Garden State Patriot

Please check out my latest post at Conservatives with Attitude! on the question of parental choice and children’s vaccinations in New Jersey.

Today’s vote on the Corzine/Democrat budget – also known as the Kill The New Jersey Middle Class Act – has been postponed until next week. Miraculously, the tax amnesty program has yielded an ‘unexpected’ $400M windfall. And now, our savior, Governor Jon S. Corzine wants to use it to reinstate cuts to the property tax rebate program. Could Hollywood have scripted it any better?

Gov. Jon Corzine announced a scheduled vote today on the state’s $28.6 billion budget has been postponed after the state got at least a $400 million windfall from its tax amnesty program.

Corzine said he wants the extra money to be used on “much-needed property tax relief.”

Corzine said new figures show the tax amnesty brought in $600 million so far. State officials had anticipated $200 million.

“We expected to pass the budget today,” Corzine said at a Statehouse news conference. “This extraordinary development must be appropriately considered by the Legislature.”

The Democratic governor said both budget committees will vote on a revised spending plan on Monday, with final votes in the Senate and Assembly a week from today.

Corzine was clear on where he wanted the new money spent, saying “in the strongest possible terms,” that it should “provide middle class homeowners with much-needed property tax relief…”

He stressed that as the budget gap widened because of the economy, the last thing he cut from the proposed budget were tax rebates.

“Now that we’ve recovered some lost revenues, the first thing we will restore is some property tax relief,” Corzine said.

Cross-posted at Red County and Conservatives with Attitude!

Want to see where your tax dollars are going to waste in Bergen and other parts of the 9th Congressional District?

Then click here.

Thanks to Congressman Rothman we can see where the so-called stimulus money is going right on Google maps. How exciting.

Perhaps then you can tell me how spending on the projects listed actually creates jobs. 

Additional links: Rothman,  New Jersey Wreckovery

Steve Lonegan is returning to the organization he helped build before his run for governor, Americans for Prosperity. As an active AFP member, I am happy to Steve return to this important conservative organization.

LONEGAN REJOINS AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY FOUNDATION

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan is returning to the Americans for Prosperity Foundation as a senior policy director for the New Jersey chapter.

“I welcome this opportunity to educate citizens about the dangers of Washington and Trenton’s socialist policy agenda,” Lonegan said.  “Big government has one goal and that’s replacing individual initiative and excellence with collectivism and overall mediocrity.  Americans need to know what’s at stake with Washington’s plans for our nation,” Lonegan added. “Their policy ideas will destroy our nation and, like Rush Limbaugh, I hope they fail.”

Lonegan sees the current policy debate over health care reform as the top priority.

“If advocates of government-run health care get their way and put one-seventh of our economy under government control, there will be no turning back and America, as we knew it growing up, will be dead,” Lonegan boldly said.  “I am committed to making the case for the free market in health care and making sure government does not come between our families and our doctors.”

“No one understands the challenges our state and nation face better than Steve Lonegan.  His profound knowledge of economics, budgeting and entrepreneurship is unique,” Colette Campbell, state director, said. 

Last week I posted about the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ bill being supported by Congressman Rothman. Among other things, I wondered just how this would be paid for. Apparently, that thought had merit because the bill is working its way through Congress with only $1B of the needed $4B needed to fund the program in place. In fact, according to Heritage the program is nothing more than way of bailing out the auto industry (shock!).

After passing in the House, the stage is now set for a Senate vote to pass the “Cash for Clunkers” bill that would offer up to $4,500 to trade in a used vehicle for a new one. Although the idea sounds good on paper, we’ve outlined a number of problems with the bill: Consumers typically replace clunkers with slightly newer clunkers or used cars, the program would distort the used car market by reducing the supply of used cars at a time when demand has been increasing, the voucher exceeds charity tax deductions for used cars, the environmental benefits are dubious, and its estimated cost of $4 billion is largely unfunded:

“But the $1 billion set aside for the auto-purchase program is far short of the full cost of such an effort, estimated at $4 billion. The $1 billion is expected to fund the program through Sept. 30, the end of this fiscal year, according to two congressional sources close to the negotiations who asked to remain anonymous.

This week, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, who sponsored the Senate version of “cash for clunkers” legislation, said she was comfortable with winning approval for money to start the program, with the idea that additional funding could be approved later.”

So, what else is new? Another bill to pay off special interests without the money there to pay for it. And ironically, the bill would actually undermine the very same fuel efficiency standards liberals also love.

I think we can see where this clunker of a bill is headed. Maybe this will capture it for you:

Cross-posted at Conservatives with Attitude!

Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk and Assembly candidate Bob Schroeder took aim at Governor Corzine’s irresponsible, anti-middle class, pro-union budget today. From PolitickerNJ.

“Oink!, Oink!”: Corzine uses Bergen taxpayers as personal piggy bankBy Matt Mowers

Hillsdale – Responding to Governor Jon Corzine and the Democrat state legislature’s proposed FY2010 budget plan to eliminate the property tax rebate and the property tax deduction on middle class families, Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk and candidate for Assembly Bob Schroeder released the following statement: 

“I will proudly vote for Bergen County taxpayers by opposing Jon Corzine’s reckless budget. The Governor’s budget wastes our tax dollars to pay for political patronage and special interest contracts.  Middle-class taxpayers are at the breaking point and this budget could well put them over the edge,” said Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk. 

Bob Schroeder, a Councilman in Washington Township and Hillsdale businessman added, “This is the eighth year in a row in which the budget contains new taxes, fiscally unsound debt practices and one-shot budget maneuvers. Jon Corzine is using Bergen County taxpayers as his personal piggy bank to pay for bureaucrats’ spending projects and political patronage. If I ran my business the way Jon Corzine runs New Jersey, we would go bankrupt every year.” 

Governor Corzine and the Democratic-controlled legislature have proposed eliminating the property tax deduction on families who earn $150,000 or more, eliminating the property tax homestead rebate for nearly all homeowners, and settled on a sweetheart deal which prevents any layoffs of taxpayer-funded state employees – a group whose representative unions have provided unwavering support for the Governor and are expected to again in this year’s campaign.  

 “The Governor’s budget plan would be especially devastating to the taxpayers of the 39th Legislative District.  Rather than face the real issues, Governor Corzine has decided to borrow, tax, and spend his way through the 2010 fiscal year for his own political benefit and without any long term budget solutions,” stated Vandervalk. 

“The Governor refuses to admit what all taxpayers know: that New Jersey has fundamental budget problems that will not be fixed by gimmicks and political grandstanding,” said Bob Schroeder.  “It is time we put New Jersey on a path toward fiscal sanity. Together, Assemblywoman Vandervalk and I will work with members of both political parties to bring fiscal responsibility back to New Jersey and finally deliver relief to taxpayers.” 

Bergen County remains a key battleground in the upcoming gubernatorial election. It will also be important for Republicans to maintain the D-39 seats in Bergen County if they stand any chance of capturing the Assembly.

Cross-posted at Red County.

Yesterday, I was about to pull out of my parking garage to go to work and an ambulance pulled up right in front of me. I couldn’t leave for 10 minutes as they transferred a man from one ambulance to another. Well, this is why. Quite a story.

Passer-by saves NJ worker who was severely shocked
VICTOR EPSTEIN

The Associated Press

HACKENSACK, N.J. – Keren Day says it feels pretty good to save a life.

The 28-year-old Manhattan chiropractor should know , she resuscitated a worker whose heart stopped beating after he suffered a severe electric shock Tuesday morning in the northern New Jersey community of Hackensack. Carlos Gamez came back to life after about 90 seconds of chest compressions, she said.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Day said. “His heart literally started pumping again in my hand. It felt like a small, hard balloon filling up.”

Gamez, 24, and two co-workers were injured when an aluminum ladder they were adjusting hit an overhead power line outside a building they were powerwashing about 8:20 a.m. The community of 44,000 residents is 12 miles northwest of Manhattan.

The three men suffered burns to their hands and feet when the surge of electricity entered and exited their bodies during its passage to the ground, where it scorched the pavement.

Gamez was hurt the worst, according to Hackensack police spokesman Frank Lomia. The Palisades Park resident was “knocked cold.” His heart stopped beating.

Co-workers were trying to revive him when Day drove by the scene on her way to work. She initially thought Gamez was being mugged, Day said. Being a certified black belt, she was preparing to come to his defense when she realized it was a medical emergency and he was in cardiac arrest.

CPR is part of Day’s training as a chiropractor. She completed a refresher course Saturday.

“He was turning purple,” Day said. “I told everyone to leave him alone because they were pressing on his abdominal area; I guess they were trying to do their own version of CPR.”

Then she went to work.

Gamez regained consciousness a few minutes later and asked for a cup of water. He was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center along with co-workers Luis Lopez, 21 of Leonia, and Carlos Chimera, 26, of West New York. All three were in stable condition.

“Thank god she was there,” Lomia said. “She saved his life.”

Day grew up in Great Neck, Long Island, and is a graduate of Hofstra University and the New York Chiropractic College. Being single, she said she plans to celebrate at home tonight with a glass of wine.

“I’m feeling good,” Day said. “I’m in awe. I’m just glad he’s OK.”

The man was actually working on my building, painting and refurbishing the decks for the condo units in my complex. Amazing.

Keren, you are a hero.

With apologies to Notorious B.I.G. (RIP), it looks like we are poised to see the ‘Notorious Big Dig’ in New Jersey. Last week Rich Zuendt, Guest Blogger @ Conservatives with Attitide explained to us how the Hudson River Rail Project would not provide any benefit to New Jerseyans while footing $2.75B of the bill:

Now how about New Jersey?  What does New Jersey get out of this?  Well, first off, the United States Government (us taxpayers) have to borrow $3 billion for their “share” of the project.  The State of New Jersey, through DOT and NJ Transit have to borrow $3 billion for their “share” of the project.  Finally, the Port of Authority of New York and New Jersey is on the hook for the remained of the money.  But, guess who is not throwing one single dollar into this project?  If you guessed both the State of New York, and the City of New York, you are right!  Not one single cent of money from either one!  So what does New Jersey get out of it?  Nothing but a huge amount of debt!

In all, New Jersey is borrowing on the order of $5 billion to create 44,000 jobs for New York.  Why the hell is that money not being spent to create 44,000 or more jobs here in the State of New Jersey? 

Well, apparently now it’s even worse than Richard knew at the time. The $3B in federal funding promised for the project, and that Corzine let on that was secure, is nothing but. Assemblypersons Addiego and Rudder explain: 

FAILED PROMISES BY CORZINE COULD COST

NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS AND COMMUTERS $3 BILLION MORE 

PROMISED FEDERAL SHARE FOR HUDSON COUNTY TUNNEL SUDDENLY IN JEOPARDY –

CORZINE WILL NOT RULE OUT ADDITIONAL TAX OR TOLL HIKES 

Just one week after Governor Corzine and federal officials insisted that $3 billion of federal funds was secure while breaking ground for a train tunnel to Manhattan , there is doubt that Congress will approve that funding. A shortfall of federal funds could prompt the Corzine administration to raise taxes, fares or tolls on all New Jerseyans for a tunnel serving a limited portion of the state. 

“It is not surprising but still outrageous that Governor Corzine proceeded with this senseless project without firm funding commitments. He has a history of over-promising and under-delivering,” Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego said. “ New Jersey taxpayers and commuters, including those in South Jersey who will not receive any job or transportation benefits from the tunnel, are already unfairly subsidizing this project. Forcing them to pay one dime more would be further insult.” 

Addiego, and Assemblyman Scott Rudder, both R-Burlington, reacted to a story in The Record of Bergen County that suggested the state may consider higher tolls or taxes if Congress fails to approve the $3 billion that Corzine and federal officials insisted was secure. Corzine’s transportation commissioner would not rule out those increases. The $8.75 billion tunnel was supposed to be funded by $3 billion in federal funds, $2.75 billion from New Jersey and $3 billion from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. 

“Governor Corzine has already burdened New Jersey’s taxpayers and commuters with nearly $6 billion of construction costs for his tunnel that leads only to Macy’s, will only shave a few minutes from people’s commute out of North Jersey and help create jobs and revenue for New York City,” Rudder said. “Instead of coming at us with even more tax or toll hikes, I urge the governor to use the money committed to these projects to fix New Jersey’s deficient roads and bridges in a way that benefits both South and North Jersey and creates jobs in New Jersey rather than New York.”

Corzine = bum.

Cross-posted at Red County and Conservatives with Attitude!

As I’ve mentioned on this blog, I am taking a ‘wait and see’ approach regarding the Christie campaign. My decision as to whether to give Chris my support will hinge upon his statements and actions during the course of the campaign and the specific policy plans he puts forth.

Well, in his column today, Paul Mulshine addresses one of those very key issues: property taxes. And the ‘news’ on that front isn’t particularly positive. Comparing the Christie approach to Doug Forrester’s, Paul remarks:

In 2005, Forrester promised to cut property taxes 10 percent a year for three years. But he studiously avoided mentioning the reason property taxes keep rising. The state Supreme Court has directed the bulk of the state property-tax relief funding to the 31 “Abbott” school districts, leaving little left over for the 580 remaining districts.

I put the word “Abbott” in quotes because the Corzine administration now argues that the latest court decision makes the Abbott designation obsolete. And I’ve heard Christie say the same thing. But the spending formula approved by the court still sends more state aid to just one urban district, Newark, than is received by all the school districts in Morris, Bergen, Somerset, Sussex and Hunterdon counties combined. That’s why both of Christie’s opponents in the recent primary called for a new formula that gives every student in the state an equal amount of aid.

That would seem to be a winning position at the polls, but the minority Republicans refuse to endorse it. Instead they assail Corzine for increasing aid to 23 ex-Abbott districts above the rate of inflation. But they don’t want to cut that aid. They just want “a more gradual increase in funding” to those districts.

That’s nice, but if the bulk of the state aid keeps going to the districts formerly known as Abbott, then how will the Republicans propose to provide relief to suburban taxpayers? The same way Forrester did: By coming up with some magical source of funding that will permit them to increase property-tax rebates.

I’m afraid that the Christie campaign, thusly, may be on their way to tossing away a golden opportunity. The people of this state are ready for real change, not half measures or skirting around the edges. There is no reason that Chris should be gun shy about adopting a platform of serious reform of state aid/school funding that would result in real, meaningful property tax relief.

Instead it seems that Christie, along with the establishment GOPers, are not prepared to take a real stand when it comes to the school funding formula. The end result will mean the struggling taxpayers of New Jersey will never see significant property tax relief. And should this occur under a Christie administration, it will only severely set the party back in this state when high expectations are met with no results.

Chris has done a couple of positive things so far – snubbing the NJEA, appointing Jay Webber as party chairman. I truly hope that these steps are not overshadowed by meek policy positions on the vitally important issues that affect New Jerseyans.

Cross-posted at Red County and Conservatives with Attitude!

The Iranian people, desirous of reform and po’d at the sham re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadine-jihad, have taken to the streets in mass protest.

The protests have turned violent, with some Iranians having been killed already. Check out Gateway Pundit who has a ton on this (some of which I’m almost hesitant to post to be honest).

Meanwhile, where is the leader of the free world on this today? The man who thinks it’s OK for the mullahs to have nukes? The guy who was foolish enough to say this just last Friday?

We are excited to see what appears to be a robust debate taking place in Iran…Whoever ends up winning the election in Iran, the fact there has been a robust debate hopefully will advance our ability to engage them in new ways…

Is he making public statements in favor of the reform-minded protesters? Is he acting like an American President should and supporting people who clearly want more freedom and liberty? Is he anywhere to be found today on this at all?

Nope. Instead, he’s stone cold silent.

Truly. Sad.