NJ budget

[mikeyj84]

The NJ general assembly needs to get over it and pass a budget, T don't know of any business that could last, having to continually borrow to balance its budget. Sooner or later the bills have to be paid. There' no reason this crisis had to come to an impasse!

[rusty charly]

1. NY Times Editorial

It's time for Joseph Roberts Jr., speaker of the New Jersey Assembly, to fold his cards. He and his colleagues thought they could bluff their way through a confrontation with Gov. Jon Corzine over the governor's proposed sales tax increase. But the bluff has been called: Mr. Corzine shut down nonessential services and furloughed 45,000 nonessential employees when he and Mr. Roberts could not agree on a new budget by July 1, the start of a new fiscal year.

To help close a $4.5 billion deficit, Mr. Corzine wants to raise the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, bringing in an additional $1.1 billion. It is not an ideal solution. But it will provide the state with reliable, recurring and desperately needed new revenue. Mr. Roberts, in contrast, is proposing an ever-changing and politically driven agenda — a few tax increases here, a few spending cuts there. It's the very kind of budgeting that has made New Jersey a fiscal basket case.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/06/opinion/06thurs3.html?th&emc=th

It is hard not to notice the geographic split in this dispute. Mr. Corzine and his chief ally, Senate President Richard J. Codey, are from north of the Raritan River, the Garden State's equivalent of the Mason-Dixon line. Mr. Roberts and many of his supporters represent the southern part of the state and are aligned with George Norcross III of the powerful Camden County Democratic machine.

[dalloway]

2. a great editorial.

I am 100% behind the Governor!

[mikeyj84]

4. no problem with sales tax

So what's the big deal, instead of paying 6 cents on the dollar it'll cost me 7 cents. they still don't tax food, clothing, and medicine. The only time it will affect your money is on big ticket items, and gee, who can afford them anymore!!!!!!!!!!1

[mikeyj84]

3. Joe Roberts

I Live in south Jersey and what's funny is that Joe Roberts when he started out was a Florio Democrat, and was decent guy, Now he's just a self serving politician!!!!!!!!