Word: florio
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Although his name did not appear on any ballot, New Jersey Governor Jim Florio was one of the week's biggest losers. Elected by a landslide two years ago, the tough-talking Democrat won praise for his willingness to use political capital to eliminate a $600 million budget deficit and introduce $2.8 billion in new state and income taxes. Florio believed increased spending on education and a soak-the-rich progressive tax structure would appeal to the middle class. Instead, outraged voters rejected his program...
Democrats lost 21 seats in the assembly and 10 seats in the senate, providing the Republicans with vetoproof majorities in both houses. According to an election-eve poll, more than half of those questioned said Governor Florio's policies were the major issue in the campaign. Republican leaders immediately announced a rollback in the sales tax from 7% to 6%. But faced with a potential deficit next year, they are unwilling to make any additional promises...
Republicans seized control of both houses of the New Jersey legislature in a campaign that became a referendum on the $2.8 billion tax increase that Gov. James Florio won last year...
...Jersey, Democratic Governor James Florio did some fast backpedaling after prompting the state legislature to enact a Robin Hood plan last year that would have used $1.1 billion in state taxes to raise the level of funding in poor school districts. When affluent voters expressed outrage, Florio agreed to shift $360 million of the school aid back to property-tax relief. His political standing was badly damaged; at board of education meetings in Florham Park, N.J., angry parents showed up seeking to turn their public school district into a private...
...Jersey Governor, who combined service cuts with the highest tax hike in the state's history, was all but tarred and feathered for his efforts. But now, with at least 29 states facing potential deficits, Florio's approach is beginning to seem almost prescient. In the past six weeks, Governors from California to Connecticut have been doing the unthinkable: they are trying to turn their fiscal disasters into political opportunities. First-term Governors, with all the bravura of newcomers, are the most ready to break the rules...