Supporters
of tax convention press Senate
Head of AARP cites poll showing
strong backing for idea
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 • BY JOE DONOHUE •
Star-Ledger Staff
Citing a new poll that signals strong
support for their plan, advocates of a constitutional
convention on property taxes yesterday demanded that the
state Senate take quick action.
"To the state senators we say this: Do
not leave this summer without giving the people of New
Jersey the chance to achieve property tax reform through a
constitutional convention," said Marilyn Askin, president of
AARP New Jersey.
Askin and other supporters were joined at
a news conference by Sen. Leonard Connors (R-Ocean), the
first Republican senator to volunteer as a co-sponsor in the
upper house. "This is a very, very important bill. It's not
a perfect bill. But something has to be done," he
said.
Askin released a poll conducted by the
Eagleton Institute of Politics that found more than 65
percent of those surveyed want the convention to be held,
and just over 68 percent want the Legislature to give voters
their say on the question in November. Conducted between May
6 and 11, the poll of 1,020 state residents has a margin of
error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
"A constitutional convention to reform
property taxes can lead to the long-term, institutional
reforms that the legislative logjam in Trenton has failed to
provide," said Askin.
The press conference included
representatives of several other groups that are lobbying
for the bill, including Black Ministers Council of New
Jersey, New Jersey State League of Municipalities, New
Jersey League of Women Voters and New Jersey Conservation
Foundation.
For the second time in three years, the
state Assembly last week voted to approve a fall ballot
question on the constitutional convention. But the proposal
has faced steady resistance in the state Senate, where some
members think it would represent an abdication of their
legislative responsibility.
Advocates said that unless the Senate
Judiciary Committee schedules a hearing on the bill at its
June 9 meeting, it is unlikely to gain approval in time for
the fall ballot. "Now is a crucial time," said William
Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey State League
of Municipalities.
But Sen. John Adler (D-Camden), committee
chairman and a strong supporter of the proposal, said he
could not predict that the bill will make it onto the Senate
agenda. "We're still working to build a consensus for it,"
he said.
Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts
(D-Camden) said bipartisan support provided by Connors
should help build pressure for a Senate vote. "We need
property tax relief and we need it now," he said, noting
that he has sent letters to all 40 senators expressing his
sentiments.
Kelley Heck, spokeswoman for acting Gov.
Richard Codey, said the acting governor and other Senate
Democrats continue to have serious concerns about the bill,
most notably the fact that it would not allow the convention
to address government spending. Even so, she said Codey, who
also is Senate President, would not try to block a hearing
on the bill.
Joe Donohue covers state government and politics. He may
be reached at jdonohue@starledger.com or (609) 989-0208.
© 2005 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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