Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald claims money in state budget would provide tax break for all New Jerseyans, including millionaires

Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald has been a longtime critic of Gov. Chris Christie for providing tax breaks to millionaires, but apparently he and other Democratic legislators approved a new state budget with funding to do just that.

Those dollars would provide a tax break for "everyone," including people earning more than $1 million, the Camden County Democrat said during a July 15 interview on "Inside Story" on Philadelphia-based 6abc.

But PolitiFact New Jersey found Greenwald is wrong to suggest that funding would support an across-the-board tax cut.

Christie originally called for an across-the-board reduction in the state income tax, but the Republican governor and the Democrat-led Legislature have since indicated that any tax cut would likely be limited to individuals below a certain income level and not apply to millionaires.

Also, Greenwald and other Assembly Democrats have advocated for a plan that includes raising taxes on millionaires, not lowering them.

First, here’s the exchange between Greenwald and "Inside Story" host Matt O’Donnell.

O’Donnell:  "Do New Jerseyans deserve a tax break right now? Do all of them deserve a tax break right now, not next year?"

Greenwald: "The answer to that question is yes, and the money is in the budget to give them a tax break this year."

O’Donnell: "Everyone?"

Greenwald: "Everyone."

O’Donnell: "Including people who make more than a million dollars?"

Greenwald: "Oh, absolutely."

Now, here’s the history behind the tax cut debate raging in Trenton.

Christie kicked off the discussion with his State of the State address in January, when he called for an across-the board 10 percent cut in the state income tax. That proposal equaled a tax cut for all New Jerseyans.

But Christie and the Democrats have indicated that such an across-the-board cut is now off the table.

In early March, Democrats in the State Senate and the State Assembly each laid out their own tax cut proposals, which only would benefit households earning up to $250,000 per year by providing an income tax credit based on their property taxes.

The key difference between the two proposals was that the Assembly Democrats called for increasing taxes on taxable income exceeding $1 million.

The Legislature last month approved legislation sponsored by Greenwald to authorize that tax hike. At that point, the tax increase was no longer tied to an income tax credit, but instead to boosting property tax relief payments for residents earning up to $250,000.

But Christie conditionally vetoed that bill and recommended amending it to implement an income tax credit for homeowners with $400,000 or less in taxable income. The governor’s latest proposal is based on the Senate Democrats’ plan.

Democrats, who set aside $183 million in the fiscal year 2013 budget for a tax cut, have said a reduction only would occur if Christie meets his revenue projections in the coming months.

While it remains unclear whether any tax cut will be approved, Christie and the Legislature have indicated that a reduction would not be an across-the-board cut, but limited to residents below a certain income level and not apply to millionaires.

In response to our findings, Brian McGinnis, communications director for Greenwald, told us the assemblyman’s point was that reducing the property tax burden for the middle class would ultimately benefit all New Jerseyans, including millionaires.

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Fox News reported California Gov. Gavin Newsom “will withhold” California’s federal income tax.

"The Majority Leader has frequently talked about the hidden tax on all New Jerseyans being the hit a family’s property values take because property taxes are so high," McGinnis said in an e-mail. "In providing significant property tax relief to 95% of New Jersey families, our plan would have addressed this problem — helping to stabilize property values and benefiting people throughout the state, including millionaires.

"Furthermore, as the Majority Leader said in the interview, lower property taxes for the middle-class makes our state a more attractive place to live, meaning millionaires (whom the Governor calls job creators) can attract more talented employees."

Our ruling

In a TV interview, Greenwald said "the money is in the budget" to give a tax break to "everyone," including people making more than $1 million.

But Christie and Democratic legislators have indicated that any tax cut would likely be limited to New Jerseyans below a certain income level and not apply to millionaires. In fact, Greenwald has been a leading advocate of doing just the opposite: raising taxes on millionaires.

We rate the statement False.

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