Christie Tries to Woo Illinois Businesses to New Jersey

After the state of Illinois' legislature approved historic tax increases to help ease its budget crunch, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie pledged that he would work to woo over-taxed businesses to his state as he works to revitalize Garden State industries.

Christie's campaign is now in full swing with newspaper and radio ads popping up in major Illinois cities like Chicago and Springfield that highlight the governor's commitment not to raise New Jersey taxes:

h/t Eyeblast

Christie himself appears in the ads, pledging to hold the line on taxes and promote growth through more job-friendly policies.  The governor's spokeswoman, Maria Comella, adds that Christie is very hands-on when it comes to attracting new business ventures to New Jersey.

"The job creators of our country are mobile, and they are looking for a climate that provides the certainty and stability that comes with a fiscally responsible government that manages its budgets accordingly," Christie said earlier this month. "In New Jersey, we mean business."

Christie, a Republican, campaigned for GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady, who lost the November election to Democrat Pat Quinn. The winner inherited a budget shortfall equal to roughly half its general fund revenue, so Quinn has raised personal income taxes to 5 percent from 3 percent, and corporate business taxes to 9.5 percent from 7.3 percent.

New Jersey's business tax rates are now slightly lower, at 9 percent for businesses with incomes over $100,000, and Christie undoubtedly hopes the new campaign will help to squelch his state's reputation for being notoriously anti-business.