Gov. Chris Christie to use cap-and-trade funds to balance state budget

NewJersey.com ^ | December 14, 2010

[La Lydia]

Gov. Chris Christie has said he is taking $65 million from the state’s model cap-and-trade program to balance the state’s $29.3 billion budget, but he is getting pushback from Democrats in the state Legislature. The money comes from quarterly carbon permit auctions held by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an alliance of 10 Eastern states from Maine to Maryland. The governor said he also is planning on taking all of the proceeds from the next three quarterly auctions in 2010...Bob Smith, chairman of the Legislature’s environment and energy committee, and a member of the appropriations committee, has vowed to fight the governor over the RGGI funds and the Clean Energy Fund, which the governor appropriated last month.

"The question that will come back to me and the other policymakers will be how can we justify raiding this fund when there are much better alternatives. We should continue for at least another year with higher income taxes on our wealthier residents," said Smith, who is a vocal advocate for economic stimulus through green jobs.

The RGGI funds, like the $158 million in the Clean Energy Fund, were earmarked for use in a variety of energy efficiency and renewable-energy programs. In 2009, New Jersey’s RGGI proceeds were $67 million; of that, $22 million has been spent or committed for consumer-oriented programs.

RGGI is the first mandatory regulatory program that requires power plant operators to buy permits for the carbon dioxide they emit. Groups of states in the Midwest and West are using RGGI as a model for developing similar auction systems, according to the Climate Registry, a nonprofit trade group....

[La Lydia]

Christie allows NJ Dems to hoist themselves on their own cap-and-trade petard. Dems are telling New Jersey taxpayers,"We got what cap-and-trade costs you, and now we want more."

[WOBBLY BOB]

I like this guy more and more.

[raygunfan]

so after watching delaware (or was it maryland) wealthy inhabitants flee before they were fleeced for higher taxes...some dhimmi/dummy wants to try the same shtick in jersey?????

[NormsRevenge]

The money comes from quarterly carbon permit auctions held by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an alliance of 10 Eastern states from Maine to Maryland.

—

Incredible profits are to be made off of selling hot air.. crazy world, huh.. but , may as well use the dough if ya need it for really important stuff.. crazy world

go for it Gub.. aRnie wouldn;t..

[SkyPilot]

There are no "green jobs."

FOX News did an excellent report on this scam last night. Almost 25% of the Community Organizer's "stimulus" went to "green jobs" nonsense. Obama thought he would "produce" 5 Million "green jobs." Billions were spent on useless "green jobs" training programs.

Guess what?

There ARE NO green jobs for these geniuses who took the crappola training!

What a waste of Billions of dollars.

These morons would fit right in with a Nuremberg rally. Perhaps we should have provided them clean burning torches.

[TCH]

Hey, Smithy... I got your “green jobs” right here... See if you can pull a TSA on this, pal.

I trust Governor Christie will soon force feed a political fist down this fool’s redistributing pie hole.

The “green goons” should all be tarred, feathered, and run out of the state on an iron rail—and I do mean literally.

Perhaps we might entice the carbon cabal and their earth-worshiping cronies with an offer of an all-expenses-paid “green cruise” on some Cousteau-like odyssey... then wait until the good ship enters deep waters—and ... Well, use your immagination.

[Deb]

I love him so much it makes me cry.

[USS Alaska]

Here are some really green jobs.

[La Lydia]

I think that was part of Christie’s point. They are morons.

[I am Richard Brandon]

"Christie allows NJ Dems to hoist themselves on their own cap-and-trade petard"

When is someone in the GOP going to take this "Nation of Laws" thing seriously and get AGW into court in front of a judge?

[UCFRoadWarrior]

If he would dump the Gun-Grabbing, Islam-Pandering, and the Illegal Alien-Sympathy....Christie would make a good President. I like this move....taking Cap And Trade funds to balance budget

[yobid]

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Early_closure_for_Oyster_Creek_0912101.html

I’d like to see Christie do something about THIS nonsense.

[La Lydia]

I don’t know anything about this, but the plant is 40 years old and probably needs some updating. Closing it will undoubtedly cause your electricity bill to rise.

[TheBigIf]

One of the things that I was a bit down on Christie about was that he wasn’t dismantling the bogus green agenda here in New Jersey. This news today makes me very happy!!!!

[La Lydia]

He is cramming it down their throats! He is really a very clever man.

[ncpatriot]

Way to go, New Jersey!

[st.eqed]

Where is the pardon for that poor guy railroaded by his mom with the guns in his trunk while he was moving? Unacceptable Gov Christe!

[La Lydia]

He made an announcement late last week about that, the attorney general is reviewing the case or something, anyway, it sounded to me like he was going to give him a pardon before Christmas. Boy that guy has Mom issues now, if he didn’t before.

[st.eqed]

Thanks for that, I will retract almost every nasty thing I have said about the good Govenor.

[La Lydia]

Let me be clear. He didn’t announce a pardon or clemency. But from his statement I was left with the distinct impression that he was leaning toward it. Otherwise, why say, “I will have an announcement before Christmas.” ??? He is a former US attorney, and seems to be the kind of man who wants to dot all the I’s and cross all the Ts before making such a decision or announcing anything.