WTF is goin' on in NJ

[35thls1ss19]

my car is due for an inspection and although it wont pass anyway i am playin it off as the inspection stations are closed so what the hell should i do! hope they stay closed for a while intill i can find someone to run me threw haha

[BonzoHansen]

Editorial from today's Wall Street Journal:

The Jersey BoysJuly 6, 2006; Page A14 WSJ

The New Jersey budget meltdown is finally hitting essential government services: Atlantic City's casinos. Schools and parks are one thing, but how dare the politicians interfere with gambling. Without a state budget for five days now, the Garden State can't pay its state workers, who include the casino inspectors who follow Donald Trump's money.

The gambling shutdown will cost the state some $1.3 million a day in lost taxes, but Governor Jon Corzine and the Democrats who run the legislature still won't end their showdown at the spendthrift corral, also known as Trenton. The legislators are convinced that Mr. Corzine is leading them down a path to political ruin by insisting on raising the state sales tax to 7% from an already high 6%, and they're probably right.

But Mr. Corzine, who has three years left in his term, wants to guarantee himself a big new source of permanent revenue. The sales tax hike would raise $1.1 billion or so a year, in a budget that is some $31 billion. What neither side wants to do is cut into much of that spending, so Democrats in the legislature would instead prefer to raise other taxes, which they hope are not as politically combustible.

The sales tax would cost the average New Jersey family about $275 a year -- which is a few seconds of interest income for Governor Corzine, a mega-millionaire from his days at Goldman Sachs. Back when he was running for the U.S. Senate in 2000, Mr. Corzine felt differently about a previous sales tax increase. "I would not have raised the sales tax $1.5 billion, which I think falls the most on those people who have the least ability to pay," he said in the May 11, 2000, Democratic primary debate.

The legislators may also be worried that voters could soon figure out that New Jersey is already one of the most heavily taxed states in the nation. The nearby table has the lowlights. (By the way, the 50th state in business friendliness is New York. Is it something in the Hudson River?) New Jersey voters keep electing these tax-and-spendaholics, so we suppose they get what they deserve.

			Amt 	State Rank
Property Tax Burden	$2710*	#1
State/Local Taxes	$4557*	#4
State Govt Debt		$3889*	#10
Top income tax rate	9%	#5
Business friendliness	n/a	#49

*per capita

Now I know where my Camaro $$ goes...Trenton's pockets.

[LuvMyF8LWS6]

That is an interesting article. Can't believe how much his views changed from 2000 to 2006!

[chrisfrom nj]

im driveing my truck around with a expired registration i went to motor veichels 3 times their closed till futher notice

[amargari]

Personally, it has not affected me yet. I do wonder though why the state is entrenched into so many day to day businesses and organizations. Why do the casinos all need a state employee there every day? How many of these jobs were created as paybacks or favors to family members.

[ShitOnWheels]

I heard on the radio a tentative agreement has been reached. No word on what it is tho.

[amargari]

Originally Posted by ****OnWheels

I heard on the radio a tentative agreement has been reached. No word on what it is tho.

I heard they are jacking up the sales tax rate then giving themselves big fat raises for a job well done.

[enRo]

Originally Posted by ****OnWheels

I heard on the radio a tentative agreement has been reached. No word on what it is tho.

I believe it involves Corzine signing a 6 month contract to advertise Propecia Hair Loss Drug.... this guy is ****ing ridiculous...

[LuvMyF8LWS6]

Corzine doesn't take a salary, does he? I think he tries to use that in his favor. You hear it a lot. Big deal- Neither does Bloomberg and NYC doesn't have these problems!

[BigAls87Z28]

NYC isnt a state and Bloomberg doesnt have to worry about all that. While NYC is very populated, there is no law saying he has to shut down one of the largest cities in the world like there is in NJ.

[slugger27nj]

Aghhh....NJ should just dissolve the crooked govt we have and join up with Pennsyltucky....they consistently have a budget surlpus (that they manage with lower taxes...imagine that), so we'd all be better off.

[BigAls87Z28]

Yeah, but Penn sucks.
As long as we arent like Mass. Imagine running out of money to pay the snow plow drivers, and the winter just started? Welcome to mAss.

[Tru2Chevy]

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5120549

(Trenton, NJ-AP) July 6, 2006 - A top Statehouse official says New Jersey leaders have reached a deal on the state budget.

The logjam led Governor Jon Corzine to order a government shutdown Saturday, which put tens of thousands of people out of work.

The official says leaders will announce "the final elements" Thursday afternoon.

A different official says the deal would use half of the $1.1 billion raised by boosting the sales tax this year to lower property taxes. All of the sales tax gain would go for property tax relief next year.

Since the shutdown, state services, beaches, parks and casinos have shut.

A Harrah's Entertainment spokeswoman says it's not clear how long it will take to reopen the casinos.

- Justin

[foff667]

:woot: never been so happy to go back to work in my life

[Tsar]

ehh i was hoping to see riots...

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by slugger27nj

Schmuckface Corzine is legally obligated to shut the state down because the NJ's constitution states that the state cannot spend any money unless a budget is in place at the start of the fiscal year. This includes payroll, govt. services, etc.

Ding! As much of a douche as he is, he's doing the right thing AND the LEGAL thing.

You know, I wouldn't have a problem that he wants to raise the sales tax from 6 to 7% "IF" ALL of that $$ will go to reducing the debt. But I have a strong feeling the $$ won't. It'll be another typical government policy where they spend more because they're taking in more. Case closed.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Yeah, but Penn sucks.

Says the man that lives in the cesspool of the Ocean TWP area

[Dark_Knight7096]

Originally Posted by LuvMyF8LWS6

Corzine doesn't take a salary, does he? I think he tries to use that in his favor.

Last I heard, Corslime does take his salary but donates it all to charity, which is nice but if the budget is as messed up as it is why doesn't he just completely forfeit his salary. He could explain it by saying he is doing it in the best interests of the state. The guy is power hungry, beingle able to have control over people gets him off, that's what this is all about.

[BonzoHansen]

If you think he 'had' to shut down the govt, you are drinking the kool-aid. There are all sorts of ways around that, temporary stays, executiive orders, etc. This is not the 1st time a budget process went OT, in NJ or nationally. He also could have had exemptions, like the casino inspectors. This was a millionaire pissing contest and we all lose. Kind of like Trading Places. "Mortimer, I told you we could ruin him, you owe me $1". Here in the tax capital of the USA.

The Casinos will be able to open within hours - the hardest part is getting the workers in. Which shouldn't be hard since they are all home watching the news while they loose money.

[JL8Jeff]

What a bunch of jerks. Every governor before him could have done this but they actually made an effort to balance the budget. So will I have to pay an extra $170 tax to title my 1970 Camaro I just bought in June? They wouldn't let me title it at Rt1 and downtown was closed due to the flood. Penny tax my ass! And those areas designated as "enterprise zones" will probably stay 3%. So it's the rest of us really paying the extra tax. Just wait until they start to tax internet commerce too! Then we'll be double screwed with the higher sales tax locally and no advantage to mail order if you have to pay tax and shipping!

[BigAls87Z28]

Cesspool? Better check my property value big fella.

[Frosty]

No thanks.