Changes

On July 1, 2006, Governor Corzine was forced to shutdown the state government after clashing with fellow Democrats in the the state Assembly to pass a sales tax increase, resulting in the Assembly being unable to pass a new [[balanced budget]]. As a result road construction projects were halted, the New Jersey Lottery, Motor Vehicle Commission and the New Jersey Department of [[Education]] was shut down. Gambling at Atlantic City casinos were suspended and 45,000 state employees were in indefinitely. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/01/AR2006070100864.html</ref>   

On July 1, 2006, Governor Corzine was forced to shutdown the state government after clashing with fellow Democrats in the the state Assembly to pass a sales tax increase, resulting in the Assembly being unable to pass a new [[balanced budget]]. As a result road construction projects were halted, the New Jersey Lottery, Motor Vehicle Commission and the New Jersey Department of [[Education]] was shut down. Gambling at Atlantic City casinos were suspended and 45,000 state employees were in indefinitely. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/01/AR2006070100864.html</ref>   

They reached a compromise, with the New Jersey legislator passing Corzine's sales tax increase in exchange for half of the revenue created from it would be used to give New Jerseyans direct property tax relief, which is the highest in the nation. The state government was fully restored on July 10, 2006.

They reached a compromise, with the New Jersey legislator passing Corzine's sales tax increase in exchange for half of the revenue created from it would be used to give New Jerseyans direct property tax relief. The state government was fully restored on July 10, 2006.

===Automobile Accident===

===Automobile Accident===

[[Image:Corzine_state_of_the_state.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Gov. Corzine delivering his 2009 State of the State address]]On the way to a meeting between [[Don Imus]] and the [[Rutgers]] women's [[basketball]] team, Corzine was involved in a serious car accident on April 13, 2007.

On the way to a meeting between [[Don Imus]] and the [[Rutgers]] women's [[basketball]] team, Corzine was involved in a serious car accident on April 13, 2007.

He suffered multiple injuries including a thigh bone broken in two places that lacerated his skin, a broken breast bone, six broken ribs on each side, a head laceration and a minor fracture on a lower vertebra. <Ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-12-corzine-car-accident_N.htm</Ref> Corzine was not wearing his seat belt, in violation of NJ state law. <Ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-12-corzine-car-accident_N.htm</Ref> Corzine requested, and received, a $46 fine for this. <ref>http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20070502_Corzine_asks_for_seat-belt_fine__gets_it.html</ref>

He suffered multiple injuries including a thigh bone broken in two places that lacerated his skin, a broken breast bone, six broken ribs on each side, a head laceration and a minor fracture on a lower vertebra. <Ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-12-corzine-car-accident_N.htm</Ref> Corzine was not wearing his seat belt, in violation of NJ state law. <Ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-12-corzine-car-accident_N.htm</Ref> Corzine requested, and received, a $46 fine for this. <ref>http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20070502_Corzine_asks_for_seat-belt_fine__gets_it.html</ref>

===Economic Record===

===Economic Record===

Under Governor Corzine New Jersey was ranked as the worst business climate of any state by the Tax Foundation <ref>http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/bp58-es.pdf</ref>, and overall has the highest tax burden in the nation. Since Corzine took office, property taxes have risen 17%, twice the rate of [[inflation]]. <ref>Department

[[Image:Corzine_state_of_the_state.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Gov. Corzine delivering his 2009 State of the State address]] Under Governor Corzine New Jersey was ranked as the worst business climate of any state by the Tax Foundation <ref>http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/bp58-es.pdf</ref>, and overall has the highest tax burden in the nation. Since Corzine took office, property taxes have risen 17%, twice the rate of [[inflation]]. <ref>Department

of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services Website, www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/, Accessed

of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services Website, www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/, Accessed

6/4/09</ref> The state budget [[deficit]] has increased from $3.6 billion to $10 billion and there [[unemployment]] rate has risen from 4.8% to 8.8%. <ref>http://www.christiefornj.com/images/corzinesrecord.pdf</ref> <ref>http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/nj_unemployment_rate_hits_high.html</ref> In connection with rising jobless claims, Corzine said, "Now the piper is coming home to roost".<ref>http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/topstories/index.ssf/2008/12/surge_in_jobless_claims_taps_o.html</ref>  

6/4/09</ref> The state budget [[deficit]] has increased from $3.6 billion to $10 billion and there [[unemployment]] rate has risen from 4.8% to 8.8%. <ref>http://www.christiefornj.com/images/corzinesrecord.pdf</ref> <ref>http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/nj_unemployment_rate_hits_high.html</ref> In connection with rising jobless claims, Corzine said, "Now the piper is coming home to roost".<ref>http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/topstories/index.ssf/2008/12/surge_in_jobless_claims_taps_o.html</ref>  

Corzine has announced his candidacy for reelection in 2009, however trails his Republican opponent [[Christopher Christie]] in public opinion polls. <ref>http://race42008.com/2009/03/13/poll-watch-new-jersey-more-good-news-edition/</ref> <ref>http://www.politickernj.com/wallye/31284/gop-poll-has-christie-15-points</ref> <ref>http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20090714_ap_pollchristiewidensleadinnjgovsrace.html</ref>

In response to the rising deficit Corzine has proposed eliminating New Jersey's property tax rebates, which provides tax relief in the state of New Jersey, which already has the highest property taxes in the nation. <ref>http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/corzine_may_propose_eliminatin.html</ref> Corzine has already cut $382.5 million from the rebate program in June 2008.

==References==

==References==

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