Oroho-Space-Wirths:  We need a Special Legislative Session on Property Taxes!

With major changes to the federal tax code being unveiled in Washington including the possible elimination of the federal income tax deduction on property taxes emerging as part of the tax reform package, today Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblyman Parker Space, and Assembly Candidate Hal Wirths once again reiterated their support for a special legislative session to reform New Jersey’s high property taxes. They also announced their opposition to repealing the property tax deduction.

            “The clock is ticking,” said Oroho, R-Sussex, Warren, Morris.  “As state officials, we don’t have any direct control over what Congress and the President may do,” said Oroho, R-Sussex, Warren, Morris. “As such, we are calling upon our congressional delegation to fight to preserve the property tax deduction. However, it’s another wake-up call that we cannot wait on property tax reform. And as part of any special session on property taxes, school funding reform needs to be at the top of the list.”

            Oroho, Space, and Wirths support legislation to call the Legislature into a special session where leaders of both parties bring bills forward for an up or down vote. The legislation is SCR-122 and ACR-65.

              “I have 68 bills that would lower the property tax burden in this State and I am proud to say that Senator Oroho and I have gotten some through, but all of them should be given the chance to be debated and voted upon immediately,” said Space, R-Sussex, Warren, Morris. “The President and Congress are telling us ‘you better get off your duffs and do something now’ and all we get is silence from my liberal colleagues. The time for action is now and the time for excuses is over.”

              Hal Wirths, the former New Jersey Commissioner of Labor, said this reminds him of when he first took the job, he had an Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund that was bankrupt.

              “I didn’t wait around and check with party bosses and liberal interest groups as to how to fix the problem,” said Wirths. “I rolled up my sleeves and went to work, and now New Jersey is leading the nation when it comes to combating unemployment insurance fraud. Using common-sense approaches, we have been able to stop nearly $700 million from being taken from the Trust Fund and recovered more than $100 million from those who have collected unemployment benefits improperly. With the same work ethic and know-how that I will bring to the Assembly, we can fix this latest property tax concern.”