N.J. Gubernatorial Debate, Pt. 1

" Kevin let's take the debate. Hour and a half we'll help you decide. Vote on them there and now here are the candidates from Iowa Republican Chris Christie. Independent -- And Democrat governor Jon Corzine. Joining me to question the candidates are a panel of distinguished journalist. Upper Dublin editorial page editor of the record of Hackensack. Thomas straight co anchor of Philadelphia's fox 29 news WTX that television. And doctor Joanne Lee who -- chairman communication department of William Paterson University. We'll also have some questions from audience and also some voters who submitted -- on line. -- wanna take a moment now to review the rules of this debate each candidate is going to get sixty seconds for opening statement than the questions begin. The candidate question get sixty seconds to answer the other two candidates get sixty seconds -- to respond and then. The first candidate is allowed thirty seconds for a rebuttal if he wants that. Final statements are going to be ninety seconds apiece. We have three lights green. Yellow and red and will hopefully keep the candidates of their time they could argue that the order of the opening and closing statements some of the questions were determined by lottery. And our first opening statement is from independent candidate. Chris that mr. that."

" Thank you very much. And it's an honor to be here he ought to participate in this debate tonight. For the first time for the first time ever you have a real choice for governor. You can choose politics as usual in the same -- democratic and Republican approaches that have led this state in the past fifteen years to -- financial ruin. Were there failed fiscal and budgetary policies. Where you can choose an independent. With no ties to political parties no ties to special interest and can choose the best person for every government job. It's time to vote for someone rather than against someone you can choose an independent who is provided practical common sense solutions to cut taxes. Reform education. And protect the environment. You don't need to have and actually you deserve as voters. More than a failed plan from the Democrats -- no plan from the Republicans. Only an independent can do what is necessary to change this state and restore it to fiscal sanity and economic prosperity. Thank you and I look forward to this debate thank you mr. -- governor Corzine."

" Thank you good evening everyone. Even as we work through this. Greatest recession since the Great Depression. I've been fighting for New Jersey families every day. Cut spending in the budget two years in a row even while we've expanded investments on education. Particularly pre school we. Improve student performance and achievement. I and initiated a new program called paid family leave insurance. We've ensured a 100000. Additional children and reduce the uninsured -- 11%. Com we are we provided seven billion dollars seven billion dollars worth of property tax relief rebates expanded the senior freeze. Make sure that we're working on that every day I've used every dollar president. Obama has offered him his recovery plan to make sure that we protect the jobs teachers firefighters police officers and others. These are the choices that we have taken that reflect the values. Of the people of the state -- new jurors."

" Thank you governor. And mr. Crist thank you thank you William Paterson -- tonight the panel for being with us. You know we all -- futures you've broken. We feel in our hearts and we know -- our heads and for those of us who have lived here all our lives. We know there can be a better New -- We know there can be a more hopeful future. But we also know that we have to do something to change the perilous course our state has been on for the last thought -- yours. We are the most heavily tax -- state in America. We have the highest unemployment we've had in 33 years. We have a workforce that is dispirited. We have people who want their jobs back we have people who are losing their homes each and every day. But despite those problems I know there can be a more hopeful future for -- I know that if we get back to common sense basics. Cutting taxes reducing wasteful spending tackling the property tax problem we can make a difference in New Jersey and we will. With new leadership we will make the change the -- needs. Thank you mr. cresting could."

" Let's begin with round one of our questions and they're gonna be covering pocket -- issues that face the voters of the state the first question will go to governor Corzine from. Upper Dublin for the record Alfred."

" Governor Corzine during this campaign voters have heard -- a lot about plans lack of points. How are you close an estimated eight billion dollar deficit and what part of your plan depends on legislative approval."

" Well first of all we've had to deal with 22 billion dollars worth of structural budget deficits. Since I've been there. Reality is we inherited quite a mess and we've been taking it on each and every year. I've laid down a pretty clear approach to how we would have to deal with what is the anticipated structural deficit for the coming year. We will not be able to put everything that we would choose to put in the to the pension system -- to produce at least two billion dollars. We have about a billion and a half to two billion dollars to overcome the president's. Economic recovery plan. I've been reducing state employees. Each and every year. About 2000 because of the strict hiring freeze that will produce another half a billion. Along with other consolidations. And then we will have to go through our budget. And reduce expenditures by five or 6% if the oil a study about eight billion is right. I presume we might have actual stronger revenues and it might not that be a serious problem."

" Thank you governor mr. -- Yes this and we -- know. The deficit Alfred is gonna be anywhere from six to ten billion dollars I've laid out six and half billion dollars -- specifics of what we do. Some of the mirror with the governor's plan -- differ. Significantly from the governor would like to do. I will not raise taxes on most -- the highest burden taxpayers. In the state -- New Jersey we simply can't do we have to take a different approach that approach will mean not only doing some of the things that the governor talked about. -- giving greater concessions in the forms of our pension system. Greater concessions from state workers through collective bargaining. We're gonna have to do those things in order to be able to close that gap but we can no longer lean on the people of the state in New Jersey for higher taxes. And that's I think what makes our approach different than the other it will not be easy we will have to go through every program. Just like we've discussed to be able to -- out more spending. But in the end we've laid out six and -- the specifics that are very comfortable with and I know we'll find more programmatic cuts as we go along. Will be simply can no longer raise taxes people's signatures --"

" And mr. -- Personally -- that's part of your question which is ultimately -- legislative approval because the state budget. 13 of the -- billion dollars be taking care through the tax cut plan and I put forward -- very specific plan on how to address taxes that we face. About a third of it will be taking care of -- are quite a third but more with taking care through. Some of the pension reduction won't come into play when we put the hammer and a hard cap on municipal spending. That will keep some of the pension costs down going forward. And then about a billion up it'll be with the freeze on state spending that is normally anticipated expenses in. -- increasing. And then like the other two candidates we will. I use the stimulus money if it does come through next year as possibly anticipated. If not we will make the additional cuts that are necessary to balance the budget as -- required to do by law."

" I governor Corzine thirty seconds for -- well I'm pleased that the candidates -- a -- some of the ideas we played out but there's one glaring difference between what mr. Christian what I would do. A first of all he wants to give tax breaks to insurance companies big business the very wealthy that'll take that eight billion and stretch it out to. Nine and a half to ten billion dollars. Toll that has to be close. I don't think we can afford that we need to make sure that we're providing property tax relief to our middle class here in New Jersey you can't do that. And give those tax breaks. Income taxes go for property tax relief. According to the constitution."

" I thank you governor our next question comes from Thomas -- from fox 29. Involved quality of life. And this is to mr. Crist Terry thank you do wanna talk about the quality of life mr. Christie dealing with -- new Jersey's -- property tax some have called just plain crazy and state taxes. There -- growing number of New Jersey into simply can't afford to live in the garden state and quite frankly are running out of options. I want to know specifically. How would you improve the quality of life within the first six months of taking office. It's -- the first six months of taking office what we're going to do in that first budget. Is to reinstate property tax rebates for some of -- citizens who have lost their property tax rebates this -- budget. It's not the long term solution and we have some ideas on how to deal with that but it is a short term solutions. Doing what could help right I'm yells at you so -- an -- public -- 43 I think every witness not a solution. We cannot -- above average components I have to continue to try to provide property tax you for that. But property taxes are the biggest issue we need to share services. We need it to happen. Analysis on in the area are he had about actually party that Sharon Finney does not happen to -- the school when he saw how they capture. To be able to look I don't want and what happened to my -- bottom when he carried -- wasted little -- when we need don't waste and that money in the weeks ago a we need to go back to consolidate at this point cousins come up anything you vote -- and balances since I and Lewis and Clark about. --"

" In his -- it's lot of interest in that -- on them there always talked about for the guy's a character and it's not. There hasn't been my definition an excellent -- it has been someone handed Republicans -- isn't there anything from dangerous policy. Book. That's a rectangle and -- access to assess what at a time when it might have come across Democrats -- him to -- the first thing point 5% could very easily to any fundamental -- that you. At this -- as well as large corporations. And a roll back the so called temporary increase in income tax. We're also gonna put a hard cap values is spending one night to the hospital that is that -- price indexing would and it out of our capital. You voters can't from years not to allow him in New Jersey there looking -- the democratic and recoveries as tensions. Because he hasn't lost it's yeah I was trying to we haven't paid for that help find anything on increasing like -- sitting on some of these ugly television the purchase compact radio head and that's. What is so I'm gonna recognize that that's that's not going to do with the increases each sale something that is what's needed Kristin it's not because I don't like it. I -- primarily by people with reality upper middle income and income people he has no well thank you mr. Beckham -- needs now. We've already done it yet it -- we don't bring -- not Kevin reckon your property tax."

" Rebates to seniors two billion more than any other governor provided. That were committed to making sure that we provide property tax -- we've also imposed caps and I'm glad others are coming along. Support that concept we put together a school funding formula which delivers. Property tax relief by delivering. School aid to middle class and moderate income communities across the state. And we you're working every day on shared services consolidation and revitalization. -- fact we close 26 school districts that didn't have any. Schools in them but have bureaucracies and cost. We extended the senior free -- the recovered 420000. Retiree councils and we restore. And will restore property tax rebates to the 250000. Dollar level win we have the resources mr. Christie just. Went from nine and a half billion dollar deficit to ten and a half if he restores rebates the first year."

" And mr. -- you have thirty seconds rebuttal thank you listen. This is one of the biggest difference is you can see in this debate NAFTA markets mr. guy explain racism taxes -- million -- time and he says it doesn't think increased -- how people except for people with -- play half open taxes aren't they don't really know and I think you're getting every level right that use and pay for day care that -- out attacks nursing home services -- This is -- be seven billion dollars or more taxes and that's the -- the my plan will just cut taxes for big business small business pay through the income tax they build the jobs in New Jersey and we need they need a small business that's run track and it thank you mr. testing it was just where's our next question comes from Joanne -- from William Paterson university and it goes to mr. --"

" Thank you Harry. -- Last year -- governor Corzine proposed monetize in New Jersey highways to pay down the State's budget deficit. First what's your position on using tolls to cover state spending needs and second. If elected would you promised there would be no toll hikes while you're an office."

" First of all -- no I would not sell state assets like that I don't think it was smart policy to think about selling turnpike the parkway or any other major state roads. But we do have and I would not raise taxes nobody wants to raise taxes that's something that nobody wants to do -- all but. At some point in time we have to deal one of the biggest problems which is our transportation trust fund. Which is bankrupt at the moment and everybody knows it's bankrupt and everybody knows that. We're gonna have to figure out how to healthcare business going without letting things so there are roads don't improbable -- don't think I know what -- you -- just learned earlier -- now in -- that -- from. That are mass transportation system is adequately funded. He's hoping we have honestly thinks that transportation trust fund by either increasing the gas tax or increased sales tax on gasoline. Or by raising tolls on roads because a responsible government. And we'll do that but it's the last option we'll try everything we can not to do that. But I'm not gonna stand by and let our meet our transportation system while the heart of our economy that are going to a greater stimulus like."

" and governor Corzine and we'll see what I agree with the last thing our transportation system in the quarters standing hasn't -- country Karen Crowe is just getting absolutely essential to the success. Of our economy going forward. There's no question that this thing. The plan that I laid down no one was too much too fast. It -- the uncertainty particularly now with in another context he doesn't want a recession that we -- Well the breath here the problem is that underwear but -- we won't have attempting to accomplish. Pay down debt by half and make sure that we had the resources to be able to find quality transportation system. In the make sure that we have provided -- open space was what we had the conversation with the public about. We still have to fix those problems and attractive alternatives are fundamentally on how you will then be able to do that. But we need to make sure that we're moving forward and addressed. One good thing came out and out it. Got constitutional amendment that requires more -- to be fifty we approved by voters and that was part of my only point what do you think -- I think I -- patent system."

" I think in New Jersey woman we've now seen through some of these answers is that one of the differences is that. The candidates to my left. I believe we have a revenue problem and I believe we have -- spending debt problem. That's a fundamental difference between the two of us in the last eight years state that has suffered seventeen billion dollars to nearly forty billion dollars. And the governor references the constitutional amendment. That was passed in order to be able to make sure voters have to prove that popular -- wow that was getting ready to be on the -- the governor withdrew another. The multimillion dollar Democrat -- remind before that was -- either your for voters approving -- you're not. Four voters approving that I am glad the voters passed for constitutional amendment and -- administration will be here to a strictly and not bring on new debt. As far as you're at your question -- tolls is concerned. But I don't believe that we should be raising the cost of anybody and you know in this moment while we have to get better and convince the people of New Jersey that we're responsible fiscal stewards of the money we already half. They're not convinced --"

" where I missed that I thirty seconds rebuttal to that was an unstoppable in this stuff and I really I gonna -- you calculator mr. Christie because your numbers don't add up. They never -- out -- no plan at all -- no plan -- he prepared than we have to deal. -- balancing the budget yes we have to be responsible stewards. And my property tax cut plan in my overall tax cut plan. Is gonna make the whole system less dependent on. Property taxes which is a problem that every homeowner in this state knows about it's gonna make this system fairer more competitive. And more affordable for the State's citizens. And I think it's a good plan and I wanna see somebody come modeling and analysis as challenges -- when he just -- someone thanks you it's not clear."