Category Archives: Politics

Size matters

Posted on April 6, 2007 by grim

From the Record: Bragging rights lead to fiscal irresponsibility IT’S A CLASSIC CASE of pension envy. New Jersey governors and legislators wanted to increase the size of teachers’ pensions in 2001. And they did so they could brag to union … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics | 7 Comments

Passaic County to sell golf course

Posted on March 23, 2007 by grim

From the Herald News: Paterson Freeholders OK layoffs, sale of golf course; taxes won’t go down The Passaic County freeholders voted Thursday to begin a process that could culminate in 200 to 300 county employees losing their jobs and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 1 Comment

Buying your vote?

Posted on March 23, 2007 by grim

A letter from Rob Kealey published in the Courier Post: Two choices Is your vote for sale? Our legislators, who are all up for re-election, think so, and they want to buy it in this year’s bloated $33.3 billion budget. … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 1 Comment

NJ “slipping into a state of fiscal paralysis”?

Posted on March 13, 2007 by grim

From the Philly Inquirer: Treasurer: N.J. needs new revenue sources The state treasurer argued yesterday that New Jersey’s ability to pay for important but unmet needs could rest on whether it can make money off assets such as toll roads, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics, Property Taxes | 4 Comments

Subsidies expire? Jump ship.

Posted on March 8, 2007 by grim

From the Asbury Park Press: MSNBC receives $1.5M from New York City Cable channel MSNBC, which recently announced plans to leave New Jersey after receiving more than $8 million in state subsidies and tax breaks, is now in line for … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics | 13 Comments

Horses long gone

Posted on March 6, 2007 by grim

From Bloomberg: As Housing Goes Bust, Lenders Become Predators?: Caroline Baum Congress is gearing up for hearings on predatory lending, the latest chapter in its long history of barn-door-closings on already-departed horses. Just some background in case anyone hasn’t picked … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Risky Lending | 129 Comments

Cracking down on corrupt politics

Posted on March 6, 2007 by grim

From the Daily Record: N.J. Senate panel OKs anti-corruption bills New Jersey lawmakers, under federal investigation for their spending of public money, approved legislation today that would toughen the penalties for officials found guilty of corruption. The Senate Budget Committee … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Cracking down on corrupt politics

“Poor New Jersey”

Posted on March 5, 2007 by grim

From the Record: Public sick of dual office officials In New Jersey, local politicians don’t just lobby the Legislature. They are the Legislature. Twenty state lawmakers, or one in six, also hold an elected town or county post. But these … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 4 Comments

Cleaning up NJ politics

Posted on March 5, 2007 by grim

From the Asbury Park Press: Panel to consider anti-corruption legislation State senators today will consider creating new anti-corruption laws to help taxpayers recover money lost through impropriety. The Senate budget committee is slated to consider bills that would make it … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

Easiest way out of a pile of debt?

Posted on February 23, 2007 by grim

From the Asbury Park Press: Gov: Budget road gets rougher Gov. Corzine made his strongest pitch yet Thursday for using a state asset, such as toll roads or the state lottery, to generate a cash infusion, saying New Jersey needs … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 9 Comments

Who should pay for mass transit?

Posted on February 20, 2007 by grim

From the Home News Tribune: Concern looms over NJ Transit’s future financing With another fare increase under consideration, outgoing NJ Transit director George Warrington once again is renewing a call for discussion of how to finance the commuter agency. But … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Politics | Comments Off on Who should pay for mass transit?

Debt service stresses NJ finances

Posted on February 19, 2007 by grim

From NorthJersey.com: State debt hurts taxpayers New Jersey taxpayers this year are on the hook for a record payment — nearly $2.8 billion — just to cover the cost of borrowing money. That’s 3½ times as much as it cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics, Property Taxes | 14 Comments

Plugging a $2 billion hole

Posted on February 17, 2007 by grim

From the Asbury Park Press: Amount of tax relief still undecided New Jersey’s legislative leaders say they hope Gov. Corzine will agree to devote all of the revenue from last year’s sales tax increase to easing the state’s property taxes … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 1 Comment

Critics slam tax reform

Posted on February 7, 2007 by grim

From the Trentonian: Smoke, mirrors and a ton of tax dollars Just for the record, this 20 percent property tax rebate idea that’s been all the rage lately is another joke, no matter what happens to it. Dig the numbers: … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 118 Comments

Property tax cut clears Senate

Posted on February 6, 2007 by grim

From the AP via Newsday: Senate stalemate breaks, bringing tax cut closer to reality The German statesman Otto von Bismarck once famously observed, “People who enjoy eating sausage and obeying the law should not watch either being made.” Neither sausage … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 15 Comments