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- NATION, Page 24ELECTION NOTESA Tax Backlash Jolts Jersey Legislators
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- Although his name did not appear on any ballot, New Jersey
- Governor Jim Florio was one of the week's biggest losers.
- Elected by a landslide two years ago, the tough-talking Democrat
- won praise for his willingness to use political capital to
- eliminate a $600 million budget deficit and introduce $2.8
- billion in new state and income taxes. Florio believed increased
- spending on education and a soak-the-rich progressive tax
- structure would appeal to the middle class. Instead, outraged
- voters rejected his program.
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- Democrats lost 21 seats in the assembly and 10 seats in
- the senate, providing the Republicans with vetoproof majorities
- in both houses. According to an election-eve poll, more than
- half of those questioned said Governor Florio's policies were
- the major issue in the campaign. Republican leaders immediately
- announced a rollback in the sales tax from 7% to 6%. But faced
- with a potential deficit next year, they are unwilling to make
- any additional promises.
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