Here's what Jon Corzine said in 2000 when he ran for U.S. Senate against former New Jersey Governor, Jim Florio:

According to newspaper accounts, in a May 2000 debate with Florio, Corzine described the sales tax as "the most regressive of taxes, the one that falls on the people least able to pay for it."

"If we were forced into a tax increase, as the governor said we were, we should have looked for other taxes to accomplish what was needed," Corzine said in the New Jersey Jewish News.

Governor Corzine's sales tax hike of a penny, from 6 cents to 7 cents (a 17% increase) will hit the middle and working class families the hardest because it's regressive.

Matt and others have gone back and forth on this argument, but I think this is the main reason why the Assembly Democrats, led by Speaker Roberts oppose the proposed sales tax hike.

Another Corzine quote, saying a "sales tax increase" is most regressive of any kind...

Mr. Corzine offered his most extended rebuke of Mr. Florio for raising taxes in 1990...And he would not have raised the sales tax, the "most regressive" kind of tax, in any case, he said.

Ok, so what? We have then U.S. Senate candidate Jon Corzine railing against the same sales tax he now wants to increase.  But so what?

Well...Corzine of 2000 made a great point.  A sales tax hike does hit the working poor the hardest.  And it is the most regressive.

Why not raise the income tax on people earning $250,000 and more?  If you're going to stand with the workers union's and say "I stand with you" and say that you represent the working class....then don't raise taxes on the working class to close the budget deficit.

You can raise the income tax.  Ok...your rich wall street buddies might get pissed for raising their income tax?

Fine.  Then find other cuts in state government.  The state of NJ employs something to the tune of 80,000 people.  That's a HUGE workforce.

Everyone's sharing in on the pain.  School budgets are being trimmed.  Senior's are paying out of pocket for prescriptions..the donut hole is eating some of them alive.  Municipalities are making cuts...so are hospitals, nursing homes, universities, etc.  You name it.

Would it be too much to ask other's to join in on the sacrifice?

Or is GOVERNOR Jon Corzine now going to opppose U.S. Senate candidate Jon Corzine and shove a sales tax increse down the throats of NJ taxpayers?