Posted on 03/24/2006 7:01:18 AM PST by Calpernia
A veritable who's who of New Jersey Republican power players took to the airwaves yesterday on New Jersey 101.5 FM to join "The Jersey Guys," Craig Carton and Ray Rossi. The GOP guests joined the hosts to hammer Governor Jon Corzine's budget proposal which is loaded with new taxes, higher taxes and scores of programs cuts. It still happens to be almost $3 billion more expensive than last year's state spending plan.
Republican Bogota mayor and one of last year's gubernatorial candidates, Steve Lonegan was first up saying if just two democrats in the State Senate stand tough against this budget proposal and all republicans in the Upper House do the same, it will not pass. Democrats hold a slim 22-18 majority in the State Senate.
Republican State Committee Chairman Tom Wilson mixed it up as well telling Carton and Rossi, "These guys (Democrats) have dug and dug and dug, the budget has gone up $7 billion dollars in the last four years." He asks, "When you're in a hole, what's the first rule? Stop digging." Wilson explains, "If we have a budget gap, you can't tax your way out of it."
Republican Morris County Freeholder and another candidate in last year's race for Governor, John Murphy joined the festivities as well, oftenng Corzine more credit for trying to be honest. Murphy however, is not buying the notion that things are worse than Corzine could have ever known. He says, "I knew how bad the situation was."
Carton asked Wilson, "Do you think the budget address that he gave a couple of days ago is a product of the Democratic Party saying, 'Jonnie boy, this is what's going to happen?'" Wilson did not mince words, "I think he said what he had to say to get elected…this is a guy who clearly doesn't appreciate what a dollar means to somebody." Wilson adds, "We've got a tax structure that says, 'don't come here, don't bring your businesses here, don't bring your jobs here and, by the way, if you're a person who's living here maybe you should leave because we're going to tax the heck out of you."
Democratic Party spokesman Richard McGrath says, "Exaggerated criticisms are not constructive, if Mr. Wilson wants to move out of the state he's welcome to but, everyone who wants to be part of the solution is welcome, including republicans." He says Corzine is actually being honest, "How many times have we been told in the past about magic bullets that just turned out to be magic tricks that were just an illusion?"
The final two GOP guests with "The Jersey Guys" were Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Assemblyman Joe Malone, both members of the Assembly Budget Committee. Malone is the ranking republican on the panel. Both continued the barrage against Corzine and his controversial budget and making it clear they have no intention of supporting this spending plan, as is.
"If we were to play the blame game," says McGrath, "we would point out Governor (Christie) Whitman and the republicans created more than their share of debt and fiscal problems." He adds, "They (republicans) complain about too many taxes yet, they want more money for property tax relief programs, they can't have it both ways." McGrath believes, "The short-term pain is a prerequisite for long-term gain."
Proposed Tax Hikes Will Put Squeeze on Working Class
New Jersey Budget Address 2006
Corzine to present tax-raising budget today
Program Cuts, Tax Hikes and a Broken Promise Expected in Corzine's Budget Address
Corzine Ready To Lower Tax Boom On N.J. (Upset Residents, Many Hint At Leaving....)
This is an article about that impromtu town hall discussion from NJ101.5 that I posted at our locale yesterday.
"If we were to play the blame game," says McGrath, "we would point out Governor (Christie) Whitman and the republicans created more than their share of debt and fiscal problems." He adds, "They (republicans) complain about too many taxes yet, they want more money for property tax relief programs, they can't have it both ways." McGrath believes, "The short-term pain is a prerequisite for long-term gain.""
It is ok to criticize two administrations ago, but god forbid we talk about how Slick Willie put us into a recession or detroyed our intelligence gathering capabilities and military.
Quote: "I think he said what he had to say to get elected…this is a guy who clearly doesn't appreciate what a dollar means to somebody." Wilson adds, "We've got a tax structure that says, 'don't come here, don't bring your businesses here, don't bring your jobs here and, by the way, if you're a person who's living here maybe you should leave because we're going to tax the heck out of you."
The reason so many people move to NJ is two fold. One, there are many corporations here. Two, people working in NY want to escape it because of its high taxes and high cost of living. NJ is, uhh was, an island in the middle to two high tax, high cost of living oceans (NY and Philadelphia). Given there is no longer an incentive to move here from those areas, look for that migration to stop, cold. Businesses will also look to leave. I know my business is going to keep its HQ here, for now, but its other plants etc. are being moved as soon as possible.
As for Corzine saying whatever it took to get elected and going back on it as soon as he took office, isn't that the democrat SOP. I think the GOP should hang Corzine around the dems neck like and albatross. There has to be some good advertisement they could come up with stating that Corzine is an example of why the dems can't give you specific solutions and plans when they run for office.
Not only did Corslime lie to get elected, he is beholden to the bosses who will be dictating the distribution of taxpayer dollars.
Torricelli is one of them.
We need another Hands Across NJ movement to sweep out all the incumbents.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
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