Scott Garrett: “I will just close on these thoughts: the difference that we are seeing here between what the Democrats will be proposing…”

“I will just close on these thoughts: the difference that we are seeing here between what the Democrats will be proposing in their budget and the Republican alternative budget that should also come before the floor is in three areas, I think. We are both aiming towards the same goal, fortunately, of trying to reach a balanced budget by 2012, 5 years from now. But the Republican budget will reach that goal of 2012 without raising taxes by almost $400 billion, which is what your chart behind you shows. And that is critical. So, number one, we will not put a burden of almost $4,000, $3,800, on the families in the State of New Jersey, $1,500 if you are a family of four making $70,000. Secondly, by not raising taxes we will not be undermining the pro-growth policies of this administration and of this government over the last 10 years. Those pro-growth policies, for New Jerseyans at least, have created tremendous employment, very low unemployment, so that that family that is making that $70,000 a year or more or less in New Jersey at least knows that the unemployment rate is almost at historic lows at this point. So they know there is the opportunity for jobs, and because of that, there is great opportunity to improve yourselves in careers and what have you. And because of that pro-growth policy, we have seen the deficit shrink by 26 percent.”