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New Jersey Debt Rises

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:33:38 +0000

It is no fun living in a state that is in enormous debt. While I would be rather out buying modern furniture, instead of spending all my hard earned dollars on property and state taxes, it doesn’t look like that will be happening time soon.

New Jersey, bonded debt rose to $36.9 billion outstanding in the year ended June 30th. New Jersey has the highest per-capita income of all U.S. states except Connecticut and has the third-largest total net tax-supported debt. While Governor Christie is trying to get spending under control, some in congress want to keep up the spending ways.

Blunt and Direct

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:12:34 +0000

While many have been critical of New Jersey Chris Christie’s policies including cuts in almost every department, a call for pension reform and caps on property tax increases, many have been downright mean sometimes even suggestion that the Governor needs to look for the most effective fat burners. Christie has not taken it laying down. At a news conference a reporter asked: “Governor, do you think this sort of confrontational tone can increase your odds in getting this through the legislature?” Christie explained it this way:

Gov Christie calls S-L columnist thin-skinned for inquiring about his ‘confrontational tone’

Name Calling

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 12:58:18 +0000

Isn’t it funny in politics when you don’t agree with someone, you resort to name calling. The new Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, has taken his share of jabs. I have heard him called pond scum, dirt, lowest life form and calls for him to find the best fat burning exercise because he is overweight.

Unfortunately, he was left with a rough job: cutting millions from the State budget or see New Jersey in serious financial trouble. This has generally made every group in New Jersey mad. While the Governor has cut across the board, each group still thinks they deserve their money.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the dust settles.

If The Shoe Was On The Other Foot

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:46:44 +0000

It is interesting the outcome would be different if the shoe was on the other foot. Take for instance an email written by a NJEA Union leader from Bergen county which states:

“Dear Lord this year you have taken away my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer, Michael Jackson, and my favorite salesman, Billy Mays. I just wanted to let you know that Chris Christie is my favorite governor.”

I am surprised that he didn’t throw in a jab about Christie needing diet pills for men as well since this has been an ongoing way to attack the Governor.

Christie responded by asking for the Union leader’s resignation, but NJEA President, Barbara Keshishian, refused. Interestingly, if a memo had come from Chrisite’s office praying for Keshishian’s death, that staff member would be vilified and fired immediately because of pressure from the NJEA.

Bloated New Jersey School System

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:37:28 +0000

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is determined to cut the bloated New Jersey State budget. We have an $11 billion budget deficit for fiscal year 2011. Christie has determined that almost every aspect of state government needs to be cut and that includes the school system. You have never heard such an outcry from the NJEA about how it will hurt the children. But lets take a look at the facts. Student enrollment in the New Jersey School system was up 3% from 2001. Look how the staff increased to meet this meager demand:

Maybe the school systems are a little bloated. This chart is from the NY Post. They have a great article about the NJ school system. It is worth reading.

Another New Jersey Blunder

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:53:03 +0000

The city of Camden was taken over by the State of New Jersey years ago because of corruption and mismanagement. Recently, a new mayor was elected and there was hope that there wouldn’t be gifts for her from people looking for a handout in return. But, this just in. It seems that her aide is not paid enough:

Newly elected Democratic Mayor Dana Redd wants to make sure her cronies get paid. In order to get “qualified and experienced staff,” Redd needs to increase her aides’ salaries from $71,000 to $150,000. Apparently, no one in Redd’s inner circle has heard that there’s a major recession going on. Apparently, Redd doesn’t understand that when a municipality has to beg the state for $67 million to balance the budget as it exists, boosting salaries for political appointees is more than a little cynical and self-serving. Oh yeah, and Redd was just elected to serve as Vice-Chair of the New Jersey Democrats. This, apparently, is what New Jersey Democrats think of when they think “leadership.”

Some People in New Jersey Just Don’t Get It

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:49:57 +0000

I guess there are a few people in New Jersey that haven’t heard there is a recession going on and that the unemployment rate is at 10 percent. This clip from Thurman Hart at NJ.com explains it all:

Then word comes that the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission has hired lobbyists to ask the Governor not to tell everyone how many tax dollars they waste. You remember the PSVC – they hired Democratic Boss Joe Ferriero as General Counsel, then paid him for an additional 13,000 work hours. The PVSC is patronage heaven – the chairman is Anthony Luna, the city manager and former mayor of Lodi; the vice-chairman is Carl Czaplicki. And the PVSC just raised its fees because – get this – there is not enough sewage from industrial sources. They attempt to say that rising employee costs are also to blame – but then take credit for cutting $7 million in employee costs since 2005. What they don’t say is that the Chairman of the PVSC made $290K in 2008 and will make over $313K in 2010. Hey, I understand you need to keep up with inflation…but $23K in two years? And the Chair’s Chief of Staff makes $225K? The freaking clerk makes $190K?

If newly elected Governor Christie doesn’t do something about the waste and corruption in New Jersey the state is certainly doomed.

Corzine’s Farewell Speech

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:35:19 +0000

Last night I was busy setting up my new tv stand when I realized I was about to miss Jon Corzine’s Farewell Speech. Corzine addressed both houses of the legislature on Tuesday. He, of course, failed to mention his failed toll scheme that would have raised tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike by 800%. He did mention that New Jersey’s debt is growing and that he tried to get it under control. Really? Did he take into account the $3.9 billion school construction bond issue that he helped push through or the $44 million that they are now trying to give to “underprivileged” cities before he leaves office.

Corzine’s heart might of been in the right place, but he succumbed to the political machine soon after taking office. And, he had the attitude to go along with it. Hopefully, Chris Christie will make a difference in a state that has some of the highest taxes in the country.

New Jersey Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged?

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:09:10 +0000

According to reports, New Jersey’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in November. Yet, New Jersey lost a total of 11,000 private sector jobs. The unemployment rate is listed at 9.7%. Finding a full time job in New Jersey is becoming difficult.

New Jersey, which is in huge debt, continues to feed the machine of public jobs and payouts. While New Jersey voted for a change by electing Chris Christie as its next governor, the same representatives were voted back in office. Hopefully, a change at the top will mean a change throughout New Jersey and jobs will return.

Christie Vows to Veto Tax Increases

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:13:28 +0000

New Jersey has some of the highest taxes in the country. Our new governor, Chris Christie, wants that to end. Christie has vowed to cut any tax increases that cross his desk when he becomes the governor of New Jersey. It is bad enough that there is high unemployment rates in New Jersey, but many are moving out of New Jersey to Pennsylvania or other states or even conducting job search PA or NY.

But, in order to get New Jersey back on its feet, Christie will have to do the hard thing – cut spending. He will have to do battle with the entrenched corruption in New Jersey and go toe-to-toe with union leaders and state workers. Only time will tell if he will be able to turn New Jersey around.