TRENTON– Once again, Senator Jeff Van Drew has flip-flopped on an issue of critical importance to the people of the 1st District. Today he refused to support permanent property tax reform. Less than a week after announcing with great fanfare through a press release that he supported Gov. Chris Christie’s proposal for a constitutional amendment requiring a 2.5% cap on property tax increases, Van Drew refused to support an effort in the State Senate today to consider the constitutional amendment. Van Drew’s statement supporting Cap 2.5 was published on the Cape May County Herald website, but the Senator’s office has not issued a press release informing his constituents that he abstained today instead of following through on his promise to support Gov. Christie’s 2.5% property tax cap.
The motion by State Senator Joe Kyrillos would move forward the legislative process on Cap 2.5, SCR-104, towards a timely vote and the opportunity to include the strict, constitutional cap on the ballot for voter approval this November. Senator Van Drew’s fellow Democrats shut down the process and tabled the motion. Senator Van Drew refused to vote up or down on the motion to table, choosing instead to abstain and avoid making this tough decision.
“Jeff Van Drew must think the people of Cape May County and the First District don’t pay attention when he’s in Trenton. Just five days ago, he said he supported Cap 2.5 and his first day back in Trenton, he’s refusing to stand up and support a constitutional cap,” said Cape May County Republican Chairman Mike Donohue. “We send people to Trenton expecting them to make the tough decisions to help reduce our taxes. We don’t send them there to sit on their hands.”
“Our families, small businesses, and seniors need relief from property taxes that have increased by nearly 70% since Jeff Van Drew was first elected to the legislature. Refusing to support Governor Christie’s Cap 2.5 today could force our families to face another year of failure from Senator Van Drew and his fellow Democrats to finally provide permanent property tax relief,” concluded Donohue.
See Senator Van Drew’s June 15, 2010 press release “Local Legislators Support 2.5 Percent Spending Cap”
