I was one of the attendees at Congressman Pallone's Health Care meeting in Red Bank. I am a registered Independent. I am a very informed voter. I think Frank Pallone has done a lot for this area especially when it comes to environmental issues.
However, I am not voting for him again for several reasons. One of them being his disappointing town meeting in Red Bank to discuss the health care issue. Prior to the meeting, I went onto the Congressional website and specifically read the health care plan that Pallone wrote and sponsored.
Several things happened at that meeting. An accountant, who also read Pallone's plan, asked him questions about how the plan would be paid for. He could not answer the questions. Another man stood up and told the Congressman that he and other members in his Financial Firm spent over 15 hours working out the numbers in the plan. He said there were problems, and they would respectfully like to show him the areas where there were problems. Repeatedly Palone said that there were numerous plans, and his was only one of them. These plans would be discussed and incorporated into one plan. Another man asked Pallone if he and the rest of Congress would try out the plan for a year before passing it on to the American Public. Pallone didn't answer that one either. That tells you how good the plan is.
I couldn't understand why we were brought into a meeting talking about a plan that didn't really exist.
I think the point in which I became most disgusted with the dog and pony show and Frank Pallone, as well, was when a Veteran of the Armed Forces in a wheelchair wheeled himself up to the front to address Congressman Pallone. This gentleman had an issue with the fact that his wheelchair wasn't working properly. He explained that normally the wheelchair would be replaced, but the manufacturer who supplied the wheelchair to the Veteran's Administration was no longer in business. Therefore, his problem was tied up in bureaucratic red tape. He asked Congressman Pallone for help. The Congressman told him that we are only here tonight to discuss health care issues, and suggested he stop by his office in Long Branch to speak to him. This veteran was extremely respectful to Congressman Pallone at all times. The veteran responded that he did go Pallone's office after making an appointment, but he couldn't get into the building because it wasn't........handicapped accessible! The entire room started to boo. Pallone turned to one of his people and said, "I thought that was taken care of." That was it for me.
So for all of you in the 6th District who vote for Pallone because as the other commenter says, "We always chose Pallone." Think again.
He obviously wasn't there for the constituent who lost his ability to walk while fighting for our freedom. Pallone is no different from the rest of the phonies in Washington. I saw and heard it firsthand. He lost my vote the minute he passed the buck to the little guy who worked for him. I couldn't believe that the office of a Congressman was in violation of the American with Disabilities Act, and that all people did not have access to the building that we all pay for.
If Frank Pallone was the person I thought he was, he would not have told a Disabled American Veteran in a wheelchair to "come to my office." He would have told the man that he would come to his home and handled the issue himself.
I had a high opinion of Frank Pallone, but that all changed in Red Bank.
Pallone needs to be voted out with the rest of the "entitled" in Washington.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Pallone Exposed
There is a conversation about the CD 6 race going on at the Atlantic Highlands Herald forum. One of the participants using the monkier HighlanderNJ had the following to say about Congressman Frank Pallone:
Friday, February 26, 2010
Holt Ranked Most Liberal Member Of The House
Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ 6) was ranked the most liberal member of the House of Representatives in 2009 by The National Journal.
Holt's left field ranking is only slightly more surprising than Mercer County GOP Chairman Roy Wesley's favorite son endorsement of Scott Sipprelle for the GOP nomination to challenge Holt in November. Wesley announced the endorsement on Wednesday.
I say "only slightly more surprising" because Holt's ranking was covered by a mainstream news source, US News & World Report's blog, according to google news.
Wesley's endorsement of Sipprelle was not covered by the mainstream media, according to google.
That's because it is not newsworthy. There will be no front page or back page stories about Alex Rodriquez starting at third base for the Yankees in Opening Day either. It is an "of course." Like the sun rising.
If you knew about Wesley's endorsement before reading it here, that because you read it on a blog, either Save Jersey, CWA, or Politickernj, that got the info from the Sipprelle campaign, or it is because you signed up for Sipprelle's email list or facebook page and heard it directly from his campaign.
Holt's liberal ranking raises the stakes in the GOP primary race. It is essential that we select the best candidate to beat Holt, because he can be beat. His #1 liberal ranking makes him even more vulnerable.
All of the above is why it is so troubling that Sipprelle won't talk to the blogs, and/or won't talk to us now.
The mainstream media is not going to cover the primary until late May. They will not cover the contests for the party endorsement, conventions and screenings, until after they happen, if at all. That's because they don't understand the process. Rarely does anyone other than the party endorsed candidate win a primary.
In all likelihood, the nominee will be selected at the conventions in Middlesex, Mercer, Somerset and Hunterdon, and the screening committee meeting in Monmouth. The people who vote in those conventions and the screening read the blogs.
Scott Sipprelle might be the best candidate to beat Rush Holt. I don't know and neither do you. The money he brings to the race is important, but it is not the most important.
Remember Anne Estabrook and Andy the Goya guy? Neither of them were U.S Senate material. The GOP establishment knew that but didn't care. They didn't care because it didn't matter, in their minds, and probably rightly so. Frank Lautenberg was going to get re-elected no matter who ran against him. Estabrook and the Goya guy knew it too. But they were willing to spend some of their own fortunes in a vanity campaign and donate to the state and county organizations in return for some unannounced gratitude.
I'm not saying that Sipprelle is an Estabrook or a Goya guy. I'm saying I don't know and neither do you.
He might not believe that Holt can be beat. A lot of people don't. He might be spending $1.2 million, plus his donations to the county and local party organizations for vanity and/or another unannounced gratuity. I don't know and neither do you. I don't know if he can handle the physical and emotional rigors of a campaign. Neither do you. I don't know if he can withstand the opposition research that Holt and the DNC will do if he is the nominee. Neither do you.
I do know that he is running out the clock till the conventions and screening. That is a good strategy for winning the party lines, unless a blogger or three screw it up. It is a great strategy for the chairmen who need his money for local races. It is not necessarily the best strategy to beat Rush Holt.
Voters at the conventions and screenings who don't think Holt can be beat should vote for Sipprelle and take his money. Voters at the conventions and the screening who think Holt can be beat should keep digging and make sure they are selecting the right candidate. Scott Sipprelle might be the right candidate. I don't know. Neither do you. He actions say he doesn't want us look very hard. That concerns me.
I don't know if Mike Halfacre is the right candidate either. Neither do you.
If he can't raise money, he isn't.
I do know that Mike Halfacre believes Rush Holt can be beat. He believes he can beat Holt. He believed it a year ago before Chris Christie was elected governor and before Scott Brown was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has a plan and he's been executing it. It would have been easy to quit when Sipprelle got in the race, like the Toms River Councilman who bowed out of the CD-3 race in favor of Runyan's money and celebrity. I told him he should. He's undaunted.
Halfacre believes he can beat Holt and he believes he will beat Sipprelle. That's why I will interview him next week. Is he out of his mind or is he making something unpredictable happen?
I don't know. Neither do you. Next week we'll know better.
Holt's left field ranking is only slightly more surprising than Mercer County GOP Chairman Roy Wesley's favorite son endorsement of Scott Sipprelle for the GOP nomination to challenge Holt in November. Wesley announced the endorsement on Wednesday.
I say "only slightly more surprising" because Holt's ranking was covered by a mainstream news source, US News & World Report's blog, according to google news.
Wesley's endorsement of Sipprelle was not covered by the mainstream media, according to google.
That's because it is not newsworthy. There will be no front page or back page stories about Alex Rodriquez starting at third base for the Yankees in Opening Day either. It is an "of course." Like the sun rising.
If you knew about Wesley's endorsement before reading it here, that because you read it on a blog, either Save Jersey, CWA, or Politickernj, that got the info from the Sipprelle campaign, or it is because you signed up for Sipprelle's email list or facebook page and heard it directly from his campaign.
Holt's liberal ranking raises the stakes in the GOP primary race. It is essential that we select the best candidate to beat Holt, because he can be beat. His #1 liberal ranking makes him even more vulnerable.
All of the above is why it is so troubling that Sipprelle won't talk to the blogs, and/or won't talk to us now.
The mainstream media is not going to cover the primary until late May. They will not cover the contests for the party endorsement, conventions and screenings, until after they happen, if at all. That's because they don't understand the process. Rarely does anyone other than the party endorsed candidate win a primary.
In all likelihood, the nominee will be selected at the conventions in Middlesex, Mercer, Somerset and Hunterdon, and the screening committee meeting in Monmouth. The people who vote in those conventions and the screening read the blogs.
Scott Sipprelle might be the best candidate to beat Rush Holt. I don't know and neither do you. The money he brings to the race is important, but it is not the most important.
Remember Anne Estabrook and Andy the Goya guy? Neither of them were U.S Senate material. The GOP establishment knew that but didn't care. They didn't care because it didn't matter, in their minds, and probably rightly so. Frank Lautenberg was going to get re-elected no matter who ran against him. Estabrook and the Goya guy knew it too. But they were willing to spend some of their own fortunes in a vanity campaign and donate to the state and county organizations in return for some unannounced gratitude.
I'm not saying that Sipprelle is an Estabrook or a Goya guy. I'm saying I don't know and neither do you.
He might not believe that Holt can be beat. A lot of people don't. He might be spending $1.2 million, plus his donations to the county and local party organizations for vanity and/or another unannounced gratuity. I don't know and neither do you. I don't know if he can handle the physical and emotional rigors of a campaign. Neither do you. I don't know if he can withstand the opposition research that Holt and the DNC will do if he is the nominee. Neither do you.
I do know that he is running out the clock till the conventions and screening. That is a good strategy for winning the party lines, unless a blogger or three screw it up. It is a great strategy for the chairmen who need his money for local races. It is not necessarily the best strategy to beat Rush Holt.
Voters at the conventions and screenings who don't think Holt can be beat should vote for Sipprelle and take his money. Voters at the conventions and the screening who think Holt can be beat should keep digging and make sure they are selecting the right candidate. Scott Sipprelle might be the right candidate. I don't know. Neither do you. He actions say he doesn't want us look very hard. That concerns me.
I don't know if Mike Halfacre is the right candidate either. Neither do you.
If he can't raise money, he isn't.
I do know that Mike Halfacre believes Rush Holt can be beat. He believes he can beat Holt. He believed it a year ago before Chris Christie was elected governor and before Scott Brown was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has a plan and he's been executing it. It would have been easy to quit when Sipprelle got in the race, like the Toms River Councilman who bowed out of the CD-3 race in favor of Runyan's money and celebrity. I told him he should. He's undaunted.
Halfacre believes he can beat Holt and he believes he will beat Sipprelle. That's why I will interview him next week. Is he out of his mind or is he making something unpredictable happen?
I don't know. Neither do you. Next week we'll know better.
Corzine Signs With Speakers Bureau
Matt Rooney at Save Jersey is reporting that former Governor Jon Corzine has signed with the Leading Authorities speakers bureau.
I wonder if that means that he is going to learn to speak.
I wonder if that means that he is going to learn to speak.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Graphical Information on the Solvency of Unemployment Insurance Fund under Governor Christie's Plan
Trenton, NJ - The following two graphs show that the Governor’s plan will bring the unemployment insurance fund back to solvency faster than if no action is taken, without the dramatic tax increase on businesses that would be triggered under current law:
Red Tape Review Group Hearings Scheduled
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno's Red Tape Review Group will be holding a hearing in Monmouth County on March 9, 4PM, at the Warner Student Life Building of Brookdale Community College. The topic of this hearing will be Eliminating Unfunded Mandates.
Members of the public wishing to testify before the group are asked to bring copies of their remarks and submissions for group members.
In addition to the Lt. Governor, Red Tape Review Group Members are: Senator Barbara Buono, Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Assemblyman Scott Rumana, Acting DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa, Acting DEP Commissioner Bob Martin and Chief Counsel of the Governor’s Office or his designee.
Additional meetings of the group are scheduled for March 2,2PM at Rowan University, Chamberlain Student Center, room 221 on the topic Reforming the Administrative Rulemaking Process in New Jersey and March 23, 3PM, on Regulations that should be eliminated or modified based upon the “Common Sense Principles for Rulemaking at the Conference Center at Montclair State University.
Members of the public wishing to testify before the group are asked to bring copies of their remarks and submissions for group members.
In addition to the Lt. Governor, Red Tape Review Group Members are: Senator Barbara Buono, Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Assemblyman Scott Rumana, Acting DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa, Acting DEP Commissioner Bob Martin and Chief Counsel of the Governor’s Office or his designee.
Additional meetings of the group are scheduled for March 2,2PM at Rowan University, Chamberlain Student Center, room 221 on the topic Reforming the Administrative Rulemaking Process in New Jersey and March 23, 3PM, on Regulations that should be eliminated or modified based upon the “Common Sense Principles for Rulemaking at the Conference Center at Montclair State University.
Governor Chris Christie Outlines Solutions for the Insolvent Unemployment Insurance Fund
Trenton, NJ – In the face of a fiscal emergency and 10.1 percent unemployment, Governor Chris Christie took action today to stave off a devastating tax hike for New Jersey employers. The Governor proposed suspending an automatic payroll increase of as much as $683 per employee that would be used to fund the now-insolvent Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
At a time when New Jersey is struggling to create jobs, Governor Christie's plan will give small businesses some flexibility and provide critical relief during these tough economic times. The Governor’s plan will, among other things, phase in manageable payroll increases that will dramatically limit the impact on employers.
“This is the wrong time, under the wrong economic conditions, to impose such an onerous and undeserved tax hike on New Jersey businesses,” Governor Christie said. “If we want to grow payrolls and improve our economy, we cannot ask businesses to shoulder the full brunt of the irresponsible budgeting policies that bankrupted the unemployment compensation fund in the first place.”
Governor Christie is scheduled to detail his solutions to the UI problem at a 1:30 p.m. press conference today in the Governor’s Office.
The Unemployment Insurance fund (UI) ran out of cash in March 2009, forcing New Jersey to borrow $1.2 billion from the federal government to pay unemployment claims. By law, business payroll withholding for UI automatically increases once the fund goes below a certain level. On July 1, employers would have experienced an average per-employee hike of $400 – a 52 percent increase – while some employers would see an increase of up to $683.
“That is unacceptable and unreasonable,” said Governor Christie. “While we are legally obligated to replenish the fund, we will do so in a way that does not force employers to lay off more employees, reduce worker hours, salary or benefits and increase business costs. Those are the consequences of higher unemployment taxes on business.”
Governor Christie proposes:
Imposing an average increase of $130 per employee, a 17 percent rise.
Phasing in future increases, allowing employers to prepare for them in advance.
Reducing the maximum weekly benefit from $600 to $550 (New Jersey has the second highest benefit level in the nation; at $550, New Jersey would be the third highest).
Requiring a one-week waiting period before benefits can be claimed, as is done in 40 other states. This would not shorten the benefits eligibility period and would result in $67 million in annual savings.
Requiring employees dismissed for “misconduct” to obtain other employment for a prescribed period of time before qualifying for an unemployment benefit. This would save an estimated $189 million annually.
• Making the “extended benefit” provision dependent on the continuation of 100 percent federal funding of benefit costs. This is a provision that has been adopted in 21 other states, including three neighboring states. This would result in $1.6 billion in savings.
Finally, the plan would call on the federal government to continue full federal funding for extended benefits and to help states avoid job-killing payroll tax increases. Twenty-eight states have insolvent unemployment insurance funds and are now receiving federal loans. It is anticipated that 40 states will be receiving loans by the end of this calendar year.
Insolvency of the UI fund was created by two factors: the diversion of $4.6 billion of employer and employee contributions between 1992 and 2006 to fund other government programs and operations, and increased unemployment by the recession.
Under the existing law, borrowing from the federal government for the UI fund would continue until 2015. Under the Governor’s proposal, borrowing would cease in 2013, and shorten by two years (to 2015 vs. 2017) the anticipated pay back of the federal funds.
Governor Christie supports the proposed amendment (SCR-60) to the state Constitution to end the practice of taking dedicated funds such as unemployment compensation to pay for other needs.
At a time when New Jersey is struggling to create jobs, Governor Christie's plan will give small businesses some flexibility and provide critical relief during these tough economic times. The Governor’s plan will, among other things, phase in manageable payroll increases that will dramatically limit the impact on employers.
“This is the wrong time, under the wrong economic conditions, to impose such an onerous and undeserved tax hike on New Jersey businesses,” Governor Christie said. “If we want to grow payrolls and improve our economy, we cannot ask businesses to shoulder the full brunt of the irresponsible budgeting policies that bankrupted the unemployment compensation fund in the first place.”
Governor Christie is scheduled to detail his solutions to the UI problem at a 1:30 p.m. press conference today in the Governor’s Office.
The Unemployment Insurance fund (UI) ran out of cash in March 2009, forcing New Jersey to borrow $1.2 billion from the federal government to pay unemployment claims. By law, business payroll withholding for UI automatically increases once the fund goes below a certain level. On July 1, employers would have experienced an average per-employee hike of $400 – a 52 percent increase – while some employers would see an increase of up to $683.
“That is unacceptable and unreasonable,” said Governor Christie. “While we are legally obligated to replenish the fund, we will do so in a way that does not force employers to lay off more employees, reduce worker hours, salary or benefits and increase business costs. Those are the consequences of higher unemployment taxes on business.”
Governor Christie proposes:
Imposing an average increase of $130 per employee, a 17 percent rise.
Phasing in future increases, allowing employers to prepare for them in advance.
Reducing the maximum weekly benefit from $600 to $550 (New Jersey has the second highest benefit level in the nation; at $550, New Jersey would be the third highest).
Requiring a one-week waiting period before benefits can be claimed, as is done in 40 other states. This would not shorten the benefits eligibility period and would result in $67 million in annual savings.
Requiring employees dismissed for “misconduct” to obtain other employment for a prescribed period of time before qualifying for an unemployment benefit. This would save an estimated $189 million annually.
• Making the “extended benefit” provision dependent on the continuation of 100 percent federal funding of benefit costs. This is a provision that has been adopted in 21 other states, including three neighboring states. This would result in $1.6 billion in savings.
Finally, the plan would call on the federal government to continue full federal funding for extended benefits and to help states avoid job-killing payroll tax increases. Twenty-eight states have insolvent unemployment insurance funds and are now receiving federal loans. It is anticipated that 40 states will be receiving loans by the end of this calendar year.
Insolvency of the UI fund was created by two factors: the diversion of $4.6 billion of employer and employee contributions between 1992 and 2006 to fund other government programs and operations, and increased unemployment by the recession.
Under the existing law, borrowing from the federal government for the UI fund would continue until 2015. Under the Governor’s proposal, borrowing would cease in 2013, and shorten by two years (to 2015 vs. 2017) the anticipated pay back of the federal funds.
Governor Christie supports the proposed amendment (SCR-60) to the state Constitution to end the practice of taking dedicated funds such as unemployment compensation to pay for other needs.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Goodness Gracious Great Polls Afire!
One day into the new Freeholder poll and participation has surpassed that of last week's seven day poll.
Christine Hanlon is kicking butt with 31%. The Toms, Arnone and Wilkens, are neck and neck for #2 with 21% each.
I'm surprised Grace Cangemi has only 16%. The commenters touting her were so passionate in the "Someone Else" threads. They better get busy. There are definitely campaigns being waged.
Joe DiBella has faded and Barbara Ruane's passionate friend needs to get on the phone.
CD 6 Congressional candidate Anna Little picked up one vote for Freeholder since this morning.
The CD 6 poll is interesting. Mary Pat Angelini has surged to the top with 60% of the vote. Yesterday PolitickerNJ reported that Diane Gooch was preparing to announce and that Angelini would not run. Little's entry into the race may have changed the dynamics. Little has 23% of the vote, Gooch only 10% and Bill Barham 6%.
Christine Hanlon is kicking butt with 31%. The Toms, Arnone and Wilkens, are neck and neck for #2 with 21% each.
I'm surprised Grace Cangemi has only 16%. The commenters touting her were so passionate in the "Someone Else" threads. They better get busy. There are definitely campaigns being waged.
Joe DiBella has faded and Barbara Ruane's passionate friend needs to get on the phone.
CD 6 Congressional candidate Anna Little picked up one vote for Freeholder since this morning.
The CD 6 poll is interesting. Mary Pat Angelini has surged to the top with 60% of the vote. Yesterday PolitickerNJ reported that Diane Gooch was preparing to announce and that Angelini would not run. Little's entry into the race may have changed the dynamics. Little has 23% of the vote, Gooch only 10% and Bill Barham 6%.
Governor Chris Christie Launches New, Interactive Website, Incorporates Social Networking To
Trenton, NJ – The Office of Governor Chris Christie has announced the launch of the new website, www.nj.gov/governor. The new website will serve as a portal of information where citizens can stay up to date on policies, initiatives and events surrounding the Governor and his Administration. As more and more people look to the web for information and to learn about the issues, it is becoming one of the most effective mediums to have a dialogue. The site has Web 2.0 features that will allow users to interact directly with the Governor and his staff, providing a vehicle for an ongoing exchange of thoughts and ideas.
NJ.gov/governor features a new blog, "You've Been CC’d," integrated social networking sites and video. These platforms allow for a two-way conversation where New Jerseyans can have their questions answered, share their opinion and hear directly from Governor Christie and other members of his Administration.
“We built the website keeping in mind that not only do we want to keep New Jerseyans informed, but we want to collaborate with them throughout Governor Christie's term in office,” said Maria Comella, Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. “Rather than using the website as an end point, this will be a jumping off point for users in the process of sharing ideas.”
Key features of the website include:
· Updated newsfeed
· “You’ve Been CC’d” Blog
· Governor's YouTube page featuring video from the Governor, the Cabinet, staff and other Administration officials
· Real time Twitter feed for Governor Christie and NJGovNews
· Access to the office RSS Feeds, Facebook and Youtube
· The Newsroom page which housing updated press releases, audio, video, and photos
· The Priorities page providing information on policies and initiatives
“More and more, Americans are going to websites, blogs, social media, and other internet-based resources to get their information,” said Patrick Jones, Director of New Media. “Nearly 1 in 5 internet users are using Twitter or similar mediums to get and share information, 27% of Americans adults are using social networking sites, and 6 out of 10 adults are seeking out critical health information online. Our goal is to communicate directly with the public with timely, important information from Governor Christie and their state government. This new website will enable us to be that much more effective in engaging the public.”
Please visit our Website at www.nj.gov/governor.
Follow Governor Christie on Facebook and Twitter.
For the latest news coming out of the Governor’s office follow NJGovNews on Twitter.
NJ.gov/governor features a new blog, "You've Been CC’d," integrated social networking sites and video. These platforms allow for a two-way conversation where New Jerseyans can have their questions answered, share their opinion and hear directly from Governor Christie and other members of his Administration.
“We built the website keeping in mind that not only do we want to keep New Jerseyans informed, but we want to collaborate with them throughout Governor Christie's term in office,” said Maria Comella, Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. “Rather than using the website as an end point, this will be a jumping off point for users in the process of sharing ideas.”
Key features of the website include:
· Updated newsfeed
· “You’ve Been CC’d” Blog
· Governor's YouTube page featuring video from the Governor, the Cabinet, staff and other Administration officials
· Real time Twitter feed for Governor Christie and NJGovNews
· Access to the office RSS Feeds, Facebook and Youtube
· The Newsroom page which housing updated press releases, audio, video, and photos
· The Priorities page providing information on policies and initiatives
“More and more, Americans are going to websites, blogs, social media, and other internet-based resources to get their information,” said Patrick Jones, Director of New Media. “Nearly 1 in 5 internet users are using Twitter or similar mediums to get and share information, 27% of Americans adults are using social networking sites, and 6 out of 10 adults are seeking out critical health information online. Our goal is to communicate directly with the public with timely, important information from Governor Christie and their state government. This new website will enable us to be that much more effective in engaging the public.”
Please visit our Website at www.nj.gov/governor.
Follow Governor Christie on Facebook and Twitter.
For the latest news coming out of the Governor’s office follow NJGovNews on Twitter.
What's up with these Congressional hearings about Toyota?
As a function of my business, I own several hundred vehicles. We get hundreds of recall notices per year, the vast majority from GM and Ford.
Why are there Congressional hearings and media outrage over the Toyota recalls?
There's probably a bit of "Tiger Woods syndrome" going on here. Like Woods, Toyota's image was so good that screwing up is big news. But Congressional hearings?
Could the hearings have anything to do with the fact that the government owns GM?
Last year during "cash for clunkers" I considered replacing my Toyota. Given the economy, I decided to keep it for at least another 100,000 miles.
Why are there Congressional hearings and media outrage over the Toyota recalls?
There's probably a bit of "Tiger Woods syndrome" going on here. Like Woods, Toyota's image was so good that screwing up is big news. But Congressional hearings?
Could the hearings have anything to do with the fact that the government owns GM?
Last year during "cash for clunkers" I considered replacing my Toyota. Given the economy, I decided to keep it for at least another 100,000 miles.
MMM polls
Christine Hanlon is rocking in round II of the "Who would be the best running mate for Rob Clifton this year?" poll. One day into the week long poll Hanlon has 32% of the vote. Tom Wilkens, who made it into the polls only because I ran into him at Lincoln Day, continues his strong showing with 25%. Not bad for a guy who has not even indicated an interest in running.
While the poll has "only" 158 votes so far, the action is impressive given that the first poll had 228 voters after 7 days. There is evidence of campaigning going on.
Anna Little had an early lead in the Freeholder poll, but has lost votes (you can change your vote) since announcing for Congress in CD 6.
Little has an early impressive lead in the CD 6 poll which has been up for less than 24 hours. She has 45% of the vote. Diane Gooch has 28%. Word on the street (and at PolitickerNJ) is that Mary Pat Angelini and Bill Barham will not run if Gooch announces. Gooch announced that she will announce, according to PolitickerNJ.
While the poll has "only" 158 votes so far, the action is impressive given that the first poll had 228 voters after 7 days. There is evidence of campaigning going on.
Anna Little had an early lead in the Freeholder poll, but has lost votes (you can change your vote) since announcing for Congress in CD 6.
Little has an early impressive lead in the CD 6 poll which has been up for less than 24 hours. She has 45% of the vote. Diane Gooch has 28%. Word on the street (and at PolitickerNJ) is that Mary Pat Angelini and Bill Barham will not run if Gooch announces. Gooch announced that she will announce, according to PolitickerNJ.
The Price of Admission
A few of the commenters in the Sipprelle: Running out the clock thread got me thinking. They suggested that it was no big deal that Sipprelle refuses to meet with MMM or Save Jersey. That these blogs, and by inference our readers, have too high an opinion of ourselves and our influence.
Perhaps they have a point.
The truth is Sipprelle's action took me by surprise. In four years of blogging, he is the first Republican office holder or candidate to refuse to speak with me. Calls to Democrats go unreturned so frequently that I rarely make them anymore, but Republicans, from the Governor's office to town council members are very accessible.
From my perspective there are two things that make a blog influential; access to information and people to read it.
When I started writing here four years ago I was amazed that the people I wrote critically of were the blogs biggest boosters. Public and party officials complained about this blog and others to the main stream press, which wrote about it and started reading the blogs themselves, which put the blogs on the map. Party chairmen who called the blogs "terrorists" and "retarded" and editors who called us "bacon heads" expanded our audiences tremendously. Ignoring us would have been a better strategy for them.
Fast forward 4 years and my inbox is full with more press releases than I can get to. Thousands of people per week show up, even on days when there is nothing new. Is ignoring the blogs and our readers still the right strategy?
Let's find out.
Going forward Scott Sipprelle's press releases and position papers will not be posted here. Matt Rooney tells me he is with me, but he is free to change his mind. Two things will change this policy: access and money. Sipprelle can either be accessible or he can buy advertising.
Of course, it is entirely possible that this new policy will backfire, proving Sipprelle to be a PR and political genius. If that happens I will either shrug it off or start sucking up to him.
Other candidates and office holders, at any level and from any party are still free to send me their info.
To those commenters who are hungry for Sipprelle's info---try the Asbury Park Press or some other "real media outlet."
Perhaps they have a point.
The truth is Sipprelle's action took me by surprise. In four years of blogging, he is the first Republican office holder or candidate to refuse to speak with me. Calls to Democrats go unreturned so frequently that I rarely make them anymore, but Republicans, from the Governor's office to town council members are very accessible.
From my perspective there are two things that make a blog influential; access to information and people to read it.
When I started writing here four years ago I was amazed that the people I wrote critically of were the blogs biggest boosters. Public and party officials complained about this blog and others to the main stream press, which wrote about it and started reading the blogs themselves, which put the blogs on the map. Party chairmen who called the blogs "terrorists" and "retarded" and editors who called us "bacon heads" expanded our audiences tremendously. Ignoring us would have been a better strategy for them.
Fast forward 4 years and my inbox is full with more press releases than I can get to. Thousands of people per week show up, even on days when there is nothing new. Is ignoring the blogs and our readers still the right strategy?
Let's find out.
Going forward Scott Sipprelle's press releases and position papers will not be posted here. Matt Rooney tells me he is with me, but he is free to change his mind. Two things will change this policy: access and money. Sipprelle can either be accessible or he can buy advertising.
Of course, it is entirely possible that this new policy will backfire, proving Sipprelle to be a PR and political genius. If that happens I will either shrug it off or start sucking up to him.
Other candidates and office holders, at any level and from any party are still free to send me their info.
To those commenters who are hungry for Sipprelle's info---try the Asbury Park Press or some other "real media outlet."
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Governor Christie Halts Abusive Practices of State Authorities, Orders Comprehensive Review of All State Authorities
Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie today signed a sweeping executive order directing a comprehensive review of all state authorities, boards and commissions and taking immediate action to reform abusive fiscal practices at those authorities, boards and commissions by strictly limiting the hiring of lobbyists, eliminating “golden parachutes” to departing executives and employees and capping travel expenses at $250.
Executive Order 15 also institutes a wide review of all state authorities and requires recommendations by May 15 to the Governor’s Office on whether each such authority, board or commission should continue or cease to exist. In the case of those that continue, the review would further determine whether positions at such entities should be compensated in any way or operate on a strictly volunteer basis.
Such semi-autonomous authorities, board and commissions – of which there are hundreds large and small – control billions of dollars in capital and operating budgets yet operate without many of the safeguards applicable to all other agencies of state government. Their abuses and the unfettered largess bestowed on employees, board members and political patronage appointees were long eyed for serious reform by the Governor long before he took office in January.
“Business as usual at these authorities ends today,” said Governor Christie. “Unbridled rip-offs from ratepayers and taxpayers who fund these entities have been condoned and perpetuated by the political class for decades. Golden parachutes and unjustifiable entertainment and travel expenses have all been the norm. This executive order restores sanity and requires mandatory review and approval of all of these types of contracts and expenses.”
In addition, Governor Christie called for legislation extending gubernatorial review of agency actions and minutes, which is currently required for 38 authorities, to additional authorities including sewage authorities throughout the state. “I look forward to working with the legislature to swiftly bring the needed oversight and accountability that is lacking in these hidden layers of government,” added Governor Christie.
Executive Order Number 15 directs the following:
• Unless expressly approved in writing in advance by the Governor’s Office, it prohibits hiring of lobbyists to lobby the Executive Branch, Legislature or federal government (as seen most recently in the case of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission attempting to lobby the Governor’s Office when it came under the Governor’s scrutiny).
Ø All such existing lobbying contracts with authorities shall be terminated as soon as legally permissible; if that is not possible, then all such contracts must not be renewed upon expiration.
Ø All authority heads are directed to immediately identify all contracts with lobbyists and provide a list and copies of them to the Governor’s Office my March 1.
• Travel expenses by any authority board member or employee in excess of $250 are prohibited without advance approval from the Governor’s Office; any unapproved amount above $250 will be borne by the employee or board member.
Ø Any approved travel must be directly related to the employee or board member’s official state duties.
• No state authority shall include in any contract any financial incentive to be received upon termination or separation from employment, unless authorized by the Governor’s Office.
Ø All such contract incentives shall be terminated as soon as legally permissible; if that is not possible, the contract shall not be renewed upon expiration.
• The Executive Order further requires that all state authority heads immediately identify all such contracts for compensation upon termination or separation and provide them to the Governor’s Office no later than March 1.
• A Cabinet-level review will be conducted of all authorities, boards and commissions to provide recommendations to the Governor’s Office by May 15, regarding whether each entity should continue to exist or be eliminated. Those reviews will also include recommendations of whether positions on authorities should be compensated or unpaid and whether reimbursement for expenses will be permitted.
Executive Order 15 also institutes a wide review of all state authorities and requires recommendations by May 15 to the Governor’s Office on whether each such authority, board or commission should continue or cease to exist. In the case of those that continue, the review would further determine whether positions at such entities should be compensated in any way or operate on a strictly volunteer basis.
Such semi-autonomous authorities, board and commissions – of which there are hundreds large and small – control billions of dollars in capital and operating budgets yet operate without many of the safeguards applicable to all other agencies of state government. Their abuses and the unfettered largess bestowed on employees, board members and political patronage appointees were long eyed for serious reform by the Governor long before he took office in January.
“Business as usual at these authorities ends today,” said Governor Christie. “Unbridled rip-offs from ratepayers and taxpayers who fund these entities have been condoned and perpetuated by the political class for decades. Golden parachutes and unjustifiable entertainment and travel expenses have all been the norm. This executive order restores sanity and requires mandatory review and approval of all of these types of contracts and expenses.”
In addition, Governor Christie called for legislation extending gubernatorial review of agency actions and minutes, which is currently required for 38 authorities, to additional authorities including sewage authorities throughout the state. “I look forward to working with the legislature to swiftly bring the needed oversight and accountability that is lacking in these hidden layers of government,” added Governor Christie.
Executive Order Number 15 directs the following:
• Unless expressly approved in writing in advance by the Governor’s Office, it prohibits hiring of lobbyists to lobby the Executive Branch, Legislature or federal government (as seen most recently in the case of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission attempting to lobby the Governor’s Office when it came under the Governor’s scrutiny).
Ø All such existing lobbying contracts with authorities shall be terminated as soon as legally permissible; if that is not possible, then all such contracts must not be renewed upon expiration.
Ø All authority heads are directed to immediately identify all contracts with lobbyists and provide a list and copies of them to the Governor’s Office my March 1.
• Travel expenses by any authority board member or employee in excess of $250 are prohibited without advance approval from the Governor’s Office; any unapproved amount above $250 will be borne by the employee or board member.
Ø Any approved travel must be directly related to the employee or board member’s official state duties.
• No state authority shall include in any contract any financial incentive to be received upon termination or separation from employment, unless authorized by the Governor’s Office.
Ø All such contract incentives shall be terminated as soon as legally permissible; if that is not possible, the contract shall not be renewed upon expiration.
• The Executive Order further requires that all state authority heads immediately identify all such contracts for compensation upon termination or separation and provide them to the Governor’s Office no later than March 1.
• A Cabinet-level review will be conducted of all authorities, boards and commissions to provide recommendations to the Governor’s Office by May 15, regarding whether each entity should continue to exist or be eliminated. Those reviews will also include recommendations of whether positions on authorities should be compensated or unpaid and whether reimbursement for expenses will be permitted.
Little Enters CD 6 Race
Highlands Mayor Anna Little has declared her intention to seek the GOP nomination for Congress from New Jersey's 6th district.
In a letter to the GOP county chairman of the district, State GOP Chairman Jay Webber and RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Little said,
"During these past few weeks I have connected with several grass
roots organizations that are committed to bringing government more in line with the core conservative values which are the foundation of our country. Republicans clearly share this philosophy of government.
I look forward to working with the County Republican
Committees, and these enthusiastic groups, to further Republican
ideals, and win the 6th district seat for the Republican Party,
and the people of 6th district."
Little, a former Monmouth County Freeholder, is the first candidate to formally declare her intention to seek the nomination. Monmouth County Vice Chairwoman Diane Gooch, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and former Freeholder Bill Barham have all indicated that they are considering seeking the nomination.
In a letter to the GOP county chairman of the district, State GOP Chairman Jay Webber and RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Little said,
"During these past few weeks I have connected with several grass
roots organizations that are committed to bringing government more in line with the core conservative values which are the foundation of our country. Republicans clearly share this philosophy of government.
I look forward to working with the County Republican
Committees, and these enthusiastic groups, to further Republican
ideals, and win the 6th district seat for the Republican Party,
and the people of 6th district."
Little, a former Monmouth County Freeholder, is the first candidate to formally declare her intention to seek the nomination. Monmouth County Vice Chairwoman Diane Gooch, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and former Freeholder Bill Barham have all indicated that they are considering seeking the nomination.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sipprelle: Running Out The Clock
CD 12 candidate Scott Sipprelle is exhibiting a disturbing reluctance to answer tough questions and engage with his opponents. As we are about to enter the county convention/screening season where “the line” will be awarded for the June primary, Sipprelle is playing it safe. He is avoiding unscripted appearances and has performed poorly in the few Q & A’s that he has allowed.
Matt Rooney of Save Jersey and I invited Sipprelle and his prime opponent Mike Halfacre to participate in a debate shortly after Sipprelle entered the race in January. Both candidates agreed. At my behest we held off scheduling the debate when I heard that another candidate or two would enter the race. Last week we offered the candidates, including David Corsi, a choice of two dates. All accepted. Sipprelle, through his campaign consultant Chris Russell, canceled within 24 hours of accepting, citing a scheduling conflict. Sipprelle declined to reschedule until after the convention/screening season.
Sipprelle also declined a one on one interview with me. Last year Chris Christie and Steve Lonegan both used interviews on this blog and Save Jersey during the primary season to get their message out.
It is not just the blogs that Sipprelle is avoiding. Werner Graf, a Hopewell Valley Republican who ran for Assembly last year, attempted to put a debate together with the participation of the League of Women Voters. Sipprelle is unavailable for the entire month of March. Halfacre and Corsi were willing to adjust their schedules to participate in March.
Sipprelle employed the same delaying then canceling tactics with the Tea Party groups, who threw their support to Halfacre in part out of their frustration with getting Sipprelle to talk to them.
Sipprelle is clearly employing a “running out the clock” strategy for the convention/screening season. He’s avoiding potential gaffes or embarrassing moments, counting on the fact that his money will win him the party lines and the built in edge that comes with those ballot positions in a primary.
Maybe this will prove to be a winning strategy and an example of Sipprelle’s political prowess. Maybe not. Sipprelle’s money is huge advantage. But is it enough? Do Republicans really know who the guy is and how he will perform on the campaign trail? Is he quick on his feet and personable? Are his positions his own or those of a consultant? Can he take a rhetorical punch? If he is afraid to be grilled by Matt Rooney, Art Gallagher, or the League of Women Voters, how will he handle Rush Holt?
It seems to me that Sipprelle could “knock out” Halfacre with a respectable showing in a debate or even a tough interview. Yet a confident Halfacre is still standing and seems to be holding most of his support.
If Halfacre had Sipprelle’s money would Sipprelle even be in this race? If I were part of the Halfacre camp, which I am not, I would be looking to raise enough money before the conventions start to knock Sipprelle out. Because it seems to me that all Sipprelle has going for him is money. Money is important, but it is not going to be enough to beat Rush Holt.
Matt Rooney of Save Jersey and I invited Sipprelle and his prime opponent Mike Halfacre to participate in a debate shortly after Sipprelle entered the race in January. Both candidates agreed. At my behest we held off scheduling the debate when I heard that another candidate or two would enter the race. Last week we offered the candidates, including David Corsi, a choice of two dates. All accepted. Sipprelle, through his campaign consultant Chris Russell, canceled within 24 hours of accepting, citing a scheduling conflict. Sipprelle declined to reschedule until after the convention/screening season.
Sipprelle also declined a one on one interview with me. Last year Chris Christie and Steve Lonegan both used interviews on this blog and Save Jersey during the primary season to get their message out.
It is not just the blogs that Sipprelle is avoiding. Werner Graf, a Hopewell Valley Republican who ran for Assembly last year, attempted to put a debate together with the participation of the League of Women Voters. Sipprelle is unavailable for the entire month of March. Halfacre and Corsi were willing to adjust their schedules to participate in March.
Sipprelle employed the same delaying then canceling tactics with the Tea Party groups, who threw their support to Halfacre in part out of their frustration with getting Sipprelle to talk to them.
Sipprelle is clearly employing a “running out the clock” strategy for the convention/screening season. He’s avoiding potential gaffes or embarrassing moments, counting on the fact that his money will win him the party lines and the built in edge that comes with those ballot positions in a primary.
Maybe this will prove to be a winning strategy and an example of Sipprelle’s political prowess. Maybe not. Sipprelle’s money is huge advantage. But is it enough? Do Republicans really know who the guy is and how he will perform on the campaign trail? Is he quick on his feet and personable? Are his positions his own or those of a consultant? Can he take a rhetorical punch? If he is afraid to be grilled by Matt Rooney, Art Gallagher, or the League of Women Voters, how will he handle Rush Holt?
It seems to me that Sipprelle could “knock out” Halfacre with a respectable showing in a debate or even a tough interview. Yet a confident Halfacre is still standing and seems to be holding most of his support.
If Halfacre had Sipprelle’s money would Sipprelle even be in this race? If I were part of the Halfacre camp, which I am not, I would be looking to raise enough money before the conventions start to knock Sipprelle out. Because it seems to me that all Sipprelle has going for him is money. Money is important, but it is not going to be enough to beat Rush Holt.
"Someone Else" Wins The MMM Freeholder Poll, Round 1
"Someone Else" maintained the lead throughout the first MMM GOP Freeholder candidate poll and won with a commanding 29% of the votes.
Anna Little held her lead among the named contenders with 16%. A late surge by Thomas Arnone (15%) knocked Serena DiMaso below the 10% threshold for entry into the follow up poll. Little and Arnone join Joe DiBella and Tom Wilkens as survivors of round 1.
The "Someone Elses" entered in round two are Grace Cangemi, Christine Hanlon and Barbara Ruane.
Pamela Brightbill, a "Someone Else" mentioned to challenge Amy Mallet next year, is not in this poll. Mike Halfacre, a congressional candidate, James Hogan and yours truly round out the field of "Someone Elses" mentioned but not entered in round 2. On behalf of James Hogan and myself, thank you to those you mentioned us. On behalf of Halfacre,GF.....never mind.
Round two ends on March 1 at 7:25 PM.
In other news, with 11 hours to go, Kyrillos has a commanding lead in the "Who will Governor Christie appoint to the US Senate in the event of a vacancy?" poll.
Anna Little held her lead among the named contenders with 16%. A late surge by Thomas Arnone (15%) knocked Serena DiMaso below the 10% threshold for entry into the follow up poll. Little and Arnone join Joe DiBella and Tom Wilkens as survivors of round 1.
The "Someone Elses" entered in round two are Grace Cangemi, Christine Hanlon and Barbara Ruane.
Pamela Brightbill, a "Someone Else" mentioned to challenge Amy Mallet next year, is not in this poll. Mike Halfacre, a congressional candidate, James Hogan and yours truly round out the field of "Someone Elses" mentioned but not entered in round 2. On behalf of James Hogan and myself, thank you to those you mentioned us. On behalf of Halfacre,
Round two ends on March 1 at 7:25 PM.
In other news, with 11 hours to go, Kyrillos has a commanding lead in the "Who will Governor Christie appoint to the US Senate in the event of a vacancy?" poll.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Freeholder Candidate Poll Closes Monday At 3:27 PM
The poll, Who would be the best running mate for Rob Clifton this year? closes Monday afternoon at 3:27 PM.
Current contenders with more than 10% of the vote will be included in the next poll. The most frequently mentioned "Someone elses" will be added. Current "Someone elses" in the running are former Red Bank Councilwoman Grace Cangemi, State GOP Committewoman Christine Hanlon and Middletown Committeewoman Pam Brightbill.
Cast your votes on the sidebar and name your "someone else" in the comments of this post.
Current contenders with more than 10% of the vote will be included in the next poll. The most frequently mentioned "Someone elses" will be added. Current "Someone elses" in the running are former Red Bank Councilwoman Grace Cangemi, State GOP Committewoman Christine Hanlon and Middletown Committeewoman Pam Brightbill.
Cast your votes on the sidebar and name your "someone else" in the comments of this post.
Don't let state redevelop Fort Monmouth
By JOHN F. COFFEY II
With more than 1,100 acres of real estate located within the boroughs of Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport, the Fort Monmouth property is the latest bright, shiny object to attract the attention of the financial and ideological mercenaries populating our state's legislative chambers.
Senate bill S-917 is the most recent and most outrageous attempt by our elected and appointed officials in Trenton to inextricably intertwine themselves with the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth. Boiled down to its essentials, the proposed bill vests the appointed and elected officials of the state — the very same people who begat the Schools Construction Corp., Xanadu and the EnCap disaster — with an almost unfettered ability to dictate how the fort property will be redeveloped.
Notwithstanding the fact that officials in Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport have a decades-long track record of development acumen and fiscally responsible behavior, the sponsors of S-917, Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, and Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, are steadfast in their belief that the state — an entity whose leaders have demonstrated little or no development acumen and absolutely no fiscal responsibility — is best equipped to manage the redevelopment of the Fort Monmouth property.
Residents of the three host communities and their neighbors to the east should be scared out of their wits by what is about to be visited upon them if the bill becomes law.
The legislation creates yet another authority, the "Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority," gives the state five appointees out of nine on its board and, most disturbingly, grants the N.J. Economic Development Authority politburo-like control over the process. The legislation mandates that the EDA shall not only be the "master redeveloper" of the project, it further directs that the authority be staffed by as many EDA employees as the EDA determines necessary.
Under S-917, the costs associated with the EDA as master redeveloper and staffing agent are to be borne by the authority. Incredibly, if the authority doesn't have the money to pay the EDA, then the legislation calls for — and I am not making this up — the EDA to lend money to the authority so that the authority can pay the EDA. If a layperson tried to impose similar controls and conditions upon a private business, prosecutions under the RICO laws would surely ensue.
Quite simply, S-917 has absolutely nothing to do with the economic revitalization of Fort Monmouth and everything to do with the economic sustenance of the EDA. Indeed, when one considers that the EDA's chairperson would be an appointee to the authority's board, a more accurate title for the bill is "The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Full Employment Act of 2010."
Quite simply, S-917 has absolutely nothing to do with the economic revitalization of Fort Monmouth and everything to do with the economic sustenance of the EDA. Indeed, when one considers that the EDA's chairperson would be an appointee to the authority's board, a more accurate title for the bill is "The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Full Employment Act of 2010."
Given the state of fiscal affairs in Trenton today, that the bill's sponsors could consider the EDA, whose last audit showed an operating deficit in excess of $20 million, a more appropriate entity to oversee the property's redevelopment than the local municipalities is emblematic of their "big government is better" mindset. This "Trenton knows best" mentality is representative of the condescending hubris oozing out of Trenton on a daily basis.
The federal government abandoned us by closing Fort Monmouth. That was bad. The effects of S-917, however, would be much worse. If you are a resident of Oceanport, Tinton Falls or Eatontown, make no mistake: S-917's advocates are trying to take the Fort Monmouth property away from you. They want to apply to Fort Monmouth the same uninspired development strategies, tired social engineering policies and suspect financing schemes that have failed the citizens of New Jersey over the past decade. The redevelopment of Fort Monmouth will take decades and Fort Monmouth must look like the Shangri-La of job security to Trenton's entrenched bureaucrats, lobbyists and politicians.
If the residents of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls fail to speak up immediately and voice their objections to this proposed bill, they only have themselves to blame. They should be inundating their elected local, county and state officials with phone calls, e-mails and letters directing them to fight tooth and nail to keep S-917 from becoming law. Failing that, one can only hope that Gov. Chris Christie has the good sense to stop this ham-handed legislative attempt at eminent domain by another name when he is asked to sign it into law.
John F. Coffey II, an Oceanport resident, was co-chair of Oceanport's Economic Development Committee prior to the creation of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority.
With more than 1,100 acres of real estate located within the boroughs of Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport, the Fort Monmouth property is the latest bright, shiny object to attract the attention of the financial and ideological mercenaries populating our state's legislative chambers.
Senate bill S-917 is the most recent and most outrageous attempt by our elected and appointed officials in Trenton to inextricably intertwine themselves with the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth. Boiled down to its essentials, the proposed bill vests the appointed and elected officials of the state — the very same people who begat the Schools Construction Corp., Xanadu and the EnCap disaster — with an almost unfettered ability to dictate how the fort property will be redeveloped.
Notwithstanding the fact that officials in Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport have a decades-long track record of development acumen and fiscally responsible behavior, the sponsors of S-917, Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, and Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, are steadfast in their belief that the state — an entity whose leaders have demonstrated little or no development acumen and absolutely no fiscal responsibility — is best equipped to manage the redevelopment of the Fort Monmouth property.
Residents of the three host communities and their neighbors to the east should be scared out of their wits by what is about to be visited upon them if the bill becomes law.
The legislation creates yet another authority, the "Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority," gives the state five appointees out of nine on its board and, most disturbingly, grants the N.J. Economic Development Authority politburo-like control over the process. The legislation mandates that the EDA shall not only be the "master redeveloper" of the project, it further directs that the authority be staffed by as many EDA employees as the EDA determines necessary.
Under S-917, the costs associated with the EDA as master redeveloper and staffing agent are to be borne by the authority. Incredibly, if the authority doesn't have the money to pay the EDA, then the legislation calls for — and I am not making this up — the EDA to lend money to the authority so that the authority can pay the EDA. If a layperson tried to impose similar controls and conditions upon a private business, prosecutions under the RICO laws would surely ensue.
Quite simply, S-917 has absolutely nothing to do with the economic revitalization of Fort Monmouth and everything to do with the economic sustenance of the EDA. Indeed, when one considers that the EDA's chairperson would be an appointee to the authority's board, a more accurate title for the bill is "The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Full Employment Act of 2010."
Quite simply, S-917 has absolutely nothing to do with the economic revitalization of Fort Monmouth and everything to do with the economic sustenance of the EDA. Indeed, when one considers that the EDA's chairperson would be an appointee to the authority's board, a more accurate title for the bill is "The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Full Employment Act of 2010."
Given the state of fiscal affairs in Trenton today, that the bill's sponsors could consider the EDA, whose last audit showed an operating deficit in excess of $20 million, a more appropriate entity to oversee the property's redevelopment than the local municipalities is emblematic of their "big government is better" mindset. This "Trenton knows best" mentality is representative of the condescending hubris oozing out of Trenton on a daily basis.
The federal government abandoned us by closing Fort Monmouth. That was bad. The effects of S-917, however, would be much worse. If you are a resident of Oceanport, Tinton Falls or Eatontown, make no mistake: S-917's advocates are trying to take the Fort Monmouth property away from you. They want to apply to Fort Monmouth the same uninspired development strategies, tired social engineering policies and suspect financing schemes that have failed the citizens of New Jersey over the past decade. The redevelopment of Fort Monmouth will take decades and Fort Monmouth must look like the Shangri-La of job security to Trenton's entrenched bureaucrats, lobbyists and politicians.
If the residents of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls fail to speak up immediately and voice their objections to this proposed bill, they only have themselves to blame. They should be inundating their elected local, county and state officials with phone calls, e-mails and letters directing them to fight tooth and nail to keep S-917 from becoming law. Failing that, one can only hope that Gov. Chris Christie has the good sense to stop this ham-handed legislative attempt at eminent domain by another name when he is asked to sign it into law.
John F. Coffey II, an Oceanport resident, was co-chair of Oceanport's Economic Development Committee prior to the creation of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
What's Wrong With This Picture?
The 2010 Middletown Township Committee: Rear, Steve Massell, Sean Byrnes, Pamela Brightbill. Front, Gerry Scharfenberger, Tony Fiore.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Christie Making a Difference Nationally
One would expect Rush Limbaugh to praise Governor Chris Christie's bold cost cutting. Limbaugh's "He's the one we've been waiting for" makes Christie sound like Neo from the Matrix.
Even the editorial from the right leaning Washington Times calling for President Obama to learn fiscal responsibility from Christie is not terribly surprising.
CNBC's Dennis Kenale declaring With NJ Governor Christie, A Star is Born in response to Christie appearance of the network earlier this week got my attention.
The most impressive thing I heard about our governor his week was from a small business owner from Syosset, NY. This guy and his brother drove from Long Island to Belford to buy a truck from me early this week, before Christie's appearance on CNBC. After "how are you, nice to meet you" his next words were "How about that new Governor of yours?! He's just what we need in New York. He's starting a wave that will move across the country." I kid you not. That's what the owner of a demolition company from Long Island said to the guy who sold him his new truck.
Christie has often said he will govern as a one termer. He's not. Corzine and Florio governed as one termers. McGreevey governed as a 1/2 termer. Chris Christie is governing according to his oath of office and his campaign promises. More than the chattering class is noticing.
Lautenberg Has Cancer
The New York Times is reporting that U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg has stomach cancer.
In a statement distributed by Mr. Lautenberg’s office, Dr. Holland said, “We expect a full and complete recovery for Senator Lautenberg. The Senator will be treated with chemotherapy administered approximately every three weeks. We anticipate that he will receive between six and eight treatments, and in between treatments, the senator is expected to be back at work in the Senate.”
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Governor Christie Exercises Veto In Continued Commitment To End Wasteful Spending Throughout State Government
Latest veto the fourth such action in Governor’s ongoing commitment to stopping wasteful spending
Trenton, NJ – Late Wednesday, Governor Chris Christie exercised his veto authority to curb spending increases, his fourth such action since taking office. Demonstrating his long-term commitment to ending the practice of excessive, profligate spending in every part of state government, Governor Christie vetoed the budgets of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey and the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association of New Jersey at the New Jersey Racing Commission’s January 20, 2010 meeting.
Governor Christie said, “As when I have previously exercised veto authority, my Administration will continue to scrutinize the actions of the many Board and Authorities in our state and root out waste. As we face serious fiscal challenges, savings are being identified and realized in every part of state government, including spending reductions. Board and Authorities are no exception to this, and my Administration will continue to rein in spending increases in these entities.”
The proposed 2010 budget for the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey represents a 19.8% increase over 2009 expenditures, and includes excessive line items such as $10,000 for an annual awards banquet, $42,500 for the New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival – a $22,500 increase over 2009 to pay for additional promotional giveaway items - and $40,000 for lobbyists costs.
The proposed 2010 budget for the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association of New Jersey represents a 5.6% increase over 2009 expenditures.
This represents the fourth time Governor Christie has exercised his veto authority to combat wasteful spending. Previously, Governor Christie vetoed blanket spending increases in the budget of the Delaware River and Bay Authority, excessive expenditures by the UEZ for street cleaning, and a change order at the Schools Development Authority.
No veto power was exercised as to any other action taken by the Commission at its meeting on January 20, 2010.
Trenton, NJ – Late Wednesday, Governor Chris Christie exercised his veto authority to curb spending increases, his fourth such action since taking office. Demonstrating his long-term commitment to ending the practice of excessive, profligate spending in every part of state government, Governor Christie vetoed the budgets of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey and the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association of New Jersey at the New Jersey Racing Commission’s January 20, 2010 meeting.
Governor Christie said, “As when I have previously exercised veto authority, my Administration will continue to scrutinize the actions of the many Board and Authorities in our state and root out waste. As we face serious fiscal challenges, savings are being identified and realized in every part of state government, including spending reductions. Board and Authorities are no exception to this, and my Administration will continue to rein in spending increases in these entities.”
The proposed 2010 budget for the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey represents a 19.8% increase over 2009 expenditures, and includes excessive line items such as $10,000 for an annual awards banquet, $42,500 for the New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival – a $22,500 increase over 2009 to pay for additional promotional giveaway items - and $40,000 for lobbyists costs.
The proposed 2010 budget for the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association of New Jersey represents a 5.6% increase over 2009 expenditures.
This represents the fourth time Governor Christie has exercised his veto authority to combat wasteful spending. Previously, Governor Christie vetoed blanket spending increases in the budget of the Delaware River and Bay Authority, excessive expenditures by the UEZ for street cleaning, and a change order at the Schools Development Authority.
No veto power was exercised as to any other action taken by the Commission at its meeting on January 20, 2010.
Christie on Squawk Box
“What I am worried about is getting our state back in fiscal health.”
~ Governor Chris Christie
~ Governor Chris Christie
"Someone Else" Widens Lead In MMM Poll
Three days into the MMM poll, Who would be the best running mate for Rob Clifton this year?, "Someone Else" has a substantial lead with 30% of the vote.
Top named contenders are Anna Little and Tom Wilkens with 16% each, followed closely by Joe DiBella, 14%.
Thomas Arnone and Serena DiMaso have 10% and 9% respectively.
Kim Spatolo, a contender last year has only 3 votes, for 2%.
The only declared candidate, Gary Rich, has no friends or family with computers.
The most prominent mentioned "Someone Elses" in the first post about this poll are State Committeewoman Christine Hanlon, Middletown Committeewoman Pam Brightbill, West Long Branch Councilwoman Barbara Ruane and former Red Bank Councilwoman Grace Cangemi.
The poll ends Monday the 22nd at 3:27PM. Contenders with less than 10% of the vote will be dropped from the next poll and the most mentioned "Someone Elses" will be added.
One anonymous commenter said that the Affiliated Club's candidate night will be on March 26, followed by the the screening committee meeting the following day.
Top named contenders are Anna Little and Tom Wilkens with 16% each, followed closely by Joe DiBella, 14%.
Thomas Arnone and Serena DiMaso have 10% and 9% respectively.
Kim Spatolo, a contender last year has only 3 votes, for 2%.
The only declared candidate, Gary Rich, has no friends or family with computers.
The most prominent mentioned "Someone Elses" in the first post about this poll are State Committeewoman Christine Hanlon, Middletown Committeewoman Pam Brightbill, West Long Branch Councilwoman Barbara Ruane and former Red Bank Councilwoman Grace Cangemi.
The poll ends Monday the 22nd at 3:27PM. Contenders with less than 10% of the vote will be dropped from the next poll and the most mentioned "Someone Elses" will be added.
One anonymous commenter said that the Affiliated Club's candidate night will be on March 26, followed by the the screening committee meeting the following day.
Christie on Squawk Box
Governor Chris Christie will appear on the CNBC show Squawk Box at 7:30 this morning.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
BAYSHORE TEA PARTY ENDORSES HALFACRE
Tax-cutting Fair Haven Mayor gets third Tea Party endorsement with 96% of the vote
12th District Republican congressional candidate Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre announced today that he had received the support of the Bayshore Tea Party Group, marking the third Tea Party endorsement he has received this month.
“I am proud to accept the endorsement of the Bayshore Tea Party Group,” said Halfacre. “I was very impressed by the vetting process and the informed, energized and engaged members of the group. I am honored that such a group would choose to support me in our fight for our shared principles of lower taxes, smaller government, individual liberty, and a strong national defense. With their help, I will defeat Rush Holt and give the 12th District of New Jersey a representative who reflects their values, not the values of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Oabama.”
In a letter to Halfacre (see full text below), Bayshore Tea Party Group Leader Barbara Gonzalez said “As you know Bayshore looked at several candidates for District 12. Each one was given an equal opportunity to debate the issues, answer questions, meet our members and clearly state their positions. After the completion of the vetting process, hundreds of our members voted. The results were overwhelming-you received 96% of the votes.”
She went on to add “With this endorsement comes our promise to work with your campaign and offer our assistance, as may be requested.”
Halfacre said that the momentum for his candidacy continues to build. “In 2010, there will be great political battles and they are not going to be fought primarily with money- they are going to be fought house by house, block by block and neighborhood by neighborhood. Emails, social networking, word of mouth, and groups of active, informed citizens like the Tea Party Groups and others will be the weapons and soldiers in these great battles. For a candidate with the right message, and a history of actions to match his or her words, overcoming a financial disadvantage is now more possible than ever before.”
“This latest endorsement is further proof that my record of lowering taxes and my small government, pro-business philosophy is resonating with voters in the 12th District. More importantly, it also adds to our list of thousands of people who will help me spread that message over the next nine months.
12th District Republican congressional candidate Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre announced today that he had received the support of the Bayshore Tea Party Group, marking the third Tea Party endorsement he has received this month.
“I am proud to accept the endorsement of the Bayshore Tea Party Group,” said Halfacre. “I was very impressed by the vetting process and the informed, energized and engaged members of the group. I am honored that such a group would choose to support me in our fight for our shared principles of lower taxes, smaller government, individual liberty, and a strong national defense. With their help, I will defeat Rush Holt and give the 12th District of New Jersey a representative who reflects their values, not the values of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Oabama.”
In a letter to Halfacre (see full text below), Bayshore Tea Party Group Leader Barbara Gonzalez said “As you know Bayshore looked at several candidates for District 12. Each one was given an equal opportunity to debate the issues, answer questions, meet our members and clearly state their positions. After the completion of the vetting process, hundreds of our members voted. The results were overwhelming-you received 96% of the votes.”
She went on to add “With this endorsement comes our promise to work with your campaign and offer our assistance, as may be requested.”
Halfacre said that the momentum for his candidacy continues to build. “In 2010, there will be great political battles and they are not going to be fought primarily with money- they are going to be fought house by house, block by block and neighborhood by neighborhood. Emails, social networking, word of mouth, and groups of active, informed citizens like the Tea Party Groups and others will be the weapons and soldiers in these great battles. For a candidate with the right message, and a history of actions to match his or her words, overcoming a financial disadvantage is now more possible than ever before.”
“This latest endorsement is further proof that my record of lowering taxes and my small government, pro-business philosophy is resonating with voters in the 12th District. More importantly, it also adds to our list of thousands of people who will help me spread that message over the next nine months.
Sipprelle to Holt: "Where are the jobs?"
Princeton, February 17, 2010 – Labeling the so-called federal stimulus package signed into law a year ago today “an historic waste of taxpayer dollars that cost people their jobs instead of creating new ones,” businessman Scott Sipprelle (R-Princeton) slammed incumbent Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) for marching in lock-step with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and casting a vote in favor of the failed legislation.
“I challenge Rush Holt to answer one simple question: Where are the jobs?” asked Sipprelle. “The Congressman voted for a massive government spending bill that has made a bad situation worse. A year later, he owes his constituents some answers.”
Official numbers from the Bureau of Labor indicate that unemployment in New Jersey stood at around 8% when the bill was passed, and now stands at around 10%. The actual situation is likely even more dire than it appears, since millions of people have given up finding a job altogether and aren’t counted in the figures reported.
“While Rush Holt and Nancy Pelosi believe that our problems are best solved by government intervention and irresponsible federal spending, I believe our path back to prosperity requires us to slash spending, reduce the debt and cut taxes to unleash economic growth and create millions of new jobs,” said Sipprelle. “Unlike other politicians from both parties who complain but offer no solutions to the problems we face, I have matched my criticisms of the current Congress with detailed, bold actions outlined in my Blueprint for Renewal that will reverse the destructive course we are currently on and restore the American Dream for everyone willing to work hard and play by the rules.”
“I challenge Rush Holt to answer one simple question: Where are the jobs?” asked Sipprelle. “The Congressman voted for a massive government spending bill that has made a bad situation worse. A year later, he owes his constituents some answers.”
Official numbers from the Bureau of Labor indicate that unemployment in New Jersey stood at around 8% when the bill was passed, and now stands at around 10%. The actual situation is likely even more dire than it appears, since millions of people have given up finding a job altogether and aren’t counted in the figures reported.
“While Rush Holt and Nancy Pelosi believe that our problems are best solved by government intervention and irresponsible federal spending, I believe our path back to prosperity requires us to slash spending, reduce the debt and cut taxes to unleash economic growth and create millions of new jobs,” said Sipprelle. “Unlike other politicians from both parties who complain but offer no solutions to the problems we face, I have matched my criticisms of the current Congress with detailed, bold actions outlined in my Blueprint for Renewal that will reverse the destructive course we are currently on and restore the American Dream for everyone willing to work hard and play by the rules.”
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sipprelle Proposes Flat Tax, Wants to Scrap Federal Tax Code
Princeton, February 16, 2010 – “For decades, Americans – individual, families and businesses alike – have been forced to negotiate an overly complex federal tax code that requires them to hand over excessive amounts of their hard-earned income to the federal government in the form of taxes,” said Scott Sipprelle (R-Princeton), candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District. “My plan will cut taxes for every American taxpayer, while scrapping our onerous federal tax code once and for all. My single-rate flat tax proposal will empower individuals, fuel innovation, and foster an economic resurgence that creates millions of new jobs for our citizens.”
The benefits of this radical change would be enormous, unleashing an explosion of work and innovation, motivated by the dramatically enhanced incentives for personal wealth creation.
It would leave all income earners with an increased level of after-tax income to support spending on their own priorities, as opposed to the priorities of the political-lobbyist class.
It would dramatically expand the pool of individual and institutional capital available to fund new businesses and jobs. Capital is the fuel which feeds the furnace of economic growth. Taxes that punish the return on invested capital reduce the incentive to invest and thus the economy's ability to drive jobs, income, and growth.
It would enhance the amount of capital searching for investment opportunities in America, as opposed to searching out higher growth opportunities in lower tax regions offshore.
It would eradicate the useless economic activity embedded in the tax shelters business and dramatically reduce incentives for tax evasion, while once again making America a business-friendly locale for expansion by abolishing the corporate loopholes that companies use to shield taxes.
It would dramatically reduce the enormous national resources dedicated to tax compliance. Imagine being able to calculate your taxes on your own, on a single sheet of paper. Imagine the national windfall that would flow from redirecting some large portion of $200 billion dollars back into productive economic pursuits.
It would wipe clean the institutionalized corruption that characterizes the powerful Congressional tax-writing committees, emasculate the fund-raising advantages of entrenched incumbents, and provide a powerful new competitive stimulus for our political process. In sum, the flat tax would unleash a new American prosperity, richening the balance sheets of our citizens while also swelling federal tax receipts in due course as the economy and payrolls boom.
The Problem: The Failed Federal Income Tax Code
America's federal income tax code is a monument to our legislative decay. Composed of more than nine millions words written in unintelligible legalese, this instrument of repression represents a brutal indictment of a system that, over many years, has sold its soul to an ideology that worships government control of our economic lives.
While no one can argue about the need for federal tax revenue to pay for the cost of government's essential service, our nation has grown tolerant of Congress's use of the tax code as a collective honey pot to award tax benefits to special interests and to dole out political favors.
Since this tax code gimmickry accumulates over time depending on the shifting political coalitions, the lobbying successes of the special interests, and the policy fad of the day, taxpayers are left to pay for the consequences of a legislative monstrosity that tramples the common good through excessive taxation and a destructive complexity.
The source of any nation's wealth flows from the work, the innovation, and the productivity of its people. The precarious state of our nation's finances today makes even more urgent the need for our government to remove the shackles and financial penalties that are constraining the natural tendency of all of our citizens to work for their own prosperity and for the collective economic good. We must deconstruct the onerous tax burdens which have lead to the America's Great Stagnation. Consider these factors:
At nearly $22,000 the tax burden on American households today is one-third higher than historical averages, and this is before the impact of future tax increases contemplated to address the costs of runaway spending and staggering budget deficits. Tax hikes exceeding $60,000 per household would be required to balance the budget over the next ten years.
America's corporate tax rates are the second highest in the developed world, behind only Japan. These punitive levels of taxation are destroying economic activity by discouraging business formation, job creation, investment, and risk-taking. These high levels of taxation encourage our corporations to locate jobs in lower-tax jurisdictions offshore, while merely passing along the federal tax burden to consumers via higher prices.
The penalty of America's tax code extends beyond its damaging impact on the economy and wealth creation. The additional costs that result from compliance are also staggering. Taking into account the time and money spent by individuals and corporations on data collection, accounting and legal fees, and tax preparation, the economic burden of tax compliance has been estimated at $200 billion per year. When you add in the harmful effects on economic behavior that result from strategies for tax avoidance, the burden is even greater.
The Solution: Stop Tinkering With It…Scrap It!
In order to address America's critical need for national renewal, we must address the key impediment to economic vitality and efficiency. The time has come to swear off the tinkering and manipulation of our tax code. We need to scrap the damaging legacy of accumulated inside dealing and coercive economic micro-management and unleash a tax code that is simple and fair. Congress must have the courage to confront spending and taxes together, for the first time, like any family or business. That is the course I intend to pursue.
Implement a Flat Tax for All Taxpayers
Lower tax rates will unleash economic growth and job creation by encouraging work, capital formation and risk taking. A simplified tax code would amplify the benefits of lower tax rates by removing economic uncertainty and the administrative costs of tax compliance.
Congress should approve a flat 20% tax rate for both individual and corporate taxpayers. Income would be taxed only once removing the double taxation on dividends and savings.
The tax rate for individuals and families would kick in only after a generous exemption for adults and children, setting a significant tax shield for lower income wage earners. This approach is designed to create a lower tax rate for all taxpayers, while also exacting a lower marginal tax bite on increased levels of income.
Any individual taxpayer would have the choice of filing under the new flat tax plan or staying with the old system of higher marginal tax rates and larger numbers of deductions in order to provide certainty to the premise that no taxpayer would ever pay higher taxes under the flat tax.
The benefits of this radical change would be enormous, unleashing an explosion of work and innovation, motivated by the dramatically enhanced incentives for personal wealth creation.
It would leave all income earners with an increased level of after-tax income to support spending on their own priorities, as opposed to the priorities of the political-lobbyist class.
It would dramatically expand the pool of individual and institutional capital available to fund new businesses and jobs. Capital is the fuel which feeds the furnace of economic growth. Taxes that punish the return on invested capital reduce the incentive to invest and thus the economy's ability to drive jobs, income, and growth.
It would enhance the amount of capital searching for investment opportunities in America, as opposed to searching out higher growth opportunities in lower tax regions offshore.
It would eradicate the useless economic activity embedded in the tax shelters business and dramatically reduce incentives for tax evasion, while once again making America a business-friendly locale for expansion by abolishing the corporate loopholes that companies use to shield taxes.
It would dramatically reduce the enormous national resources dedicated to tax compliance. Imagine being able to calculate your taxes on your own, on a single sheet of paper. Imagine the national windfall that would flow from redirecting some large portion of $200 billion dollars back into productive economic pursuits.
It would wipe clean the institutionalized corruption that characterizes the powerful Congressional tax-writing committees, emasculate the fund-raising advantages of entrenched incumbents, and provide a powerful new competitive stimulus for our political process. In sum, the flat tax would unleash a new American prosperity, richening the balance sheets of our citizens while also swelling federal tax receipts in due course as the economy and payrolls boom.
It Only Counts If You Get It Done
Former Governor Jon Corzine's taxpayer funded spokesperson Josh Zeitz whined to the Associated Press that some of the cuts Governor Chris Christie made in state spending last week were also proposed by Corzine before he left office.
"I guess they only count if you announce them on television," Zeitz told the AP.
That would help Josh, but it really only counts when you actually get it done.
Corzine couldn't get the legislature to go along with his proposed cuts during the lame duck session. He had no problem flushing hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars down the aid to patronage pits, aka distressed cities, during the waning hours of his term, however.
Zeitz whined that Christie's cuts don't compare to the $4 billion in mid term cuts that Corzine made last year, "without grandstanding." That's because Corzine only grandstanded about his devotion to the public employees unions and would rather have raised tolls 800% and borrowed $40 billion than make the cuts the economy forced on him.
If "Hold Me Accountable" Corzine had been able to fix New Jersey's finances, as he promised he would, he might still be governor. Instead, he capitulated to the legislature, unions, and other special interests time after time for four years.
Corzine should get off the stage and tell his flack to shut up and run for Congress or go to work for a hedge fund.
"I guess they only count if you announce them on television," Zeitz told the AP.
That would help Josh, but it really only counts when you actually get it done.
Corzine couldn't get the legislature to go along with his proposed cuts during the lame duck session. He had no problem flushing hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars down the aid to patronage pits, aka distressed cities, during the waning hours of his term, however.
Zeitz whined that Christie's cuts don't compare to the $4 billion in mid term cuts that Corzine made last year, "without grandstanding." That's because Corzine only grandstanded about his devotion to the public employees unions and would rather have raised tolls 800% and borrowed $40 billion than make the cuts the economy forced on him.
If "Hold Me Accountable" Corzine had been able to fix New Jersey's finances, as he promised he would, he might still be governor. Instead, he capitulated to the legislature, unions, and other special interests time after time for four years.
Corzine should get off the stage and tell his flack to shut up and run for Congress or go to work for a hedge fund.
Someone Else
Twelve hours into the MoreMonmouthMusings poll, "Who would be the best running mate for Rob Clifton this year?," "Someone Else" is leading the poll, followed closely by Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso.
For those first time readers who might not know what this poll is about, Rob Clifton is a Monmouth County Freeholder seeking his third term this fall. The Monmouth GOP must select a running mate for Clifton as the other Freeholder seat up this year is currently held by Democrat John D'Amico.
D'Amico is expected to run on a platform that includes changing the name of the county board from "Freeholders" to "Commissioners" and to reopen the Youth Detention Center. Of course, it is entirely possible that he will flip those positions.
Candidates included in the poll are, Thomas Arnone, the Mayor of Neptune City, Joe DiBella, the former Mayor of Howell, Serena DiMaso, the Mayor of Holmdel, Anna Little a former Freeholder and the Mayor of Highlands, Gary Rich, a Spring Lake Councilman who has declared his candidacy, Kim Spatolo, a former Atlantic Highlands Councilwoman, and Tom Wilkens, a former Middletown Committee member.
Who is "Someone Else?"
Please name your someone elses or make a case for a candidate named in the poll in the comments.
For those first time readers who might not know what this poll is about, Rob Clifton is a Monmouth County Freeholder seeking his third term this fall. The Monmouth GOP must select a running mate for Clifton as the other Freeholder seat up this year is currently held by Democrat John D'Amico.
D'Amico is expected to run on a platform that includes changing the name of the county board from "Freeholders" to "Commissioners" and to reopen the Youth Detention Center. Of course, it is entirely possible that he will flip those positions.
Candidates included in the poll are, Thomas Arnone, the Mayor of Neptune City, Joe DiBella, the former Mayor of Howell, Serena DiMaso, the Mayor of Holmdel, Anna Little a former Freeholder and the Mayor of Highlands, Gary Rich, a Spring Lake Councilman who has declared his candidacy, Kim Spatolo, a former Atlantic Highlands Councilwoman, and Tom Wilkens, a former Middletown Committee member.
Who is "Someone Else?"
Please name your someone elses or make a case for a candidate named in the poll in the comments.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Illions And Crew Should Listen to Doherty
State Senator Michael Doherty (R-Washington Twp) was named the #1 conservative of 2009 by the former Republican blog, Conservatives with Attitude last week.
Today, Doherty told Politickernj's Max Pizarro that he is supporting moderate Congressman Leonard Lance for re-election over a conservative primary challenger.
Does that make New Jersey's #1 conservative a RINO?
The Illions Kool-Aid crew should post these Doherty quotes on their bathroom mirrors:
Today, Doherty told Politickernj's Max Pizarro that he is supporting moderate Congressman Leonard Lance for re-election over a conservative primary challenger.
Does that make New Jersey's #1 conservative a RINO?
The Illions Kool-Aid crew should post these Doherty quotes on their bathroom mirrors:
It's not the fights, but the right fights
there are better targets to go after. Democrats, for instance
"Do we agree on all the issues, no, but to Republicans angry at Leonard Lance, my message is get on board with the Christie administration and take on guys like Rush Holt and John Adler to advance Republican principles"
Look, we have a Republican governor, a great victory last year, and I'm sitting on the budget committee in the senate. Conservatives have a place at the table. In terms of the future of New Jersey, let's consolidate what we have. If there are conservatives who are still ticked off after we elected Chris Christie, let them go after Rush Holt and John Adler, a much more fruitful and productive enterprise."
Evan Bayh To Leave U.S. Senate
The NY Times reports that Democratic U.S. Senator Evan Bayh will not seek a third term as U.S. Senator from Indiana.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Lincoln Day Dinner A Great Success
Approximately 500 Republicans came out to the Monmouth County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands tonight. Congratulations to Chairman Joe Oxley, John and Mary Fran Lane, Christine Hanlon and the entire Lincoln Day Committee for yet another successful event.
Some of the highlights of the evening:
The CD 12 race was on all night.
Mike Halfacre won the ground game with lawn signs in the snow greeting the attendees as they entered Simon Lake Drive. His volunteers were standing in the cold, signs in hand, welcoming people into the event. Halfacre and his wife Trish we just inside the door welcoming supporters and placing red Halfacre for U.S. Congress stickers on lapels.
Scott Sipprelle was working the room, as was David Corsi. Sipprelle noted that he won the MoreMonmouthMusings poll against Halfacre. I told him that he won one and lost one. "Wasn't the first one before I announced?" he asked. Sorry Scott.
Corsi was handing out business cards with his picture that read "Had Enough? Corsi for Congress." Corsi asked me how to spell MoreMonmouthMusings, "Is it More or Moore?"
In CD 6, Diane Gooch is looking very much like a candidate. In her capacity as Vice Chair of the county party, she assisted Chairman Oxley in awarding the "Circle of Excellence" Eagle to municipal chairs who won control of their towns. Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini said she's exploring her options. If Bill Barham was there, I didn't see him. Gooch will be the nominee. You read it here first.
Joining Angelini from the 11th legislative district was Senator Sean Kean and Assemblyman Dave Rible. Assemblywoman Amy Handlin and Assemblyman Thomspon were present from the 13th. The 12th district legislators were absent.
Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce was present. Congressman Chris Smith was the keynote speaker.
Spring Lake Councilman Gary J. Rich, Sr will once again seek the GOP nomination for Freeholder. Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella is asking people if he should run. Let's have a poll!
Middletown Republicans are expecting Democrat Sean Byrnes to seek re-election to the Middletown Township Committee this year, rather than to make another run for Freeholder.
I have some corrections to make.
Far from being relieved that he doesn't have to bang the blogger, Sam Thomspon's reaction to Michael Illions dropping out of the race for Middlesex County Chairman was, "Darn!"
The other correction is that Assemblywoman Amy Handlin served as a Monmouth County Freeholder for 16 years, not 18 years, as I wrote last week.
Some of the highlights of the evening:
The CD 12 race was on all night.
Mike Halfacre won the ground game with lawn signs in the snow greeting the attendees as they entered Simon Lake Drive. His volunteers were standing in the cold, signs in hand, welcoming people into the event. Halfacre and his wife Trish we just inside the door welcoming supporters and placing red Halfacre for U.S. Congress stickers on lapels.
Scott Sipprelle was working the room, as was David Corsi. Sipprelle noted that he won the MoreMonmouthMusings poll against Halfacre. I told him that he won one and lost one. "Wasn't the first one before I announced?" he asked. Sorry Scott.
Corsi was handing out business cards with his picture that read "Had Enough? Corsi for Congress." Corsi asked me how to spell MoreMonmouthMusings, "Is it More or Moore?"
In CD 6, Diane Gooch is looking very much like a candidate. In her capacity as Vice Chair of the county party, she assisted Chairman Oxley in awarding the "Circle of Excellence" Eagle to municipal chairs who won control of their towns. Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini said she's exploring her options. If Bill Barham was there, I didn't see him. Gooch will be the nominee. You read it here first.
Joining Angelini from the 11th legislative district was Senator Sean Kean and Assemblyman Dave Rible. Assemblywoman Amy Handlin and Assemblyman Thomspon were present from the 13th. The 12th district legislators were absent.
Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce was present. Congressman Chris Smith was the keynote speaker.
Spring Lake Councilman Gary J. Rich, Sr will once again seek the GOP nomination for Freeholder. Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella is asking people if he should run. Let's have a poll!
Middletown Republicans are expecting Democrat Sean Byrnes to seek re-election to the Middletown Township Committee this year, rather than to make another run for Freeholder.
I have some corrections to make.
Far from being relieved that he doesn't have to bang the blogger, Sam Thomspon's reaction to Michael Illions dropping out of the race for Middlesex County Chairman was, "Darn!"
The other correction is that Assemblywoman Amy Handlin served as a Monmouth County Freeholder for 16 years, not 18 years, as I wrote last week.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Defection Fallout
Michael Illions' defection from the Republican party has caused a blip throughout the GOP and the blogosphere.
Illions announced that his intention is to defeat "RINOs" in general elections rather than primaries, thereby confirming that he has more disdain for moderates than he does for liberals. It also demonstrates that Michael can't count.
No one appears to be worried. Sam Thompson is relieved that he doesn't have to bang the blogger. The biggest concern I've heard is what will happen to the CWA buff elephant. Will Illions keep using the GOP mascot? Does the Conservative party have a mascot?
What should the CWA mascot be? It is too bad that the Democrats use the donkey, because instead of using a buff elephant, Michael could be represented by a tight donkey.
Make your mascot suggestions in the comments.
Illions announced that his intention is to defeat "RINOs" in general elections rather than primaries, thereby confirming that he has more disdain for moderates than he does for liberals. It also demonstrates that Michael can't count.
No one appears to be worried. Sam Thompson is relieved that he doesn't have to bang the blogger. The biggest concern I've heard is what will happen to the CWA buff elephant. Will Illions keep using the GOP mascot? Does the Conservative party have a mascot?
What should the CWA mascot be? It is too bad that the Democrats use the donkey, because instead of using a buff elephant, Michael could be represented by a tight donkey.
Make your mascot suggestions in the comments.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Illions Finds A New Home
Conservatives with Attitude! founder Michael Illions has left the Republican Party and joined the New Jersey Conservative Party.
Illions had been a candidate for Middlesex County GOP Chairman. He is now the state Vice Chairman and Executive Director of the Conservative Party, which had 130 registered voters on Election Day 2009, according to Matt Friedman at Politickernj.
Illions had been a candidate for Middlesex County GOP Chairman. He is now the state Vice Chairman and Executive Director of the Conservative Party, which had 130 registered voters on Election Day 2009, according to Matt Friedman at Politickernj.
Burry's Budget Remarks
Freeholder Director Lillian Burry delivered the following remarks yesterday upon the introduction of the first draft of the county budget:
Governments at every level are facing extraordinary challenges. Across the entire nation, growth has virtually stopped. Real estate values have eroded and government revenues are down. We have even seen a decline in the tax base of Monmouth County for the first time since 1992 and 1993. In the face of this grim reality our duty is not to complain or make excuses.
It is our responsibility to find ways to continue to do the business of government and do it to our own high standard and without placing too great a burden on the taxpayers we serve. One of the answers is that we will work with other governments to share resources and reduce costs while sustaining or enhancing our level of service. Another will be to identify services that can be provided as effectively by interests or agencies outside of government and transfer some functions entirely to them.
All departments have been challenged to identify new sustainable sources of revenue. We will also look across all of our operations and make the distinction between beneficial and essential government services. We will always maintain essential services but this may be a year when some things that do not meet this rigorous standard will be cut back or eliminated. But this does not mean we will do nothing but cut.
This year we will see progress in expanding our court facilities and a new home for the prosecutor’s office. We will also see the continuation of other valuable shared services. Our 911 system now serves 44 towns and provides reliability and cost savings to every one of them. Its new home being built to be shared with the emergency management offices will enhance our ability to serve. The Monmouth County Improvement Authority will continue to offer access to credit for all of our towns and school districts at rates based on the triple a bond rating that Monmouth County has again been awarded. We are one of only 22 counties out of 3,000 nationally to receive this rating from the three rating agencies.
Let us not forget this is a draft, a work in progress.
Curley The Maverick
Freeholder John Curley, known as a plain spoken maverick during his tenure as a Red Bank Councilman, has returned to form as a Monmouth County Freeholder.
Curley broke with fellow Republican Freeholders Lillian Burry and Rob Clifton at yesterday's meeting by voting against the introduction of the county budget, against the appointment of Terry O'Connor as County Administrator, and against the appointment of Matthew Goode of the firm Maybrock and Zapcic as special county counsel. Democratic Freeholders John D'Amico and Amy Mallet voted with Burry and Clifton.
Additionally, Curley issued the following statement this morning, which was not cleared through the county press office:
Curley told MoreMonmouthMusings that he proposed these reforms during his remarks on O'Connor's appointment. He said that he favors O'Connor for the job, but that he is opposed to the fact that there are no pay scales for appointed positions and that he is opposed to long term contracts for public employees.
Curley said that he is working full time as a Freeholder and that he is in his office at the Hall of Records five days per week. Despite his availability, Curley said that Burry and Clifton are not caucusing him with. He cited the special counsel appointment as a last minute agenda addition that he was out of the loop on.
The Monmouth GOP has a long history of having a maverick Freeholder. Amy Handlin, now an Assemblywoman, was often at odds with her fellow Republicans during her 18 years on the Freeholder Board. Anna Little, now the Mayor of Highlands, who replaced Handlin, had a tumultuous 22 month tenure as a Freeholder often butting heads with two county chairmen and then Freeholder Director Bill Barham.
Curley said that he doesn't care if he ends up being a one term Freeholder, "I campaigned for two years to reduce spending in the county and reform the way it does business. That's what I am going to do. If I step on some toes in getting that done, so be it."
Burry took issue with Curley's statement, "I don't know that we are off track. Monmouth is the most fiscally responsible county in New Jersey and one of the most responsible in the country, as evidenced by our AAA bond rating," she said, " Last year we reduced our work force by almost 10% and we started this year with closing the Youth Detention Center, which isn't reflected in the budget yet. John needs a better understanding of the process. Opposing the introduction of the budget draft, a starting point, makes no sense."
Burry said she would be happy to facilitate communication between herself, Curley and Clifton.
Clifton said, "John brings some deep seeded beliefs and a great new energy to the board. While on somethings we will disagree, I expect that we will agree on most. He is very inquisitive and is doing a good job learning how the county works."
Updated with Clifton's quote at 6:07 pm
Curley broke with fellow Republican Freeholders Lillian Burry and Rob Clifton at yesterday's meeting by voting against the introduction of the county budget, against the appointment of Terry O'Connor as County Administrator, and against the appointment of Matthew Goode of the firm Maybrock and Zapcic as special county counsel. Democratic Freeholders John D'Amico and Amy Mallet voted with Burry and Clifton.
Additionally, Curley issued the following statement this morning, which was not cleared through the county press office:
Freehold- Due to the mounting global economic meltdown Monmouth County along with other governmental agents must tighten their belts to relieve the burden on taxpayers. Freeholder Curley believes we must enact a comprehensive plan immediately.
“The County of Monmouth needs to revamp its governmental hierarchy starting at the top,” Freeholder Curley said “no longer can we burden the residents of Monmouth County to carry exorbitant salaries and positions in County Government.”
Freeholder Curley would like to see a cap placed on County salaries, and the doing away of many Deputy positions that are unnecessary.
“Last year the Freeholders requested the rank and file employees of the Sheriffs department to take salary cuts, and when the demand was rejected, layoffs ensued. It is now time for the top of our hierarchy to participate in salary savings.” Freeholder Curley went on to say “We must not compare Monmouth County salaries to other counties in New Jersey, but must lead the way in becoming the most fiscally responsible county in New Jersey.”
Freeholder Curley believes all this can be done by cutting through layers of bureaucracy, and through hard line cost saving cuts. He has laid out 12 ways he believes could put Monmouth County back on track.
“Currently the County is over burdened by eighteen employees making over $140,000 per year and 213 employees making over $100,000 per year this is unacceptable. We must act now and I believe the list that I have created is a good place to begin with for common sense government.” said Freeholder Curley.Curley proposed the following:
1) 5% cuts across the board are mandatory
2) Departments may not use newly derived funding toward their 5%. Cuts must be actual
3) Place a salary cap on all employees regardless of skills or length of service. This is cap would ensure no County employee would make more than a New Jersey Commissioner.
4) All hires and fires must go through the Board of Chosen Freeholders with explanation of same.
5) The Administrator, as directed in the Administrative Code works at the pleasure of the Freeholder Board and is in no way to be construed as a County Executive.
6) All Department heads report directly to the Freeholders.
7) The County Administrator shall prepare weekly activity reports for all the Freeholders.
8) Specific job duties for appointed employees will be assigned in conjunction with the Administrative Code.
9) Administrators must eliminate the Deputy positions and should only be staffed by an Administrative Assistant
10) Department Heads cannot give titles to employees with higher salaries when that title is foreign to their department.
11) The ploy tactic to increase wages by expanding hours from 35-40 hours per work week must cease.
12) New hires and appointed employees shall contribute toward healthcare premiums.
Curley told MoreMonmouthMusings that he proposed these reforms during his remarks on O'Connor's appointment. He said that he favors O'Connor for the job, but that he is opposed to the fact that there are no pay scales for appointed positions and that he is opposed to long term contracts for public employees.
Curley said that he is working full time as a Freeholder and that he is in his office at the Hall of Records five days per week. Despite his availability, Curley said that Burry and Clifton are not caucusing him with. He cited the special counsel appointment as a last minute agenda addition that he was out of the loop on.
The Monmouth GOP has a long history of having a maverick Freeholder. Amy Handlin, now an Assemblywoman, was often at odds with her fellow Republicans during her 18 years on the Freeholder Board. Anna Little, now the Mayor of Highlands, who replaced Handlin, had a tumultuous 22 month tenure as a Freeholder often butting heads with two county chairmen and then Freeholder Director Bill Barham.
Curley said that he doesn't care if he ends up being a one term Freeholder, "I campaigned for two years to reduce spending in the county and reform the way it does business. That's what I am going to do. If I step on some toes in getting that done, so be it."
Burry took issue with Curley's statement, "I don't know that we are off track. Monmouth is the most fiscally responsible county in New Jersey and one of the most responsible in the country, as evidenced by our AAA bond rating," she said, " Last year we reduced our work force by almost 10% and we started this year with closing the Youth Detention Center, which isn't reflected in the budget yet. John needs a better understanding of the process. Opposing the introduction of the budget draft, a starting point, makes no sense."
Burry said she would be happy to facilitate communication between herself, Curley and Clifton.
Clifton said, "John brings some deep seeded beliefs and a great new energy to the board. While on somethings we will disagree, I expect that we will agree on most. He is very inquisitive and is doing a good job learning how the county works."
Updated with Clifton's quote at 6:07 pm
The Honeymoon Is Over
Governor Chris Christie's honeymoon in Trenton lasted just a little bit longer than this marriage in the UAE:
Since the Florio administraion, reform rhetoric has been the veil that gubernatorial candidates wear to get elected. Whitman, McGreevey and Corzine all wore it. Soon after arriving in Trenton they unveiled themselves as bearded cross eyed camel butts who fit right in with the ugly ways of Trenton's spending orgy.
Yesterday in Trenton Governor Chris Christie revealed that his rhetoric is not a veil. He means what he says. He meant what he said through out the campaign.
New Jersey doesn't have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Changed has arrived. Chris Christie is shining the lights on the uglies. He's ending the fiscal insanity to balance the budget now and promising deeper cuts to balance the 2011 budget.
Not surprisingly, the legislature is reacting like the Arab Ambassador who was tricked into marrying the bearded sister.
"So much for the handshake. He's governing by executive order," squealed Senate President Steve Sweeney.
Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said the broad language of Christie’s executive order could mean he has given himself power to break contracts, set aside civil service rules or anything else. “What the governor did today is in essence declare martial law,” she said. As if that were a bad thing.
Former Governor Jon Corzine didn't know how to leave quietly when he got fired from Goldman Sachs. He spent weeks parked in his limo outside the bank's offices trying to stay relevant. He still hasn't learned. His spokesman told Politickernj that there really isn't a $2.2 billion budget deficit for Christie to close, but only a $533-$739 million deficit, "which isn't an emergency."
Partisan bickering will be prevalent as the hacks scramble to save their fiefdoms and maintain the status quo that Christie has claimed a mandate to destroy.
My money is on Christie to prevail for two reasons. 1)As Buono said, Christie has all the power and 2) if he doesn't prevail, I won't have any money anyway.
NY Post:
An Arab ambassador lifted his "beautiful" bride's veil to find that she was really as ugly as a camel's behind.
The unnamed envoy from the United Arab Emirates -- who immediately demanded an annulment -- had only seen his wife before their wedding while she was wearing a niqab, a veil that completely covered her face.
The powerful Arab was enticed to marry the falafel-faced woman after her mom had showed him what appeared to be a pretty picture of her. But he now claims that the woman in the photo turned out to be the homely bride's beautiful sister.
To the ambassador's horror, he lifted the woman's veil on the day of the their wedding and found out that she looked like a bearded and cross-eyed mix of Yasser Arafat and Amy Winehouse, Gulf News reported.
Outraged, he quickly went to an Islamic sharia court and demanded the marriage contract be annulled.
And he also asked that the bride pay him $136,000 to cover the cost of the jewels, clothes and other gifts he bought her before their wedding. The court granted the annulment, but refused compensation.
Since the Florio administraion, reform rhetoric has been the veil that gubernatorial candidates wear to get elected. Whitman, McGreevey and Corzine all wore it. Soon after arriving in Trenton they unveiled themselves as bearded cross eyed camel butts who fit right in with the ugly ways of Trenton's spending orgy.
Yesterday in Trenton Governor Chris Christie revealed that his rhetoric is not a veil. He means what he says. He meant what he said through out the campaign.
New Jersey doesn't have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Changed has arrived. Chris Christie is shining the lights on the uglies. He's ending the fiscal insanity to balance the budget now and promising deeper cuts to balance the 2011 budget.
Not surprisingly, the legislature is reacting like the Arab Ambassador who was tricked into marrying the bearded sister.
"So much for the handshake. He's governing by executive order," squealed Senate President Steve Sweeney.
Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said the broad language of Christie’s executive order could mean he has given himself power to break contracts, set aside civil service rules or anything else. “What the governor did today is in essence declare martial law,” she said. As if that were a bad thing.
Former Governor Jon Corzine didn't know how to leave quietly when he got fired from Goldman Sachs. He spent weeks parked in his limo outside the bank's offices trying to stay relevant. He still hasn't learned. His spokesman told Politickernj that there really isn't a $2.2 billion budget deficit for Christie to close, but only a $533-$739 million deficit, "which isn't an emergency."
Partisan bickering will be prevalent as the hacks scramble to save their fiefdoms and maintain the status quo that Christie has claimed a mandate to destroy.
My money is on Christie to prevail for two reasons. 1)As Buono said, Christie has all the power and 2) if he doesn't prevail, I won't have any money anyway.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Text Of Governor Christie's Remarks To The Legislature
Mr. President, Madame Speaker, members of the Senate and Assembly, fellow citizens of New Jersey.
Twenty three days ago, I was honored to take the oath of office as your governor and promised you and the people of New Jersey a new direction.
The old ways of doing business have not served the people well, I said, and I asked for your help in bringing about change.
Today, I have called you together because it is time to take the first major – and urgent -- step in delivering the change we promised, in the critically important area of the state budget.
New Jersey is in a state of financial crisis. Our state’s budget has been left in a shambles and requires immediate action to achieve balance. For the current fiscal year 2010, which has only four and one-half months left to go, the budget we have inherited has a two billion dollar gap. The budget passed less than eight months ago, in June of last year, contained all of the same worn out tricks of the trade that have become common place in Trenton, that have driven our citizens to anger and frustration and our wonderful state to the edge of bankruptcy.
What do I mean exactly? This year’s budget projected 5.1 % growth in sales tax revenue and flat growth in corporate business tax revenues. In June of 2009, was there anyone in New Jersey, other than in the department of treasury, who actually believed any revenues would grow in 2009-2010? With spiraling unemployment heading over 10%, with a financial system in crisis and with consumers petrified to spend, only Trenton treasury officials could certify that kind of growth. In fact, sales tax revenue is not up 5%, it is down 5.5 %; and corporate business tax revenue is not flat, it is down 8%. Any wonder why we are in such big trouble? Any question why the people don’t trust their government anymore and demanded change in November? Today, we must make a pact with each other to end this reckless conduct with the people’s government. Today, we come to terms with the fact that we cannot spend money on everything we want. Today, the days of Alice in Wonderland budgeting in Trenton end.
The facts are that revenues are coming in $1.2 billion below what was projected last year, and over $800 million in additional spending was done by the previous administration on their way out the door.
Our Constitution requires a balanced budget. Our commitment requires us to begin the next fiscal year with a prudent opening balance. Our conscience and common sense require us to fix the problem in a way that does not raise taxes on the most overtaxed citizens in America. Our love for our children requires that we do not shove today’s problems under the rug only to be discovered again tomorrow. Our sense of decency must require that we stop using tricks that will make next year’s budget problem even worse.
So today, I am beginning the process of fiscal reform and discipline. Today, we are going to act swiftly to fix problems long ignored. Today, I begin to do what I promised the people of New Jersey I would do. Today, I begin to give them the change they voted for in November.
I take no joy in having to make these decisions. I know these judgments will affect fellow New Jerseyans and will hurt. This is not a happy moment. However, what choices do we have left? The defenders of the status quo will start chattering as soon as I leave this chamber. They’ll say the problems are not that bad; listen to me, I can spare you the pain and sacrifice. We know this is simply not true. New Jersey has been steaming toward financial disaster for years due to that kind of attitude. The people elected us to end the talk and to act decisively. Today is the day for the complaining to end and for statesmanship to begin.
Today, I am taking action to cut state spending to balance the budget this year.
This is the immediate action I am taking:
This morning, I signed an executive order freezing the necessary state spending to balance our budget.
We will freeze the spending of unspent technical balances across a wide array of state programs. This includes everything from unspent funds to upgrade energy systems in state facilities to those aimed at assisting local governments in their consolidation plans.
Not everything is painless. Some projects will be delayed or terminated, some services will be reduced. But in total, we can reduce spending by over $550 million this year by lapsing these unspent balances – by not spending these funds and applying them now towards our multi-billion dollar budget gap.
For example, our state’s special municipal aid program includes a balance of $3.2 million, mostly for overhead costs. This spending is not appropriate, not necessary and will not be done.
The “InvestNJ” program has a large unspent balance and a failed record in actually creating new jobs. We can save taxpayers $50 million by terminating this program now. Instead, I believe we should create, without significant public expense, a one stop shop to clear away obstacles and speed the path to job creation – the New Jersey partnership for action.
I will also take action to terminate or suspend programs to save another $70 million this year.
Some projects we can afford to delay until the state has the resources to pay for them. This list would include capital improvements to state buildings, correctional facilities, and state parks.
It includes items like the main street program which has both current and long term funds which have not been spent yet and will not realistically be spent this year. These funds should be returned to the general fund to help balance the budget.
In total, deferral of these long term projects and items to a less rainy day in New Jersey can reduce spending by $90 million in this fiscal year.
We can improve certain practices in the ways we use and collect revenues.
Two examples: we can accelerate our dispute resolution processes on taxation settlements and save $20 million.
And we can appropriately ask the urban enterprise zones to repay the general fund for its subsidy of the required contribution of these zones to property tax relief in years past.
By far the biggest category of spending we will need to cut, however, is that for programs which actually have merit, and in most cases make sense, but which we simply cannot afford at this time. Like any family, and like forty two other states with constitutionally required balanced budgets, we must live within our means. New Jersey does not have a revenue problem—we already have higher taxes than any other state in the union. We have gone down the road of ever higher taxes to pay for Trenton’s addiction to spending. What has it given us? 10.1 percent unemployment, a dormant economy and a failure of hope for growth in our future. Higher taxes is the road to ruin. We must, and we will, shrink our government.
That means making some tough choices. It means tightening our belts. It means making do with the resources we have. And it means charting the course to reform now so that our spending will be more effective in the future.
So today I am implementing over a billion dollars in reductions and reforms to programs that we simply cannot afford in the current economic environment and in our current fiscal state.
For example, the state cannot continue to subsidize New Jersey transit to the extent it does. So I am cutting that subsidy. New Jersey transit will have to improve the efficiency of its operations, revisit its rich union contracts, end the patronage hiring that has typified its past, and may also have to consider service reductions or fare increases. But the system needs to be made more efficient and effective.
The state cannot this year spend another $100 million contributing to a pension system that is desperately in need of reform. I am encouraged by the bi-partisan bills filed in the Senate this week to begin pension and benefit reform. I commend President Sweeney and Senator Kean for leading the way to begin this long overdue set of reforms. I am sure our Assembly colleagues will follow suit with the same kind of bi-partisan effort.
These bills must just mark the beginning, not the end, of our conversation and actions on pension and benefit reform. Because make no mistake about it, pensions and benefits are the major driver of our spending increases at all levels of government—state, county, municipal and school board. Also, don’t believe our citizens don’t know it and demand, finally, from their government real action and meaningful reform. The special interests have already begun to scream their favorite word, which, coincidentally, is my nine year old son’s favorite word when we are making him do something he knows is right but does not want to do—“unfair.”
Let’s tell our citizens the truth—today—right now—about what failing to do strong reforms costs them.
One state retiree, 49 years old, paid, over the course of his entire career, a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments over his life and nearly $500,000 for health care benefits -- a total of $3.8m on a $120,000 investment. Is that fair?
A retired teacher paid $62,000 towards her pension and nothing, yes nothing, for full family medical, dental and vision coverage over her entire career. What will we pay her? $1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime. Is it “fair” for all of us and our children to have to pay for this excess?
The total unfunded pension and medical benefit costs are $90 billion. We would have to pay $7 billion per year to make them current. We don’t have that money—you know it and I know it. What has been done to our citizens by offering a pension system we cannot afford and health benefits that are 41% more expensive than the average fortune 500 company’s costs is the truly unfair part of this equation.
The only principled path in light of these mountainous challenges is this—take these reform bills, make them even stronger and put them on my desk before I return here on March sixteenth for my budget address. And on this you have my pledge—unlike in the past, when you stood up and did what was right, this governor will not pull the rug out from underneath you—I will sign strong reform bills.
But until that reform is enacted, we cannot in good conscience fund a system that is out of control, bankrupting our state and its people, and making promises it cannot meet in the long term.
The biggest category of reductions will likely be the most controversial.
School aid is a large proportion of New Jersey’s budget – especially of the amount which has not yet been spent in FY 2010. So we cannot put our budget in balance without putting some school aid in reserve.
We are not alone in this; other states have been required to do the same.
The previous administration severely underestimated our budget gap, and it proposed to reserve some $230 million in school aid – yet it did not offer a legislative solution to achieve this number, and once again, left important business unfinished.
I am implementing a solution which insures that every school district has the resources to provide a thorough and efficient education to its students.
Our solution does not take one penny from an approved school instructional budget. Not one dime out of the classroom. Not one text book left unbought. Not one teacher laid off. Not one child’s education compromised for one minute. Not one dollar of new property taxes will be needed. The union protectors of the status quo will claim otherwise—once again, they will be proven to be self-interested and wrong.
Many school districts in New Jersey have surpluses that were not a part of their fiscal year 2010 budgets. This is because they were either not anticipated – so called excess surpluses – or were placed in a reserve account – so called reserve surpluses.
I am reducing school aid in a way that ensures that no district will have aid withheld in an amount that is greater than its surpluses.
To some, an across the board reduction of a fixed percentage of school aid may seem more fair. But because some districts rely so heavily on state aid, this may affect their ability to provide the required thorough and efficient education to their students. And this approach would likely throw some districts into a deficit situation. We have not reduced school aid with an axe—we have done it with a scalpel and with great care.
The total amount of aid to be withheld is $475 million. I know this solution will not be popular. More than 500 school districts will be affected, and more than 100 districts will lose all state aid for the remainder of the year.
But action is required. It is late in the fiscal year. The irresponsible budgeting of the past, coupled with failed tax policies which lie like a heavy, wet blanket suffocating tax revenues and job growth, have required these extraordinary steps. Despite this bold action, remember, we have not taken one dime from classroom instruction, not forced one penny of increase in our property taxes.
Let me repeat. Every dollar in every school budget approved in every school district across the state remains intact.
Suburban districts will sacrifice. Urban districts will sacrifice. Rural districts will sacrifice. Some, both inside and outside this chamber, will urge you to retreat to the corner and protect your own piece of turf. Our state is in crisis. Our people are hurting. Now is the time when we all must resist the traditional, selfish call to protect your own turf at the cost of our state. It is time to leave the corner, join the sacrifice, come to the center of the room and be part of the solution. I urge all of us to come to the center of the room voluntarily, to stand up to the special interests, to fix our broken state – together. For those who continue to defend the old ways of selfishly protecting turf, who stay in the corner defending parochial interests, please be on notice – people of good will who want a better, stronger New Jersey will band together to come into those corners and drag you to the center of the room to make our state the place we know it can be.
In total, I am cutting spending in 375 different state programs, from every corner of state government.
I doubt that many will be popular. I will use my executive authority to implement them now, because I must.
Taken as a package, they will achieve the required savings and eliminate our $2 billion budget gap.
I am not happy, but I am not afraid to make these decisions, either. It is what the people sent me here to do.
I ask of you in the legislature to show the same frankness and commitment. For inaction is not an option. That was the path taken for far too long.
The cuts I have outlined may sound dramatic. And they are. Some sound painful. And they will be.
But let me give you some context. As of the first of this month, about half of the budget was already spent. The state at January 31 had about $14 billion of unspent monies for the current fiscal year. Of that amount, $8 billion cannot be touched – by contract, as in the case of state employees or maintenance of effort for federal stimulus money; by constitutional requirement; by the terms of our bonds; or by law.
So upon arrival, my administration had $6 billion of balances to work with -- $6 billion of balances from which to find $2 billion of savings. We had to cut 1/3 of our available funds with only 4 ½ months to go in the fiscal year.
We all were taught when we were young that it is not always easy to do the right thing.
We chose not to use gimmicks or band aids to hide the budget gap or defer it until next year, when it would be even worse. We refused to repeat the failures of the past.
We chose to confront the problem head on by reforming our spending habits, and laying the groundwork for reform so that we can repair a structural deficit that will be even larger – many times larger – in the next fiscal year, 2011.
So the cuts I am making today are not easy -- but they are necessary.
And make no mistake: our priorities are to reduce and reform New Jersey’s habit of excessive government spending, to reduce taxes, to encourage job creation, to shrink our bloated government, and to fund our responsibilities on a pay-as-you-go basis and not leave them for future generations. In short, to make new jersey a home for growth instead of a fiscal basket case.
We have set out in a new direction – a direction dictated by the votes of the people of New Jersey – and I do not intend to turn back. I will not break faith with them or the mandate they have given me.
A great president, Ronald Reagan, once said that: “a leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets tough.”
In just over a month, I will come before you to lay out my plan for fiscal year 2011 and beyond. The challenge next year will be even greater. The cuts likely will be even deeper. The reforms will, of necessity, be even more dramatic.
But let us not make that problem even worse.
Let us begin the process of reform today.
Let us listen to the will of the people and proceed in a new, more responsible direction.
Let us live within the means the people are already providing us and not take more of their hard-earned wages and savings from their pockets.
Let us have the courage to make change; the fortitude to see it through; and the vision not only to craft a more sound and sustainable budget, but to build a better state that can grow once again.
Thank you very much. God bless America and may God continue to bless the great state of New Jersey.
Twenty three days ago, I was honored to take the oath of office as your governor and promised you and the people of New Jersey a new direction.
The old ways of doing business have not served the people well, I said, and I asked for your help in bringing about change.
Today, I have called you together because it is time to take the first major – and urgent -- step in delivering the change we promised, in the critically important area of the state budget.
New Jersey is in a state of financial crisis. Our state’s budget has been left in a shambles and requires immediate action to achieve balance. For the current fiscal year 2010, which has only four and one-half months left to go, the budget we have inherited has a two billion dollar gap. The budget passed less than eight months ago, in June of last year, contained all of the same worn out tricks of the trade that have become common place in Trenton, that have driven our citizens to anger and frustration and our wonderful state to the edge of bankruptcy.
What do I mean exactly? This year’s budget projected 5.1 % growth in sales tax revenue and flat growth in corporate business tax revenues. In June of 2009, was there anyone in New Jersey, other than in the department of treasury, who actually believed any revenues would grow in 2009-2010? With spiraling unemployment heading over 10%, with a financial system in crisis and with consumers petrified to spend, only Trenton treasury officials could certify that kind of growth. In fact, sales tax revenue is not up 5%, it is down 5.5 %; and corporate business tax revenue is not flat, it is down 8%. Any wonder why we are in such big trouble? Any question why the people don’t trust their government anymore and demanded change in November? Today, we must make a pact with each other to end this reckless conduct with the people’s government. Today, we come to terms with the fact that we cannot spend money on everything we want. Today, the days of Alice in Wonderland budgeting in Trenton end.
The facts are that revenues are coming in $1.2 billion below what was projected last year, and over $800 million in additional spending was done by the previous administration on their way out the door.
Our Constitution requires a balanced budget. Our commitment requires us to begin the next fiscal year with a prudent opening balance. Our conscience and common sense require us to fix the problem in a way that does not raise taxes on the most overtaxed citizens in America. Our love for our children requires that we do not shove today’s problems under the rug only to be discovered again tomorrow. Our sense of decency must require that we stop using tricks that will make next year’s budget problem even worse.
So today, I am beginning the process of fiscal reform and discipline. Today, we are going to act swiftly to fix problems long ignored. Today, I begin to do what I promised the people of New Jersey I would do. Today, I begin to give them the change they voted for in November.
I take no joy in having to make these decisions. I know these judgments will affect fellow New Jerseyans and will hurt. This is not a happy moment. However, what choices do we have left? The defenders of the status quo will start chattering as soon as I leave this chamber. They’ll say the problems are not that bad; listen to me, I can spare you the pain and sacrifice. We know this is simply not true. New Jersey has been steaming toward financial disaster for years due to that kind of attitude. The people elected us to end the talk and to act decisively. Today is the day for the complaining to end and for statesmanship to begin.
Today, I am taking action to cut state spending to balance the budget this year.
This is the immediate action I am taking:
This morning, I signed an executive order freezing the necessary state spending to balance our budget.
We will freeze the spending of unspent technical balances across a wide array of state programs. This includes everything from unspent funds to upgrade energy systems in state facilities to those aimed at assisting local governments in their consolidation plans.
Not everything is painless. Some projects will be delayed or terminated, some services will be reduced. But in total, we can reduce spending by over $550 million this year by lapsing these unspent balances – by not spending these funds and applying them now towards our multi-billion dollar budget gap.
For example, our state’s special municipal aid program includes a balance of $3.2 million, mostly for overhead costs. This spending is not appropriate, not necessary and will not be done.
The “InvestNJ” program has a large unspent balance and a failed record in actually creating new jobs. We can save taxpayers $50 million by terminating this program now. Instead, I believe we should create, without significant public expense, a one stop shop to clear away obstacles and speed the path to job creation – the New Jersey partnership for action.
I will also take action to terminate or suspend programs to save another $70 million this year.
Some projects we can afford to delay until the state has the resources to pay for them. This list would include capital improvements to state buildings, correctional facilities, and state parks.
It includes items like the main street program which has both current and long term funds which have not been spent yet and will not realistically be spent this year. These funds should be returned to the general fund to help balance the budget.
In total, deferral of these long term projects and items to a less rainy day in New Jersey can reduce spending by $90 million in this fiscal year.
We can improve certain practices in the ways we use and collect revenues.
Two examples: we can accelerate our dispute resolution processes on taxation settlements and save $20 million.
And we can appropriately ask the urban enterprise zones to repay the general fund for its subsidy of the required contribution of these zones to property tax relief in years past.
By far the biggest category of spending we will need to cut, however, is that for programs which actually have merit, and in most cases make sense, but which we simply cannot afford at this time. Like any family, and like forty two other states with constitutionally required balanced budgets, we must live within our means. New Jersey does not have a revenue problem—we already have higher taxes than any other state in the union. We have gone down the road of ever higher taxes to pay for Trenton’s addiction to spending. What has it given us? 10.1 percent unemployment, a dormant economy and a failure of hope for growth in our future. Higher taxes is the road to ruin. We must, and we will, shrink our government.
That means making some tough choices. It means tightening our belts. It means making do with the resources we have. And it means charting the course to reform now so that our spending will be more effective in the future.
So today I am implementing over a billion dollars in reductions and reforms to programs that we simply cannot afford in the current economic environment and in our current fiscal state.
For example, the state cannot continue to subsidize New Jersey transit to the extent it does. So I am cutting that subsidy. New Jersey transit will have to improve the efficiency of its operations, revisit its rich union contracts, end the patronage hiring that has typified its past, and may also have to consider service reductions or fare increases. But the system needs to be made more efficient and effective.
The state cannot this year spend another $100 million contributing to a pension system that is desperately in need of reform. I am encouraged by the bi-partisan bills filed in the Senate this week to begin pension and benefit reform. I commend President Sweeney and Senator Kean for leading the way to begin this long overdue set of reforms. I am sure our Assembly colleagues will follow suit with the same kind of bi-partisan effort.
These bills must just mark the beginning, not the end, of our conversation and actions on pension and benefit reform. Because make no mistake about it, pensions and benefits are the major driver of our spending increases at all levels of government—state, county, municipal and school board. Also, don’t believe our citizens don’t know it and demand, finally, from their government real action and meaningful reform. The special interests have already begun to scream their favorite word, which, coincidentally, is my nine year old son’s favorite word when we are making him do something he knows is right but does not want to do—“unfair.”
Let’s tell our citizens the truth—today—right now—about what failing to do strong reforms costs them.
One state retiree, 49 years old, paid, over the course of his entire career, a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments over his life and nearly $500,000 for health care benefits -- a total of $3.8m on a $120,000 investment. Is that fair?
A retired teacher paid $62,000 towards her pension and nothing, yes nothing, for full family medical, dental and vision coverage over her entire career. What will we pay her? $1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime. Is it “fair” for all of us and our children to have to pay for this excess?
The total unfunded pension and medical benefit costs are $90 billion. We would have to pay $7 billion per year to make them current. We don’t have that money—you know it and I know it. What has been done to our citizens by offering a pension system we cannot afford and health benefits that are 41% more expensive than the average fortune 500 company’s costs is the truly unfair part of this equation.
The only principled path in light of these mountainous challenges is this—take these reform bills, make them even stronger and put them on my desk before I return here on March sixteenth for my budget address. And on this you have my pledge—unlike in the past, when you stood up and did what was right, this governor will not pull the rug out from underneath you—I will sign strong reform bills.
But until that reform is enacted, we cannot in good conscience fund a system that is out of control, bankrupting our state and its people, and making promises it cannot meet in the long term.
The biggest category of reductions will likely be the most controversial.
School aid is a large proportion of New Jersey’s budget – especially of the amount which has not yet been spent in FY 2010. So we cannot put our budget in balance without putting some school aid in reserve.
We are not alone in this; other states have been required to do the same.
The previous administration severely underestimated our budget gap, and it proposed to reserve some $230 million in school aid – yet it did not offer a legislative solution to achieve this number, and once again, left important business unfinished.
I am implementing a solution which insures that every school district has the resources to provide a thorough and efficient education to its students.
Our solution does not take one penny from an approved school instructional budget. Not one dime out of the classroom. Not one text book left unbought. Not one teacher laid off. Not one child’s education compromised for one minute. Not one dollar of new property taxes will be needed. The union protectors of the status quo will claim otherwise—once again, they will be proven to be self-interested and wrong.
Many school districts in New Jersey have surpluses that were not a part of their fiscal year 2010 budgets. This is because they were either not anticipated – so called excess surpluses – or were placed in a reserve account – so called reserve surpluses.
I am reducing school aid in a way that ensures that no district will have aid withheld in an amount that is greater than its surpluses.
To some, an across the board reduction of a fixed percentage of school aid may seem more fair. But because some districts rely so heavily on state aid, this may affect their ability to provide the required thorough and efficient education to their students. And this approach would likely throw some districts into a deficit situation. We have not reduced school aid with an axe—we have done it with a scalpel and with great care.
The total amount of aid to be withheld is $475 million. I know this solution will not be popular. More than 500 school districts will be affected, and more than 100 districts will lose all state aid for the remainder of the year.
But action is required. It is late in the fiscal year. The irresponsible budgeting of the past, coupled with failed tax policies which lie like a heavy, wet blanket suffocating tax revenues and job growth, have required these extraordinary steps. Despite this bold action, remember, we have not taken one dime from classroom instruction, not forced one penny of increase in our property taxes.
Let me repeat. Every dollar in every school budget approved in every school district across the state remains intact.
Suburban districts will sacrifice. Urban districts will sacrifice. Rural districts will sacrifice. Some, both inside and outside this chamber, will urge you to retreat to the corner and protect your own piece of turf. Our state is in crisis. Our people are hurting. Now is the time when we all must resist the traditional, selfish call to protect your own turf at the cost of our state. It is time to leave the corner, join the sacrifice, come to the center of the room and be part of the solution. I urge all of us to come to the center of the room voluntarily, to stand up to the special interests, to fix our broken state – together. For those who continue to defend the old ways of selfishly protecting turf, who stay in the corner defending parochial interests, please be on notice – people of good will who want a better, stronger New Jersey will band together to come into those corners and drag you to the center of the room to make our state the place we know it can be.
In total, I am cutting spending in 375 different state programs, from every corner of state government.
I doubt that many will be popular. I will use my executive authority to implement them now, because I must.
Taken as a package, they will achieve the required savings and eliminate our $2 billion budget gap.
I am not happy, but I am not afraid to make these decisions, either. It is what the people sent me here to do.
I ask of you in the legislature to show the same frankness and commitment. For inaction is not an option. That was the path taken for far too long.
The cuts I have outlined may sound dramatic. And they are. Some sound painful. And they will be.
But let me give you some context. As of the first of this month, about half of the budget was already spent. The state at January 31 had about $14 billion of unspent monies for the current fiscal year. Of that amount, $8 billion cannot be touched – by contract, as in the case of state employees or maintenance of effort for federal stimulus money; by constitutional requirement; by the terms of our bonds; or by law.
So upon arrival, my administration had $6 billion of balances to work with -- $6 billion of balances from which to find $2 billion of savings. We had to cut 1/3 of our available funds with only 4 ½ months to go in the fiscal year.
We all were taught when we were young that it is not always easy to do the right thing.
We chose not to use gimmicks or band aids to hide the budget gap or defer it until next year, when it would be even worse. We refused to repeat the failures of the past.
We chose to confront the problem head on by reforming our spending habits, and laying the groundwork for reform so that we can repair a structural deficit that will be even larger – many times larger – in the next fiscal year, 2011.
So the cuts I am making today are not easy -- but they are necessary.
And make no mistake: our priorities are to reduce and reform New Jersey’s habit of excessive government spending, to reduce taxes, to encourage job creation, to shrink our bloated government, and to fund our responsibilities on a pay-as-you-go basis and not leave them for future generations. In short, to make new jersey a home for growth instead of a fiscal basket case.
We have set out in a new direction – a direction dictated by the votes of the people of New Jersey – and I do not intend to turn back. I will not break faith with them or the mandate they have given me.
A great president, Ronald Reagan, once said that: “a leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets tough.”
In just over a month, I will come before you to lay out my plan for fiscal year 2011 and beyond. The challenge next year will be even greater. The cuts likely will be even deeper. The reforms will, of necessity, be even more dramatic.
But let us not make that problem even worse.
Let us begin the process of reform today.
Let us listen to the will of the people and proceed in a new, more responsible direction.
Let us live within the means the people are already providing us and not take more of their hard-earned wages and savings from their pockets.
Let us have the courage to make change; the fortitude to see it through; and the vision not only to craft a more sound and sustainable budget, but to build a better state that can grow once again.
Thank you very much. God bless America and may God continue to bless the great state of New Jersey.
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