Christie-Corzine match-up would make a good one

According to a recent poll, the candidacies of Gov. Jon Corzine and U.S. Attorney Chris Christie would make for a spirited contest were they to run against each other for governor next time out. Click on the headline and go to the story at NJ.com.

Bean editorial discusses Corzine recall

Greater Media Executive Editor Greg Bean penned an editorial discussing a recall effort under way regarding Gov. Jon Corzine. He endorsed the idea of concerned residents participating in this. I agree that anyone who is so moved should do that, as it is an expression any citizen should be allowed to do. People should be encouraged to exercise their rights and not discouraged to do so.

Yet, I also believe that is the purpose of elections. I think some of what Mr. Corzine has done is very bad, and gives me incredible pause about ever voting for him again. But, he came up with some lame ideas, and didn't do anything unconstitutional or illegal. If lame ideas were a valid reason for recall in and of themselves, I suggest getting started on the legislature next week.

Click on the headline to go to GM News.

Mayor Mike is trying to hit commuters in wallet

New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has been the best mayor the city has had in a long time. I am in Manhattan a great deal and the work he is doing and has done is evident. Mayor Mike knows the city, its people and its business. The only down side is that I am pretty sure he hates New Jerseyans, based on the congestion pricing plan he is pushing through.

The measure, which will create a new fee to enter the city (on top of the various tunnel and bridge charges and those of the NJ Parkway and Turnpike, respectively), has passed the NY City Council.

This model has been shown to work in London, and from an economics point of view it has been done well before. But in New Jersey, between our own state punishing residents for living here with excessive taxation, chasing out businesses daring to put out their shingle here, and gas prices that are the highest in history, this is not the time for this measure.

The idea is to bolster the use of buses, ferrys, etc. But in my experience, mass transit isn't always the way to go for every city destination. With absolutely no attempt to improve mass transit lines from Jersey to more stops in the city, or providing more reliable cab hubs in the city, the first thing being done is to hit the commuters in the wallet.

I like Mayor Mike. I would probably vote for him in a 'New York minute' for president, but he's looking to kill my already injured wallet. Only New Jersey's governor is doing more to harm my wallet at this moment, but I'd have to think long and hard about voting for him again at this point for anything.

Click on the headline to read about congestion pricing in the APP.

Caption: A re-enactor at Yorktown representing a U.S. Army doctor during the Revolution. Medical help may be needed to revive New Jersey commuters after congestion pricing gives them an acute wallet attack.

Corzine plan doesn't need trimming -- it needs to go away

Gov. Corzine is, in my opinion, not a bad governor. He works in the interests of residents, in my opinion. But then there is this toll issue. The toll issue he is trying to push is, in fact, a catastrophe. Democrats are talking about 'paring it down.' There are some plans that just start bad, and trying to make them better is an exercise in futility.

No part of this plan should be adopted. It should be forgotten about entirely, categorically. It is a disaster for this state, its businesses and residents. Click on NJ.com and go to the story.

Corzine tries to sell Parkway plan

The APP has a story about Gov. Corzine trying to sell the Parkway plan, which would raise tolls to a ridiculous level, thereby harming commerce and average commuting, in my opinion. I do not believe New Jerseyans should have to be put through anymore harm by government, and especially not on this level.

The government in this state does not know how to spend money. So even if it were bailed out, it would proceed to put itself in an insurmountable hole immediately, in all likelihood squandering whatever value a sacrifice on the part of residents would have.

Click on the headline and go to the story.

Message from Gov. Corzine

I received a message from the Governor's Office in my e-mail. I think it was great that his people are letting area residents know there is a meeting in Marlboro. I don't agree with this plan about the toll roads. But at least this governnor isn't hiding the issue. Below is the email.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm coming to Marlboro on Monday to talk directly to the people about my plan to fix our state's budget crisis. Here are the details:

Monday, February 4, 2008 7-9pm
Marlboro High School
95 North Main St.
Marlboro, NJ 07746

My plan imposes three key spending rules on our state budget. We'll immediately freeze state spending at current levels. We'll require any new spending to be tied to new revenue. And we will return the state's credit card to the people, requiring any state borrowing to be approved by the voters.

Additionally my plan involves toll hikes. The cost of an average trip on the Turnpike would be $2.05 in five years. In 10 years, it will be $5.80. That's up from $1.21 today.

Believe me, I've run all the numbers. There is no better alternative to achieve the twin goals of paying down our state's debt and funding the Transportation Trust Fund for the next 75 years.

I hope to see you at Monday's town hall meeting.

Corzine takes to the road to sell his plan

Gov. Jon Corzine is on the road trying to sell his plan for raising tolls to the state.

It is an insult in this state to ask anything more of a citizenry that has been and will continue to be put through the wringer by each and every level of government. Mr. Corzine's plan is wrong, asks for more sacrifice when there has already been too much and it is out of line.

While Mr. Corzine's plan is bad, his administration has been used as an excuse locally, by some municipal organizations, like Middletown's committee, which insists on smoke-screening their own spend-thrift habits with state fiscal mismanagement.

Currently, there is not a level of government soaring above the pack. There is no party more qualified than the next. There are only politicians who are committed to raising taxes and politicians not committed to raising taxes -- and there is nothing in between. Tax raisers are 'bad,' and tax cutters are 'good.'

It should not be a matter of some politician telling the taxpayer why they are going to raise taxes, tolls or anything. It has come down to this being a time when elected officials who raise taxes should be thrown out of office in November, and elected officials who cut taxes should not, in my opinion.

I believe that taxation has reached a level that is beyond the citizenry's ability to bear, and any elected person who is asking for anyone's understanding in raising anything shouldn't expect a good response.

It is time for elected people in the towns, in the county, at the state, and in DC to cut taxes, wthout excuses, finger-pointing or stuttering. It's been too much for a long time: Now it's just off the charts.

Click on the headline for Mr. Corzine's "plan."

Corzine bans dual-office holding...sorta

Gov. Jon Corzine has banned dual-office holding by officials in New Jersey. A significant "but" to that though is his grandfathering of existing office holders who hold more than one office -- and there is no good cause for that.

Dual-office holding should either be permissible to all or not allowed for all. This grandfathering nonsense is just that. Click on the headline and go to the APP article.

Corzine to use helicopters to get around

On Page A2 of the Asbury Park Press today is a brief titled "Corzine leaving his vehicle choice to 'experts.'" The brief discusses how the governor is traveling by helicopter more, as a result of recent injuries he received following a car crash.

In the third paragraph of the brief, though, it states: "With gas prices soaring in spring 2006, Corzine said he wanted to get rid of his State Police-driven SUV in favor of a smaller, more fuel-efficient car. But following a near-fatal car crash in April, he now seems less eager to push the issue."

Well, if Mr. Corzine can't get around in reasonable transportation on public money, then maybe he should consider hiring something private to do so and not helicopter rides on the public dime. In the meantime, Middletown Administrator Robert Czech was issued the exact same make of vehicle the governor uses, which is a Tahoe SUV, for his 24-hour use.

This is a waste of taxpayer dollars in Middletown. He should have a fuel-efficient and reasonably priced sedan, if anything. In reality, a township administrator should not receive an form of free car, in my opinion. It is an unnecessary expense for taxpayers. The job pays enough for him to buy and operate a car.

State nixes funding for historic preservation

Bad news from Trenton about historic preservation. Click on the headline and go to NJ.com.

Corzine does post-hospital interview

Governor Corzine does interview after hospital stay. Click on the headline and go there.

Opinion: No excuse about the seatbelt thing. Anyone in elected office has to be held to the same standard as everyone else. That being said, hopefully he'll buckle up and this will serve as a reminder to anyone else who doesn't. Bucklin up saves lives, unnecessary injury and drama.

Codey is in for Corzine

Sen. Dick Codey again fills in for a governor, this time Jon Corzine in the wake of his recent accident. PoliticsNJ.com has a good story. Click on the headline and go there.

Corzine stable in wake of Parkway crash

As most people know by now, Gov. Jon Corzine has been injured in a car crash. The Star-Ledger is doing some excellent coverage with regular updates. Click on the headline to go there.

Handlin calls on Gov. Corzine to rein in state overtime

PRESS RELEASE

March 14, 2007

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin/732-787-1170
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

In response to a recent Asbury Park Press article which reported the state's Executive Branch spent more than $230 million on overtime pay last year, Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, R-Monmouth/Middlesex, on March 14 said such expenditures are a prime example of why New Jersey is on the fast track to bankruptcy and called on Governor Jon Corzine to end this practice now.

"Even as Governor Corzine was laying out his Fiscal Year 2008 budget, he was telling us that the state is facing a structural budget deficit for next year. On Monday, OLS told the Assembly Budget Committee there's a very good chance the governor's proposed budget may have a $633 million shortfall," Handlin said. "Is it any wonder this state is in such a hole when we're paying out exorbitant amounts of taxpayer money for overtime pay?"

According to the article, 79 percent of the Executive Branch's overtime was paid to employees in the departments of Human Services, Corrections and Law and Public Safety. Sixty-six state employees racked up more than $60,000 in overtime in 2006, with some more than doubling their salaries. Six employees made more than $80,000 in overtime. Executive Branch overtime pay accounted for five percent of its $5 billion salary budget.