Will someone please tell South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to stop talking to reporters as if they were therapists or pastors!
The Associated Press has an article today that makes me want to read more about Michael Jackson.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said Tuesday that he "crossed lines" with a handful of women other than his mistress -- but never had sex with them.
The governor said he "never crossed the ultimate line" with anyone but Maria Belen Chapur, the Argentine at the center of a scandal that has derailed his once-promising political career.
Hmmm, which former President does that remind you of? I think Sanford was a Congressman who voted to impeach that President for similarly not crossing the ultimate line.
It gets worse.
During an emotional interview at his Statehouse office with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sanford said Chapur is his soul mate but he's trying to fall back in love with his wife.
Just what any wife would want to hear. Can't you imagine Jenny being so happy to hear that he's trying to fall back in love with her, despite that fact that another woman is his soul mate?
SHUT UP MARK! You are not well. Get some professional help and stop talking about this to reporters!
The Minnesota Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling that Al Franken defeated Norm Coleman by 312 votes in the U.S. Senate election last November. Coleman conceded this afternoon.
Franken's victory gives the Democrats a 60 seat-filibuster proof majority in the Senate.
Max Pizzaro at Politickernj is reporting that Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno has "faired very well during the vetting process," for Lietuenant Governor candidate and is on Chris Christie's short list.
If selected, Guadagno's nomination would culminate a meteoric rise to the top of New Jersey politics in just two years.
In 2007, while serving as a relatively unknown Commissioner in Monmouth Beach, Kim emerged as a front runner for an 11th district Assembly seat following Steve Corodemus's surprise decision to retire rather seek re-election after it became apparent that Sean Kean was the party favorite for the Senate seat held by Joe Palaia.
If not for the unexpected retirements of Corodemus and Oxley in 2007, Guadagno would probably still be a Monmouth Beach Commissioner.
Unlike many politicians, Guadagno in known for her extremely competent service rather than her ambition. She embodies service and excellence. Underneath her genuinely friendly and humble good nature is a keen intellect and toughness. She is tough without being derisive.
Should Christie choose her, New Jersey voters will love Kim Guadagno.
1) More than 1.2 million fewer New Jerseyans will receive rebate checks.
2) Taxes are increased by $1.2 billion.
3) Income tax rates will rise from 6.37 percent to 8 percent on household income between $400,000 and $500,000; from 8.97 percent to 10.25 percent for income between $500,000 and $1 million, as first proposed in March; and from 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent on income over $1 million.
4) Cigarette taxes are going up 12.5 cents per pack to $2.70.
5) Taxes are going up by 3.5 cents on a typical 0.75 liter bottle of wine and 22 cents on a 0.75 liter bottle of liquor.
6) Businesses will continue to pay a 4 percent surcharge on their corporate taxes that has been charged for three years but was supposed to expire.
7) Taxes on group accident and health insurance premiums will go up for one year. Taxes on high-risk insurance policies, such as beachfront homes, will jump permanently from 3 percent to 5 percent.
8) Taxes are increased on lottery winnings of more than $10,000.
9) The budget skips some $2.2 billion in pension payments.
10) The budget relies on more than $2.2 billion in federal stimulus money that won't be available next year, leaving a hole to fill next year.
Senator Joe Kyrillos, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, expressed disappointment today in comments made by the governor and Legislative leaders concerning this year’s budget:
“I am extremely disappointed with the comments concerning the state of New Jersey’s financial situation. One has to wonder what statistics are the governor and his allies in the Legislature referring to that support the contention that the state’s is doing better economically than her neighbors
“The truth is: New Jersey has the highest unemployment rate in the region and New Jersey will have fewer private sector jobs at the end of the decade than at the beginning of the decade. That hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.
“The budget that Governor Corzine will sign today will make matters an order of magnitude worse next year. This year’s budget is just a continuation of the job-killing Democrat policies of the last eight years. The Fiscal Year 2011 budget will start off with an estimated $8 to $10 billion structural deficit. To put that number in perspective, one-quarter to one-third of the next budget will be in red ink.
“When this year’s budget is signed, New Jersey will have the highest property taxes, one of the highest marginal income tax rates, the second highest sales tax and no property tax rebates for many middle-class taxpayers. In fact, this budget will cost a middle-class family making the state median wage an estimated $1,500 in additional taxes this year.
“Higher unemployment, higher taxes on the middle class, negative private sector job growth and a budget that will only make matters worse. Yes, Governor Corzine the situation is that bad, and you should acknowledge the facts.”
Congressman Leonard Lance, one of the 8 Republicans to vote with Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama for the "Cap and Trade" bill, issued the following justification for doing so:
06/26/09
WASHINGTON, DC— Rep. Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today released the following statement following passage of H.R. 2454, the “American Clean Energy and Security Act.”
“For more than 30 years our country has done little but talk about becoming energy independent, while everyday becoming more dependent on costly, dangerous and polluting foreign oil. That needs to change.
“I am voting for this bill because it is time America turned the corner and took bold action to clean the environment and develop alternative energy. We cannot allow countries whose opposition to democracy and support for terrorism grow with every barrel of oil they sell to continue to dominate energy politics.
“Today’s legislation, while not perfect, is a badly needed and long overdue step toward a national energy policy that reduces our dependence on foreign oil, ensure our national security and leads us on a path toward cleaner energy.
“The fact of the matter is New Jersey and the Northeast are well ahead of the curve on many of the key elements of the legislation before the House.
“Here at home, the state of New Jersey is already subject to limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants under the ten-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. And our state renewable portfolio standard is more aggressive than the federal program contained in the bill.
“New Jersey serves as a national model for its investments in new, clean energy technologies that have reduced greenhouse gas emissions and created thousands of jobs. I heard from a number of New Jersey’s leading businesses that firmly believe today’s legislation would strengthen our state economy through innovative and sustainable job creation. It is time for other states to follow New Jersey’s leadership and do their share to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate development of low-carbon energy sources and green jobs.
“I understand the concerns associated with the costs to consumers. Many leading experts differ on the economic impact the legislation will have on taxpayers. But the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has concluded that any costs incurred would be minimal – equivalent to the price of a first-class postage stamp a day.
“For my part, I joined a number of my colleagues in support of an amendment to provide some financial tax relief should this legislation adversely affect middle-class families. But we were not allowed to bring our amendment before the full House of Representatives for consideration. Rest assured I intend to work with the Senate on this issue and pledge to reduce any costs increases on ratepayers across the country.
“In the end, it is my strong view that it is in the best interest of New Jersey’s economy and our nation for Congress to enact a national program to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of clean, renewable energy.”
Will a real Republican please stand up to primary this guy next year? Please?
At a Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender(LGBT)fundraiser in Washington which raised about $1 million, Vice President Joe Biden praised the work of Tim Kaine, "the great governor of New Jersey,", according to the LA Times' Top of The Ticket blog.
Kaine is the chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the Governor of Virginia.
The Press published an editorial June 11 urging cautious optimism about the return of Sean Goldman to his father in Tinton Falls. ("Steps forward, not home free.") This editorial correctly gives credit to U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., for his passionate advocacy on the boy's behalf. However, it also raises a significant question: Tinton Falls' representative in Congress is not Smith, but Rush Holt of the 12th District. Where is Holt?
In a number of recent local issues, Holt has been AWOL. He failed to be heard during the Base Realignment and Closure process that led to the closure of Fort Monmouth. His involvement in the recent controversy with the U.S. Navy attempting to put civilian housing at Naval Weapons Station Earle has been virtually nonexistent, again leaving Smith and state and local leaders to fight for the residents of the 12th District.
Meanwhile, state and local leaders have worked to address the issue of pollution in Branchport Creek from Monmouth Park's stormwater runoff. Holt charged in, late and uninformed, and again failed to deliver any substantive assistance to his constituents.
Sadly, the only time in recent memory during which Holt really found his voice and decided to speak passionately was when he stood side-by-side with Gov. Jon Corzine to advocate for an 800 percent toll hike, while selling the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. The impact of those toll hikes would have been most severe on Holt's constituents in Monmouth County.
It is unclear what Holt does in Washington, but perfectly clear what he does on issues that matter in New Jersey: not much.
Mike Halfacre MAYOR, FAIR HAVEN
The above letter was originally published in the Asbury Park Press on June 15, 2009. Mayor Halfacre is exploring a run for Congress against Rush Holt. Expect a formal announcement soon.
TRENTON — New Jersey lawmakers passed a $29 billion budget largely along partisan lines on Thursday night that will increase taxes by almost $1 billion, eliminate property-tax deductions for the wealthiest residents and pare billions from health care, higher education and other programs.
As Blue Jersey is whining about, there is no liberal pro-Corzine spin in this coverage.
As our friends at Save Jersey have pointed out, even Barack Obama has started to distance himself from Corzine.
If the liberal establishment is moving away from Corzine, Christie better start preparing to run against Corey Booker or Dick Codey.
As always, catch up on Corzine's Failures here and add to the list in the comments.
The Democratically controlled State Legislature raised taxes by $1.2 billion, $2.8 billion if you include reduced property tax rebates and reduced income tax deductions for property taxes, yesterday.
— Income tax rates will rise from 6.37 percent to 8 percent on household income between $400,000 and $500,000; from 8.97 percent to 10.25 percent for income between $500,000 and $1 million, as first proposed in March; and from 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent on income over $1 million.
— Cigarette taxes are going up 12.5 cents per pack to $2.70, beginning July 1.
— Taxes are going up by 3.5 cents on a typical 0.75 liter bottle of wine and 22 cents on a 0.75 liter bottle of liquor, beginning Aug. 1.
— Businesses will continue to pay a 4 percent surcharge on their corporate taxes that has been charged for three years but was supposed to expire.
— Taxes on group accident and health insurance premiums will go up for one year. Taxes on high-risk insurance policies, such as those for catastrophe-prone beachfront homes, will jump permanently from 3 percent to 5 percent.
Each of these taxes have the potential to reduce revenue.
It doesn't take all that much for high earners to move their incomes to other states.
Cigarettes are already about half the price in Delaware they are in New Jersey. There are several stores on Rt 13, just over the Delaware Memorial Bridge that thrive on selling cigarettes to NJ residents. The Democrats just made that trip for cost effective. Hopefully the increased tax will help more nicotine addicts kick the habit.
The wine and liquor tax will prompt consumers to drink less or drink less expensive products.
The business 4 percent surcharge has cost jobs and will cost more jobs. This tax is not on profits, it is on revenue. Even businesses that report losses have to pay a surcharge. Continuing this tax will push some small business over the edge to closure and their employees onto the unemployment insurance rolls.
Insurance is already too expensive. These taxes on insurance will push business and consumers to elect less coverage. As property values continue to decline, there will be less coverage need for property insurance.
These taxes will prove to be counter productive.
Several Republicans protested that this budget sets the next one up to have a deficit of $8 to $10 billion. I think it is worse than that. I don't think that tax revenues will come in to cover the expenses budgeted this year. We'll know in a few weeks.
I predict that revenues for the quarter that ends next week will come in much lower that Corzine is expecting, and revenues will be even worse in the quarter that ends in September. Corzine and the Assembly Democrats are going to have to interrupt their campaigns to go back to Trenton for emergency budget sessions.
Of course, the Democrats blame the crisis on Bush. Voters won't buy it.
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admits he was crying in Argentina with his mistress while his family and staff thought he was hiking in the woods. He resigns as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, and gives way too much information in his mea culpa press conference.
Sanford says he ways being selfish. He is still being selfish, as I see it.
While our Republican opponent -- and the national Republican party that supports him -- stands on the sidelines slinging mud, distorting my record, and offering up an economic plan that calls for rejecting billions of dollars in federal stimulus money, my administration and I have continued to keep our attention on the things that really matter to New Jersey's working families.
And last week, those efforts paid off big time. We delivered real results for New Jersey taxpayers that cannot be ignored. Because I launched the Tax Amnesty program, our state now has an additional $400 million for direct property tax relief -- dramatically exceeding all expectations. It's no surprise that my opponent mocks this accomplishment -- the legislators who co-chair his campaign and the right wing Republican he anointed to chair his party all voted against the program.
But I want you to know that I am committed to making certain that these recovered funds are directed to the working families of our state and that New Jersey property tax payers get much-needed and much-deserved tax relief. Due to this extraordinary development, the legislature is reconsidering the budget, and a final floor vote is expected on Thursday, June 25.
Unfortunately, earlier this week all the Republicans in the budget committees voted against the revised budget with the restored middle class property tax relief. These are the wrong choices for New Jersey. If you believe, as I do, that the Legislature MUST put this $400 million in new-found revenue toward property tax relief for middle-class homeowners, then please take a moment to make your voice heard to your representatives in Trenton.
I will do everything in my power to make certain that recovered funds are directed to property tax relief, but since Republicans seem intent on opposing restoring middle class property tax relief, your voice can make a huge difference.
Let me be clear: When revenues fell, the last item we cut was property tax relief. Now that we’ve recovered some lost revenues the first thing we will restore is property tax relief.
The money belongs to the taxpayers, and I will fight to give it back to them in property tax relief. I hope that I can count on your support in that effort.
Have you seen Jon Corzine's ads over at Poltickernj? You have if you have visited that site lately. They are all over the place.
The ads declare "He saw the national recession coming, So he did something about it..."
When did he see it coming?
According the the National Bureau of Economic Research (the official arbiter of recessions) the current recession began in December 2007.
I guess he would have had to see it coming in 2007. Hmmm...
In his FY 2008 budget address, delivered February 22, 2007 Corzine said,
"Finally, our ’08 budget includes almost $750 million projected revenue growth as a result of strong economic expansion."
I guess he hadn't seen it yet.
On November 15, 2007, the month before the recession started, while speaking to the NJ Conference of Mayors, Corzine said,
"New Jersey is one of the greatest places in this country on this globe to live, to work and to raise a family. You all work on that every day and you are part of what is a great state. I am proud of you, I’m proud of it and I know you’re proud of our state, I am proud of our people and I am excited about our future. Just today, our Department of Labor reported that the state’s unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent, one of the lowest in the nation and far below the national average of 4.7 percent. It’s been there all year.
New Jersey doesn’t just offer good jobs, it offers great jobs, higher-paying jobs. The median income in New Jersey is as high as anywhere in America. In the past six month, New Jersey employers have added more than 20,000 new jobs and almost all of them are in the private sector. We have a competitive advantage in America’s growing economic sectors: finance, logistics, gaming, tourism, medical research, and high technology."
Hey Jon, the recession's starting next month. You see it coming, right?
On May 22, 2008, during his commencement address at Steven Tech, Corzine said,
"The continued preeminence of America and our economic well-being will be borne of your generation’s ability to advance our understanding and application of science and technology."
Six months into the recession, I guess he hadn't seen it yet.
Now Corzine says an extra $400 or $500 million just showed up in the mail due to the tax amnesty program. At least he didn't claim to see that coming. But did he? Was it really an "immaculate collection", as Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon put it?
In The Lobby is reporting that independent gubernatorial candidate will pick former state labor commissioner Mark Boyd to be his Lieutenant Governor candidate. Boyd served in the Whitman administration. Daggett served in the Kean administration.
Save Jersey is hearing that Bergen County Senator Loretta Weinberg will be Corzine's LG candidate.
There's been little word on Chris Christie's thinking about a running mate since he campaigned with Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan last week.
CORZINE’S TREASURER SHOULD PROVIDE AN ACCOUNTING OF ALL TAXES COLLECTED IN ERROR AS WELL AS THOSE IN AMNESTY PROGRAM
Assemblymen Declan O’Scanlon questioned today whether the additional $400 million in tax amnesty funds that has suddenly appeared contains any money improperly collected from New Jersey taxpayers.
O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth and Mercer, has heard from several constituents who received letters from Treasury saying they owed more taxes but later learned those notices were sent in error.
“The yo-yo games the Corzine administration have played with people’s property tax rebates, combined with these erroneous tax notices, haven’t exactly instilled confidence in how it manages people’s tax dollars,” said O’Scanlon, a member of the Assembly Budget Committee. “Before making another false promise to the state’s middle class property taxpayers, the Corzine administration should provide assurance that the funds from this amnesty ‘Immaculate collection’ are accurate.”
O’Scanlon called on Corzine’s Treasurer David Rousseau to reveal the number of erroneous tax letters his department sent out, the amount of money mistakenly taken from taxpayers and an explanation of why any error has occurred. He also called on Corzine’s Comptroller Matt Boxer to investigate why errors have been made, whether there are any other instances of the Treasury unjustly taking money from New Jersey’s residents and businesses and to conduct a full audit of the money received during the amnesty period. O’Scanlon said he wants the state to improve its tax collection so that large sums of money don’t go uncollected, further burdening New Jersey taxpayers.
“I’m happy we have some money to aid the state’s beleaguered property taxpayers, but the fact that we had so much uncollected money outstanding is nothing to brag about,” O’Scanlon said. “We need to tighten our tax collection procedures to ensure that some people are not scamming the system, forcing honest, law-abiding citizens to pay higher taxes to make up for those not paying what they owe.”
Our weekly feature, Corzine's Failures couldn't be easier than it is this week. Who else but Jon Corzine could have the most succesful tax amnesty program in history actually illustrate his failure to govern.
Chris Christie said it best:
"It is now clear that Jon Corzine has no control over the budget or our government. He promised four years ago to change the way Trenton budgeted, but this budget uses billions in one-shot gimmicks, including this latest tax amnesty windfall, that will have to be made up in future budgets. This kind of haphazard governing by chance just doesn't cut it...
As always, please ad your Corzine's Failures entries in the comments. Weeks 1-4 can be found here.
By focusing on urban education, Christie is not simply trying to suppress Corzine's margin of victory in Essex, Hudson, and Camden counties. He is addressing, in his words, "a moral failure" which has been condeming generations of children to second class citizenship. He is also addressing our state wide property tax problem.
No matter what any candidate ever tells you, New Jersey's property tax system will not be reformed until urban education is reformed.
Poll after poll for decades since the Byrne administration have shown that property taxes are New Jersey voters biggest concern. Governors race after Governors race showcase competing solutions that never work. Not this time. Christie is pulling the thread that will unravel the entire corrupt system.
Today's scheduled votes on the State Budget in the Assembly and Senate were postponed as Governor Corzine announced that the tax amnesty program that expired on Monday June 15 yielded $400 million more than expected, "with thousands of envelopes yet to be counted."
Given the new found revenue, Corzine, Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts and Senate President Richard Codey agreed to send the budget back to their respective legislative committees on Monday June 22, with final passage of a revised budget expected on Thursday June 25.
Urging the Legislature to put $400 million in new-found revenue toward property tax relief for middle-class homeowners, Governor Corzine said:
"I want to convey in the strongest possible terms, my commitment to using these recovered resources to provide middle class homeowners with much needed property tax relief.
Let me be clear. When revenues fell, the last item we cut was property tax relief. Now that we’ve recovered some lost revenues the first thing we will restore is property tax relief.
Further, we must not and we will not return to past practices. Today is June 18th not December 25th – we will not be buying a Christmas tree. The money belongs to the taxpayers and we are going to give it back to them in property tax relief.
To any special interest groups that might want to line up, let me also be clear: I will do everything in my power to make certain that recovered funds are directed to property tax relief."
GOP Gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie wasn't impressed. He said,
"It is now clear that Jon Corzine has no control over the budget or our government. He promised four years ago to change the way Trenton budgeted, but this budget uses billions in one-shot gimmicks, including this latest tax amnesty windfall, that will have to be made up in future budgets. This kind of haphazard governing by chance just doesn't cut it when we're facing 8.8 percent unemployment, skyrocketing property taxes and real pain for all middle class New Jerseyans."
Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) challenged Corzine to provide an update on all revenues in light of the one-time revenues derived from the tax amnesty program. Bucco said,
“We now know that thousands of people and businesses fell behind in their tax payments as a tidal wave of tax increases washed over them for the past 8 years. Substantial revenue is coming in from people and businesses responding to threats of punishment unless they pay up. But, we don’t know whether revenue from all the other taxes are continuing to deteriorate as they have since September of last year.”
“Before Corzine and the Democrats rush to increase spending the public’s money, we need to know if collections in income taxes, sales taxes, and corporate taxes continue to plunge, offsetting this gain.”
In recent months income, sales, and corporate business tax collections have been plunging at an accelerated rate. Even though double digit declines in these taxes continue to grow, the budget bill as introduced is premised on the assumption that revenue collections from these taxes will be exactly as predicted in mid May.
The New York Times sent a cease and desist letter to the Republican Governors Association because they think The Corzine Times resembles the NY Times.
I guess they didn't read it.
Mike Schrimpf, Communications Director of the RGA said, "It’s amusing to see The Gray Lady standing up for The Gray Beard, but we were hoping the Times would send a cease and desist notice to Corzine telling him not to hike taxes by another $1 billion."
The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that at last night's New Jersey Business and Industry Association's dinner, Governor Corzine left the head table and walked into the crowd to greet Chris Christie and tell him, "I'm not afraid of you."
As if Christie cares.
As has become his custom, Corzine left the event before Christie addressed the audience.
Corzine may not be afraid of Christie, but increasingly, Democrats are afraid that they will not be able to compete in November with Corzine on top of the ticket.
Even in the blogosphere, if you want to find Corzine's message, readaRepublicanblog. The Corzine campaign emails and videos are rich material for Republican bloggers. The Democratic blogs take their gratuitous shots at Christie, but they are hard pressed to say anything good about Corzine.
I'll let you read Pascoe's piece rather than reveal his non-starter of a suggestion for Christie. But I'll give you a hint. The notable and sometime notorious anonymous blogger known as Dino Crocetti loves the guy that Pascoe is suggesting.
Click on the picture for a readable copy. A notice from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development Employment Security Agency arrived in the mail today.
It was a notice of an increase in my Unemployment Insurance Contribution Rate. I can't figure out how much more I'll be paying from this notice without referring to tax tables and Column D and B.
However, the notice makes it very clear that the increase would be much worse if not for Governor Corzine:
"Without Govenor Corzine's intervention, these employer wage taxes would have jumped nearly $900 million beginning July 1, 2009. Because of these additional resources, the UI Trust Fund's tax table will instead only shift to Column B, and New Jersey employers will be spared from an additional tax increase of $546 million during FY 2010."
I think that means that the tax increase is $354 million instead of $900 million without Corzine's heroics.
The notice goes on:
While previous administrations weakened the UI Trust Fund by diverting more than $4.7 billion to other uses over a period of 14 years, Governor Corzine and the New Jersey Legislature stopped these diversions starting in 2006, and transferrred a total of $380 million in state funds from the General Fund into the UT Trust Fund in 2008 and 2009. The Governor also sighned legislation in March 2009 that helped New Jersey qualify for a $207 million award through the federal Unemployment Insurance Modenrnization Act. Taken together, those trasfers of monies into the UI Turst Fund helped bloster the balance in the UI Trust Fund on March 31, 2009-in time to count for the calculation of the tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year-thus minimizing the size of the automatic wage tax increase required this year.
Gee, thanks Governor! In other words, the Whitman, McGreevey and Codey administrations raided the "trust" fund of $4.7 billion. Corzine put $380 million back over the last two years, Obama kicked in $207 million, and employers have to make up the rest, unless we lay more people off.
Besides telling me how much more I have to pay without paying an accountant to figure it out for me, the other thing that is missing from this announcement is "Paid for by Corzine 09."
The Star Ledger is reporting that the Obama Administration is worried that Corzine's defeat in November will empower Republicans.
You can't put anything past those guys.
The theme of the Corzine campaign has become clear. The failure of Corzine's first term is George Bush's fault. A second term will be better because Obama is Corzine's friend.
Didn't Corzine say something about holding him accountable during his inaugural speech? Didn't Corzine say he was willing to put his job on the line when he was trying to "monetize" our highways with an 800% toll increase?
I get it now. George Bush made Corzine shut down the government in order to raise the sales tax 17% and then give half the money raise away in "Christmas Tree Items" that only Democratic districts benefited from.
It is George Bush's fault that Corzine didn't deliver "40 in 4" property tax relief.
It is George Bush's fault that Corzine grew the size of government during his first three years in office.
It is George Bush's fault that Corzine sustained McGreevey's business tax increases.
It is George Bush's fault that Corzine caved into the CWA so Joe Biden would speak at his rally.
George Bush was the real governor of New Jersey during Corzine's first term. But fear not, if we re-elect Corzine, Obama will be governor.
Have you noticed the NJEA ads on TV? They're advertising online too. There's a link that reads New Jersey Public Schools on my aol email this morning that points to the NJEA website.
Why would the NJEA need to advertise? They are a public teachers union. They have no meaningful competition. It doesn't make sense to me that they would have to spend their members' dues money to advertise the success of NJ students. Students and their parents should be the best advertisement...word of mouth.
I called the NJEA to ask them about this. After being transferred three times I was told the person in charge of advertising was hurriedly called into a meeting. I'll report back if she returns my call.
I wonder how much the NJEA is spending on this advertising campaign. Six figures? Seven figures? It seems a waste.
If NJ education officials heed the Star Ledger's call to stop complaining and cut spending, like the rest of us are, they might want to look closely and these union contracts. The teachers themselves might want to reconsider how much of their paychecks they are giving up in dues to the union and their expensive advertising campaign.
However, if the NJEA would like to advertise on this blog, I'll gladly take their money.
The Pope and Nancy Pelosi are on the same stage in front of a huge crowd.
The Madame Speaker and His Holiness, however, have seen it all before. To make it a little more interesting, Madame Speaker says to the Pope, "Did You know that with just one little wave of my hand I can make every Democrat in the crowd go wild?"
He doubts it, so she shows him.. Sure enough, the wave elicits rapture and cheering from every democrat in the crowd. Gradually, the cheering subsides.
The Pope, not wanting to be outdone by such a level of arrogance, considers what he could do.
"That was impressive, the Pope says, "But did you know that with just one little wave of MY hand I can make EVERY person in the crowd go crazy with joy? This joy will not be a momentary display like that of your subjects, but will go deep into their hearts, and they will forever speak of this day and rejoice."
The speaker seriously doubts this, and says so. "One little wave of your hand and all people will rejoice forever? Show me."
The Democrats in this State better wake up and realize that Chrisite is a new type of Republican candidate who will not try to " get along" and do things in the normal way.
~ by: firstamend07 at Blue Jersey, commenting on Chris Christie's declining to seek the NJEA's endorsement.
Christie is certainly proving to be a "new type of Republican."
With his letter to the NJEA, Christie put the entire NJ establishment on notice that the gravy train is approaching its last stop. If Chris keeps this up, even my friends at Conservatives with Attitude will be saying good things about him.
Read Christie's letter to NJEA here, courtesy of Save Jersey. Click on letter for a readable copy to pop up:
NJEA president Joyce Powell issued a statement in response to the letter which said in part,
"It is unfortunate that Mr. Christie is unwilling to take the time to have an honest discussion about educational issues with the organization that represents the overwhelming majority of the state's educators.
This lady is the leader of our teachers? That is not what Christie said. Powell must be a graduate of Democratic spin school. Her statement continues..
"It is also unfortunate that the Republican standard-bearer has chosen to break his party's long-standing traditionof candid discussion and direct communication with NJEA." of groveling before us hat-in-hand for an endorsement that will never be forthcoming.
Chris certainly has broken a long-standing tradition. Thank goodness.
He sounds like Steve Lonegan with manners!
I hope the mainstream press steps up and gives this matter the attention it deserves. Headlines are likely to be dominated by the state budget for the next week or two. However a major party candidate for Governor standing up to the most powerful labor union is the state is extremely newsworthy and NJ residents deserve to know about it.
I received this message from a loyal MMM reader Andrew Bane this morning:
Letter I sent to CBS. You should be writing about this & the double standards.
"Just wondering when you are going to fire letterman like you did IMUS? Imus was gone for calling a basketball team Nappy Headed Hos. letterman calls for the RAPE of a 14 year old & that’s ok. He was not talking about an 18 year old, but if he was he should still be fired. Also wondering if al sharpton is protesting about this, as he should be. It was an awful thing said about a 14 year and all women, yet he don’t protest. I guess if Imus said that about the Obama girls he would be protesting. You may not have people or even some fat man that does not work protesting out side your building, but the protesting has started. I, and many other people that I know, will not be watching any CBS 2 New York TV shows until Sexual Pervert is off the air. Not some half assed apology, but off the air, just like IMUS. Feel free to contact me with some lame story as to why he is still on the air."
Tommy DeSeno weighed in on Letterman's distasteful humor at Justified Right. Tommy's post includes email addresses to CBS executives, for those who inclined to express their outrage directly to the brass.
My take on this is different than that of my friends Andrew and Tommy.
Imus should not have been fired. His comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team were distasteful and funny to some. Letterman should not be fired. His comments were distasteful and funny to some.
Those of us on the right should condemn the likes of Letterman and change the channel. We don't need to turn ourselves into Al Sharpton and Jessee Jackson. Two wrongs don't make a right. In the unlikely event that calls for Letterman's dismisal work, the Sharpton/Jackson methods will be validated.
A-Rod, also a victim of Letterman's cruel distasteful humor, had the best response. He ignored it.
Like most Americans, I stopped watching Letterman a long time ago. He's just not that funny and that bald guy with the Elton John costumes can't sing. If anything newsworthy happens on the show, Fox News will cover it.
This latest controversy will boost Letterman's ratings temporarily, which is what he wants. He will milk the controversy with funny "apologies" and make himself some money on the deal.
CBS is not going to fire Letterman. Calling for his firing will only prolong the controversy and continue to boost his ratings.
Prolonging this latest controversy won't do Sarah Palin's daughters any good.
Sarah Palin has done a good job expressing her outrage and exposing the media double standards. Now she should shut up about it and sue Letterman and CBS on behalf of her daughters. The 18 year old is probably a public figure and may not have a slander case, but the 14 year old is not a public figure. I'll leave the legal technicalities to Tommy, but the Palins should hit Letterman and CBS in the pocket book. That is the only way to change the behavior. Yes, a law suit would prolong the controversy, but at least the young Palin will have money for the therapy bills that are coming.
As for me, boycotting Letterman won't make any difference. If I'm still awake at 11:30 I tune in to the O'Reilly rerun. I won't be boycotting CBS, unless they cancel Criminal Minds, CSI NY and NFL Football.
The Star Ledger is reporting that Corzine's State budget was formally introduced late Thursday, but that copies are still not available for review.
Legislative committees are scheduled to have hearings on the budget that they haven't read on Monday.
Here's what we know it will include:
Tax increases on incomes over $400,000. This will prompt high earners to change their residency, just as Corzine himself argued when opposing such increases in previous budgets.
Increased levies on cigarettes, wine and hard liquor. Corzine will have to raise tolls on the bridges into Delaware and PA to cover the short fall these measures will cause. That will not help the reduced sales and tax revenues from NJ's dining, entertainment and package good industries.
Eliminate the property tax deduction on next year's income tax filings for anyone earning more $150,000 annually. This will lead to more middle class families throwing in the towel and leaving NJ. It will also lead to a huge increase in families making $149,000. This measure will have a stimulative economic impact...in December...as small businesses rush to incur expenses in order to reduce their incomes below the $150,000 threshold. However this boost in economic activity will be an offset by middle income earners asking their employers to postpone their last paycheck to until after the new year, so that they can stay below $150K.
The new budget would also cut rebate checks for anyone who isn't a senior citizen or a disabled resident. Seniors and the disabled will be able to get great deals on real estate, as more people head for the exits.
The good news? Corzine has a friend in the White House and he is focused like a laser.
This week we see that Corzine has failed to articulate a justification for a second term.
The videos produced by the Corzine campaign, posted immediately below this post, reveal that his rational for a second term is that Obama is his friend and will give him federal money.
Corzine failed to negotiate a deal with the CWA that would produce real savings. Rather, he gave away the right to layoff workers and took a page out of the Whitman/DiFrancesco/McGreevey/Codey handbook and committed to future giveaways in exchange for insignificant cuts today.
Catch up on weeks 1-3 here and ad your entries in the comments.
In less than two weeks Chris Christie has won the primary, led by 10% in the polls and, now, chosen one of the state premier conservatives to lead the state GOP. Those of us who have been fighting for the heart and soul of the party against weak-minded, push-over, compromise-crazy liberals have to be pleased with this selection.
Just so that we understand the history of the State GOP Chairs, here is a list of the last forty years worth of them (courtesy of Wikipedia):
Consider that the state GOP chair has been in the hands of the Whitman/Todd faction of the party since at least 1985. Webber marks a fresh break from this trend. Has the establishment been officially thrown out? Christie's LG choice will make that definitive.
In 2001, Bret Schundler had the chance to name a chair that could remake the party, instead he choose Sen. Joe Kyrillos, his opponent's campaign chair. I have to guess that this might have been Schundler's greatest regret. Senator Kyrillos, who is a very nice guy, did not have the heart or time to lead the party and left after one term. In 2004, Tom Wilson defeated Dick Kamin in a close vote. Interestingly, when Kyrillos first took the job he appointed Bob Frank's, Schundler's primary opponent, campaign manager for State GOP Executive Director, Michael DuHaime. DuHaime has since gone on to be the RNC Political Director and most recently is the heading up the Christie Campaign.
Essentially the choice for chair gives an indication of they type of choices Christie will make, and even more importantly, the type of leadership the State GOP will enjoy over the next four years.
For those who do not know Jay Webber, he is defined by his pro-life, fiscal-conservative, Reganesque style, who first gained entry to politics by running a primary against the greatest RINO who have ever graced the NJ Senate Chamber, Bob Martin. Martin makes Specter look like Gingerich. The nasty primary was punctuated by a bizarre moment when Martin's campaign manager screaming "LIAR" in the middle of a candidates forum because Webber defended himself against an attack formulated by Martin's political consultant, none other than the infamous Jamestown Associates, saying he didn't live in the district. Webber responded with a mailer in black and white with the word "LIAR" on one side and the proof of Webber's residence on the other. The mailer was crafted by Schundler's campaign manager Bill Pascoe.
Jay went onto win a grueling primary fight when an assembly seat opened up after Martin retired and Joe Pennacchio moved up.
Through each of these primary fights and general election wins, Jay has proved his mettle. He is indeed fit to lead this party and his selection marks a tremendous sea change for the State Republican Party, one that many of us have been waiting for, for many many years.
Politickernj's "Wally Edge" is reporting that Chris Christie has selected coservative Assemblyman Jay Webber to replace Tom Wilson as Chairman of the NJ GOP.
Christie has a press conference for a "major announcement" at the State House in Trenton at 2PM this afternoon.
A Quinnipiac poll released this morning has Chris Christie leading Jon Corzine 50%-40% in the race for the NJ Governor's office. Christie's lead among unaffiliated voters is 24%
The poll is more an indication of Corzine's weakness than it is of Christie's strength. Almost half of those polled said they don't know enough about Christie to form an opinion of him.
Look for Corzine to spend heavily over the summer to define Christie as a habitat-destroying, woman-hating tool of the gun lobby, in an effort to bring the poll numbers close to even by early September. If that doesn't work, President Obama will ask New Jersey to make a great sacrifice for their country because he needs Corzine to solve an apocalyptic crisis or to become Secretary of Toll Roads. Then Newark Mayor Cory Booker will become the Democratic nominee.
Despite his early lead, Christie faces a formidable challenge. He must define himself to voters favorably without the benefit of Corzine's millions. The dilemma for Christie is that the better he does against Corzine over the summer, the less likely he is to face Corzine in the fall.
There is no game plan to defeat Booker. Ask any Republican how to beat Booker in the fall. The answer is either a blank stare or "Corzine will never drop out." Wishful thinking.
Christie and the NJ GOP need to dig out their old Boy Scout handbooks and Be Prepared.
My friends Michael Illions and Matt Rooney have started to reason with each other and have brought some civility into their debate for the hearts, minds and votes of the Republican Party.
The debate is an important one, as the GOP in New Jersey and nationally works to gets its bearings and return to relevancy. I encourage you to read both linked posts.
Join
Assemblymembers
Dave Rible
&
Mary Pat Angelini
For A
Campaign kick off
Wednesday,
June 10th
5:00pm-7:00pm
The Circus Drive-In 1861 Route 35 Wall, NJ 07719
Hot dogs, hamburgers, and refreshments will be served.
Calling Jon Corzine a governor who is "timid and allows himself to be bullied" by the state workers' unions and the special interests who put him into office, Chris Christie declared that he would use the emergency powers of the governor, and any other legal method available, not to honor Corzine's recent deal with the CWA.
Christie said that the deal's no layoffs provision will "hurt the taxpayers and hamstring the next governor. I won't be a part of it." He said that since Jim McGreevey took office there has been 15 new government jobs in New Jersey for every one private sector job, and that this can not continue. "In these difficult economic times with people genuinely hurting, the public employees have to share the pain with the taxpayers."
"Governor Corzine's claim that he has reduced the state workforce by 7,000 jobs is a fantasy. There are 80,000 state employees now. More than when Corzine took office," Christie said, citing the State's January 2008 financial report.
Christie said that Corzine's recent attack ads are an attempt to distract voters from what they really care about, and that he would not be distracted.
Governor’s Inconsistency Comes at Taxpayer Expense
Following reports that Governor Corzine hurried an important negotiation with the largest state union to prevent an embarrassing protest during a visit by Vice-President Biden, Senator Joseph Kyrillos (R-13) noted the apparent hypocrisy of the Corzine Administration’s use of a “poison pill” provision in the rushed labor agreement.
In return for the agreement of the Communications Workers of America to minor concessions on wages and furloughs, the Corzine Administration has agreed to not layoff any state employees between now and January 1, 2011. The Corzine Administration further agreed to a poison pill provision that would reverse all of the agreed upon concessions if this Governor or his successor violates Corzine’s “No Layoff” pledge.
“It reeks of hypocrisy that Governor Corzine now thinks poison pill provisions are good for protecting state worker contracts, but bad for guaranteeing shore protection funding that is vitally important to New Jersey,” said Kyrillos. “This is yet another clear demonstration of how the Governor’s actions lack consistency on important state issues.”
Previous legislatures and governors have made use of poison pill provisions to guarantee that portions of certain taxes are dedicated to providing minimum levels of funding for various priorities like shore protection and the arts. Those poison pill provisions state that if the minimum amount of required funding is not budgeted for a specified priority, then the collection of the respective tax that funds that item shall be suspended.
Governor Corzine has announced his intention to ignore those poison pill provisions this year and reduce funding for several priorities, including shore protecting, below the required minimum levels. He would not, however, suspend the collection of taxes as required by law.
During budget hearings, Treasurer David Rousseau provided insight into the Corzine Administration’s feelings about poison pill provisions: “We will be setting aside those laws. We didn't want to be bound by laws that were created that say shore protection has to be this amount. Same thing with arts. Why should they be held at a higher standard just because some Legislature in the past put a law in that says it can't go below this amount of money?”
“It’s hard to trust a Governor who puts people at risk by breaking a law that was meant to guarantee their protection,” added Kyrillos. “It’s even harder, however, to trust a Governor who then turns and uses the same type of provision that he previously ignored to guarantee state union contracts. The only thing Governor Corzine has proven to be consistent at is wasting taxpayer money.”
Chris Christie's choice of Lieutenant Governor candidate is an historic opportunity for New Jersey and for the GOP.
So far the rumoured short list misses the opportunity. The Star Ledger reports that Christie's short list is comprised of Bergen County Clerk Kathleen Donovan, state Senator Diane Allen, Congressman Frank LoBiondo, Assemblyman Jay Webber, former Congressman Mike Ferguson, and state Senator Joe Kyrillos. They are all fine people, but none of them would be a bold choice that would transform the gubernatorial race or the GOP.
Christie should appoint a minority leader to be his running mate. An accomplished black or hispanic Republican.
That there is not a deep bench of black or hispanic Republicans is an indictment of the NJ GOP. We have surrendered a large voting block because we didn't think we could compete with the Democrats who throw money at the minority community but do nothing to improve their education or employment opportunities. On the contrary, Democrats success in the minority community is a function of keeping those communities dependent on government largess. We haven't offered Republican solutions to our failing cities and schools. Shame on us and it is about time we did.
If Christie is going to make urban school choice and expanded charter schools a hallmark of his campaign, he will need a credible messenger for those communities to win their votes, and to gain their cooperation in reforming the system after being elected.
This is the right thing to do. It would also be good politics. A credible minority leader campaigning for urban reform would weaken Corzine where he is strongest. Making New Jersey's urban school districts actually educate kids while eliminating the wasteful spending will divide another of Corzine's core constituencies, the NJEA. The suburban educational establishment is hurting as a result of Corzine's waste in the Abbotts. Christie can win a significant portion of that constituency.
Last month I suggested Buster Soaries. That suggestion alarmed Corzine so much that he put the good pastor on his own short list.
Mr. Coleman is the former president of The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. Mr. Coleman signed on with Major League Baseball in 1992 as executive director—market development.
Previously, Mr. Coleman was a municipal finance banker for Kidder, Peabody & Company. Prior to joining Kidder, Mr. Coleman served as commissioner of both the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and Department of Energy, and chairman of the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. He was the vice chairman of the State Commission on Ethical Standards and a member of the Economic Development Authority, Urban Enterprise Zone Authority, Urban Development Authority, State Planning Commission and New Jersey Public Television Commission. Mr. Coleman also has served as president of the Greater Newark Urban Coalition.
From 1976 to 1980, Mr. Coleman worked in Africa in mission service for the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, providing management consultant services in health care, education and church and community development in 17 African countries.
Mr. Coleman received an undergraduate degree in history from Princeton University. He also earned a master’s in public administration degree and a master’s in education and social policy degree, both from Harvard University.
Mr. Coleman serves on the board of directors of The Omnicom Group, Cendant Corp., Aramark, Churchill Downs and Electronic Arts. He also serves as a director of a number of other organizations, including the Children’s Defense Fund, The Metropolitan Opera, the Schumann Fund, and Little League Baseball.
Mr. Coleman is chairman of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. He is a former chairman of the board of trustees of the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief and the United States chairman of the Bishop Tutu Scholarship Fund.
I don't know if Soaries or Coleman would even accept the position. However, these are the types of people that Christie should be recruiting as his running mate, into his campaign and to serve in his administration.
In their lead editorial today, CWA agreement vintage Corzine spells out all that is wrong with Corzine's latest concessions to the CWA state workers union:
This latest agreement typifies Corzine's pattern of addressing budget shortfalls by stopping well short of what needs to be done to put the state back on a firm financial footing. Underlying it is the hope the economy will recover sufficiently to offset the obligations imposed by his deferred-pain fiscal strategy and the mistaken notion that New Jersey will be just fine once the recession ends. New Jersey was in dismal shape before the economy turned south. Corzine's half-measures have made things worse — today and well into the future.
Strangely, the APP did not address why Corzine folded when he held all the negotiation cards -- to prevent a CWA picket line at his campaign rally with Vice President Biden. At least Bob Ingle addressed the politics of the Corzine cave.
Also in the APP editorial pages today, Doug Forrester's 2005 campaign director, Sherry Slyvester, is still justifying Forrester's loss to Corzine. George Bush and Corzine's money are to blame. It had nothing to do with "30 in 3" or the last minute use of Corzine's scorned ex-wife warning New Jersey voters about what a bad guy Corzine is.
Sylvester does a nice job telling us what we already know--that the only thing Corzine has going for him is his money. She reminds us that in the last two weeks of the 05 campaign that Corzine spent $1.5 million a day to convince NJ that "40 in 4" was better than "30 in 3."
Corzine got his money by taking Goldman Sachs public over the objection of his partners. That got him fired from Goldman. There is no question that he will spend $20 or $30 million to try to keep his current job.
For better or worse, New Jersey's campaign finance laws will prove to be as ineffective as they are ill advised in the upcoming campaign. As we saw in the primary, both sides will spend lavishly on unregulated "issue ads" funded by Washington, DC based partisans who are not subject to NJ ELEC restrictions.
It won't matter how much Corzine spends if he doesn't turn his poll numbers around by September, because he won't be on the ballot. He'll be the U.S. Secretary of Toll Roads, Ambassador to Kenya, or White House Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Teleprompters.
Desperate Corzine already lying about Chris Christie's Record
Corzine Lie:Christie stands with the NRA
FACT: Chris Christie supports the assault weapons ban and all current gun laws. He opposes attempts to permit conceal and carry laws in New Jersey - hardly the NRA position.
Unlike Jon Corzine, Chris Christie will strictly enforce the gun laws against violent criminals, ending parole against violent felons and making bail harder to get for violent felons. The U.S. Attorney's Office, under Christie, did nearly 800 gun cases and broke up violent gangs in Camden, East Orange, Newark and Asbury Park, jailing hundreds of gang members. Here's Corzine's record: murders increased 9% last year, rapes jumped by 15% and burglaries increased by 7%. (Source: NJ Uniform Crime Report, 2008). While Jon Corzine wants to use gun laws to play the typical petty politics of the past, Chris Christie would toughen gun laws to fight criminals and make New Jersey safer - another job Jon Corzine has failed in as Governor.
Corzine Lie:Christie will cut environmental protection
FACT: Chris Christie fought hard to protect our environment as U.S. Attorney. In cases like U.S. v. Atlantic, Chris held polluters responsible for their crimes by jailing them and using their fine money to support NJ environmental non-profits and their work. Examples include:
U.S. v. Evergreen Corp., which produced fine money which purchased 300 additional acres at the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge and 120 additional acres at the Edwin Forsythe Wildlife refuge in Ocean County.
U.S. v. Wallenius Corp., which produce $1.65 million in fine money used for projects to protect the Hudson Raritan Estuary watershed.
U.S. v. Clipper Trojan Corp., which produced $1.5 million in fine money used by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation exclusively for NJ environmental protection projects.
While Jon Corzine uses the environment for his untruthful smear ads, Chris Christie stands for protecting the environment including efficiently and carefully utilizing our resources. Chris opposes drilling off of the Jersey Shore and encourages the exploration of all types of alternative energy sources, including windmills. Jon Corzine's bloated, ineffective DEP is crushing business and not sufficiently protecting our environment. Christie's DEP would be smaller, smarter and more effective.
Corzine Lie:Chris Christie would cut health insurance coverage, including mammograms. FACT: Completely untrue. Chris Christie would permit patients to decide what type of coverage they wanted, not cut coverage for anyone. He would give patients more options and get more people privately insured, not government-run health care as Jon Corzine advocates.
Corzine Lie:Chris Christie would give corporations fiscally irresponsible tax breaks FACT: Chris Christie would cut taxes to create private sector jobs in New Jersey. The only thing irresponsible has been Jon Corzine's stewardship of the economy--highest unemployment rate in 16 years, no private sector job growth, and the worst business tax climate in America. Jon Corzine calls any tax cuts irresponsible--that is why he and his party have raised taxes and fees 103 times in the last seven years and driven New Jersey's economy into the ground.
Corzine Lie:Christie's property tax plan is a "fantasy".
FACT: The only tax plan which is a fantasy is the one Jon Corzine promised four years ago--a 40% increase in the property tax rebate program over four years. Now, four years later, Jon Corzine has proposed eliminating the plan for nearly every New Jerseyan and hitting middle class taxpayers with a big tax increase. Chris Christie will cut income taxes for all New Jerseyans, something Jon Corzine would never think of doing because he wants to continue to grow his bloated state government. New Jerseyans should understand that tax relief under Jon Corzine is the true fantasy.
The above statement is the Christie campaign's answer to the following Corzine ads:
That Corzine is spending money on these ads so early in the campaign is a sign of 1) desperation, 2) a sign of Christie's strength, and 3) an effort to get his poll numbers up before the pressure mounts from Trenton and Washington for him to drop out of the race to become Secretary of Toll Roads.
The Christie Team needs to have a Plan B, in case Corzine drops out. They can't be caught flat footed by Doug Forrester was in 2002 when Toricelli dropped out of the U.S Senate race.
