New Jersey taxpayers have sacrificed enough. From living with escalating property taxes to the demanding costs of fuel and tolls while commuting to work, New Jerseyans are asked to sacrifice more and more of their hard earned income.
Since Governor Corzine took office, the budget has grown by over 20% and included nearly half-a-billion dollars of pork barrel spending.
Wasteful spending continues to remain unchecked. New proposals for billions of dollars of borrowing without voter approval are promised. Ethical reforms are ignored. Business development lags behind.
Today must be the first step toward reversing these trends. It is clear Governor Corzine’s proposal to hike tolls 800% is ‘dead on arrival’ in the legislature. Now, we can move forward in bipartisan cooperation to reduce spending and institute structural reforms.
Over the next four months, the budget unveiled today will undergo a line-by-line examination by the Budget Committees as the proposed cuts do not go far enough. During the past two Corzine budgets, legislative Republicans have offered over $3 billion in specific cuts that were ignored by the majority party.
As those hearings progress, Republicans will push a legislative agenda that will include the following:
1. Strict constitutional controls to limit spending growth and require a balanced budget with recurring revenues.
2. Constitutional requirement that any future borrowing be approved by the voters.
3. Ethics reforms to end the “corruption tax” of pay-to-play.
4. Economic Development aimed at attracting new business and expanding opportunities in high paying industries.
Combined with deeper cuts to our annual budget, these measures will build a strong economic foundation to make New Jersey more affordable and government more accountable.
Legislative Republicans are ready to work with Governor Corzine and the legislative majorities to promote a bipartisan agenda to improve the lives of the working families who are proud to call New Jersey home.
Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr.
Link to Post:
http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/tomkean/republican-response-to-fy2009-budget-address/246
Similar Posts:
- Kean: Comments On Chamber Endorsement Of Corzine Road Tax
January 29, 2008 - Lance Statement On Governor Corzine’s Budget Message
February 26, 2008 - United GOP To Governor: No School Borrowing Without Voter Approval
March 13, 2008 - Lance: Legislature Acts to Give Public Its Voice Back on Debt
June 24, 2008 - Lance Dismayed By Administration’s Decision To Permit $2.5 Billion In Borrowing Without Voter Approval
February 20, 2008
