New law raises "sin" taxes in New Jersey
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
By: Fit Staff
mcampbell@whyy.org
By: Phil Gregory
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The budget that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law on Monday raised taxes on cigarettes, liquor and wine. A new poll finds plenty of support for raising these so-called "sin taxes," part of $1.2 billion dollars worth of new taxes for the already highly taxed residents of the Garden State.
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Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind poll shows 64 percent of New Jersey residents surveyed say increasing the taxes on wine and liquor is a good idea. Political science professor Peter Woolley is director of the poll. He says 56 percent of those questioned support the decision to limit property tax rebates to only senior citizens and those making less than $75,000.
Woolley: I think people are aware that savings have to be made and that nobody is really exempt from the need to do their share.
The poll shows 52 percent of those surveyed say it's a good idea for state workers to be forced to take nine unpaid days off to help reduce government expenses.