We hear the term “shared sacrifice” used to argue that the public workers should accept something less than the luxuriant pensions and health care plans that have been promised them. I support the concept of shared sacrifice too, but the problem is that one side (we taxpayers) is already sacrificing and the other side (public workers) presently is not.
New Jersey has the highest state taxes in the country. New Jersey has the highest local taxes in the country. It has the highest out-migration rate in the country. Nobody is moving in from other states, only from other countries (some of which actually have even worse governments than here in New Jersey, if you can believe it). But the politicians and the unions think we’ve had it too easy. They think we’ve been living high on the hog, spending the money we have left on things like clothes and rent instead of fully funding their lavish pensions. You see now we have to sacrifice. I say as a New Jerseyian, who can not pay any more taxes, FUGGETABOUTIT.
Governor Christie, do not come to Belmar for a 22% increase in pension payments. The state made that deal, not us. Let the state figure out how to pay them. They can start by only paying what we in the private sector get. They can eliminate state agencies such as:
Capital City Redevelopment Corporation
New Jersey Commission onCancer Research
Commission on Higher Education
Commission on Science and Technology
Delaware River Basin Commission
New Jersey Council onDevelopmental Disabilities
Economic Development Authority
Educational Facilities Authority (NJEFA)
Environmental Infrastructure Trust
Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority (FMERPA)
Garden State Preservation Trust
Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma
Health Care Facilities Financing Authority (NJHCFFA)
Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency
Housing Resource Center (NJHRC)
Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission (LUARCC)
New Jersey State Board of Mediation (NJSBM)
Pinelands Development Credit Bank
Professional Boards and Advisory Committees
Public Employment Relations Commission
Redevelopment Authority (NJRA)
Spinal Cord Research, New Jersey Commission on
State Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
Statewide Independent Living Council (NJSILC), New Jersey
Victims of Crime Compensation Agency
Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor
State Employment and Training Commission
I’m sure there’s at least a dozen more that I overlooked.
The average rise in income in New Jersey last year was three tenths of one percent. The state just awarded our police union a raise of three percent a year for five years. That’s ten times what the rest of us got. We can’t pay any more.
Governor Christie, you wanted the job. You figure it out. Declare bankruptcy if you have to. But don’t come to us for any more money.
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