"This campaign is going to be different. We're not going to be talking about what we did here in Jersey City and we're not going to be talking about me." With these words, Bret Schundler began to tell the more than 1,000 supporters gathered in Jersey City Monday night about his revolutionary property tax plan and his desire to represent them as the next Governor of New Jersey. Bret's property tax reforms, collectively called the Return the Money Amendments, are a simple way to cap state spending and, simply put, return money to each municipality.
"The focus of this campaign is going to be to move away from property taxes as the way that we cover the expenses of our schools and our basic services," Bret said during his speech. "The problem that we have in the state of New Jersey is that the politicians have been spending money too fast." The reforms will place reasonable, but binding caps on state, county, municipal and school spending that can only be exceeded with voter approval. A much fairer share of New Jerseyans' state tax dollars will be returned to their local community to reduce the percentage of school and municipal costs supported by local property taxpayers. If this agenda passed a year ago, the average property tax bill in New Jersey would already be 12% lower this year, and property tax rates would continue falling.
Prior to speaking, Bret was introduced by a few of his close friends and supporters, including: former New Jersey Commerce Commissioner Gil Medina, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, and former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan. Sliwa, also of WABC's Curtis & Kuby In The Morning, revved up the crowd saying that the Garden State needs "a candidate who represents character. And [Bret] is character . . ." Steve Forbes reminded everyone in attendance that New Jersey is becoming synonymous with Louisiana because of the way "the politicians have been cooking the books."
With grace and candor, Peggy Noonan stepped to the podium to clarify a few questions that many New Jersey residents have about Bret's candidacy. On his ability to bring New Jersey together, Noonan commented, "He doesn't know what is impossible." She also noted that Bret "would be a groundbreaking, deeply constructive and rather dazzling governor of New Jersey." And, as for his potential general election opponent, Noonan believes that Bret "can beat a certain bored and bearded Wall Street billionaire."
Bret, himself, made reference to Jon Corzine and the $63 million he spent to win his Senate seat in 2000 saying, "I want him to know that New Jersey is not for sale." He then implored the crowd to join with him in sending the message. The sound of 1,000 enthusiastic cheers filled the Atrium that night as New Jerseyans from around the state, and from all walks of life, joined in the chorus "New Jersey is not for sale!"
"The focus of this campaign is going to be to move away from property taxes as the way that we cover the expenses of our schools and our basic services," Bret said during his speech. "The problem that we have in the state of New Jersey is that the politicians have been spending money too fast." The reforms will place reasonable, but binding caps on state, county, municipal and school spending that can only be exceeded with voter approval. A much fairer share of New Jerseyans' state tax dollars will be returned to their local community to reduce the percentage of school and municipal costs supported by local property taxpayers. If this agenda passed a year ago, the average property tax bill in New Jersey would already be 12% lower this year, and property tax rates would continue falling. 
With grace and candor, Peggy Noonan stepped to the podium to clarify a few questions that many New Jersey residents have about Bret's candidacy. On his ability to bring New Jersey together, Noonan commented, "He doesn't know what is impossible." She also noted that Bret "would be a groundbreaking, deeply constructive and rather dazzling governor of New Jersey." And, as for his potential general election opponent, Noonan believes that Bret "can beat a certain bored and bearded Wall Street billionaire." 
