N.J. Gov Freezes Spending; Dems Furious

[MIPS]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

This is also known as "top down" fiscal discipline.... the alternative would be to wait for local governments to cut expenses before cutting outlays to local governments at the state level, in other words "bottom up" which doesn't work as long as the money faucet at the state level remains wide open.

Local budgets are prepared based on expected state revenue. When the state reneges on its obligation, the local municipality has no choice but to raise taxes. It would be nice to cut school expenses, but once again the state is mandating programs and then holding back funding

Or reduce outlays in other areas or a combination of the two. The worst alternative is to keep spending money you don't have for things you cannot afford.

 

[Gatekeeper]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

This is also known as "top down" fiscal discipline.... the alternative would be to wait for local governments to cut expenses before cutting outlays to local governments at the state level, in other words "bottom up" which doesn't work as long as the money faucet at the state level remains wide open.

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

Right on the money RW /MIPS, same ole stuff using a different costume. The end result is that we in NJ and anywhere else this is done only results in increased local and county taxes. Yes STATE spending drops, and those monies that the state funneled to the counties and respective towns are now going to be funded by the taxpayer.

Hate to reiterate
Where is the justice? How come it's the Taxpayer that has to always 'bite-the-bullet' and take it up the backside? How come when ANY state, 'saves money', by 'cutting taxes' and stops funding programs in various areas, education, infrastructure etc', its residents keep getting screwed over and over when those 'state monies' are just procured by the community instead?

I hate the double talk that our leaders use almost constantly. If they are going to cut programs, it should be GLOBAL with-in the state, NOT to be revived through local taxation. Then the 'spending cuts' actually benefit EVERYONE, not just the state capitals and their compliment of double talking politicians making things 'look good' on paper and in the media. Problem is that everyone is still going to lose, it depends on the severity of damage to each group or program.

The system is in 'grid lock', one cannot do without maintaining infrastructure etc, and one cannot keep up the excessive taxation. Who amongst the USMB financial wizards have some answers or suggestions that might begin a climb out of this dilemma? I know there are members in here that far outshine many of our elected officials by light years in common sense and intellect.
It's a worldwide issue, not just New Jersey

 

[saveliberty]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

...or the local governments can choose where to cut that will hurt the least. We switched to no overtime for snow removal and less salt use. It is inconvenient at times, but has worked out pretty well.

 

[MIPS]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

This is also known as "top down" fiscal discipline.... the alternative would be to wait for local governments to cut expenses before cutting outlays to local governments at the state level, in other words "bottom up" which doesn't work as long as the money faucet at the state level remains wide open.

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

Right on the money RW /MIPS, same ole stuff using a different costume. The end result is that we in NJ and anywhere else this is done only results in increased local and county taxes. Yes STATE spending drops, and those monies that the state funneled to the counties and respective towns are now going to be funded by the taxpayer.

Absolutely not, it's up to the citizens of each local community to walk down to city hall and grab their elected officials by the throats if necessary to reduce local spending and then be prepared to SACRIFICE those services which are unnecessary/unaffordable, otherwise they are implicitly accepting an increase in local taxation.

People need to stop depending on elected officials to do everything for them and take some personal responsibility for what goes on around them especially at the local level.

 

[rightwinger]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

...or the local governments can choose where to cut that will hurt the least. We switched to no overtime for snow removal and less salt use. It is inconvenient at times, but has worked out pretty well.

I wish it was that easy in NJ. Local schools have expenses mandated by the state and federal government. When the state witholds funding for those mandated programs, the local districts have to make up for it somewhere

 

[saveliberty]

Sometimes you just have to help the local elected officals. I went down last spring and explained how not clearing the drain grates was causing flooding which meant the streets were going to fall apart faster. Also, the use of sand in the winter had clogged some drains too.

This year we have used less sand and the grates have been cleared once already. I also clear them myself when there is a problem. It is my street, I benefit.

 

[LibocalypseNow]

I wish Mr. Christie good luck but he really does have his hands full up there. The Socialist creeps really have destroyed that state. I give the man credit though for at least having some original thought and guts.

 

[saveliberty]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

...or the local governments can choose where to cut that will hurt the least. We switched to no overtime for snow removal and less salt use. It is inconvenient at times, but has worked out pretty well.

I wish it was that easy in NJ. Local schools have expenses mandated by the state and federal government. When the state witholds funding for those mandated programs, the local districts have to make up for it somewhere

When you accepted the money it had handcuffs attached huh? Just like stimulus money has. The federal government is like that. Just one of the many reasons the federal government needs to be much smaller and the states and local governments be more involved.

 

[Dr.House]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

...or the local governments can choose where to cut that will hurt the least. We switched to no overtime for snow removal and less salt use. It is inconvenient at times, but has worked out pretty well.

I wish it was that easy in NJ. Local schools have expenses mandated by the state and federal government. When the state witholds funding for those mandated programs, the local districts have to make up for it somewhere

Revisit the mandated programs....

 

[MIPS]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

...or the local governments can choose where to cut that will hurt the least. We switched to no overtime for snow removal and less salt use. It is inconvenient at times, but has worked out pretty well.

I wish it was that easy in NJ. Local schools have expenses mandated by the state and federal government. When the state witholds funding for those mandated programs, the local districts have to make up for it somewhere

Exactly just like the rest of us do when say, it becomes too expensive for us to go to the movies once a week yet were are still "mandated" to pay our mortgages, grocery bills and utilities.........we are left with the choice of either demanding a raise every time our discretionary expenses go up or CUTTING OUR EXPENSES, why should government be any different?

 

[Tech_Esq]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

Ever consider why the locals pick it up? Maybe because the local council is pursuing stupid policies too, no? If so, when the subsidies from the state end, it shines a light on the unsustainable policies of the local council. Perhaps house cleanings are due there too!

Top to bottom, the system has been systematically infiltrated by economic illiterates and bad and cyclical policies have been put in place and accepted as the norm. Well, here is the wake-up call that we can support these policies at the local, state or federal level.

So, it's time to kick out all the people that think this is sustainable governance, because it isn't!

 

[Tech_Esq]

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

This is also known as "top down" fiscal discipline.... the alternative would be to wait for local governments to cut expenses before cutting outlays to local governments at the state level, in other words "bottom up" which doesn't work as long as the money faucet at the state level remains wide open.

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

Right on the money RW /MIPS, same ole stuff using a different costume. The end result is that we in NJ and anywhere else this is done only results in increased local and county taxes. Yes STATE spending drops, and those monies that the state funneled to the counties and respective towns are now going to be funded by the taxpayer.

Hate to reiterate
Where is the justice? How come it's the Taxpayer that has to always 'bite-the-bullet' and take it up the backside? How come when ANY state, 'saves money', by 'cutting taxes' and stops funding programs in various areas, education, infrastructure etc', its residents keep getting screwed over and over when those 'state monies' are just procured by the community instead?

I hate the double talk that our leaders use almost constantly. If they are going to cut programs, it should be GLOBAL with-in the state, NOT to be revived through local taxation. Then the 'spending cuts' actually benefit EVERYONE, not just the state capitals and their compliment of double talking politicians making things 'look good' on paper and in the media. Problem is that everyone is still going to lose, it depends on the severity of damage to each group or program.

The system is in 'grid lock', one cannot do without maintaining infrastructure etc, and one cannot keep up the excessive taxation. Who amongst the USMB financial wizards have some answers or suggestions that might begin a climb out of this dilemma? I know there are members in here that far outshine many of our elected officials by light years in common sense and intellect.
It's a worldwide issue, not just New Jersey

The answer is clear and staring you in the face. You aren't taxed at the local level by some mysterious omnipotent force. IT'S ANOTHER GOVERNMENT BODY!!! Send the current occupants home if they want to take it out of your hide. FIRE THEM! Don't let yourself be taxed. Now is the time. You have support at the state level, if you follow it up at the local level with people who think you are taxed too much already, then you won't get it from the state and you won't get it from the local.

End result, less services!!! Yay!!! hopefully they learn to cut entire agencies and not just hollow them out. Hollowed out agencies will bloat again when times are good. But, when you close one, you've truly made a difference.

 

[driveby]

Good, that's what the man was voted in to do, the current Chimp in Charge of this country should take note of this......

 

[Gatekeeper]

This is also known as "top down" fiscal discipline.... the alternative would be to wait for local governments to cut expenses before cutting outlays to local governments at the state level, in other words "bottom up" which doesn't work as long as the money faucet at the state level remains wide open.

Before Christie is hailed as a hero by the conservative right, he is doing what every other NJ Governor has done in tough economic times.........trickle down costs from the state to the local communities.
His cuts to state subsidies (which are paid by the taxpayers) will have to be picked up by the local taxpayer. Christie claims he cut expenses for state but it was picked up by local tax increases

Right on the money RW /MIPS, same ole stuff using a different costume. The end result is that we in NJ and anywhere else this is done only results in increased local and county taxes. Yes STATE spending drops, and those monies that the state funneled to the counties and respective towns are now going to be funded by the taxpayer.

Hate to reiterate
Where is the justice? How come it's the Taxpayer that has to always 'bite-the-bullet' and take it up the backside? How come when ANY state, 'saves money', by 'cutting taxes' and stops funding programs in various areas, education, infrastructure etc', its residents keep getting screwed over and over when those 'state monies' are just procured by the community instead?

I hate the double talk that our leaders use almost constantly. If they are going to cut programs, it should be GLOBAL with-in the state, NOT to be revived through local taxation. Then the 'spending cuts' actually benefit EVERYONE, not just the state capitals and their compliment of double talking politicians making things 'look good' on paper and in the media. Problem is that everyone is still going to lose, it depends on the severity of damage to each group or program.

The system is in 'grid lock', one cannot do without maintaining infrastructure etc, and one cannot keep up the excessive taxation. Who amongst the USMB financial wizards have some answers or suggestions that might begin a climb out of this dilemma? I know there are members in here that far outshine many of our elected officials by light years in common sense and intellect.
It's a worldwide issue, not just New Jersey

The answer is clear and staring you in the face. You aren't taxed at the local level by some mysterious omnipotent force. IT'S ANOTHER GOVERNMENT BODY!!! Send the current occupants home if they want to take it out of your hide. FIRE THEM! Don't let yourself be taxed. Now is the time. You have support at the state level, if you follow it up at the local level with people who think you are taxed too much already, then you won't get it from the state and you won't get it from the local.

End result, less services!!! Yay!!! hopefully they learn to cut entire agencies and not just hollow them out. Hollowed out agencies will bloat again when times are good. But, when you close one, you've truly made a difference.

Yes, I, and we know the answers are staring us in the face. The questions are rhetorical not because of ignorance, but for discussion, good or not.

 

[LibocalypseNow]

Kudos to Christie but i'm afraid it's probably too late for New Jersey. The Socialist loons really have destroyed that state. They're kind of like California at this point. I'm not sure they can ever recover. Hey i wish him luck though.

 

[Xenophon]

Hey Barry, you watching?

This is what it means to actually doing what you said you would do on the campaign trail, not fancy and forgotten rhetoric.

 

[chanel]

The Brain Injury Fund is going broke, and the state wants to limit whom it helps to people whose brain damage came from a direct blow to the head.

Under a recommendation expected to be put into effect in early spring, people who had "acquired" brain injuries from strokes, tumors or other injuries would be turned away from the fund

The fund accepted anyone with a traumatic brain injury and paid for an array of services Ð not only physical and mental rehabilitation but day trips, maid service, TVs and college tuition.

It even paid $1,560 to store a man's frozen sperm for a year
.

New Jersey may limit Brain Injury Fund eligibility - Page 2 - NJ.com

These are the kinds of entitlements that the governor needs to take a serious look at. A million here; a million there...

 

[chanel]

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie Thursday will propose major changes to the state’s broken unemployment system, reducing benefits for workers and limiting tax increases on employers, legislative and administration officials said tonight.

Christie’s proposal, which will need to be passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature, is aimed at softening a tax hike business groups said was their top concern for the year, while also targeting benefits given to future unemployed workersThe proposal, which would take effect in July, would reduce tax increases on businesses, institute a one-week waiting period for people receiving benefits, reduce the maximum weekly benefits check by $50 and increase benefit restrictions on people fired for "misconduct, Those taxes on employers pay most of the cost of providing state benefits to laid-off workers. But politicians in both parties for years used unemployment taxes for other purposes, such as paying for health care for the poor.

A constitutional amendment, which Christie supports, will go on the ballot in November asking voters to force the Legislature to stop raiding accounts such as the New Jersey Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Without the proposed changes, the average employer in July would see taxes go up 58 percent — or $390 a year — per employee, according to the administration. The changes would hold that increase, on average, to 17 percent this year, or $130 per employee and further limit the potential for increases through 2013..

Gov. Chris Christie is expected to propose changes to N.J. unemployment system | - NJ.com

Do other states limit compensation to workers "fired for misconduct"? People who steal from their companies get to collect here in the Garden State.

 

[skookerasbil]

It would appear that this guy Christie is the only politician in America showing some leadership on the k00k levels of spending. Guy has balls.............smashmouth football to the face of the Dums who think we can spend our way to prosperity!!!

 

[Xenophon]

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie Thursday will propose major changes to the state’s broken unemployment system, reducing benefits for workers and limiting tax increases on employers, legislative and administration officials said tonight.

Christie’s proposal, which will need to be passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature, is aimed at softening a tax hike business groups said was their top concern for the year, while also targeting benefits given to future unemployed workersThe proposal, which would take effect in July, would reduce tax increases on businesses, institute a one-week waiting period for people receiving benefits, reduce the maximum weekly benefits check by $50 and increase benefit restrictions on people fired for "misconduct, Those taxes on employers pay most of the cost of providing state benefits to laid-off workers. But politicians in both parties for years used unemployment taxes for other purposes, such as paying for health care for the poor.

A constitutional amendment, which Christie supports, will go on the ballot in November asking voters to force the Legislature to stop raiding accounts such as the New Jersey Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Without the proposed changes, the average employer in July would see taxes go up 58 percent — or $390 a year — per employee, according to the administration. The changes would hold that increase, on average, to 17 percent this year, or $130 per employee and further limit the potential for increases through 2013..

Gov. Chris Christie is expected to propose changes to N.J. unemployment system | - NJ.com

Do other states limit compensation to workers "fired for misconduct"? People who steal from their companies get to collect here in the Garden State.

I really don't know.

30 years ago NY often turned people down for unemployment if they were fired, no idea how it is now.