Free Republic

New Jersey Governor Christie said on Friday the state would begin taxing income earned by people who work in New Jersey but live in Pennsylvania, ending a long-standing arrangement with the neighboring state. Pulling out of the nearly 40-year old “reciprocity” agreement would allow New Jersey to raise more revenue starting Jan. 1. Christie, a close ally of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, said in a statement that he was forced to act because the Democrat-controlled legislature created a $250 million budget hole in June by relying on public employee health insurance cuts they have not yet made. If lawmakers...

So D.C. Council members are entertaining the novel idea of placing tollbooths at the city's entryways and sticking a hand in the pocket of those who opt to live in the suburbs because of lower taxes, affordable housing, safer neighborhoods and stronger public schools. This is a sign of resignation, of being unable to fix that which is broken, of appealing to those who might choose to live in the city if it were not so dysfunctional. Increasing the tax base with a significant bump in population would ease the budgetary gap that perpetually taunts the city's lawmakers. Or perhaps...

There might be a new drive in New York City to tax suburban commuters. At a press conference in Queens on Monday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg stated that suburban property values rise and fall on the city's success. "Property values are up because of their proximity to the city," Bloomberg said. "If the city weren't safe, their property values wouldn't be as high ..." City officials said the mayor may be posturing for state and city budget talks starting next month. New York State legislators have previously rejected attemps by the city to tax commuters. Mayor Bloomberg is expected to update...

A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that the District cannot impose a commuter tax without the permission of Congress, dealing another blow to the city's quest for home rule. In a sharply worded opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reinforced the view that the District is a creation of Congress and subject to its will. The ruling was signed by three judges, including John G. Roberts Jr., who had heard the case before he became chief justice of the United States.

Extra $3 million per year is to hire more police, make street, sidewalk repairs Charleston’s city service fee goes into effect today. People who work within the city this week will have the $1 fee withheld from their paychecks, said City Manager David Molgaard. Employers located in Charleston are responsible to withhold $1 per week, or $52 per year, from employee paychecks. People who are paid twice a month will have $2.16 withheld, and people paid on a monthly basis will see $4.33 taken from each paycheck. If a Charleston business decides not to withhold the fee, the city could...

<p>Gov. Pataki told Mayor Bloomberg yesterday in no uncertain terms that he can forget about a new commuter tax - no matter how desperate the city is for revenue to fill a gaping budget gap next year. "I think reimposing the commuter tax now would be extraordinarily counterproductive," Pataki said, with Bloomberg standing at his side to announce a $16 million pier-development project in Harlem.</p>