Garden State Patriot

In what could be a real blow to Corzine in this very close election, former Bergen County Democrat Organization head, “Goomba” Joe Ferriero, has been found guilty on fraud charges:

BERGENFIELD — The former northern New Jersey political boss Joseph Ferriero was found guilty by a federal jury this afternoon, according to a report in The Record.

During the third day of deliberations, Ferriero was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of mail fraud, according to the report, but was acquitted on five other mail fraud counts.

Prosecutors had argued that Ferriero and Dennis Oury, who was borough attorney for Bergenfield, had conspired to defraud the town by hiding their co-ownership of a consulting business. The consulting firm had sought contracts from towns in the county.

Ferriero was head of the county’s Democratic organization from 1998 to 2008; Oury was borough attorney for Bergenfield.

Oury had pleaded guilty and testified against Ferriero.

And here is a statement on the verdict released by Assemblyman DeCroce:

The guilty verdict of the former Bergen County Democratic chairman is another example of how Governor Corzine and his party have allowed corruption, which robs money from honest residents, to fester throughout the state, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today. 

            A jury found former Joseph Ferriero, once one of the most powerful figures in New Jersey Democratic politics, guilty of defrauding the residents of Bergenfield . He was found guilty of conspiracy and two counts of mail fraud. 

            “The jury’s verdict of Ferriero is also an indictment of Governor Corzine who turns his back on ethical behavior and reform in order to further his own political goals,” DeCroce said. “The governor has refused several calls for a special legislative session to enact tough anti-corruption measures. Even worse, he has funneled millions into the campaign accounts of power brokers such as Ferriero, while portraying himself as a champion of campaign finance reform. The governor’s intent is reflected by his actions, not his talk.” 

            Corzine, and his family, have contributed more than $440,000 to the political accounts of Ferriero and former State Sen. Joseph Coniglio, D-Bergen, who has also been convicted of corruption. 

            DeCroce said Assembly Republicans stand ready to vote on a comprehensive package of legislation that would suspend indicted officials, take away pensions from those convicted and eliminate the corrupting influence of campaign contributions from government contracts. 

            “We are prepared to implement real ethics reform before another one of the governor’s cronies is sent to prison,” DeCroce said. “Although Governor Corzine is satisfied with our current system that since 2002 has seen more than 100 public officials convicted, the public demands more from those who influence how public dollars are spent.

Cross-posted at Red County and Conservatives with Attitude!

Did you get your EZ-Pass from a New Jersey agency? Well, if you did you may have to pay some 30% extra in tolls soon – unless Assembly Republicans successfully fight back against this extremely unfair policy handed down by the MTA. 

REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ASK NEW YORK TO

RESCIND DISCRIMINATORY TOLL HIKE ON NEW JERSEY

 

NEW YORK METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SET TO

DISCONTINUE E-ZPASS DISCOUNTS FOR NEW JERSEY DRIVERS

 

            Five Assembly Republicans sent a letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, asking the New York agency to rescind a policy that will discriminate against New Jersey motorists.

 

            Beginning July 12, E-ZPass users who did not purchase accounts through New York agencies will be charged the same rate as cash-paying customers. That means New Jersey E-ZPass users will face a 30 percent toll hike this month while those with New York accounts will have a 10 percent increase.

 

            “Although anyone may register for E-ZPass in New York , this decision discriminates against the multitude of New Jersey residents who already have registered for accounts in their home state,” the letter states.

 

            A copy of the letter – signed by several Republican northern New Jersey Assemblymen including Assembly Transportation committee member Scott T. Rumana, Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, Assemblyman Jay Webber, Assemblyman John Rooney and Assemblyman David C. Russo – is attached.

Meanwhile, where is our Dear Governor on this issue? Is he standing up for New Jersey drivers, particularly those who have to commute into New York for their livelihood? As usual, he’s nowhere to be found.

Cross-posted at Red County and Conservatives with Attitude!

The New Jersey Young Republican Federation held one of its biggest events of the year over the weekend. I wasn’t sure myself if I was going to be able to attend but I am glad it worked out so I could. Being that I will not be a YR for much longer – the dreaded ‘4-0′ is right around the corner – I am happy that I went. Not only was the event filled with a number of terrific speakers, but it was a great opportunity to meet so many like-minded people who are trying to build the Republican Party back up. From what I saw the future looks bright.

Fellow CWA! poster Sharon Soon and myself.

Here is a brief synopsis of the day’s events:

Congressman Frelinghuysen was the first major speaker to address the conference and he touched on some of the things going on in Washington, such as proposals that will lead to nationalizing health care. He urged everyone to be ‘vigilant’ in opposing the very left-wing legislation coming from the new administration and Congress. And on another note, in no uncertain terms the Congressman said that Nancy Pelosi’s claims of not being briefed on interrogation methods were ‘a lie.’

Minority Leader Alex DeCroce spoke to the attendees about the prospects of winning this year. He said he was ‘charged up’ about this election cycle and felt we had opportunities to win in areas of the state where Republicans haven’t been successful recently. He also urged people to run for office and to not ’sell themselves short’ and that the party needs people ‘from all walks of life.’ The Assembly Leader spoke of the importance of this year’s elections and that in this state (and the nation) we have ‘gone too far left’ and need to bring things back in the other direction.

Matt Rooney of SaveJersey gave a talk about blogging. Matt did a nice job and emphasized the importance of those of us on the right using blogs and other social networks in getting our message out. Obviously, the Democrats and the Obama campaign used these tools to their advantage last year, but if I may inject my own opinion here, I believe we are catching up quite fast in this regard.

Keith Davis, Atlantic County Chairman, effectively laid out Corzine’s long list of failures, calling him the worst Governor in the country (hard to disagree with that!). But Keith also pointed out what he felt were the two biggest challenges we Republicans face: unity and money. Keith called for the party to come together after the June 2nd primary, going on to say we have the right message this year and were poised to bring back competence to Trenton.

Assemblywoman McHose was next up and addressed several issues. She mentioned that the dying print press has led to fewer press people in Trenton and, ergo, less watchful eyes there to report on things going on in the legislature. Assemblywoman McHose also spoke of women in politics, mentioning that the legislature is composed of more women now than at any time before and that she has had a hand in forming Women’s Caucus. She is also working to pass legislation to further transparency in government. Two such pieces of legislation are the Party Democracy Act and the Transparency in Government Act – the latter of which is being co-opted and watered down by Democrats in Trenton. The Assemblywoman also went on to rail against the DEP, an agency that she said is ’strangling’ the state.

Assemblyman Webber followed and also touched on a number of issues. He touted his role in defeating taxpayer funded elections. The Assemblyman also spoke of the need to use technology and for YR’s to get online and network. He spoke of the YR’s as not just the future of the party, saying ‘we are the now of the party’ (the Assemblyman himself only being 37). He urged them to run for office themselves if they saw fit and not to hold back or wait their turn.

(more…)

“We all have to share the responsibility of keeping our financial house in order,” Corzine said in his noon address to a joint session of the Legislature. “The unprecedented circumstances of our national economic crisis requires choices we might not otherwise make.” –Governor Corzine

This is a really rich quote from our incompetent Governor. Make no mistake, he’s making it clear here that he felt New Jersey’s bloated state government and out of control spending before the economic downturn wasn’t a problem. He’s had to come kicking and screaming to make the cuts to balance the state’s budget.

And his priorities do anything but share responsibility. No, the Governor’s plan just sticks it right to the already beleaguered New Jersey taxpayer.

Inexplicably, Corzine is proposing to eliminate the property tax reduction for homeowners, effectively raising their taxes during the height of one of the worst economic downturns we’ve suffered in our lifetimes. He is getting rid of the property tax rebate for all but a select few.  Then there are cigarette and alcohol taxes.

He’s raising the payroll tax on business which will only further hurt industry. This in a state that hasn’t created jobs in 10 years and is already has the worst in the nation climate for business.

Honestly, if this isn’t the last straw for Corzine in New Jersey then I have no idea what it will take. He refuses to address New Jersey’s bloated, bureaucratic and inefficient government. Instead, he makes it clear that his priority isn’t the everyday Jerseyan; it’s his constituency of special interests (i.e., government workers and unions). It’s just a disgrace. Enough is enough!

Here are some select reactions to the Governor’s budget proposals from several Republican leaders:

Assembly Republicans

Lonegan Response

Rottino & Caruso Response

Tom Kean Statement

Alex DeCroce

NJ Biz Article

Cross-posted at Conservatives with Attitude!

Here is my latest post from Conservatives with Attitude!

Perhaps the best example of Governor Corzine’s failure to address the state’s serious financial condition is his proposal to allow towns and municipalities to defer on their pension obligations.

In a classic case of kicking the proverbial can down the road, Corzine is simply using a gimmick that will result in more pain for taxpayers in the future. Of course, when it comes time to pay the piper Corzine’s re-election bid will be very much in the rearview mirror.

Assemblyman Alex DeCroce:

“I’d like to think the governor would have learned by now that residents don’t want leaders to keep pushing off financial problems to the future,” said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. “But a year after Corzine’s biggest blunder – proposing more borrowing with an 800 percent toll hike – he comes back with another attempt to stave off New Jersey’s day of reckoning instead of making a tough stand to fix the problem.”

DeCroce said he’s encouraged that some towns, such as Cherry Hill, have recognized the scheme will only exacerbate the taxpayers’ burden.

“I’m sure it’s tempting for a mayor to skip a payment when revenues are shrinking, property taxes are rising and Corzine’s only answer has been to cut municipal aid,” DeCroce said. “But skipping this payment will only set up taxpayers for colossal – even by New Jersey standards – property tax hikes.”

In a conference call with bloggers earlier this week, Assemblyman DeCroce indicated that the interest rate on these pension deferral payments would likely be about 8.25%, but could end up even higher. And the Senate Budget And Appropriations Committe statement on the bill indicates that “the full funding level for FY 2012 through FY 2041 [emphasis added] will be greater than it would otherwise be.” In other words, higher taxes as far as the eye can see.

Of course, this begs the question: why not just resist the pension deferral tempation (as Assemblyman DeCroce urges)? Well, in an elightening post on the matter @ MoreMonmouthMusings, Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre explains why it’s not that simple:

In Fair Haven, as in most fiscally responsible small towns, we are not interested in his budget gimmicks. As a fiscally responsible elected official, I have no desire to kick the can down the road to 2012, in return for nothing in 2009.

Despite our sound fiscal policies, Corzine is trying to force towns to “take advantage” of pension deferral. Towns have four options for their pension:

1) Pay their share to the Division of Pensions, as per usual;
2) Pay their share to the separate Division of Investments and let the State invest it on our behalf;
3) Invest it ourselves;
4) Not pay it at all and therefore not raise it in the tax levy.
Under the first three scenarios, since the money is being raised anyway, there would be no property tax relief.

Under the fourth scenario, the money would not be raised, and would, technically, reduce the tax levy, thereby reducing property taxes.

However, under all four scenarios, the money must be paid back to the Division of Pensions, with interest, beginning in 2012.

Why would an otherwise fiscally responsible municipality take option 4? Two Words:
Cap Relief.

Governor Corzine, with an apparently genetic predisposition to “Do as I say, not as I do” imposed a 4% property tax cap on municipalities. (The State does not have to follow this rule, which is why the State budget has grown by double digits during his Administration) (As an aside, Fair Haven does not have a “Cap Problem”)

During his “State of the State” address, the Governor went out of his way to advise municipalities that there would be no flexibility in obtaining waivers from this cap, which is a change from prior years, when cap waivers were granted routinely.

Towns with “cap problems” will then be left with no choice: they can cut services, layoff employees, engage in other drastic budget measures, or defer their pension payments.

In other words, like Vito Corleone to Johnny Fontane, Don Corzine has made an offer to towns they can’t refuse.

Had enough yet fellow Jerseyans?

Talk about off the tracks. Just one month after doubling tolls on the Parkway and Turnpike to fund a rail tunnel into NYC, the project’s cost estimates are already off by $1.1B — and ground hasn’t even been broken yet! So, that begs the question: will Corzine have to raise tolls and stick it to taxpayers even more to make up the huge gap?

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce posed that very question here.