Last year Americans for Prosperity became the first pro-taxpayer organization in New Jersey to rate legislators in Trenton with respect to key legislation affecting the state’s overall tax climate.

For the struggling taxpayers of New Jersey, our 2008-2009 Legislative Scorecard proved to be an invaluable resource documenting the voting records of our elected representatives in the Assembly and the Senate – answering the key question -- are our elected representatives in Trenton standing up for taxpayers or are they working to advance a big government, high tax agenda?

AFP’s Midterm Scorecard continues our commitment to educate New Jersey citizens on the performance of their representatives in the Legislature on issues directly affecting their wallets and pocketbooks.

Our Midterm Scorecard grades the performance of New Jersey’s 120 legislators based on their votes on critical legislation affecting taxpayers. In total, 28 measures have been rated (including bills, amendments and resolutions) brought up for a vote during the first year of the 2010-2011 legislative session. AFP believes each of these measures will have a profound impact on the state’s still dismal tax and business climate.

In addition, the Midterm Scorecard serves as a barometer to understand whether Trenton has indeed changed course under the leadership of Governor Christie.

Rhetoric vs. Reality – Is Trenton Putting New Jersey Back On A Path To Prosperity?

Over the course of the last year, much has been made of a change in direction in Trenton and putting our state back on a path to fiscal responsibility and prosperity.

To the detriment of taxpayers, however, AFP’s Midterm Scorecard reveals little reason for optimism.

While incremental reforms to the state’s pension and benefit system, for example, are encouraging, on balance the Legislature continues to churn out legislation that increases taxes and wastes taxpayer money.

With Governor Christie taking the reins of the Executive Office, the voting records of Democrat lawmakers, although moderately improved; continue to betray the interests of New Jersey taxpayers.

More troubling, however, is the worsening voting records of Republican lawmakers who have, at times, compromised their fidelity to fiscal responsibility as they have acquiesced to the governor’s will on critical legislation, such as the FY 2011 budget, which increased taxes and increased overall spending on state operations.

Read AFP’s Analysis of the Christie FY 2011 Budget HERE.

Bipartisan government has not brought greater accountability and fiscal responsibility to Trenton. Instead, it is very much business as usual in the statehouse with no relief in sight for New Jersey’s struggling taxpayers.