November 5, 2009
National Review Online Says Property Tax Data Compiled by the Tax Foundation Played Important Role in New Jersey Gubernatorial Election
By Michael G. Franc
"Contain the scope of the debate": This has been a key element of the Democratic strategy to enact Big Government health reform. As long as voters perceive the issue as a nice, neat, four-cornered proposal to expand health coverage, the liberals who control Congress will win. Polls confirm that Americans want Congress to expand, even guarantee, access to health care for all.
But when the parameters of this debate expand beyond health care, conservatives have a fighting chance. ...
Crucial to this turnaround was the appeal to independents of the two Republican gubernatorial candidates. In both Virginia and New Jersey, the GOP carried these voters by two-to-one margins. Why? My guess is that it's all about taxes, debt, and too much government.
These areas, after all, rank among the most heavily taxed and regulated jurisdictions in America. According to data compiled by the Tax Foundation, 15 of the 25 counties with the heaviest property-tax burdens in America are in New Jersey. And Virginia's Arlington, Loudoun, and Fairfax counties are not far behind.
New Jersey governor-elect Chris Christie won overwhelming majorities or held his own in all 15 of those counties. Meanwhile, Virginia governor-elect Bob McDonnell did well in Arlington and Loudoun, and actually carried true-blue Fairfax county by 51 percent to 49 percent.
