March Tue, 1997
NEW JERSEYANS ASSESS THEIR TAXES
Since January 1994, when Governor Whitman took office, there has been a 30% reduction in the state income taxes paid by New Jerseyans and about 4-in-10 say they have benefited at least some from this program. In contrast, more than half of the state’s residents report that their local property taxes have gone up in the past year. Overall, close to 6-in-10 who have had an increase in their local property taxes say it is a result of the 30% state income tax reduction. When New Jerseyans evaluate their combined payment for state taxes and local property taxes, 6-in-10 say they have experienced an increase in the past three years.
March Thu, 1997
IMPRESSIONS OF WHITMAN’S FIRST TERM IN OFFICE
While Governor Christie Whitman continues to receive positive job ratings from a majority of New Jerseyans and is currently preferred as a candidate over a yet to be named Democratic opponent in the 1997 election, her support is not as broad as Tom Kean’s was at the same point in his gubernatorial tenure. As a candidate for Governor in 1997, Whitman has the support of about 4-in-10 New Jerseyans who would vote to re-elect her, compared to half of New Jerseyans who indicated they would vote to re-elect Republican Governor Tom Kean in the spring of 1985. The key difference between the support for Whitman and Kean is Kean had the ability to attract larger percentages of independents and Democrats.
March Mon, 1997
NEW JERSEYANS WANT TO VOTE ON THE BOND ISSUE
New Jerseyans want the opportunity to vote on Governor Whitman’s proposed bond issue to fund the state’s pension obligation and provide more money for the state budget. Nine-in-ten New Jerseyans say the decision to commit the state to pay for the bonds should be put on the ballot for a public vote. There is bi-partisan support for a public vote with both Democrats (95%) and Republicans (88%) agreeing the bond issue should be on the ballot.
March Sun, 1997
NEW JERSEYANS EVALUATE AUTO INSURANCE REFORMS
Although New Jerseyans are not satisfied with the cost and coverage of their automobile insurance, about half would rather keep the auto insurance that they have now rather than change to one of the four new options that have been proposed by Governor Whitman to reform the state's auto insurance system.