October 18, 2009

A vote for Chris Daggett is a vote for Jon Corzine.

That's the skeptical view of Daggett's independent gubernatorial candidacy and its effect on the contest between the incumbent Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie. Either that, or a Daggett vote is a wasted vote.

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But if voters genuinely want to change the reckless, unethical culture of Trenton, Daggett's not the way to go. And another four years of Corzine certainly won't do it. Chris Christie should be the clear choice as the only candidate exhibiting the courage to meaningfully talk about what the state can't afford. He receives our endorsement.

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Fact is, Christie has offered many specific ideas on how to cut government spending, mirroring much of Gannett New Jersey's own 20-point plan to ease New Jersey's tax crush. Pension reforms, requirements for public employees to contribute more toward their benefits, a two-thirds legislative supermajority for all tax increases — they've all been proposed by Christie, along with many other initiatives.

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But the fundamental and vital difference is that Christie is wading into the morass with a commitment to finding the money without adding to the tax burden. Maybe he'll fail, but Corzine and Daggett have already given up.

Daggett's "independence" is a bit of a myth. He talks at times like Corzine Lite, preaching the practical realities of tax hikes as the only means to deliver to New Jerseyans the services they demand. While he claims to be an outsider unbeholden to party strongarming on either side, he clearly exhibits a greater antipathy toward the Republicans.

Daggett's core proposal is to fund a 25 percent property-tax reduction by extending the sales tax to more legal and household services. When Christie characterizes that plan as a tax hike, Daggett scoffs by noting that it's really a tax restructuring. But if that's true, why is Daggett also pitching it is a property-tax cut? And it's telling that while chastising Christie for his lack of specifics, Daggett suggested that a third of the revenue to fill that looming $8 billion deficit would depend upon "what the springtime brings." What's he hoping to find — a rainbow and a pot of gold?

Daggett sounds as if he would slide quite nicely into Corzine's chair without missing much of a Democratic beat if he were to somehow pull off an improbable victory. And yet that's not the biggest danger here.

Daggett's presence is giving Democrats disenchanted with the party or Corzine himself a safe ballot haven that creates the illusion of opposition without being forced into the Republican column. That means Christie could lose his fair share of anti-Corzine votes, opening the door to a re-election that seemed so unlikely a few months ago.

And another four years of Corzine as governor is about the worst thing that could happen to New Jersey.

We could run through some of Corzine's plans for another term, but why bother? He has been ducking questions and public forums for months, outside of the two gubernatorial debates and carefully orchestrated appearances. Earlier this month the governor refused to appear at a special forum on affordability held at Raritan Valley Community College. He followed that up by avoiding a joint editorial board meeting of Gannett New Jersey newspapers attended by Christie and Daggett, an event for which Corzine has managed to find the time during several past campaigns. Corzine's claims of scheduling conflicts were clearly contrived.

Corzine's record is clear, and as a result he shouldn't even be in the discussion as a gubernatorial preference. His first term in office has been a total failure. Taxes have continued to skyrocket, and any attempts at spending reforms have been minimal and to negligible effect. At first Corzine blamed the state's financial problems on previous administrations leaving him an economic mess to clean up. Then he started blaming the global economic meltdown. In the Corzine worldview he bears responsibility for none of the state's problems, and pats himself on the back for averting some nebulous worse-case scenario.

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Otherwise, Corzine has exhibited tremendous weakness in dealing with teacher and state worker unions that are a primary driver pushing taxes through the roof. He has generated a host of ethical concerns, highlighted by — but not limited to — his outrageous invocation of executive privilege to hide from the public e-mails exchanged with his former girlfriend, Carla Katz, during negotiations with the state workers' union Katz headed at the time.

Corzine is all wrong for what New Jersey needs right now, and Daggett's not far behind. The governor's default position on spending is to concede possible tax hikes because there's no other way. Daggett's default position is to concede possible tax hikes because there's no other way. Christie's default position is to say he'll find a way to avoid those tax hikes. Maybe Christie's wrong. But we want a governor who will try. And we know there are ways to succeed, if New Jersey's leaders develop the guts to do the right thing and drop their relentless devotion to protecting their own interests. We believe Christie can lead that charge. He deserves your vote for governor.

Link to article: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20091018/OPINION01/910180307/1060

Chrisie-Guadagno 2009 launched www.ItsMyNJ.com, a forum for New Jerseyans to follow and interact with the campaign.  From www.itsmynj.com:

Whether you grew up here all you life, or moved here because you loved it so much, we know our state is worth fighting for. We are concerned New Jerseyans that wants our voices to be heard.

Using cutting edge integration of social networking services, Twitter and YouTube, this website will allow visitors to provide a snapshot of business, politics and everyday life in the Garden State by uploading videos, pictures and text.

ItsMyNJ.com highlights ten New Jerseyans as NJ Voices. These people share a love for New Jersey, but have diverse backgrounds and experiences. ItsMyNJ.com will follow their social networking feeds as they share everything from their everyday experiences to their frustrations with the direction of our state to their perspectives on the race for governor. The NJ Voices will offer unique insight into the lives and cares of New Jerseyans and encourage other New Jerseyans to offer their own ideas, frustrations and experiences.


Check it out.

Atlantic County Republican Chairman Keith Davis released the following statement concerning the indictments of Democratic campaign workers and the Vote by Mail Act sitting on Governor Jon Corzine's desk.

Senator Marcia Karrow, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Corzine Administration’s choice of J.P. Morgan/ Chase as the provider of a $ 2 billion line of credit:

Deputy Republican Senate Leader Diane Allen of Burlington said Governor Corzine’s refusal to reveal which schools will have their budgets cut by his plan to take back $35 million in debt service aid is inexcusable. Corzine hasn’t said which districts will lose aid or how much aid they will lose. School districts have already put the aid into their budgets for 2009-2010. Removing it on short notice may require districts to ask for emergency property tax increases or come up with last-minute cutbacks in spending or hiring that will disrupt children’s education, Senator Allen said.

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean responded to news reports that indicate Governor Jon Corzine’s decision to grant contract concessions will raise the cost of government for New Jersey taxpayers by tens of millions of dollars over the next few years. The sudden and unexpected concessions came, newspapers reported, after threats were made to picket a Corzine campaign “kickoff” where Vice President Joseph Biden was the keynote speaker. A final estimate of the costs will be made if and when the governor makes public the terms of the agreement, but the terms listed in news accounts suggest that the concessions will cost taxpayers at least $40 million, Kean said.

Senator Anthony Bucco, Republican Senate Budget Officer, has sent a letter to Senator Barbara Buono, chair of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, asking her to embrace open government and make all proposed budget changes available to the public this week. Senator Buono asked senators to submit their proposed changes to Governor Corzine’s budget plan by Monday. Senate Republicans met that deadline and have made their proposals available for public scrutiny. Senator Bucco is asking that Senator Buono do the same with Democrat proposals.

The Assembly Republicans announced today a plan to cut $783.2 million in wasteful spending from Governor Corzine’s fiscal 2010 budget.

Senator Joe Pennacchio, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Corzine Administration’s choice of J.P. Morgan Chase bank to extend New Jersey a $2 billion line of credit:

Assembly Republican members Dave Rible and Mary Pat Angelini today said New Jersey Natural Gas’ (NJNG) plan for a 17 percent rate reduction for residential customers is welcome news for the area’s recession battered residents.

Governor Corzine should veto the recent raise given to Camden’s School Superintendent Bessie LeFra Young, who will be paid more than $225,000 while serving one of the nation’s poorest cities that is under state oversight and had to cut $7.2 million and 93 jobs from its budget this year, Assembly members Caroline Casagrande and Declan O’Scanlon, both R-Monmouth and Mercer, said.

Following the release today of audit results of the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) by the state Comptroller which found wasteful spending and mismanagement of its fleet of 2,900 vehicles, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande called for an investigation of all state departments to determine if the lax standards found at DCF are indicative of a greater problem at other state agencies.

Voters in New Jersey, where property taxes have risen relentlessly every year of Governor Jon Corzine’s administration, are too smart to believe the governor’s wild campaign claims of tax relief, said state Senator Jennifer Beck and Assembly members Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande, Republicans of District 12.

Republican members of the Assembly Education Committee Amy H. Handlin and Scott T. Rumana commended today’s Supreme Court decision upholding the end of the so-called Abbott designation, but questioned whether Governor Corzine’s new school funding formula will make things fair for the suburban middle class taxpayers whose dollars largely support the state’s poorest urban districts.

Legislation introduced in the General Assembly last week by Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam that would reduce the sales tax rate on the purchase of certain goods and services over $10,000 by half between October and December will have little impact on turning around New Jersey’s economy said Assemblyman Vincent Polistina, R-Atlantic.

Assembly Republican members John Amodeo and Vince Polistina today said Camden’s chief operating officer’s salary scandal is yet another example of government waste and the ineptitude of the Corzine Administration who consistently governs in a shroud of secrecy.

If New Jersey is forced to close its state-run facilities, such as the casinos in Atlantic City, it will cause even further harm to an economy that cannot afford another impact to its revenues stated Assemblymen Vincent Polistina and John Amodeo, both R-Atlantic. The state’s new fiscal year begins July 1, and recent news indicates the current revenue shortfall may be $2 billion less than projected.

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) called on Vice President Biden and Governor Corzine to disclose the details of negotiations that are underway with the Obama Administration to provide a federal bailout for the State of New Jersey.

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) expressed disbelief that Governor Corzine is either unable or unwilling to provide details of his plans for dealing with an unprecedented $500 million deficit that must be closed in less than eight weeks. The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services said this week that absent action by the Governor, the State is on track for a $500 million deficit -- the first year-end deficit in the State’s long history.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today he is outraged by reports that two prominent Democratic legislators and the Monmouth County Democratic chairman have established a trust fund to pay for the legal defense of the Union County Democratic Chairwoman under criminal investigation.

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande said the Legislature needs to immediately take action on four bipartisan bills that place stringent restrictions on sex offenders after the New Jersey Supreme Court today struck down local ordinances that restricted where convicted sex predators can reside following their release.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Republican Whip Jon Bramnick called on Governor Jon Corzine to immediately release the budget options he is considering in order to balance the state’s projected $2 billion deficit.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says figures that had been held back by the Department of Community Affairs for months only to be quietly released after Gov. Jon S. Corzine delivered his budget address on Monday show property taxes jumped 18.6% during the first three years of Corzine’s administration at total of $3.65 billion.

So it turns out that Governor Corzine's budget is not lower than his first budget after all. That's right it's actually $32 Billion and not the austere $29.8 Billion he claimed on Tuesday. That's because Corzine forgot to add the $2.2 Billion he plans to spend from the stimulous funds.

James Hughes, a respected economist from Rutgers, says the administration’s proposed cut in state aid to schools and municipalities coupled, a homestead rebate program that will be almost completely gutted, and elimination of the property tax deduction on their state income taxes could cost middle class taxpayers an additional $1,700 to $2,000.

Yesterday, Assemblyman Vincent Polistina’s motion to relieve stalled legislation related to commercial developments that were retroactively assessed a fee under the new affordable housing law was tabled by Democrats during the Assembly’s voting session. The bill has seen no action by the Housing and Local Government Committee since its introduction last September. Essentially, the proposal provides a remedy for non-residential developers who had obtained site plan approval prior to Governor Corzine signing the new affordable housing law last July, but were nevertheless levied a two and one-half percent surcharge on their project if they had not obtained a certificate of occupancy.

The Assembly Republican Policy Committee met with an array of business groups today seeking input for legislation that will help prevent further job loss during the current downtown and better position New Jersey when the economy improves.

Assemblymen Scott T. Rumana and David C. Russo said a recent audit revealing inappropriate expenditures and careless bookkeeping in Irvington provides another reason why Gov. Jon S. Corzine must end the Special Municipal Aid given to a handful of select cities over the years.

A day after Corzine said he planned to increase taxes, The New Jersey Department of Labor reported today that the state’s unemployment rate, already higher than neighboring states, surged to 7.3 percent in January from 7.1 percent in December. In addition, the department updated its figures to show that the state lost 22,700 more jobs from December 2007 to December 2008 than it earlier reported.

After the state Supreme Court ruled that striking hospital nurses from Lourdes Medical Center were entitled to collect unemployment, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande has introduced legislation to make it clear that anyone who voluntarily participates in a work stoppage cannot collect unemployment checks.

Broad exemptions to New Jersey’s no-bid contract laws that for years have allowed favored vendors to get government contracts without competition would be permanently closed under legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy H. Handlin and Sen. Bill Baroni.