South Jersey Legislators Vow To Fight Against Ending Tax Accord With PA, If It Comes To That
by KYW's David Madden
TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- Live in New Jersey and work in Pennsylvania?
You may have heard that Garden State Governor Chris Christie is considering a move to cancel an agreement between the two states allowing people to pay taxes based on where they live.
South Jersey officials suggest it's an idea that likely won't go very far.
Right now, it's just an idea that's under study. But the mere mention of cancelling the 38-year-old pact surprised veteran legislators.
"It was never discussed during budget hearings. It was never presented by the treasurer," Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Cherry Hill) told KYW Newsradio. "It was the first we'd heard of it, probably because it's not a very reputable idea and not one that has stood the test of time."
Former Governor Jim McGreevey thought about it a dozen years ago, then backed off after an uproar from legislators and constituents alike.
Greenwald suggests Christie's offering the idea as a way to make his budget look balanced and predicts it'll be pulled back once the administration realizes it won't work, given Pennsylvania would almost certainly do the same thing.
"Those who are impacted by it won't forget because they know that it came up once before and we were successful in fighting it back," Greenwald said. "We'll fight it back again."
But Greenwald believes it wouldn't hurt if people started to call Christie's office to express their feelings on the idea.