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PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Contact: John Kartch ( jkartch@atr.org or 202-785-0266)

09/11/02

Truth or Doublethink: Torch's True Take on Taxes
Sen. Robert Toricelli says he's been good for New Jersey on tax issues.
But his record says otherwise.

WASHINGTON - As residents of the wealthiest state in the nation, New Jersey taxpayers pay more per capita to the federal government than folks from any other state. And as the November election for New Jersey's U.S. Senate seat nears, it is no surprise that taxes are again the central issue in Garden State politics.

According to the Washington, D.C. based Tax Foundation, New Jersey is dead last when it comes to the money the state sends to the federal government and the amount it receives back. In 2000, New Jersey working families paid nearly $81 billion in federal taxes. That same year NJ only received back $53.9 billion from the federal government. Thus, in 2000, NJ sent $26.9 billion more to the federal government than it received, which means every household in New Jersey lost $8,772 in the year 2000.

"New Jersey taxpayers get the rawest of raw deals from their federal taxes," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, who heads Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) in Washington. "For every dollar they pay in federal taxes, only 67 cents comes back to New Jersey, which says quite a bit about their Senators' commitment to taxpayers."

Sen. Robert Torricelli (D) will face GOP nominee Doug Forrester on November 5th. Forrester signed the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) Taxpayer Protection Pledge in May of 2002, which is a written commitment from a candidate or elected official to his or her constituents to oppose new taxes. Currently, President George W. Bush, eight governors, 249 members of Congress and over 1,250 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

Torricelli, who became a Senator in 1997, has consistently voted for tax hikes, including five different votes to raise the federal gasoline tax. Torricelli also opposes making permanent the Tax Relief Act of 2001, which provided more than $1,500 of tax relief to the average New Jersey family last year. If not made permanent, marginal tax rates will jump back to 2000 levels, while the once-eliminated death tax and marriage penalty will be reinstated, adoption credit and holocaust exemption eliminated, and the previously doubled child credit will return to $500 from $1,000 per child. The average New Jersey family will see a $4,500 tax increase in 2011 if last year's tax relief plan is not made permanent.

Torricelli also voted against the permanent repeal of the Death Tax, an inheritance tax opposed by over 70% of the American people, which propels one in four small businesses into bankruptcy.

"Bob Torricelli talks the talk on taxes," continued Norquist, "but has never really walked the walk for taxpayers."

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Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and all federal and state tax increases.  For more information, or to arrange an interview with Mr. Norquist please contact John Kartch at (202)785-0266 or by email at jkartch@atr.org.