Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
If it was not obvious before, let it be known now that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine is interested in raising your taxes. Amid all the fiscal mess the Garden State is in where Corzine has held the “hard line” of only raising spending minimally this year, he today proposed borrowing $2.5 billion by the end of June.
Corzine has told the high court he would push lawmakers to approve an additional $2.5 billion by June 30 to restart the program [school construction]
It just so happens that Corzine has called for $2.5 billion in spending cuts for next year’s budget. Hmmmm . . .
When a state borrows money, taxpayers pay the vig.
The new bill specifies that debt from the new school borrowing would be repaid with money collected from state income taxes.
Yup, that’s us.
Recall dear reader, state government commandeered $8.6 billion to build schools and didn’t get the job done. Recall also, we were not given a chance to vote upon that spending. And Corzine’s plan would keep taxpayers having a say this time either. I first wrote about this in February. The head of the project stated then that this $2.5 billion would only fund 59 projects leftover from the squandered $8.6 billion. He estimates it will cost more than $10 billion more to complete the job. But that’s what we were told the first time.
New Jersey taxpayers are the gift that keeps on giving.
This is New Jersey politics at work, folks. Rather than be complacent about it, let’s draw the line in the sand. Enough is enough.
How pathetic are we to permit this continue? What are you going to do to stop the money grab this time?
I am livid!
Posted in Education, New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
Governor Corzine is quoted today as saying:
I think it is absolutely essential that we get our fiscal house in order
Indeed, New Jersey does need to get its house in order. To that end, while I would have preferred to see deep cuts in the proposed budget, I recognize Corzine has at least proposed a budget no other recent governor has and that is to hold spending nearly flat overall.
Unfortunately, Corzine is itching to spend. His “house in order” quip was the follow up to calling a proposed fast food “a constructive suggestion.”
That’s right, the King of Wall Street thinks the way to put New Jersey’s house in order is to raise taxes.
When will the plan include spending cuts?
Really, we’re going to begin taxing Happy Meals to keep the spending going. Unbelievable! It is time to recognize that this governor is not good for New Jersey.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Sunday, April 27th, 2008
Governor Corzine has proposed closing nine state parks in order to keep spending down next year.
One in five New Jersey state parks would be forced to close at the height of the summer season and 80 parks workers would be laid off as part of cost-cutting measures forced by Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s austere budget.
There has been a lot of opposition to the plan. There was a rally at the statehouse earlier this week. Last week there was a rally at Parvin State Park, one of the ones slated to be closed. Geocachers have lambasted the governor’s plan. There is seemingly no one in favor of the closing the parks.
Unlike most, I say, close the parks.
No, it will not achieve what the governor desires (see below), but I favor reducing government spending. The governor is “trying” to do that. So, let’s support him. Sure, there are far better places to cut spending. Educational spending is up. That would be good to lop off. The state worker rolls are flush with salaries. We could carve out some there. Read the New Jersey blogosphere and you can find myriad other areas to cut spending.
But the man this state elected has targeted state parks and the elimination of the Agriculture Department. The Ag Dept. is kind of funny considering we are the Garden State. Oh well. Let’s support our governor. Any time a governor wants to save taxpayers spending, I think we should be open-minded.
I will be affected by state parks closing. But we are in difficult times. Corzine has challenged us to rise to the occasion in difficult times. If it will help the state of New Jersey to close nine parks, then so be it.
Let’s call his bluff.
The governor seems to be backing off his plan, however:
he said it was “pretty obvious” that plans to close nine parks and the Agriculture Department would be reworked.
That is not surprising. Closing the parks is not a money saver. Sure, there may be a couple million dollars saved, but in New Jersey, we spend in the billions. The entire plan was to draw attention to the budget crisis. How does a governor get people interested? He proposes cutting something folks use. That is what this was about.
So, folks paid attention. The parks will probably remain open, even if some services there are cut. Now what? Well, Corzine wants to spend tax dollars he doesn’t have. Since he doesn’t have them, he is holding the budget flat (essentially). Doing so puts the squeeze on all parts of government. If municipalities are flat-funded, then they have to deal with the four to five percent salary increases for employees, 12% (or more) increases in health benefits, and 10+% increases in fuel costs. Municipalities could raise local taxes. Although technically, there is a four percent cap on that. Millville circumvented it and I am sure others have too. But there is a political cost to raising taxes and not enough can be raised to gap the shortfalls so services are going to be cut.
Yup, services are going to be cut . . . unless . . . unless the governor can get folks to go along with his toll increase. That is what I believe all this is about. Corzine is still married to his asinine proposal of raising the tolls. With that influx of money, Corzine can once again spend.
And why is it that Corzine wants to spend? Because if he doesn’t, he can’t be re-elected next year. Without an influx of money, Corzine will be known as the one who laid off teachers, cut rebate checks, etc. He needs cash to spend so he can tout all the “good” he has provided.
I say we call Corzine’s bluff. That way we save tax dollars and we set up Corzine to go away. Now that’s a plan I can support.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | 4 Comments »
Friday, April 25th, 2008
Sadly, this article is dead on about my favorite two actors . . . Someone said to me recently that anger is a big eraser; it erases what it perceives is a bigger emotion. Hmmm . . . Overheard from a public school teacher: “Clinton won Pennsylvania 55% to 47%” . . . There is a actually a Mac & Cheese group on Flickr . . . Spring is here, it’s time for sailing. I eagerly await a couple upcoming sails on the A.J. Meerwald . . . Gasoline prices are having us re-consider our summer vacation plans. It may be better to fly than drive . . . O’Reilly has another new segment (Reality Check). It’s a clunker. The show needs an overhaul; it is becoming far too segmented for my tastes . . . The two highlights of Corzine’s budget were closing nine state parks and eliminating the Dept. of Agriculture. Corzine has backed away from both proposals. That is fine, but not a penny more should be added to the bottom line. How much you want to bet more spending is added? . . . It’s good to see justice has been served: Wesley Snipes is going to jail (I bet there will be an appeal) . . . Wow! Zoomabooma sent me this article that explains how the Grateful Dead’s vault (stuff, not music) has been donated to Santa Cruz . . .
Posted in Miscellaneous | 4 Comments »
Thursday, April 17th, 2008
It just astounds me how clueless New Jersey politicians are.
Today, Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts proposed eliminating property tax rebates. He thinks the state can more efficiently provide relief by not squandering $12 million annually. Rather, he is in favor of providing direct relief by providing an income tax credit. There’s legislative support for this:
“Let’s give it to them right on their taxes and save some sort of money,” said Karrow, R-Hunterdon.
What was Gov. Corzine’s response to this idea?
Corzine spokeswoman Lilo Stainton said the governor will “take a serious look at the proposal.”
“But there’s no reason to believe it would provide any serious savings,” Stainton said.
Uh huh.
Roberts’ idea has merit. It would be even better if the state just reduced the taxes upfront and not collect too much in taxes to begin with.
Of course, eCache readers are not new to this idea at all.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | 2 Comments »
