[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         THE WHITMAN WATERSHED

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
February 11, 1994, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] is 
recognized during morning business for 3 minutes.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, we spend a huge amount of our time in the 
House of Representatives dealing with budgets and taxes, and we can 
learn a lot from things that go on around this country.
  Mr. Speaker, last November, the people of New Jersey voted for less 
government and lower taxes when they elected Christine Todd Whitman 
Governor of our fine State. The citizens of New Jersey believed 
Governor Whitman when she promised to take the measures necessary to 
reduce government spending and cut the massive tax burden punishing the 
hard workers in our State.
  Just over 2 weeks ago, Governor Whitman took the first step toward 
fulfilling her commitment when she signed into law a measure that 
provides for a 5-percent reduction in the State income tax retroactive 
to January 1, 1994. She also repealed a business surtax retroactive to 
the beginning of the year.
  And just last week, Governor Whitman took the second major step 
needed in making good on her promise to bring financial sanity and 
responsibility back to New Jersey.
  Speaking before the State legislature the Governor unveiled her 
landmark budget. This unprecedented budget actually spends less than 
last year's budget.
  The Governor's budget was met with approval by a strong majority of 
citizens and opinionmakers.
  Mr. Speaker, please allow me to quote from the Governor's address. 
Speaking to the legislature and the people of New Jersey the Governor 
said:

       There is only one way to cut government spending, and that 
     is to cut the amount of tax dollars that we take out of your 
     pocket.
       The more money (New Jerseyians) have to spend, the more the 
     economy will grow. You elected me to cut taxes and government 
     spending in order to create jobs and stimulate economic 
     growth. And that's exactly what my tax cuts will do.

  The Governor then elaborated on the evils of unchecked taxes:

       Taxes in New Jersey . . . are too high. High taxes drive 
     jobs out . . . They make it hard for young families to buy 
     homes and for senior citizens to keep them.

  The New Jersey economy has been hit harder than most. The citizens of 
New Jersey have seen thousands of jobs go south in search of lower tax 
States.
  Now, with Governor Whitman's leadership, New Jersey will be able to 
keep these jobs. Workers from surrounding high tax States will now 
flock to New Jersey.

  In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Whitman budget removes more than 380,000 
New Jerseyians from the tax rolls. This means that some senior 
citizens, students, and people working their way off of welfare rolls 
will pay no income tax at all.
  The Governor's budget also calls for a hefty middle-class tax cut. 
Families with incomes under $80,000 will have their tax rates cut by 15 
percent. This is much needed relief for hard-working families trying to 
get ahead.
  Mr. Speaker, the tax reductions incorporated in the Governor's budget 
are fully paid for by reductions in Government.
  In summary, Governor Whitman believes the only way big government can 
be restrained is by restricting the amount of funds available to spend 
on it. The Governor believes that the American people can spend their 
money better than government bureaucrats.
  Mr. Speaker, Governor Whitman emphasizes the need to once again 
incorporate common sense and smart decision making into government 
spending.
  For instance the Governor said:

       You make . . . choices every month when you pay your 
     Mortgage or rent, buy food, and pay your utility bill. . . . 
     Then you see if you have enough money left over to go on 
     vacation. . . . You don't spend more money than you are 
     taking in. Government shouldn't either.

  I believe the Governor's budget provides us with an example of how 
Government can and should be run.
  Mr. Speaker, Governor Whitman's speech is a must read for all 
Americans Therefore, later today I will insert the text of the 
Governor's budget speech into today's Congressional Record as part of 
the Extension of Remarks.
  In closing, it would be a shame if the Federal Government could not 
learn a valuable lesson from the well thought-out decisions of States 
like New Jersey and leaders like Governor Whitman.
  Two years from now, when New Jersey is once again thriving and the 
envy of its neighbors, people will look back to this speech given by 
the Governor, on March 15, 1994, as the beginning of the Whitman 
watershed.

                          ____________________