The New Jersey State Senate just passed a $31.7 billion budget, 24-16.
Absent from the Democrat chamber’s package, Save Jerseyans? A tax cut. State Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) seized on that point and gave what I think was a superiorly succinct account of the FY 2013 budget battle.
Pennacchio seemed to be echoing the sentiments of his conservative district mate, Asm. Jay Webber (R-26), who joined Asm. Anthony Bucco (R-25) last week in criticizing the HUGE amount of spending and borrowing going on under the dome this budget season:
Once again New Jersey Democrats have relegated taxpayers to “orphan” status. This budget recognizes the needs of many people who walk the halls of the State House, but not the taxpayers in Trenton.
No sooner had the Governor introduced his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year than the Democrats began attacking his revenue projections. We now know those protests to be empty, hollow arguments because those very same Democrats kept the Governor’s projections in their own budget bill so they could spend all the money- with the exception of funds earmarked for a tax cut.
We are being told this budget has put aside $180 million for the tax cut “justin case”, but there is no tax cut as of today in this budget. The taxpayers are being asked to wait and see.
Budget Committee testimony reveals the Majority relies on $400 million in lapsesof unused spending accounts for the current year, lapses which the Democrats’ budget uses to fund spending on their priorities and which based on historical trends could actually reach $600 million. Coupled with a $300 million fund balance or “surplus” and the $180 million set-aside, there is plenty of available funding to pay for a tax cut if it were actually a priority forthe Democrats and they were willing to forgo a relatively modest amount of spending.
The Governor thought an announced Democrat tax cut deal had been reached only to have it taken off the table more quickly than it was put on. Once again, all the taxpayers get with this budget is the bill for more spending- no relief of their own.
I urge the Governor to re-prioritize this budget, use his red pen, and put the taxpayers first.
Education spending continues to be a key problem area, folks. The legislature began this process seeking a $1.25 billion higher education spending-spree financed by BONDS. And as politicians on both sides of the aisle fall over each other to “restore” K-12 funding, I haven’t heard a peep from anyone in Trenton about Ashanti’s $20k payday from Atlantic City High School.
No, it’s safe to say we DON’T need more money in education. We don’t even need a red pen; I think dumping a big ole’ bucket of red paint on the Senate’s sham budget is the only way to improve upon it. School choice is the only true remedy for that which ails our public schools; the Senate could make a great start today by bringing the Opportunity Scholarship Act to a floor vote.
I won’t hold my breath. Neither should you. Just continue to keep it here for budget updates with from the “right” perspective!
Once again the taxpayers of this state have been Corzined ! ….will it ever stop