New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, joined by his family, announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on June 30 at Livingston High School in Livingston Township, New Jersey.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, joined by his family, announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on June 30 at Livingston High School in Livingston Township, New Jersey.
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Christie takes questions from Bruce Rastetter at the Iowa Ag Summit on March 7 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Christie takes questions from Bruce Rastetter at the Iowa Ag Summit on March 7 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Christie jokes with host Laura Ingraham as he addresses the annual Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor, Maryland, on February 26.
Christie jokes with host Laura Ingraham as he addresses the annual Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor, Maryland, on February 26.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
Christie campaigns for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker during a campaign stop at the GOP field office in Hudson, Wisconsin, on September 29, 2014.
Christie campaigns for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker during a campaign stop at the GOP field office in Hudson, Wisconsin, on September 29, 2014.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Christie enters the Borough Hall in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on January 9, 2014, to apologize to Mayor Mark Sokolich for the George Washington Bridge lane closures -- a scandal that became known in the media as "Bridgegate."
Christie enters the Borough Hall in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on January 9, 2014, to apologize to Mayor Mark Sokolich for the George Washington Bridge lane closures -- a scandal that became known in the media as "Bridgegate."
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Christie speaks at a news conference on January 9, 2014, in Trenton, New Jersey, about his knowledge of an alleged traffic study that stopped traffic at the George Washington Bridge. Christie addressed allegations that his deputy chief of staff signaled for the New York and New Jersey Port Authority to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge to punish the Fort Lee mayor for not endorsing Christie during the election.
Christie speaks at a news conference on January 9, 2014, in Trenton, New Jersey, about his knowledge of an alleged traffic study that stopped traffic at the George Washington Bridge. Christie addressed allegations that his deputy chief of staff signaled for the New York and New Jersey Port Authority to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge to punish the Fort Lee mayor for not endorsing Christie during the election.
Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
Christie arrives to speak at his election night event after winning a second term as governor on November 5, 2013, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Christie defeated his Democratic opponent, Barbara Buono, by a large margin.
Christie arrives to speak at his election night event after winning a second term as governor on November 5, 2013, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Christie defeated his Democratic opponent, Barbara Buono, by a large margin.
Kena Betancur/Getty Image
Christie talks to business owners affected by a massive fire that burned a large portion of the Seaside Park boardwalk, which had recently been rebuilt after Superstorm Sandy, on September 14, 2013, in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
Christie talks to business owners affected by a massive fire that burned a large portion of the Seaside Park boardwalk, which had recently been rebuilt after Superstorm Sandy, on September 14, 2013, in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
Julio Cortez-Pool/Getty Images
Christie speaks to members of the Hudson County Building Trades Council after receiving their support for his re-election campaign for governor on July 1, 2013, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Christie speaks to members of the Hudson County Building Trades Council after receiving their support for his re-election campaign for governor on July 1, 2013, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Christie greets President Barack Obama on his arrival in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 31, 2012, to visit areas hit by Superstorm Sandy. Christie was later criticized by some in his party for his warm welcome of Obama.
Christie greets President Barack Obama on his arrival in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 31, 2012, to visit areas hit by Superstorm Sandy. Christie was later criticized by some in his party for his warm welcome of Obama.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
Christie updates members of the media on damage and recovery efforts related to Superstorm Sandy on October 30, 2012, from the emergency operations center at State Police Headquarters in Ewing, New Jersey.
Christie updates members of the media on damage and recovery efforts related to Superstorm Sandy on October 30, 2012, from the emergency operations center at State Police Headquarters in Ewing, New Jersey.
Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
Christie and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speak with Romney adviser Bob White on board the Romney campaign bus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on October 10, 2012.
Christie and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speak with Romney adviser Bob White on board the Romney campaign bus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on October 10, 2012.
JIM WATSON/Getty Images
Christie takes the stage to deliver the keynote address at the Republican National Convention on August 28, 2012, in Tampa, Florida.
Christie takes the stage to deliver the keynote address at the Republican National Convention on August 28, 2012, in Tampa, Florida.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Christie speaks as he endorses former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination on October 11, 2011, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Christie speaks as he endorses former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination on October 11, 2011, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Christie and his family lay white roses on wreckage pulled from Ground Zero during the dedication of the Empty Sky Memorial for 9/11 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, on September 10, 2011.
Christie and his family lay white roses on wreckage pulled from Ground Zero during the dedication of the Empty Sky Memorial for 9/11 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, on September 10, 2011.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Christie speaks at a Reform Agenda Town Hall meeting at the New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company facility on March 29, 2011, in Hammonton, New Jersey.
Christie speaks at a Reform Agenda Town Hall meeting at the New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company facility on March 29, 2011, in Hammonton, New Jersey.
Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
Christie, his wife, Mary Pat Christie, and their children attend the third annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Newark, New Jersey, on May 2, 2010.
Christie, his wife, Mary Pat Christie, and their children attend the third annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Newark, New Jersey, on May 2, 2010.
Bobby Bank/Getty Images
Christie waves to supporters with Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno, left, on November 3, 2009, in Parsippany, New Jersey. Christie defeated incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine.
Christie waves to supporters with Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno, left, on November 3, 2009, in Parsippany, New Jersey. Christie defeated incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine.
Stephen Chernin/Getty Images
Christie and his running mate, Kim Guadagno, left, pose for photographs after making phone calls to voters at Monmouth County Republican Headquarters in Freehold, New Jersey, on November 2, 2009.
Christie and his running mate, Kim Guadagno, left, pose for photographs after making phone calls to voters at Monmouth County Republican Headquarters in Freehold, New Jersey, on November 2, 2009.
Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images
Before getting into politics, Christie was a New Jersey attorney. Here Christie speaks with the media on May 8, 2007, outside the federal courthouse in Camden, New Jersey, after six men were arrested on charges of planning to attack the Fort Dix military base.
Before getting into politics, Christie was a New Jersey attorney. Here Christie speaks with the media on May 8, 2007, outside the federal courthouse in Camden, New Jersey, after six men were arrested on charges of planning to attack the Fort Dix military base.
William Thomas Cain/Getty Images
Christie speaks to the media about an FBI sting with Russian Gen. Sergei Fomenko, right, of the Federal Security Service and FBI Agent Louie Allen on August 13, 2003, in Newark, New Jersey.
Christie speaks to the media about an FBI sting with Russian Gen. Sergei Fomenko, right, of the Federal Security Service and FBI Agent Louie Allen on August 13, 2003, in Newark, New Jersey.
Stephen Chernin/Getty Images
Chris Christie's career in photos

Watch New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who will appear on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” at 4 p.m. EDT.

CNN  — 

Gov. Chris Christie unveiled his plan to reform the tax code in an opinion piece published Tuesday, previewing a policy speech he is set to deliver later Tuesday in New Hampshire.

The New Jersey Republican is pushing what he is calling a “revenue-neutral” tax plan that would lower individual and corporate income tax rates while simplifying the tax code and eliminating some deductions and tax credits.

Chrisitie’s proposal in the Wall Street Journal comes as he inches closer to launching a 2016 presidential bid and his speech at the University of New Hampshire on Tuesday will mark his second visit to the state in the last week. New Hampshire will be a crucial primary test for an eventual Christie bid if he enters the race.

READ: In New Hampshire, Chris Christie looks to rebound

“We must target the tax code, because today it is targeting us…The country needs comprehensive tax reform now,” Christie wrote in the op-ed, slamming Obama administration economic policies and what he called a “bloated” tax code.

Christie suggested halving the number of income tax brackets down to three from six rates and lowering the top tax rate to 28% down from the current maximum rate of 39% for the wealthiest Americans.

Christe suggested the poorest Americans’ income tax rate should be a “single-digit” percentage. Americans who make less than $10,000 are taxed at about 10%, but rarely end up owing any money to the federal government because of deductions and tax credits. It’s unclear how that would work under Christie’s plan to slice certain deductions and credits, which he only presented in broad strokes in the Wall Street Journal.

The New Jersey governor also proposed reducing the corporate tax rate to 25% from today’s 35% high, arguing that reducing the rate will attract businesses and incentivize companies to stay in the U.S.

Christie’s plan is already drawing fire from Democrats.

“The one thing Christie has made clear about his tax plan so far: it cuts taxes for the wealthiest and corporations. And what would he do for the middle class? Unclear. This shows again where the Republican Party stands – prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations above all else,” DNC National Press Secretary Holly Shulman said in a statement.

Christie’s other proposals included simplifying tax forms so that Americans could spend only 15 minutes on the process and eliminating the payroll tax for workers above 62 and those under 21.

Christie also urged reforming and reducing government regulation and promoted his efforts in New Jersey to rein in the size of government and slash red tape.

“With the energy of the American people, the pent-up demand to be freed from regulation, and the pent-up capital ready to be invested if companies are given enough positive signals, there is no reason America cannot return to the path of strong economic growth,” Christie wrote. “With it will come a restoration of American authority, strength and optimism.”