SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ — A live band strummed The Beatles' song "Taxman," children waved American flags and hand-made signs taunted Democrats and Gov. Jon Corzine with slogans like: "Corzine taxed my sign." The anti-tax hike group Americans For Prosperity staged a rally on the boardwalk here Saturday with about 200 red-shirted members — some bused in from North Jersey — applauding every anti-Corzine, anti-tax-hike, New Jerseyans-are-overtaxed word.The state Legislature has been embroiled in controversy for months over the governor's plan to raise the state sales tax by a penny in order to help balance the 2006-07 budget. Lawmakers are expected to vote on this and other tax increases and on the $30.9 billion budget Thursday and Friday in Trenton. Rally organizers urged members and an occasional passer-by to pepper Democratic legislators with letters, e-mails and telephone calls over the next four days expressing their displeasure with proposed hikes in the sales tax and taxes on hospital beds and cigarettes. However, speakers such as Sen. Nicholas Asselta, R-Cumberland, also prepared the crowd for the worst, asking them instead to "remember in November."
"We're down in both houses, and if things stay the way they are, people need to be aware for the next election," Asselta said. "I think there are many Democrats who are under pressure and need to decide whether they are loyal to their party or to their constituents. "Thursday they will drive New Jersey further into fiscal oblivion," Asselta said. "After this vote, it will be clear who was loyal to the citizens, and the people need to remember."
Beth Zamorski, 41, of Lavallette remembers the promises made by Corzine during his campaign. "He lied to us," Zamorski said. "He told us no more new taxes, and what do we have? More new taxes. More spending, spending, spending. I love New Jersey. My husband and I would like to retire here. We ski in New Jersey, we go to the beach in New Jersey, we think it's a great location. It's getting to the point where we can't afford to live here anymore. How can you bring a family to the beach when it costs $9 per person to get on and then buy lunch? They are killing us."