How about this idea Christie
In Christie’s speech to the legislature today, he spoke of freezing state spending, deferring captial projects and the very real need to reform the outrageous pension system that the political hacks in Trenton created. These are worthy goals, and only time will tell if they can be achieved. But, there was one item mentioned in his speech that he could have used to show he really meant business.
“For example, the state cannot continue to subsidize New Jersey transit to the extent it does. So I am cutting that subsidy. New Jersey transit will have to improve the efficiency of its operations, revisit its rich union contracts, end the patronage hiring that has typified its past, and may also have to consider service reductions or fare increases. But the system needs to be made more efficient and effective.”
Well Chris, if you really are sincere about this issue, why not cancel the N.J. Transit Choo, Choo Tunnel under the Hudson River? This tunnel, which will cost New Jersey $6 billion and will only benefit New York City, which by the way, is not putting up one dime for its construction. Why not take the money back, use part of it to balance the budget, and the other part to fix the infrastructure of NEW JERSEY’s transportation system?
Now you might say, “part of the funding is coming from Washington for this project” and you would be correct. Well, just turn around and tell those two clowns we have for senators that you expect those funds to be freed for the State of New Jersey to use for road, bridge and rail repair for its citizens. You should also tell them that if those funds are not available for these items, you will make it clear that they will bare the blame for the deterioration of the highways and railroads in the eyes of the taxpayers of this state.
One last thought, if you really wanted to show you are a true conservative, go one step farther and get New Jersey out of the transportation business period. At one time, all buses and trains were privately owned. Until the state mandated unprofitable operation of these services, they were dependable and made money. Salaries, pensions and benefits did not fall upon the state, but were the responsibility of the owners of those companies. How about acting like a true conservative and allow the private sector to take over and get New Jersey out of the train and bus business forever?
Well, the ball is in your court, follow the lead of previous Republican governors who tried to be “nice” or act like your own person. The idea is simple, but requires a man of courage. Are you that type of leader?
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein
Rich,
In his speech, the Governor said he was taking the following action:
- freeze the spending of unspent technical balances across a wide array of state programs. This includes everything from unspent funds to upgrade energy systems in state facilities to those aimed at assisting local governments in their consolidation plans.
- our state’s special municipal aid program includes a balance of $3.2 million, mostly for overhead costs. This spending is not appropriate, not necessary and will not be done.
- The “InvestNJ” program has a large unspent balance and a failed record in actually creating new jobs. We can save taxpayers $50 million by terminating this program now. Instead, I believe we should create, without significant public expense, a one stop shop to clear away obstacles and speed the path to job creation – the New Jersey partnership for action.
- I will also take action to terminate or suspend programs to save another $70 million this year. Some projects we can afford to delay until the state has the resources to pay for them. This list would include capital improvements to state buildings, correctional facilities, and state parks. It includes items like the main street program which has both current and long term funds which have not been spent yet and will not realistically be spent this year. These funds should be returned to the general fund to help balance the budget.
- cutting that subsidy (for NJ Transit – which you referenced above).
- he gave specifics on the need for pension reform (while he did not give specifics as to what reform he wants other than pointing to the bills pending in the legislature, he did get very specific as to what the problem is, using numbers – and math! (just for you, I’m sure).
- withholding state aid for education to school districts with surpluses (I don’t agree with this proposal because it punishes any district that was prudent in its budgeting and expenditures, and rewards those who spend themselves into bankruptcy).
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/chris_christies_speech_on_budg.html
Is his speech exactly what I would have liked? Probably not. But I think it was a good speech – and honesty requires me to acknowledge as much. I know the following quote from the speech does not contain specifics, but it is a statement that, if we hold the governor to it, goes a long way toward proving his conservative bona fides:
“New Jersey does not have a revenue problem—we already have higher taxes than any other state in the union. We have gone down the road of ever higher taxes to pay for Trenton’s addiction to spending. What has it given us? 10.1 percent unemployment, a dormant economy and a failure of hope for growth in our future. Higher taxes is the road to ruin. We must, and we will, shrink our government.”
If he winds up being all talk, I will be very critical of him. In all candor, I still do not trust that he is going to follow through on cutting spending or the size of government. But I think this was a good speech, and I am willing to see if he is all talk or if his actions match his words.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:50 pm“go one step farther and get New Jersey out of the transportation business period.”
Is this the best you guys can come up with?
Why not sell off the bridges, roads, tunnels and, yes, the turnpike and parkway as well? Everybody will have to pay tolls even when they take their kids to school or go to the grocery store.
Let’s sell Main Street to Wall Street.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:06 pm“Why not sell off the bridges, roads, tunnels and, yes, the turnpike and parkway as well? Everybody will have to pay tolls even when they take their kids to school or go to the grocery store.”
There are no free lunches, and it is not the government’s role to redistribute wealth so that some can have a free lunch at the expense of others.
If it costs money to drive on a bridge, road or tunnel – someone has to pay that price. There is no way around that. The only issue is: who pays?
Chris Christie said today that he wants to shrink the size of government. Taking Fenwick up on these proposals would accomplish that.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:12 pmBTW Rich:
Even if your idea about scrapping the new tunnel is a good one, it is obvious that Christie has no interest in it. Rejecting a single good idea is not, by itself, enough to warrant condemnation.
There are still a lot of details that need to be disclosed. But he gave more specifics today than I have seen in a year. I won’t say I’m encouraged – but I’m at least hopeful.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:18 pmChristie has the democrats beside themselves! They’re going bonkers, and it’s GREAT! Give the guy a chance. Attack the dirt bag democrats who are knocking him for the speech!
February 12th, 2010 at 1:43 amRichard,
that’s what you do best: devising solutions to problems.
February 12th, 2010 at 6:29 amThe tunnel was a stupid idea from the beginning. If NY wants a tunnel let them pay for it. Bloomberg could put up the first billion himself. Then when the cost overruns start, and the tunnel turns into the NY version of Boston’s “Big Dig”, NJ can sit back and laugh. I do have something that Christie could do on a positive note. There is a vacant, class A, office building in Cranbury of 500k sq ft. It can hold about 2,000 people. How about finding a tenant for this.
February 12th, 2010 at 6:38 amSell the roads. NJ Transit is small change relative to maintaining the tens of thousands of NJ roads. Let the people who use the roads pay for it via tolls.
Your messianic rug wearing AFP leader is totally inconsistent on this issue as are the two or three NJ GOP assembly people temporarily allied with him.
There is no way the legislature is going to stop giving in to the NJEA (and the legislature does need to get tough on the NJEA) unless the NJ taxpayers stop paying for the in- and out- of staters who use our roads.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:55 amZig:
Thanks!
February 12th, 2010 at 8:19 amIt may not be such a bad idea for NJ to go into bankruptcy. We have what? $54 billion in unfunded pension and insurance obligations? That fiscal burden can’t be met. The first pile of debt that should be defaulted on is the school construction bonds illegally issued without voter approval; with a wink & a nod from State Supreme Court. The State funds an authority which issued the bonds (a weak constitutional work-around). The best way to make sure the State never breaks the law again is to make illegal bonds such as these so toxic nobody will buy them again.
NJ Transit: We pay for full time train engineers that may only work several hours per day (rush hours). They are paid to sit in an idle train all day long. NJ Transit is a unionized black hole. The the State should continue to own the tracks (or lease the right of ways from the private freight companies). Let private companies run the trains with capital improvements paid for by tax dollars and lease fees on the train lines (much like roads are paid for by tolls and gas taxes).
Look to Canada for a model when they privatized their air traffic control system. The operator of the system is private and publicly traded, but has oversight from the government AS WELL AS the privately owned airliners that use the system.
http://www.navcanada.ca/NavCanada.asp?Language=en&Content=ContentDefinitionFiles/default.xml
February 12th, 2010 at 8:33 amhttp://www.navcanada.ca/ContentDefinitionFiles/newsroom/Speeches/2005/Privatization_en.pdf