Are Your State, County, and Local Representatives Responsible?
I don't know which state you are from, but the State of New Jersey is hurting. Newly elected Governor Corzine has just increased the sin tax on cigarettes to the highest state tax level in the country and he also increased the tax on liquor. He is seeking to raise the state sales tax from 6% to 7%. The state share of fines collected for traffic, parking and other penalties by town courts has been increased recently, adding to state coffers but diminishing town coffers. State aid to local communities for public schools and municipal government has remained flat therefore also radically increasing local taxes especially in these times of high energy, medical, and retirement costs. American citizen flight out of the state is very high with many New Jersey citizens seeking relief in lower tax states. If it wasn't for the gain of more than 500,000 illegal aliens, New Jersey would have a net loss in population and a loss of a representative seat in Congress. The local real estate tax in 2 towns in Union County are going to $10,000 next year for average houses for municipal, county, and education taxes. One town in the county will see the tax of the average home go to $11,000 next year. The State Department of Labor has conservatively stated that New Jersey has recently lost 10,000 higher paying jobs. It is getting grim for residents of New Jersey.
New Jersey must stabilize the tax rates and then seek to reduce expenses. We have many people that still think everything is still business as normal. In fact our superintendent of schools is lobbying to build an administration office complex Taj Mahal costing millions in this grim time. Our county ran up excessive mandated overtime costs blowing out the overtime budgets by not managing properly. There were suggestions that county employees stayed home during snowstorm and the like and were using their sick days like special or vacation days each year. New Jersey courts have mandated state increased education funding of low income cities (called Abbott Districts) reducing previous funding of the vast majority of all other educational districts. Abbott districts have long been criticized for incompetence, excessive salaries, excessive expenses such as state paid personal cars and trips. The bulk of the educational expense of the children of illegal immigrants has been to the Abbott districts at the direct expense of non Abbott districts. New Jersey is also the land of government employee double dippers. The double dippers are full time employees who additionally gain one or more additional government jobs at the same time. It seems that they get full pay for each job and then collect a combined retirement benefit for each job. Prudent people would make this type of thing illegal or at least mandate unpaid leave of absence when the person is performing the other job. And their pensions should be adjusted appropriately. New Jersey must stabilize their tax rates and seek to lower them.
New Jersey leaders must step up to the plate and be active in making the correct choices in the new American and International roles New Jersey institutions and people have to play. New Jersey has been a LOSER in competition for jobs with other states and also a LOSER in sending jobs overseas that were held by New Jersey residents. New Jersey is a LOSER in that many low and middle income job pay and benefits have been diminishing instead of increasing recently. New Jersey has been a WINNER in for generations in providing hundreds of thousands of high paying with high benefits jobs for its citizens and must do what is necessary to become WINNERS again.
Is your state bleeding good jobs and suffering from high taxes? Are you confused about the role of your state in competition for jobs with other states and internationally? Do you really think your representatives are doing a good job or are you dissatisfied? Do you think your government is telling you the truth and is your media presenting everything truthfully and adequately? Do you understand the issues facing us today and our children tomorrow? Have you gotten involved?
If we do not get involved today and correct the problems, then we will have bigger problems and just like the later stage cancer victim have less of a chance of recovery.
New Jersey must stabilize the tax rates and then seek to reduce expenses. We have many people that still think everything is still business as normal. In fact our superintendent of schools is lobbying to build an administration office complex Taj Mahal costing millions in this grim time. Our county ran up excessive mandated overtime costs blowing out the overtime budgets by not managing properly. There were suggestions that county employees stayed home during snowstorm and the like and were using their sick days like special or vacation days each year. New Jersey courts have mandated state increased education funding of low income cities (called Abbott Districts) reducing previous funding of the vast majority of all other educational districts. Abbott districts have long been criticized for incompetence, excessive salaries, excessive expenses such as state paid personal cars and trips. The bulk of the educational expense of the children of illegal immigrants has been to the Abbott districts at the direct expense of non Abbott districts. New Jersey is also the land of government employee double dippers. The double dippers are full time employees who additionally gain one or more additional government jobs at the same time. It seems that they get full pay for each job and then collect a combined retirement benefit for each job. Prudent people would make this type of thing illegal or at least mandate unpaid leave of absence when the person is performing the other job. And their pensions should be adjusted appropriately. New Jersey must stabilize their tax rates and seek to lower them.
New Jersey leaders must step up to the plate and be active in making the correct choices in the new American and International roles New Jersey institutions and people have to play. New Jersey has been a LOSER in competition for jobs with other states and also a LOSER in sending jobs overseas that were held by New Jersey residents. New Jersey is a LOSER in that many low and middle income job pay and benefits have been diminishing instead of increasing recently. New Jersey has been a WINNER in for generations in providing hundreds of thousands of high paying with high benefits jobs for its citizens and must do what is necessary to become WINNERS again.
Is your state bleeding good jobs and suffering from high taxes? Are you confused about the role of your state in competition for jobs with other states and internationally? Do you really think your representatives are doing a good job or are you dissatisfied? Do you think your government is telling you the truth and is your media presenting everything truthfully and adequately? Do you understand the issues facing us today and our children tomorrow? Have you gotten involved?
If we do not get involved today and correct the problems, then we will have bigger problems and just like the later stage cancer victim have less of a chance of recovery.
posted by God Bless America - Bob at 10:12 AM
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