Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove, representing the 9th legislative district, issued the following statement in reaction to recent media reports that Governor Christie plans to reduce the size of the state workforce by 1,200 come January 2011 as a means of balancing the state budget:
“Given the severity of our state’s fiscal problems, which are a direct consequence of years of reckless spending by Trenton and the ongoing economic recession, it should be a surprise to no one that the Administration is looking to downsize a government bureaucracy that the majority of state residents neither want nor can afford any longer.
“Having seen the fiscal and economic warning signs more than four years ago, the 9th district delegation proposed a plan through legislation to reduce the size and scope of the state bureaucracy. In 2005, our delegation called for a downsizing of the executive branch’s workforce, which at that time had grown exponentially since the year 2000, by nearly 14,000 employees. Over a four-year period, this plan could have been achieved easily through attrition as statistics on the number of employees separating their employment with the state clearly showed. Estimates showed that after being fully implemented, our plan, at that time, would have saved taxpayers $800 million annually.
“No one wants to see anyone lose their job, especially in these difficult and unprecedented economic times. Had the appropriate and fiscally responsible actions been taken by past administrations to downsize the state workforce through attrition, it is likely that layoff notices would not be issued at this time because our state would be in better fiscal condition.
“With a grim economic outlook for the near future, our state simply cannot anticipate an increase in revenue collections to balance the budget nor can it increase taxes on the most heavily taxed residents in the nation. Out of necessity, New Jersey must downsize and restructure the state workforce so that essential services are provided at a cost that taxpayers can afford. Otherwise, the cost of living and doing business in this state will continue to be too costly, forcing yet more persons to relocate to other states that are more committed to being affordable than to maintaining a large government bureaucracy.”
Short Link to this Post:
http://bit.ly/a7DNHj
Recommended Posts:
Similar Posts:
- Oroho Applauds Christie’s Priorities
January 17, 2012 - Bucco: Revenue Estimates Are Volatile and Unreliable
May 18, 2011 - Bateman: Democrats Pass Unrealistic Budget, Threatening Future Prosperity
June 29, 2011 - Singer: Tax Relief for Seniors a Result of Fiscal Discipline by Governor and Republican Legislators
July 21, 2011 - Allen, Sean Kean Legislation Establishing Senior Labor Task Force Clears Senate
May 23, 2011
