The Trenton Times published the following article on August 12, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
N.J. Politics Roundup: Voters say no tax hike to fund pensions, Christie signs bail reform, and more
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on August 12, 2014 at 7:00 AM, updated August 12, 2014 at 1:10 PMTRENTON — An overwhelming majority of New Jersey voters say tax hikes alone shouldn’t be used balance the state’s pension funding woes, according to a poll released Monday.
Only 12 percent of voters say tax hikes should be used to fill the state’s pension system’s multi-billion-dollar shortfall – including 16 percent of Democratic voters, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll. Instead, 53 percent of voters agree increasing taxes while also decreasing worker benefits is the best way to plug the shortfall.
The poll also showed 55 percent of people said public employees should not accept lower pension payments in exchange for higher taxes to fund the system, indicating “New Jersey is still a labor friendly state,” said Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the poll.