in New Jersey.

“Today, Bret Schundler will be spending a considerable part of his day campaigning in Ocean County. As a result of the Florio-McGreevey tax increase, Ocean County lost more than 2,100 jobs. That’s 2,100 families in Ocean County that had a tougher time paying their mortgage, 2,100 families that couldn’t afford to go on a family vacation, and 2,100 families that couldn’t save for their retirement or their children’s college education. The point is simple - the Florio-McGreevey tax increases inflicted pain and suffering on New Jersey’s families.

“The next governor of New Jersey will undoubtedly face serious financial challenges associated with a slumping economy and declining budget revenues. As a state legislator and mayor of Woodbridge, Jim McGreevey has shown time and time again that when faced with similar financial challenges, his answer has been to increase taxes.

“The voters of New Jersey do not want a ‘Florio Flashback’ to lead them into another recession. They want a leader who can say ‘NO’ to special interests so that we can keep taxes down and keep New Jersey working. That leader is Bret Schundler.”