Assembly Republicans

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Bullet points miss the mark
Asbury Park Press, Editorial, February 23, 2007

Gov. Corzine outlined a $33 billion budget Thursday that will provide Democratic legislators with some badly needed bullet points for the glossy mailings and TV campaign ads in their re-election campaigns this fall.

Among the boasts we can count on hearing: Democrats passed the first budget in six years with no new taxes or tax increases. Democrats passed a budget that provided the largest increase in direct property tax relief in state history. Democrats passed a budget that provided the first real increase in state aid to every school district in the state in years. Democrats passed a budget that provided an increase in municipal aid for the first time in three years.

Unfortunately for taxpayers, the Democrats' opponents will have far more bullet points relating to the budget to use against them in November, when all 120 seats in the Legislature are up for grabs.

Among them: The Democrats approved a budget that increased overall state spending 7.2 percent - three times the rate of inflation. The year before, Corzine's first as governor, state spending increased 9 percent. During the six years since Trenton has been under Democratic control, the state budget has increased 48 percent. During the six years Trenton has been under Democratic control, state debt has doubled.

Other bullet points we hope to hear: Most of the $2.1 billion property tax credit program was funded by recycled tax dollars - money that came from an increase in the sales tax and the elimination of the old rebate program. The state's structural deficit is expected to be worse next year than it is this year. The "fair contract" negotiated with the state unions will yield an estimated $40 million in savings next year - an amount equal to .001 percent of the state budget.

Corzine spoke Thursday about the need for the Legislature to address long-term fiscal troubles, about New Jersey having the third-highest level of debt in the nation and about the burgeoning increases in unfunded liabilities for government workers' pensions and health care.

Bullet point: We know. We've been hearing about it for five years, including from Corzine last year. Too bad for taxpayers that no one - including Corzine - has done what is needed to provide meaningful, long-term relief.

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