It’s Time to Move the Debate Forward

Much is being made of disappointing revenue news out of Trenton this week. Senator Sarlo’s salivary glands are working overtime, Save Jerseyans.

That’s because NJ Democrats follow the Rahm Emmanuel Rule: Crisis = Opportunity (for government intervention/expansion).

We also got jobs news. New Jersey netted 2,600 jobs in April 2012 while the unemployment rate ticked up ever-so slightly, by 0.1%, to 9.1%. That’s a full point above the national average of 8.1%.

A look at the larger trend, however, is very telling. New Jersey actually gained 6,300 private sector jobs last month but shed 3,700 government workers. Overall, we’ve gained 71,200 private sector positions since Chris Christie took office in January 2010 and lost 26,000 government jobs.

More revenue-producing positions. Less tax-financed jobs. Sounds like “progress” to me!

And is it just me, folks, or has anyone else noticed no change whatsoever in the “quality” of service coming out of government in the wake of public sector downsizing (something Corzine used to blather on and on about)?

All of this begs the question… why are Democrats debating whether to cut taxes but NOT whether to slash spending?

You can’t tell me there isn’t at least $5 billion in Governor Christie’s controversial $32.1 billion dollar proposal that is non-essential. That could pay for a “millionaire tax cut” and then some!

Yet we haven’t heard a peep out of anyone in Trenton about cutting here, snipping there, and trimming a little bit from all sides as the Obama Economy continues to stagnate. On either side of the aisle. Zip. Nothing. Nada.

Candidate Chris Christie once observed how New Jersey suffered from an acute “spending problem,” not a real “revenue problem.” He’s still 100% right. There’s plenty of liquidity in our relatively wealthy state to both maintain essential operations AND return money to the people who pay the bills and drive private investment, recession notwithstanding. That being the case, there’s absolutely no imaginable reason to deny relief to taxpayers unless our governmental leaders first sit down and get busy with a box full of red pens and calculators! Right?

I’m just waiting for someone to man up and say it. Unfortunately, I’ll probably die of old age before a Democrat proposes cutting spending. And while Republicans have take significant steps to rein in public sector union power (the natural first step), they seem reluctant to discuss big cuts (consolidating departments, mass layoffs, etc.) at this present time.

Hence, we’re stuck reliving the same tired, stupid, wrong debate right now, Save Jerseyans, over and over again. It’s like a bad Groundhog Day sequel. We’ve won Round One insofar as the Dem leaders are afraid to openly discuss tax hikes. Who in Trenton has the courage to move the narrative forward and shift the discussion from tax cuts to spending cuts? Does such an individual exist? Or are we wasting our time trying to “Save” Jersey when there are no leaders around willing to lead?

You know I don’t believe that, Save Jerseyans. There’s hope. But we need to keep the pressure up! I hope you’re with me.

 

Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8405 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.