BREAKING NEWS
Bingley can hit the beach again and quit whining. His gin’s gonna cost him more, though.
New Jersey Budget Deal Reached
New Jersey leaders agreed on a state budget Thursday following a six-day government shutdown that shuttered casinos and threw more than 80,000 people out of work, a high-ranking Statehouse official said.
“They’ll be announcing the final elements later this afternoon,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the governor will announce the deal.
…The deal includes a sales tax increase that would raise $1.1 billion a year, a different high-ranking Statehouse official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Half of the new money would be used to lower property taxes this year, and all of it would go for that purpose next year, the official said.
UPDATE: Well, hey. No sooner do I post this than whammo ~ the GOP talking points arrive. Florida ROCKS and New Jersey SUCKS…
…or so they say.
July 6, 2006
Dear Concerned Republican,
As you may know, the state of New Jersey is in the midst of a budget crisis that has led to a total government shutdown. This crisis in New Jersey underscores the significance of every state’s fiscal policies and the potential harm those policies can have on us all when they are mismanaged, regardless of geographic location or status as a “red” or “blue” state. A major contrast exists between Florida’s approach to money management and New Jersey’s, and this has been made so very clear by the events of the past few days.
In a nutshell, the Democrat-led Legislature and Democrat Governor are facing a $4.5 billion deficit and are locked in a stalemate over whether or not to increase the state sales tax from 6% to 7% to pay for this deficit, essentially holding the people of New Jersey hostage to their infighting. To date, over 45,000 state employees have been furloughed, while many others are working without pay.
To illustrate the disruption, the lockdown of one industry alone has resulted in a loss of approximately $1.3 million in tax revenue a day, dollars that are specifically earmarked for senior citizens and people with disabilities. Moreover, New Jersey enjoys a brisk tourism industry, and the closing of state parks and beaches will have an unknown but certainly adverse effect on the state’s bottom line. To put it in perspective, tourism is Florida’s largest industry-can you imagine the consequences should our state take such a financial hit?A Tale of Two States:
Florida~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~New Jersey
No Income Tax~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Up to 6.4% Income Tax
6% Sales Tax~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Raising Sales Tax rate to 7%
Hurricane Preparedness and~~~~~~~~~~~~~NO Sales Tax Holidays
Back-to-School Tax Holidays
$6.4 Billion in RESERVES~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~$4.5 Billion in DEFICITHow can two states be so far apart in their economic health? The answer is simple: Governor Bush and Florida’s Republican-led Legislature have embraced conservative fiscal management policies, worked to return tax dollars to the people, and focused on growing jobs and diversifying the economy. We have passed sales tax holidays to help families shop for back-to-school items and hurricane preparedness items. As Governor Bush has said, “When it comes to taxes, less is really more,” so our Republican leadership has been able to cut $15 billion in taxes since 1999. During that time, state revenues have grown by 51%, the state has consistently been a leader in the number of new jobs created and, just as importantly, our financial reserves have increased by approximately 530%.
Ultimately, Florida and New Jersey couldn’t be further apart, and the picture couldn’t be clearer: Republican fiscal policies in Florida have been enormously successful, while big government, tax-and-spend Democrats have ground the state of New Jersey to a halt. The stakes are high and the choices are clear: continue sound Republican fiscal leadership or bring in New Jersey-style Democrat policies that lead to big government and higher taxes…while obviously failing to solve any critical problems.
Life | tree hugging sister | 
July 6, 2006 3:03 pm
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We will be screwed, don’t worrry. I’m sure this ‘compromise’ that these salomaic legislators have devised will in fact have even more spending than the budget they couldn’t agree on last week.
They actually raised the sales tax! Might the legendarily incompetent NJ GOP stand a chance in future elections?
No, because they’ve proven time and again that they’re just as bad, Bill.
I like the adjective – “salomaic” rather than “solomaic.” Salome’s suggestion that John the Baptist’s head be given her on a platter is excatly the model our Herodian government prefers.
The shading of the story is – well, I was going to say amazing, but not really. This “six-day shutdown” – three of those days were Saturday, Sunday, and Independence Day, with a fourth day in the middle that nearly everyone took off anyway. And it’s somewhat dishonest to say they were “thrown out of work” – as if a two-day extension of that Fourth of July vacation (for which they still get paid) is the equivalent of a permanent mass layoff!
BTW – eighty thousand!? That is a huge number of people. It’s past time to realize that most of the budget problem is directly linked to this bloated payroll and the services it so poorly provides.
Bingley in ’09!
I’ll endorse a Bingley candidacy. Slogan: “Whitman, McGreevey, Corzine…Bingley can’t do any worse!”
I’d try though, Bill!
Maybe I’ll borrow the pizza box slogan: You’ve tried the rest, now try the best!
*edited for clarity
I’ll be hitting the shore tomorrow and I’ll be posting a few Bingley in ’09 signs along the way.
Who’s Frank McGreevey? There’s ANOTHER one? Yipes!
Who’s Frank McGreevey?
Jim’s brother.
Minor-league catcher in the Twins farm system.
*what Frank?
Clarity? That’s what you call it?
We were all quite clear on the correct name…
That’s because you auld sods live there and I’m the hired gun from out of state. I’ve got years to get this right. Now, how ’bout that first bumper sticker ~
No place to go but up from there.
I like it.
Edgy, attention getting.
You will notice, Sis, that I accepted Nightfly’s catch of my little error with grace and aplomb. Nope, no after-the-fact editing for me.
See? You’re a groveling suck-up already. Great! One less thing we have to work on.
Interesting choice of lyrics there, sis:
Bingley, Bingley!!
He’s our man (?)!!
If HE can’t blow it,
NO ONE can!!
Isn’t that what got McGreevey in hot water?
Oh, aren’t you on top of things as usual!
Frank or Jim, Ken?
I don’t know, really. One of them had some Israeli boy toy, as I recall, but I didn’t pay very close attention.
well, you played closer attention than some people, obviously.
Heh, I could be your press secretary, Bings. After that all you need is to replace about a third of the current state gummint with a Department of Smiting, and hire a Secretary.