|
2005 Gubernatorial Candidate Survey
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey strives to enable
the informed participation of the citizens of New Jersey in the electoral
process. As part of this mission, the League formulated 10 questions for
which we asked the Democratic and the Republican candidates to provide
answers, in 125 words or less, that addressed position and/or policy rather
than attacking other candidates. Answers addressed to other candidates
were edited out, and answers longer than 125 words were truncated or subjected
to minor editing. The LWVNJ sincerely appreciates each candidate's willingness
to participate in our survey as we work to fulfill our mission to inform
the electorate.
1. Each of you supports ethics reform, an end to pay-to-play, and an independent
statewide office to serve as a watchdog. Are there specific differences
between your two positions that the voters should know?
Jon Corzine: My proposal to end "pay to play" practices
at all levels of government includes developers. I think it is a disgrace
how development interests have lined politicians' pocketbooks to get
their permits and variances approved. My plan also tightens ethics laws
for those who work in state government to stop the revolving door between
government and special interests, contractors, and lobbyists. I also
have been much more specific about providing the Comptroller with much
more authority than my opponent. Specifically, I support the Comptroller
having the authority to review major contracts before they are awarded.
My Comptroller would also have authority over spending at all levels
of government.
Doug Forrester: My ethics reform plan is the most comprehensive
and far-reaching proposal offered in New Jersey. I have been firm in
my commitment to ban pay-to-play, wheeling, and no-bid contracts. I
have also proposed electing an independent State Auditor to root out
waste, fraud, and abuse. My plan includes proposals not addressed previously,
such as: Impose a three-year ban on Authority/Commission members doing
business with entities that they served on; Extend the statute of limitations
for official corruption crimes; Add the Governor & his/her staff
to the "Conflicts of Interest Law"; and others available from
my campaign. As governor, I will cut out the billions of dollars in
corruption so we can lower property taxes for New Jersey's hard-working
families.
2. Would you support current pending legislation limiting eminent domain
by excluding taking private property for private development, and a moratorium
until the state position is investigated and current court cases involving
eminent domain are decided?
Jon Corzine: I have proposed a detailed plan to reform the state's
redevelopment law and eminent domain powers of local municipalities,
including:
- Prohibiting takings of homes for economic development use except
in rare and exceptional circumstances and only with adequate procedural
safeguards.
- Requiring municipalities to explore all reasonable alternatives
to displacing homes before eminent domain is even considered.
- Guaranteeing a comprehensive public process and an individual's
right to stay the condemnation until an expedited trial and appeal
process is completed.
- Eliminating no-bid developer contracts and ending "pay to play"
practices.
- Ensuring homeowners receive additional compensation, beyond fair
market value.
- Requiring redevelopment plans to include affordable housing at a
one-to-one ratio and an equivalent housing plan in the case of commercial
development.
Doug Forrester: Eminent domain has the potential to be one of
the worst abuses of government, and it must be tempered. I will support
constitutional amendments and legislation as necessary to limit the
use of eminent domain to only where it is truly essential for a real
public use, including eliminating blighted areas - not just for enriching
someone.
Here in New Jersey, eminent domain is a particular risk because it
can be used to put control of private property in the hands of corrupt
political bosses who make deals with developers. Taking private lands
for the benefit of other private citizens is unacceptable. Land ownership
is an important part of our rights as Americans, and we must restrict
the abuse of eminent domain. (See my Eminent Domain TaskForce)
3. NJ's Transportation Trust Fund will run out of funds in early 2006.
Do you have any specific proposals for ensuring that the fun- has the
means to remain solvent?
Jon Corzine: We need to reform the Transportation Trust Fund.
I will end the practice of raiding the Trust Fund to pay for operating
costs, and I will make sure that the Trust Fund gets the "full
yield" from the state gas tax. My administration will fund transportation
projects based on the needs of New Jersey drivers and rail passengers,
not the needs of politicians. And I will establish an elected State
Comptroller who will oversee the management of the fund to ensure that
is it no longer abused. We must also examine other sources of revenue,
such as charging for containers that are stored at our ports, or the
possibility of selling or leasing toll highways or land adjacent to
train stations and toll highways
Doug Forrester: I have signed a no new tax pledge - I will not
raise taxes in New Jersey, including the gas tax. As governor, I will
require the transportation trust funds to be set aside for exclusively
transportation expenses. We must prevent the state government from using
trust funds to cover other state expenses. I will also avoid recreating
this crisis by requiring that revenues generated for capital and long-term
infrastructure development are used only for those purposes. Similar
to the action taken by other states, I would also like to examine a
system that pools all of the transportation revenue - by streamlining
DMV fees and other transportation-related income, we can appropriately
match transportation revenue and expenses and reinvest those revenues
in the state's roads and bridges.
4. Do you support the establishment of a convention to offer solutions
to the property tax issue in NJ? If so, would you want to see it restricted
to revenue, or should it also study spending?
Jon Corzine: We must make structural changes to our tax system
so we rely less on the regressive property tax to fund public education
and local government services. The citizen property tax convention will
build public and legislative support for fundamental reforms. I am committed
to ensuring that the Convention does not undermine our Constitution's
clause guaranteeing "thorough and efficient" education for
all students, or impose harsh spending caps on local public schools.
[With other plans] huge cuts in education and other key programs will
be necessary because of court-mandated spending and the double-digit
increases in large programs like health care.
Doug Forrester: I oppose a Constitutional Convention as proposed
by the Assembly because it does not include addressing spending. I believe
it is the obligation of lawmakers and the governor to enact laws to
deal with the challenges we face. I have a property tax reform plan
that would alleviate the burden of property taxes throughout New Jersey
for all taxpayers.
5. Do you support the intent of the Charter School legislation? Should
it be renewed or changed? What impact do Charter Schools have on public
education?
Jon Corzine: I have been a consistent supporter of charter schools.
Charter schools give parents and children a real educational choice
without harming other students in traditional public schools. I think
a host of charter school issues, now that we have had a few years to
see the results in the field, are ripe for discussion such as providing
schools with access to capital funds and reviewing funding in Abbott
districts. I look forward to tackling these issues if I am elected your
next Governor and I will work with stakeholders to address these critical
issues.
Doug Forrester: I support public charter schools and I will
continue to work to make sure we use charter schools to offer educational
opportunities. I also believe the state has the obligation to hold charter
schools accountable for the delivery of quality educational services
that meet state standards.
6. What is your position on the death penalty? Do you support a moratorium
on executions while the issue is studied? What criteria, including state
funding, should apply to DNA testing in re-considering death penalty convictions?
Jon Corzine: I do not support the death penalty. For individuals
who are convicted of capital offenses, I believe that life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole is appropriate. While in the Senate,
I cosponsored the National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2001, which
would suspend federal executions and establish a commission to review
the administration of the death penalty at the state and federal level.
I support DNA testing in all death penalty cases to provide an additional
layer of evidence. However, given New Jersey's fiscal constraints, committing
funding to any initiative without a full review of the state budget
would not be wise. That said, I would certainly be interested in examining
all proposals that would help facilitate fair and accurate convictions.
Doug Forrester: I will promote greater scrutiny of evidence,
including DNA testing, as well as the development of new tools to determine
with perfect accuracy a defendant's role in a crime. The death penalty
has a limited, but justified place in criminal justice. I am examining
the issue of imposing a moratorium on the death penalty.
7. Do you favor re-development of our older communities as a way to preserve
open spaces? Why or why not? Is so, what is your plan to encourage this
action?
Jon Corzine: I have proposed significant, creative economic
plans that direct growth to our cities. First, I have proposed an "Urban
Investment Bank" to provide access to capital for entrepreneurs
who invest in our cities. And, I have proposed creation of the "Edison
Innovation Fund" to spur investment in the life sciences - again,
focusing on development in urban areas. Overall, I support targeted
state incentives and the removal of regulatory obstacles to spur redevelopment
efforts that are consistent with the "State Plan." The State
Plan provides a roadmap to where investment would be most productive.
I will push state agencies to expand their efforts to achieve this goal
- for example, the Board of Public Utilities' has produced rules that
create incentives for economic development in State Plan endorsed areas
Doug Forrester: I would support re-development of older communities
to preserve open space as long as private property rights were not infringed
upon, and the entire community was in agreement of the redevelopment
process
8. New Jersey continues to have a severe shortage of low income family
housing, and COAH rules have failed to produce much more, especially in
the suburbs where the courts intended for it to be. What approach would
you take to ensure adequate and appropriately located low income housing
in NJ?
Jon Corzine: New Jersey needs a more comprehensive approach
to ensure the availability of affordable housing. I have set a statewide
goal to create or preserve 100,000 units of housing that are affordable
for low- and middle-income families over the next 10 years. To meet
this goal, I've proposed expanding first-time homebuyer programs, including
down payment and closing assistance; expanding employer-assisted housing
programs; increasing funding for rental assistance, and providing real
property tax relief to homeowners and renters. We can make these investments
by using our existing housing resources more effectively, securing more
federal and private investments, and growing our economy
Doug Forrester: New Jersey needs more affordable housing. I will
be a strong supporter of affordable housing programs currently available
- primarily through the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Financing Agency.
But supporting the programs we have is clearly not enough. I believe
that any state, local subsidy, or tax break for developers, particularly
those near mass transit in so-called "transit villages," should
only be able to receive those breaks if they have met reasonable standards
to ensure that what is built accommodates an affordability component
and also units that are fully accessible for the disability community.
Low-interest loan programs will be an effective way of promoting home
ownership in both urban and suburban areas. Further, my 30%-in-3 property
tax relief plan will ensure that property taxes do not prevent families
and seniors from owning their own homes.
9. What plans do you offer the citizens of NJ to control the rise in local
property taxes?
Jon Corzine: My REAL property tax relief plan will restore rebates
to last year's levels, then grow them 10% each year. It will target
relief to seniors and low- and middle-income families (making < $200,000
a year). I also support instituting ethical and financial reforms of
the Schools Construction Corporation, followed by additional funding
for school construction for all NJ schools which provides real property
tax relief to taxpayers through a public referendum process.
Finally, I support additional reforms:
- Extend State Comptroller jurisdiction to include local spending.
- Expand incentives for schools and local governments to control spending.
- Increase efficiency and improve local management practices.
- Work to end unfunded mandates and maximize federal matching funds.
- End the "corruption tax" at the local level.
Doug Forrester: My property tax relief plan - the 30%-in-3 guarantee
is exactly what we need to reduce the property tax burden on New Jersey's
hard-working families and seniors. The 30%-in-3 Guarantee will lower
property taxes in New Jersey by 30% over three years, guaranteed by
the state constitution. The plan provides an automatic rebate that is
guaranteed by the State constitution, unlike current rebate programs
that have a history of being politically manipulated, cut or suspended.
My 30%-in-3 Guarantee will lower property taxes by 30% because it forces
the state to make property taxpayers the number one priority - the state
will be forced cut wasteful spending to pay property taxpayers first.
10. The next governor will have a lasting and profound impact on the Supreme
Court of NJ, as several judges retire or are up for re-appointment. Would
you share the principles that will guide you in your choices?
Jon Corzine: Appointing members to the judiciary, whether Superior
Court or the Supreme Court is one of the Governor's most important and
profound responsibilities. Judges rule on matters that go to the very
heart of our society; their decisions will affect every aspect of our
lives, from fundamental civil rights to the structure of government
itself. I will nominate judges based on their records, qualifications,
intellectual capacity and their basic values. I will not support someone
who has demonstrated hostility toward the role of government and the
courts in providing protections and opportunities for all Americans.
Doug Forrester: I will appoint judges who are committed to understanding
our constitution and our laws and interpreting them faithfully.
|
