Changes

==Support and Opposition==

==Support and Opposition==

Lonegan is strongly [[conservative]], and built his gubernatorial campaign on instituting a flat income tax. He was been endorsed by former presidential candidate [[Ron Paul]] <ref>http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090514006279&newsLang=en</ref> and "Joe the Plumber." <ref>http://rightwingnews.com/mt331/2009/05/joe_the_plumber_endorses_steve.php</ref>

Lonegan is strongly [[conservative]] on fiscal and social issues.  He built his gubernatorial campaign on instituting a flat income tax. He was been endorsed by former presidential candidate [[Ron Paul]] <ref>http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090514006279&newsLang=en</ref> and "Joe the Plumber." <ref>http://rightwingnews.com/mt331/2009/05/joe_the_plumber_endorses_steve.php</ref>

However, conservative economist [[Steve Forbes]], a strong proponent of the flat tax, has criticized Lonegan's plan, saying "I don't think that the key thing right now for New Jersey is to get a flat tax...the key is to get the tax rates down and then we can have a substantial reform of the tax system." <ref>http://www.christiefornj.com/newsroom/2009/05/07/what-conservatives-are-saying-about-steve-lonegans-tax-hike/</ref>

Less conservative [[Steve Forbes]] failed to support Lonegan's plan in 2009, siding instead with the Republican establishment.  Forbes said, "I don't think that the key thing right now for New Jersey is to get a flat tax ... the key is to get the tax rates down and then we can have a substantial reform of the tax system." <ref>http://www.christiefornj.com/newsroom/2009/05/07/what-conservatives-are-saying-about-steve-lonegans-tax-hike/</ref> But, of course, no reform of the tax system has occurred or is likely to occur with establishment Republican candidates who oppose Lonegan.

==References==

==References==