A Two-Step Fix.
I see that the democrat Governor and democrat legislators have reached an agreement on how best to increase the amount of tax the state can squeeze out of New Jersey’s taxpayers. As such, in the end, it really didn’t matter much which democrats won the argument.
Throughout this mess, our Big Spending Governor has acted more like a union boss than the State’s CEO, and the legislators, who wallow in the Political Swamp, seemed most concerned about figuring out ways to impose new taxes under the voters’ Radar.
The state, which became a national joke as a result of Governor McGreevey’s antics, is faring no better now, and there is absolutely no reason to think things will improve going forward, unless we do something to fix things.
Here’s my suggestion for fixing the disgusting black hole that is New Jersey politics. It’s simple.
Step 1. On Election Day, be sure you know who the incumbent candidate is. The political party doesn’t matter. Just make sure you know who currently holds the office.
Step 2. Vote for the other candidate.
I know you’re thinking, â€Yo, Jimbo. There’s no guarantee that we’ll wind up with better people.†To which I respond, â€Yo, can it get any worse?â€
I am seriously considering doing that here come November. But I just can’t comprimise my integrity to vote for a democrat. I may do some write ins…is Donald Duck a libertarian?
Comment by GUYK — July 6, 2006 @ 9:02 pm
With all due respect, Jim, the man just took office and his first budget had $2.5 billion in spending cuts and you call him “Big Spending”. That makes it seem like you’d be calling him names no matter what he did.
Also, I find your portrait of the legislature to be inaccurate as well. They were entirely opposed to any new taxes and caved in to the pressure, but still managed to win some piece of the pie by having half the sales tax increase applied to property tax relief and obtaining a ballot initiative to require that all of the increase go to property tax relief after this year. The facts simply don’t bear out your interpretation. Again, I say that respectfully, but I don’t agree with your remarks.
As I see it, the assembly is not a bunch of kindly, “for the good of the public” types in this, I grant you. Their reluctance to increase the sales tax was founded, in my opinion, on their desire to seek re-election and not have to admit voting for a tax increase. They did this so they could say that they lowered property taxes when the election comes around. I think the compromise is a silly one since it amounts to the state taking money out of our pockets with one hand and putting half of it back with the other.
Anyway, I don’t agree with the spin you put on what happened here, and I definitely don’t agree with your characterization of Corzine. There is nothing in his record in New Jersey to justify calling him “Big Spending Governor”. That’s just wrong. Can you back it up with any facts?
Comment by DBK — July 7, 2006 @ 10:26 am
DBK
Does it bother you that you have yet to hear the details of where the cuts of 2.5 billion are coming from?
When the Three Amigos stood at the podium and told us that they just had to “dot some I’s and cross some t”s”, did you want to hear the details of where the 2.5 billion in cuts were coming from, or where the new revenues on top of the increase in the sales tax were going to come from? Seems like you read the headlines, but never really got the story.
When the budget is actully handed out, shouldn’t our elected officials have time to review and offer input on the specifics? When the Democrats give what they call “Rebates” to people who don’t pay property taxes, like $500 checks to renters in subsidized housing in Newark, shouldn’t somebody say that this is wealth redistribution rather than rebates?
These friends of George Norcross have really done nothing to make us “trust them ” on the details. This budget is still a mystery to you and me, so don’t praise the Governor till you see the plan.
I’ll bet Carla Katz will be happy with it.
At least she knows the price of Mogambo…
Comment by cousin gary — July 7, 2006 @ 11:07 am
And so it goes in blue state New Jersey.
Comment by Denny — July 7, 2006 @ 3:10 pm
Um, Cousin Gary? The governor’s budget has been available for three months. Your remarks sound like you just started paying attention on July 1.
And I stand by what I said. The cuts to education trouble me a lot, and this compromise is a mess with which I do not agree, but my disagreement was with labeling the governor “Big Spending”. So far I haven’t seen any support for that label, and when it comes, if it comes, I expect it to be bogus, as in refering to new spending that was mandated by law and couldn’t be avoided by the governor in any event.
Oh, and that crap about “the price of Mogambo”…real classy, kid. I can see I wandered into a place where the intelligentsia hang out. Next time say something worth reading instead of a rant that just shows your ass.
Comment by DBK — July 7, 2006 @ 4:59 pm
I’m pushing the same meme under the same logic. Throw all the bums out. It’s hard to believe it could get any worse and it would send a powerful message to the professional politicians.
Comment by Libby — July 7, 2006 @ 6:24 pm
DBK,
If you truly believe that Governor Corzine is not a big spender, then no amount of facts will convince you otherwise. Besides, I note in your post
here, concerning the state shutdown, you refer to “… the usual, pointless idiocy from the usual, pointless conservative bloggersâ€. In responding to a comment to that post, you indicated that you were referring to “EnlightenNJ and those of that ilkâ€. Since I consider myself to be “of that ilkâ€, I shall not waste my time or yours by responding further. Please do me a favor and wander elsewhere, and I’ll be sure to return the favor by not wandering in to your site.
Comment by Jim — July 7, 2006 @ 7:37 pm
I didn’t know you were like EnlightenNJ, but you’re welcome to put yourself in that company if you like. I wasn’t familiar with your site before I stopped in, at least I don’t remember being here before.
Funny how you make an assumption about me, “no amount of facts will convince you…”, but never offer a single fact in defense of your own words.
Comment by DBK — July 8, 2006 @ 12:08 am
New Jersey’s budget includes $1.3 Billion more in revenue from state income taxes and $1.8 billion in new and increased taxes, including changes in the sales tax. This produces $3.1 billion more state tax revenue than last year. $500 million of the new taxes will replace budget gimmicks in last year’s budget, like borrowing $400 million in payroll taxes from the worker disability trust fund.
Last year, New Jersey’s state budget was $28.3 billion and this new budget is $30.9 billion. That means Corzine is spending $2.6 billion more, a 9.2 percent increase overlast year. Corzine’s budget places the state in a position of starting next year with a $2 billion budget hole. The $2 billion budget gap number and all the statistics cited here come from Corzine’s budget on the Treasury website.
Those are the facts on the record. Jim studies the facts and concludes Corzine is a big spender. DBK comes along and writes “There is nothing in his record in New Jersey to justify calling him “Big Spending Governorâ€. That’s just wrong. Can you back it up with any facts?â€
This leaves us with three possible conclusions: 1) DBK doesn’t know the facts; 2) DBK considers spending $2.6 billion more, a 9.2 percent increase in state spending, to fall below the threshold of â€big spending†3) DBK is innumerate.
Comment by Enlighten-NewJersey — July 8, 2006 @ 11:19 pm
You go ENJ!
Comment by michele — July 9, 2006 @ 12:00 am
Hey,
1st day back on the puter after a little artery roto rooter job in the hosp.
The drugs still don’t make the situation any better or clearer. Sales taxes going up 1% but, we’re getting it back thru home owner rebates but, why raise them if we get it back and what do the non-home owners get?
I’m taking more percocets and going to sleep. Perhaps I shall dream that the state is going to tax toilet paper again. In which case, I will hit up all the markets and buy up all their toilet paper stock leaving none for anyone else to buy.
Perhaps this is my drug induced state of mind going the long way ’round and saying the whole situation is pretty… crappy?
Rick
Comment by Ricklude — July 10, 2006 @ 5:41 pm