Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon), sponsor of S2535 to restore the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 25 percent of the federal credit amount, issued the following statement today regarding Governor Christie’s conditional veto of the bill:
“The Governor’s conditional veto of S2535 is not only disappointing, it is absolutely shameful. Governor Christie cut the EITC to 20 percent of the federal credit amount three years ago, hurting New Jersey’s struggling working families who live in poverty. These families rely on every cent they earn to keep their children fed and a roof over their heads.”
“The Governor has declared once again that New Jersey’s working poor families who live hand to mouth will receive no tax relief unless a tax cut is provided to high earners – workers who make up to $400,000 per year. It is morally incomprehensible that he believes it appropriate to hold poor families hostage for a tax cut for high earners.”
“The EITC is a refundable tax credit that provides extra income to working poor families to help make ends meet. They use it to help pay for food, clothing, rent, electricity, gas, and other necessities. The money that these families spend helps strengthen our local economy. These workers were already hit with a pay decrease when they were blindsided with a fifty percent payroll tax increase at the beginning of the year. They are also the same workers that the Governor refused a minimum wage increase unless the wealthy received a tax cut. The Governor is playing political roulette with people’s economic survival.”
“It is absurd that on tax day, Governor Christie would propose a decrease in taxes for high earners when their tax rate is the lowest it’s been in 60 years. Yet people who earn less are paying a greater percentage of their earnings on taxes. They will, in fact, be working until May 4 before they’ve paid their tax obligations and can begin working for themselves.”
“The EITC should not be tie-barred to a tax cut for high income earners. Our working poor need help now without strings or conditions.”
