Bret Schundler Responds To The Record

Bret Schundler: Why I should be governor as reported in the Northern New Jersey Newspaper – The Record

1) Why are you the best candidate?

By empowering the people - instead of trusting politicians in Trenton - I will take the lead and offer a real plan to dramatically and permanently reduce property taxes. Through a citizen's initiative we will bring a fair share of your tax dollars back to your local schools and towns.

2) What do you think is the state's most pressing problem and what would you do to address it?

The property tax crisis is our most pressing issue. The continuous expansion of state spending, pay-to-play politics and ill-advised pet projects have hampered New Jersey with a budget crisis that has led directly to increased property taxes.

3) What would your first executive order be?

My first executive order would be to reduce executive-level salaries across the board - just as I did in Jersey City - in order to demonstrate my commitment to spending reform. This would include my own salary, of course.

4) What would you do to combat high property taxes?

My property tax reform plan calls for reasonable spending caps on state government. It will require the state to cap spending at 1.3 times the rate of inflation and to send the savings achieved back to towns and school districts that also control their spending. Dramatic and permanent reductions will be achieved.

5) How would you balance the budget? Which, if any, taxes would you raise? Which, if any, spending would you cut?

As governor I will not propose, nor will I support, any measure that will raise taxes on the hard-working people of New Jersey, ever. The fiscal health of our state government in Trenton is desperately in need of solid business management principles. As governor, I will work to generate increased revenue - not the old-fashioned Trenton way by raising taxes - but by luring new businesses to New Jersey and helping existing businesses to add jobs.

6) How would you replenish the Transportation Trust Fund?

This state needs to stop using the Transportation Trust Fund and other trust funds as a piggy bank to cover wasteful spending. When state spending is brought under control, the fund will be replenished. I'll restore the meaning of the word "trust" in trust fund. And I will not raise the gas tax.

7) What would you do to improve state government's image in terms of ethics and campaign financing?

It is time to make pay-to-play reforms more than just a mirage. Governor McGreevey and the Democrats promised to change the system, but instead they left it more broken and more corrupt than before. I will fight to bring true reform to Trenton and to restore our state's credibility.

8) What would you do to end the bitter partisan fighting in New Jersey and the nation?

Simply put, my Reform Now! agenda asks each and every state legislator to show their support for my legislation to return the money to taxpayers - or to face the consequences of publicly opposing meaningful reform. As a result, I will reach across party lines to find the true reformers in both parties, while simultaneously assuring the citizens of New Jersey that reform will come their way sooner, rather than later.