Hallelujah

17 March 2010 @ 1:52 | Posted in » New Jersey, Politics

Governor Christie’s budget address yesterday was a breath of fresh air. Never before have I heard a politician speak so frankly and honestly, although I do note that Governor Corzine was honest in his budget address I attended at Rowan in 2006. It is my hope that Christie is able to follow through with his plan; Corzine did not and the problem became worse.

Christie took on NJEA. Why does the NJEA president have an invitation to the budget address? She is not a government employee. Hallelujah!

Next year’s budget will be 9% less than this year. Hallelujah!

One area I have an issue with in pension reform. While a lot was said and some items addressed, yes I will be paying, Governor Christie is not making the state obligated payment to the fund. The state skips this regularly. This is a large part of the pension problem. While payouts are too numerous, they wouldn’t hurt nearly as much if the fund had the missing billions of dollars the state owes.

Another issue is the apparent $159 million grant program Christie has in the budget. This is an easy cut to the budget, which will reduce spending even further. Christmas tree slush funds have no business in a state budget. Get rid of it, sir!

Christie took the first step. Of course, none of this means a thing if local governments increase taxes. Christie said there will be tools for municipalities to reduce spending. Millville City Commission take note: you cannot raise taxes to bridge the gap of lost “revenue” from the state. You must reduce the size of government. Spending needs to decrease, not remain flat. Don’t manipulate things to keep from laying off employees. There are only so many block parties that can be reduced before real jobs are affected. And Mayor Shannon, the governor spoke about the importance of having recreational opportunities this summer; don’t close Union Lake (even though the goose poop will) stating you are cutting spending while the Recreation Department remains fully staffed.

Likewise, state agencies need to heed the same advice. Cuts to public transportation does not mandate a 25% fare increase. Where are the cuts within the department? The state is not going to give you the money; don’t just find a new funding source (riders). Cut the overhead. No state employee should have a salary larger than the governor. No one.

The budget address was refreshing. Thank you Governor Christie. There is still a lot of work left to do. This is just the opening chapter to resolving New Jersey’s woes.

P.S.
NJN is a taxpayer-funded enterprise. It posted video of the budget address. Thankfully. I missed the broadcast and the re-broadcast. The address is public business and the video is public property. Why does NJN not permit one to embed the video? This is not proprietary content. And fwiw, I support the governor’s desire to privatize NJN.

Ah, I found the video at the Asbury Park Press.

asbury_park_press_video on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free