Tag: New Jersey

Categories
too much government

Hope and Change in NJ

Spending sprees are fun. The responsible cut-​backs after such sprees? Not so much fun. 

Seems the recent gubernatorial election made a difference in New Jersey. There’s change there. Also hope.

Last November, running on a platform of fiscal sanity, Republican challenger Chris Christie defeated the Democratic Governor Jon Corzine. And it seems that, unlike a certain U.S. president, Christie has every intention of following through. 

In early February, Christie told lawmakers that the state’s finances remain a mess and that the budget passed eight months ago is full of “all of the same worn out tricks of the trade” that have driven New Jersey to the edge of bankruptcy.

He said that the legacy of “irresponsible budgeting of the past, coupled with failed tax policies which lie like a heavy, wet blanket suffocating tax revenues and job growth” require extraordinary steps to bring the budget back into balance.

So on his own initiative, Christie is freezing spending across an array of programs. For example, he is cutting the subsidy to New Jersey Transit and urging managers of public transportation to “improve efficiency … revisit its rich union contracts,” be more fiscally responsible and efficient. He’s also targeting bloated government pensions and education funding.

Can Governor Christie complete the pivot to fiscal common sense despite the hurricane of opposition he faces? Time will tell. But it would be hard to imagine a better start.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

Categories
initiative, referendum, and recall

Making the Grade

Americans want, need, and demand a greater voice in government.

But how?

The best way is through initiative and referendum, where citizens can vote directly on important issues, propose serious reforms, and check the power of politicians and special interests.

Wonder about the state of your state’s initiative rights? Well, Citizens in Charge Foundation — the sponsor of this program — has just released a comprehensive 50-​state report card.

Most states get failing grades. Why? Most provide no way for citizens to put issues on the ballot — or their legislators have regulated the process they do have into near oblivion.

New Jersey got a D for its lack of statewide initiative. But last year’s upset winner for governor, Chris Christie, campaigned on bringing the initiative process to the Garden State. He can’t do much without a cooperative legislature, but he’s promised to use his bully pulpit to focus the public on putting pressure on their representatives.

On a recent “Ask the Governor” radio program there were 50 emails from citizens urging Christie on. Last week, I met with a large group of concerned citizens organizing the grassroots effort.

It won’t be easy to overcome the powerful political forces in New Jersey — or in any other state. But if you believe in self-​government, in restoring common sense to governance, stand up: Fight for your initiative rights.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

Categories
political challengers

Wake Me When It’s Over

There are gubernatorial elections, today, in Virginia and New Jersey. My Republican buddies in Virginia are excited. After losing to the Democrats in the last two elections for governor — and for president, and the last two U.S. Senate contests — Republicans are now poised to win back the governor’s mansion.

Me? I’m not as excited.

Oh, Bob McDonnell, a former legislator and then attorney general, doesn’t seem any worse, and may be better than your average politician. But his campaign has the usual messaging: more jobs, better education, more and better transportation. All new and improved. For less.

Strikingly similar to the Democrats, I dare say.

Except that McDonnell hasn’t flat-​out said he’d raise anybody’s taxes. His opponent, Democrat Creigh Deeds, admits he would — only after a gallant attempt to dodge all those pesky questions and tip-​toe around taxes.

No independent or third party candidate is on the ballot.

In New Jersey, the sitting governor, Democrat Jon Corzine, may win with less than 50 percent of the vote. What a shame that’d be — the majority votes against a guy and yet they’re still stuck with him.

The polls show it very close, with independent candidate Chris Daggett getting 7 to 13 percent.

I prefer Republican Chris Christie. He promotes voter initiative and referendum. He promises he’ll actively push to establish a statewide initiative process. 

That would give people a real vote for change.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

Categories
insider corruption

Arresting New Jersey

For the millions of people living in New Jersey, who’ve never been arrested on corruption charges, this one’s for you.

Recently, the FBI arrested 44 folks there, including two state legislators and three mayors. Big news, I guess, but hardly unusual by Jersey standards. The U.S. Attorney says the state’s politicians work in an “ethics-​free zone.”

Chris Christie, now the Republican candidate for governor in 2009, used to be the U.S. Attorney. In seven years, he prosecuted 130 state and local politicians and convicted every single one of them.

Unfortunately, reducing corruption will take more than building additional prisons to hold politicians. The trick is empowering voters to hold government accountable — thereby putting less unchecked power in any individual’s hands.

Christie believes voters need the power of ballot initiatives. But earlier this year he said, “I hesitated about proposing initiative and referendum because my party had been such a failure on initiative and referendum ten years ago …”

Republicans gained a majority in both legislative chambers in part on a promise to enact a statewide initiative. Once in power, Republicans took a dive.

Christie pledges to be different, and to campaign with shoe leather: “I will travel around the state to publicly campaign for [initiative and referendum] and try to get the citizens to put pressure on their legislators to vote for this.”

In a usually safe state for Democrats, the latest polls show Christie with a sizable lead over Democrat Governor Jon Corzine.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

Categories
political challengers

Will the Revolution Cross the Delaware?

So strong their support for Pat Toomey’s challenge, Republican primary voters in Pennsylvania have chased Senator Arlen Specter over to the Democratic Party. 

Could a similar revolution happen across the Delaware River in New Jersey’s race for Governor? 

PolitikerNJ​.com reports that Jersey’s “GOP establishment insiders” aren’t “in panic mode” — no — just “very alert to the gubernatorial candidacy of former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan.”

An outsider, Lonegan says he’ll “deconstruct” Trenton, the capital. He gained fame by suing his own Republican governor, back in 2000, over unconstitutional state borrowing. He’s worked against eminent domain abuse and helped defeat two big spending ballot measures pushed by current Governor Jon Corzine. 

Lonegan faces Chris Christie in the June 2nd primary. Christie has some reform credentials himself, having prosecuted and convicted 130 state and local Jersey politicians during his seven years as U.S. Attorney. 

It’s a target-​rich environment. 

But Christie’s no-​bid contract for a friend and unauthorized tracking of citizens via their cell phones are ugly reminders of his “insider” status. The state Republican chairman hypes Christie as “recommended by virtually all the key leaders from state government and political circles.’’ 

Lonegan is being massively outspent, but voters will have the final say.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.