>N.J. governor proposing spending, labor restrictions
Democratic legislative leaders have proposed a special tax for Garden State residents who earn $1 million or more. Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver say the tax would apply to 16,000 taxpayers. The lawmakers also want to reinstate property tax rebates for senior citizens and eliminate a proposed $310 copay for seniors in Gov. Christie’s budget. (AP)
N.J. Gov. Christie, Democrats offer dueling tax plans
New Jersey’s political divide grew wider Monday as Republican Governor Christie advanced sweeping plans to slow the growth of property taxes while Democrats proposed raising income taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents to pay for senior programs. The dueling proposals — and sharp-edged rhetoric in back-to-back news conferences — showed the governor and Democratic lawmakers drifting apart with less than two months to go before the state budget deadline. Neither the budget nor Christie’s reforms can move forward without bipartisan support. (Heininger/Fleisher, The Record)
