Posted on 11/16/2004 7:23:10 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
When Richard Codey, the president of the New Jersey Senate, succeeded Gov. James McGreevey at the stroke of midnight on Monday, he won the dubious prize of 14 months in one of the most powerful - and most burdened - of the nation's gubernatorial offices. Before the clock strikes too many more times, he should act to fix the biggest of the state's numerous messes.
Mr. Codey would do well to start with New Jersey's porous code of ethics. Mr. McGreevey, who was no stranger to the state's "pay to play" politics, in which candidates take contributions from state contractors, got the ball rolling on reform with an executive order. Mr. Codey has already moved to codify the changes, but he needs to finish the job by enacting laws that also take aim at campaign financing in the counties and municipalities.
We'd like to see Mr. Codey quickly realize his idea of fighting fraud by creating an office of inspector general. We suspect that such an official would be very busy.
Another problem that cannot wait is reversing an environmental compromise struck by Mr. McGreevey - who, acknowledging his error, put it on hold in his final weeks. The deal would allow fast-track approval for developers as part of a bill to protect the Highlands watershed in northern New Jersey. An immediate and full stop for the sprawl-enabling parts of the bill is in order.
For a real challenge, though, nothing Mr. Codey faces will match the chore of wrestling with the bloated state debt and a budget shortfall of some $3 billion. While Mr. McGreevey taxed and borrowed to simulate a balanced budget, the options are now fewer.
New Jersey has one of the most regressive tax systems in the nation, depending on steadily rising property taxes, and Mr. Codey may have to roll back the small relief of property tax rebates. That makes it all the more critical to find a longer-term solution for the state's tax inequity. As a legislator, Mr. Codey has called tax reform a local issue. But as governor, he needs to press ahead energetically on a constitutional convention to rewrite the tax code.
Whatever he does, Governor Codey may want to relieve future Senate presidents of the dual job forced upon him. For the second time since 2001, New Jersey has an interim governor in charge of both the executive and legislative branches - because state leaders have opposed having a lieutenant governor. The reason is silly: legislators with ambition see a lieutenant governor as a competitor. At the very least, the Senate president should relinquish that job when he steps in as governor.
"We suspect that such an official would be very busy."
Understatement of the year candidate?
http://www.patriot-paradox.com/
From twinkle toes to cinderelly.
Seems like a breach of good taste to put "New Jersey Governor" and anything to do with fairy tales in the same headline.
Gov. James McGreevey: The only governor elected with a man-date.
Meanwhile, additional luster was added to the legacy of former Gov. McGreevey today when it was learned that in donating to a government-sponsored blood drive last year he had essentially given false information by failing to declare that he was engaged in an "alternative lifestyle" - ie took part in homosexual activities which put him at increased risk for donating AIDs infected blood - Red Cross officials reported that by now it was too late to track the location of the blood - so reckless in so many ways, but the ratings of how well he performed as governor will probably climb by several points.......
McGreevey isn't even a "girlie" man. He's a girlie girlie.
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