Thousands of state workers listen to speakers during a rally outside the Statehouse annex in Trenton Monday. Public workers rallied to support Gov. Corzine's budget plan. (APP)Isn't amazing that New Jersey's economy and government did not grind to a halt yesterday while thousands of government workers left their desks to rally in support of Governor Corzine's cut to the bone budget that increases spending over 10%, increases the sales tax by 14% and adds taxes on water and hospital beds.
Dem Senator Stephen Sweeney has proposed that state workers take a 15% cut in pay and benefits so that we can avoid these new taxes. But the Governor has airbathed with the union's president and won't hear of pay cuts.
The Govenor has resisted suggestions that the state income tax be increased on the super rich, his peers, because they are "highly mobile" and will change their residency with ease. Guess what Govenor? The middle class is leaving too, for real.
New Jersey needs real spending cuts, not reduced projected increases. We need to get rid of the waste of the Abbott districts and the School Construction Corp. Increasing state employees work week from 35 hours to 40 hours would have the same effect of a 15% pay cut if we laid off 15% of the work force and took away their rally pay. Let's do that this year and then get to work on cutting the state payroll back to pre-Whitman levels. If yesterday is any indication, the reduced "work" force won't be missed.
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3 comments:
I'd be interested to see just how many public employees don't support Corzine's budget plan.
I don't imagine many of them would support mine!
Government exists to provide basic services, safeguard the citizenry and maintain a stable community. I didn't get to that part about hiring friends of friends and underachieving relatives and political corporate welfare. I think someone might have to pay for that -- maybe taxpayers?
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