Since this is an all-Democrat operation, I find it interesting to see certain items like child welfare, hospitals and the like involved in the budget conversation.

I assume there will be a HUGE outcry about the heartless Democrats who want to take money away from the poor children so as to feather the nest of those making 90,000 a year.

The bottom line of course is that the government is involved in far too much, and therefore when it is necessary to try and balance a budget - some "popular" programs (like education and healthcare related issues) have to be dealt with.

It would aid the current federal debate about the budget if the Democrats would not cry against the Republicans everytime (and it is rare I admit) that they actually try to cut a little spending - given they do the same thing when they are in control of power.

If only our Federal government had this kind of fiscal discipline, i.e. paying for their increases in spending instead of borrowing. I think tax and spend at least makes more sense than tax cut and spend, in the long run.

Thanks!

When Governor Jon Corzine took office five months ago he declared the state was "basically broke". This did not stop him from introducing a budget with $2.6 billion in new spending and $1.8 billion in new and increased taxes.

The New Jersey state budget has increased by more than 37% since Democrats took complete control of state government in 2002. Since then, state taxes have increased by $8 billion dollars and borrowing has ballooned to $32 billion.

In a state with a population of 8.5 million people, the state has added 59,400 government jobs since the Democrat, Jim McGreevey, took the governorship in 2002. With the exception of illegal aliens, the state has basically zero population growth. The state worker retirement funds are at a minimum $40 billion underfunded.

The state's schools added 33,664 new jobs at a time when statewide enrollment grew by just 101,605 children -- one new employee for every three new students. Needless to say property taxes have increased on average by more than 30% since the Democrats took over and it is not uncommon to receive a $12,000+ property tax bill for a modest, 3 bedroom suburban home.

The total per capita tax (federal, state and local) in New Jersey is now $16,667. Given this situation, Democrats who control the legislature are fighting the governor's tax increases.

Republicans have introduced a plan to cut Corzine's budget proposal by $2.2 billion and Democrats have proposed a combination of spending cuts, and as they like to call them, "revenue raises", to avoid increasing the sales tax by 16%. Jon Corzine has refused to compromise on spending or on tax increases. Corzine's veto threat, mentioned in this past, is mild compared to his threats to taxpayers.

Corzine recently joined a state worker rally and took to the podium yelling "I hear you, and it's time for other people in the State House to hear you." Corzine took this action because some legislators (Democrats) pointed out state workers now make 40% more than average private sector worker in New Jersey and were considering a reduction in the size of the state's workforce and worker benefits.

I could go on, but suffice to say, New Jersey is the nightmare the entire United States could become if "progressive" Democrats are given a chance to run the country. And this little synopsis doesn't include the massive government corruption and incompetence that would put to Duke Cunningham and Jimmy Carter to shame.

American voters be warned.

I'm sorry, but was anyone in New Jersey surprised by ANY of Corzine's actions or decisions?

Did he not make himself clear enough in six years in the Senate?

If this has caught any of Corzine's voters unawares, we better not let them find out about the gambling at Rick's . . .

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http://www.nj.gov/budget06/speech.html

Read the whole speech. This was not your typical tax and spend Democrat. This is about finding a way to make sure that future budgets are not about maintaining spending by creative means, it is about saying "here is what we have agreed to pay for, and here is what it costs."

If you think government is bad, then run on that. But the GOP seems to run on the idea that government is bad, but let it grow and refuse to fund it. At least he is willing to say "if you want this way of life, then pay for it" instead of the federal government, who seem to be saying "take everything you want, bigger government, war, big deficits, and some tax cuts to ice you over (ignoring that the tax cuts are fueling the deficit).

I mean, I want lower taxes and restrained government spending. Where is my party?

Figaro,
Then why did Corzine suggest raising taxes as the only solution?

He could have said he would veto the budget unless spending were reined in.

Color me unimpressed.

No one needs to read Corzine's speech. The Governor's budget budget proposal speaks for itself - 9.2 % increse in state spending and $1.8 billion in new taxes.

Whenever I get really depressed and disgusted with NY, like most NYers I look at NJ to remind myself it could be even worse.

Yeah, definitely don't read the actual speech. Just take some guys word for it. If you read the speech he discusses all the ways he is reigning in spending, which amounts for more than 60% of the budget shortfall. And a sales tax is hardly a progressive tax, so its not like he's throwing things on the backs of the well to do.

This is where the GOP position of never raising taxes becomes absurd (especially since they don't stay high, because someone will cut them to curry favor or inspire growth in the future). He wants to do something radical, which is to set up a government that pays for all the services that people are using and enjoying, cuts out jobs and services that were inessential or redundant, and find a way to fund it all with tax revenues.

What a crazy idea!

NJ had a 4.8 billion dollar shortfall that is being rescued wtih 3 billion in cuts and reduced spending and 1.8 billion in new taxes. Maybe he felt that a point in the sales tax was worth protecting essential services. I bet a lot of NJ residents agree.

How about people take into consideration the actual facts. Here's the link to NJ's Budget - http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/07budget/pdf/revexp.pdf

The list of taxes, fees, surcharges and other revenue the state will rake in runs 22 pages in the New Jersey Budget for 2007. New Jersey state income tax revenue will be up $1.135 billion, a 10.7% increase over last year. State sales tax revenue will increase by 24.7%, equal to $1.661 billion more than fiscal year 2006.

There is nothing fiscally responsible about government spending in New Jersey and Governor Corzine's budget adds insult to injury. Since Democrats took total control of state government in 2002, taxpayers will pay 71 percent more in income taxes, 39 percent more in sales taxes, 116 percent more in corporate taxes and over 40 percent more in property taxes in just five short years. These are the facts as detailed in the actual budget.

Pennsylvania, with a population of 12.5 million, is watching a state budget of $26 billion sail through its legislature. New Jersey, with a population of 8.5 million, is fighting to pass a $30.875 billion budget. The average Pennsylvania property tax bill this year will be $1,475, while in New Jersey the average will be over $6,000, up more than 40 percent since 2002.

Corzine has not cut one dime in total spending. Last year the NJ state budget was $28.265 billion and he proposes to spend $30.875 billion this year.

Corzine is not qualified to be governor. His ex-wide was right: first he let down his family and now he is letting down NJ. The guy has bad judgement and is just as corrupt as McGreevey. First it was his romance with a state union leader which resulted in his forgiving a $500,000 loan and not disclosing it in his financial disclosure forms. The recipient of this loan is going to make a bundle on the property she bought with Corzine's gift thanks to various state programs. More recently, Corzine was caught bailing out a political crony -- no questions asked -- who was caught stalking & breaking into the car of a state Democratic legislator. Then there was his hiring of Zulima Farber, scofflaw extraordinaire, to be the chief law enforcement official in the state. Even McGreevey wouldn't take her but at least Corzine doesn't have to worry about any investigations into corruption in his administration. Now, his asinine demand for an increase in the state income tax while, at the same time, raising spending. This is the fundamental problem with liberals -- they are going to solve all the world's ills by throwing other people's hard-earned money at it. Never their own money -- Corzine will live the mega-rich life while raiding the pockets of regular New Jerseyans. He is going to destroy the state and should be recalled.