Reading In The Lobby this morning I learned that New Jersey spends $2.2 million per mile to maintain our roads. That's a lot more than the State pays foster families to take care of children. Where do I sign up for one of those Adopt a Highway programs?
I also learned from In The Lobby that South Carolina spends on $31,685 per mile to maintain their roads. In fairness, South Carolina probably has less snow than we do, so the figures might need some adjusting. If Al Gore is right, that situation will correct it self soon anyway.
Last year at this time Governor Corzine was busy traveling to State promoting his idea to solve all our fiscal problems. He wanted to sell our toll roads for $30 billion dollars to Wall Street, who would raise tolls by 800%. New Jersey voters didn't go for that idea, and Wall Street ran out of money anyway.
Maybe our roads are the key to solving our problems after all. Let's pay South Carolina $60,000 per mile to maintain our roads and keep the $2,140,000 difference to pay off our debt, pay pensions, give foster families a raise, etc. It might be a chance to catch up with old friends and unite families, as South Carolina has lots of former Jersey residents they could send here to do the work.
Of course this would only work if South Carolina was exempt from New Jersey quirks, like prevailing wage.
I'd like to hear Governor Corzine and the GOP candidates for Governor talk about prevailing wage. What is it? Why do we enforce it? Why is it a good thing for New Jersey?
I wonder if any of them has the guts to talk about it.
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Good luck with that one.. I believe NO one will ever touch prevailing wage in NJ and live to do anything about it: the trade unions are far too strong in this place..probably half the bills the Dems throw into the hopper are driven, and yes, managed by, the trades here, and esp. their leadership, of which Sen. Sweeney, a double-dipping official AND so. Jersey union boss, is one of the most prominent and agressive!!.. would love to see the GOP, it's nominee, and the legis. slate go for it, but am betting it'll all be about "other stuff," again this year!!
If I were the next Governor, considering the fact that in November unemployment rates might still be quite high, I'd just cancel all union contracts and hire new people at market wages.
Wow-
These are great points. The comparison of costs to SC is powerful. All citizens receive "School Report Cards" that allow them to compare their schools academic and financial statistics to other schools in NJ.
A "State Report Card" comparing NJ expenditures to other states for similar services would drive home the point that our costs are way out of line. Corzines executive order requiring "prevailing wage" is just one reason we pay over market for government services. This is legalized form of corruption.
-ethicsCount
If contractors could bid on projects with two quotes, one with prevailing wage, and one without; and then let the elected officials select withever they preferred...the voters would quickly replace the officials making the wrong decision with the tax dollars they spend.
-ethicsCount
ok, good, but try and get that to be a proposed law change in the campaign planks of the GOP's candidates this year, as it would require statutory changes to even allow for that option.. betcha they won't touch it..sorry..
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