N.J. Gov. Christie Freezes Spending

Off Topic Politics and World Issues
1

The snow isn’t the only thing that’s causing a chill in the Garden State.

Calling New Jersey’s budget a “shambles,” Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday he is immediately freezing all state spending.

Saying New Jersey is on the verge of bankruptcy, Christie declared a fiscal emergency, announcing drastic cuts. Among them, aid to school districts that have excess surpluses.

“Today we are going to act swiftly to fix problems too long ignored. Today I begin to do what I promised the people of New Jersey I would do,” Christie said.

The move had Democrats in an uproar, angry the governor used his executive powers instead of working with the Legislature.

“What that’s going to mean is that those school districts without that money are going to be raising property taxes in the upcoming year to make up for that shortfall,” said Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-19th District.

The governor also cut state subsidies to New Jersey Transit, saying it needs to become fiscally efficient.

“Revisit its rich union contracts,” Christie said. “And they may also have to consider service reductions or fare increases.”

“It’s really foolish. It undermines not only the environment but our economy because people need transit to get to work,” said Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club.

But one tax group applauded the governor.

“Yes it’s going to be difficult to make some of these choices as were highlighted today, but education, health care and these things tend to be sacred cow and they need to be taken out of that category,” said Jerry Cantrell of the Taxpayers’ Association of New Jersey.

Fellow Republicans said some school districts have been abusing the money they get and it’s about time a governor called them on it.

“I think the record indicates that there are a number of school districts that have been overspending, misappropriating,” said Assemblyman Joe Mallone, R-30th District.

The governor said he doesn’t anticipate schools cutting programs or jobs right now, but sources within the administration said there are no guarantees for the next fiscal year.

Christie warned lawmakers that next year’s budget may include even harsher cuts in spending and aid.

2

I’m surprised we are not seeing this headline in more states.

I know here many school disctricts are closing schools with low enrollment. But we’ve had a couple of districts just building away and not paying attention.

Our transit system has put the brakes on completion of their major light rail project, so it will be left about 1/2 completed.

Not to mention state offices have several mandatory furlough days now (this weekend was one all state employees took Friday off unpaid).

3

Someone tell Christie to give a call to Schwarzen-failure, because he wants to build a rail system from LA to San Francisco, in the midst of California going bankrupt. At least Christie has the balls to actually do something productive for NJ.

4

[quote]MaximusB wrote:
Someone tell Christie to give a call to Schwarzen-failure, because he wants to build a rail system from LA to San Francisco, in the midst of California going bankrupt. At least Christie has the balls to actually do something productive for NJ.[/quote]

The roots of all this go far deeper than most people realize.

The bravest act one can do, is to think.

Most people don’t. They want to live in fairy land where someone somehow will always be there to bail them out, no matter how much they refuse to think. Someone will feed them, somehow. Someone will provide housing and medical care for them, somehow.

What if no one does? What if those who COULD simply…did not?

What if Atlas Shrugged?

5

Arnie is a moron. Christie knows what people in regular households know, don’t spend what you don’t have.

6

Wow. A gov with balls! Imagine him doing exactly what he said he’d do! The noive!

If that becomes a trend, I could consider moving back to Jers… well, no, not really.

7

That would be wonderful if it trended west, but with Rendell in office it is extraordinarily doubtful. That dude proposes tax increases like a reflex.

8

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:
That would be wonderful if it trended west, but with Rendell in office it is extraordinarily doubtful. That dude proposes tax increases like a reflex.
[/quote]

skysszksysszz- what part of pensy are you in? Guys like Rendell only get voted in from a few ‘blue’ spots (pitt, Jtown, h’burg, york, philly, ie. pop. centers) in an otherwise red state.

9

Governor’s, especially over the past decade or so, have had to deal with some extremely difficult problems and budget shortfalls. They can’t simply print money and/or borrow from the Chinese. Many of those decisions have been extremely difficult.

California is “unique” in that it’s problems are more indicative of Washington than any other state.

It’s problems are so enormous…and it has such an entrenched bureaucracy…that you almost get the feel that the only solution is to nuke the whole place and start over.

There simply are no “easy” solutions for ANY state…and certainly not California.

Mufasa

10

Someone, very soon, is going to have to go on national television and do something similar: “Folks we can’t keep borrowing trillions to fund Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Effective immediately all 3 programs are cut by 30%. All checks and reimbursements are cut 30%.”

“Federal pay is reduced 30%, no exceptions.”

“Effective immediately the Federal budget must be in balance. Anyone ever proposing deficit spending or borrowing will be imprisoned for treason.”

“All foreign debts are hereby repudiated. Don’t like it? Say ‘Hello’ to the most powerful military on earth.”

What a day that will be!!

11

[quote]Mufasa wrote:
Governor’s, especially over the past decade or so, have had to deal with some extremely difficult problems and budget shortfalls. They can’t simply print money and/or borrow from the Chinese. Many of those decisions have been extremely difficult.

California is “unique” in that it’s problems are more indicative of Washington than any other state.

It’s problems are so enormous…and it has such an entrenched bureaucracy…that you almost get the feel that the only solution is to nuke the whole place and start over.

There simply are no “easy” solutions for ANY state…and certainly not California.

Mufasa

[/quote]

When we are willing to face reality (see my previous post), we’ll have a much better chance. Attempting to avoid reality, attempting to avoid the fact that A-is-A (Rand), got us into this mess.

12

I don’t disagee, HH.

Because Governor’s can’t simply print money, they have had to face those tough realities head-on.

Mufasa

14

Great idea, Push.

But do you know what the Feds will do?

Pass an Amendment with so many loopholes, exceptions and ear-marks as to have no real effect on the budget.

Mufasa

16

[quote]pushharder wrote:
There’s a simple answer. My state and others have it. A state constitutional amendment that requires a balanced budget.
[/quote]

Maine has it, but our (very Liberal) state is in a shambles.

Why? Accounting tricks.

The solution around a constitutional balanced budget? Move things off budget!

I’ll use an example: Let’s say I have a $1000/mo. mortgage and I’m in the red. I simply move my mortgage “off budget” to ‘non-discretional spending’. Voila!

That is how my state can have a balanced budget, yet can’t repair any roads because monies were moved out of Transportation budget into DHS (ie. social program) ‘budget’. That’s how a broke state can ‘fund’ a (all but dead) state-run healthcare system (“Dirigo”). That’s how the state can be near bankruptcy because it can’t afford to pay its bills as hospitals, meds, etc are not getting their state reimbursements to the tune of 100’s of millions of dollars.

Oh, still spend it, for sure! Just move it off budget.

It’s criminal.

17

Criminal it is.

And it doesn’t get to solving ANY problem.

You can be guaranteed that the FEDS would do exactly the same thing as Maine…just worse.

Mufasa

18

[quote]John S. wrote:
The snow isn’t the only thing that’s causing a chill in the Garden State.

Calling New Jersey’s budget a “shambles,” Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday he is immediately freezing all state spending.

Saying New Jersey is on the verge of bankruptcy, Christie declared a fiscal emergency, announcing drastic cuts. Among them, aid to school districts that have excess surpluses.

“Today we are going to act swiftly to fix problems too long ignored. Today I begin to do what I promised the people of New Jersey I would do,” Christie said.

The move had Democrats in an uproar, angry the governor used his executive powers instead of working with the Legislature.

“What that’s going to mean is that those school districts without that money are going to be raising property taxes in the upcoming year to make up for that shortfall,” said Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-19th District.

The governor also cut state subsidies to New Jersey Transit, saying it needs to become fiscally efficient.

“Revisit its rich union contracts,” Christie said. “And they may also have to consider service reductions or fare increases.”

“It’s really foolish. It undermines not only the environment but our economy because people need transit to get to work,” said Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club.

But one tax group applauded the governor.

“Yes it’s going to be difficult to make some of these choices as were highlighted today, but education, health care and these things tend to be sacred cow and they need to be taken out of that category,” said Jerry Cantrell of the Taxpayers’ Association of New Jersey.

Fellow Republicans said some school districts have been abusing the money they get and it’s about time a governor called them on it.

“I think the record indicates that there are a number of school districts that have been overspending, misappropriating,” said Assemblyman Joe Mallone, R-30th District.

The governor said he doesn’t anticipate schools cutting programs or jobs right now, but sources within the administration said there are no guarantees for the next fiscal year.

Christie warned lawmakers that next year’s budget may include even harsher cuts in spending and aid.
[/quote]

Exactly why I voted for him to be our new governor

19

Mufasa,

The main problem with California is that Schwarzen-failure increased government by 40% during his term, yet the state is nowhere near 40% better. With new government, it simply won’t die. When either the governor or mayor proposes cutting gov’t programs, it turns into strike heaven, and bad PR seems to be the Achilles Heel for our politicians. Unions start crying, why the governor can’t simply say “fuck you, cry all you want” is beyond me. Let this be a lesson for others, this (Cali) is what happens when gov’t gets too big for its own good.

20

[quote]MaximusB wrote:
Mufasa,

The main problem with California is that Schwarzen-failure increased government by 40% during his term, yet the state is nowhere near 40% better. With new government, it simply won’t die. When either the governor or mayor proposes cutting gov’t programs, it turns into strike heaven, and bad PR seems to be the Achilles Heel for our politicians. Unions start crying, why the governor can’t simply say “fuck you, cry all you want” is beyond me. Let this be a lesson for others, this (Cali) is what happens when gov’t gets too big for its own good. [/quote]

I’ve never fathomed why someone can’t just put up some charts and say, "Folks, we are just plain broke. We owe billions and have to increase the debt even more just to keep funding all these things. I’m happy that old people and kids get to eat and have a roof over their heads. But…we just CAN’T do it anymore. We are literally and completely bankrupt.

You wouldn’t expect your bankrupt neighbor to feed, educate and house you. Yet you expect state government to do all those things and WE ARE BANKRUPT."

Watch for the day when the above happens. Its a mathematical certainty.