In the second of a two-part interview, former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman told NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider that she believes tax cuts are good as long as officials make sure the budget is balanced. She also said she supports shared services and the revitalization of Atlantic City.
Whitman also commented on the recent rejection of Supreme Court nominee Phillip Kwon. While she didn’t watch the hearings, she said she believed Kwon was qualified after reading about him.
“It worries me that we’re seeing this kind of divisive politics again. It’s what we’re seeing at the federal level,” she said. “Every time you have an opportunity to make a partisan, political point, you take it irrespective of what it does to advancing policy and making the right decisions at the end of the day. We have to be very cognizant of that and watch out for it because we lose a lot when that happens.”
Whitman, who cut taxes during her time as governor, said the budget is a major consideration when talking about it. “You can’t do tax cuts in a vacuum,” she said. “You have to cut your spending.”
She said that another reason to cut taxes would be to stimulate growth and allow residents to keep more of their earnings. Whitman said that taxes could be cut if more sharing were to happen. “Taxes could be lower if we didn’t have so many different municipalities, police stations. If everybody didn’t want their own police force and fire department even though they’re right next to one other. If you look at our form of government, we have lots of layers of government,” she said. “I’m a great supporter of shared services.”
Atlantic City’s revitalization has been on the minds of many New Jersey officials. Whitman said the city provides a lot of money for senior programs and education. When revenue drops, it’s a loss for the state because it isn’t easy to find money to make up the difference. Whitman said the Christie administration will take steps to help the city.
“They’re going to do everything they can to make Atlantic City work because it is a jewel,” Whitman said. “I keep looking at these other places and say what does Atlantic City have that these other places don’t? Wonderful beaches and boardwalk.”
Whitman said when she was in office, a non-casino hotel was built, designed for families who might not want to have to pass through slot machines and casino games on the way to their rooms. “That’s the kind of thing we need to build on, I believe, that will set Atlantic City apart, but i know the administration is doing all that it can to revitalize it,” she said.
On the topic of the proposed Rutgers-Camden, Rowan University merger, Whitman said she understands the push-back from those associated with Rutgers, but that the administration will have to make a determination of what the best decision is.
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