tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129979992011-07-19T12:23:51.209-04:00This blog is about New Jersey politics, news stories and anything that I read on the Star Ledgers Op/Ed page that drives me nuts!RBMnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1150074451119662732006-06-11T20:54:00.000-04:002006-06-11T21:07:31.160-04:00

I've been writing this blog for over a year. I'm done. My writing isn't very good and I believe that all I do is whine about taxes and stupid stuff in The Star Ledger. I thought I would be be a lonley voice, however, Enlighten, Smadanek and so many others are so much more articulate... I feel humbled.I'll still read, but no longer post. After a year, I now see the futility of the pen vs.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1149257898946548682006-06-02T09:48:00.000-04:002006-06-02T10:19:50.706-04:00

Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), Assemblyman Gerald Green (D-Union) and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) deserve strong backing for their stand on solving the State's budget issues by looking at State Employees and their benefits. Sweeney, Assemblyman Gerald Green (D-Union) and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) proposed saving about $700 million by cutting employee costs for

RBMnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1148645332074504722006-05-26T08:06:00.000-04:002006-05-26T08:09:49.486-04:00

Since it would take too much effort and brains to arrest criminals what politicians do is create new, "stricter" laws to make the bad guys go away. "Criminal street gangs have become an epidemic across our state," said Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), a sponsor of the package. "They are destroying neighborhoods. They are terrorizing residents. They are engaging in crime

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1148644845286178592006-05-26T07:57:00.000-04:002006-05-26T08:01:06.153-04:00

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1148643203061972702006-05-26T07:29:00.000-04:002006-05-26T07:33:23.080-04:00

The United States Senate, in its immigration bill, will allow illegals to pick which of 3 of 5 years that they are going to pay back taxes on and they get to choose the years. Don't you want that option? Our country has gone insane. No one cares about the stupidity, corruption or downright incompetence in Washington.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1148039718386189022006-05-19T07:40:00.000-04:002006-05-19T07:56:19.620-04:00

After Kelo v. New London I posted a number of times on the abuse of local New Jersey governments taking land for developers. Finally, yesterday, a new report makes clear that political contributions have a direct impact on who's land gets taken. As others have testified in re cent months, however, Chen said constitutional protections for property owners have eroded to the point that property

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1147976682497398182006-05-18T14:20:00.000-04:002006-05-18T14:24:42.526-04:00

I guess it's a start. Inspector General to put agents on SCCThe state Inspector General, whose scathing report on waste and mismanagement prompted widespread reforms at the state Schools Construction Corp. last year, will be invited to install two of her agents in the corporation's offices as part of ongoing reforms at the agency, a task force appointed by Gov. Jon Corzine reported today.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1147897497400198062006-05-17T16:19:00.000-04:002006-05-17T16:25:09.446-04:00

This morning in Short Hills a bear happened to climb a tree in someone's backyard. State officials tranqualized the bear and will kill it. I love this description of the incident as reported in the Ledger.The bear caused a commotion on the quiet, dead-end street, which borders the Short Hills Country Club and South Pond. Joggers and club members in their tennis whites came to the backyard to

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1147820014588170122006-05-16T18:44:00.000-04:002006-05-16T18:53:34.656-04:00

Tom Moran has an excellent column in sunday's Ledger about the flight of quality jobs from New Jersey. New Jersey bloggers have been posting on this issues for the past year and pointing to the ever increasing level of state employees and taxes as the cause. Finally someone at the ledger, Tom Moran, starts getting the mesage out even though it's a puff piece on Corzine. Gov. Jon Corzine

RBMnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1147433704818291262006-05-12T07:30:00.000-04:002006-05-12T07:35:04.840-04:00

With the new revelation that the NSA has been collecting call information from the phone companies I keep smiling because of all the three monkey republicans that defended Bush and his program. I'm not sure that this program is illegal and I don't know when it was started, but if you ever needed a lesson in the over reaching of big government between these two programs you have it. What may be a

RBMnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1147300095035877082006-05-10T18:18:00.000-04:002006-05-10T18:29:12.016-04:00

This is for NJ Fiscal Folly, Enlighten and of course Smadanek. I don't know if you've seen these.http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/06approp/pdf/debtser.pdfThe post is dated 8/2005 and it shows the debt by funded project. You guys should have a ball with this.For year ending '05http://www.state.nj.us/njded/finance/fp/audit/0405/program/2004-05-Sec2-30-50FINAL.pdfAnd http://

RBMnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1147261071081812472006-05-10T07:27:00.000-04:002006-05-10T07:38:58.736-04:00

It's about time that we start seeing the "most powerful" Governor in the country start standing up to an out of control judiciary. The New Jersey Supreme Court yesterday allowed the state to freeze aid to its 31 poorest school districts in order to balance the budget, but also gave the districts a right to appeal for more funding. The unanimous ruling came on the same day acting Education

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1147260612850437822006-05-10T07:26:00.000-04:002006-05-10T07:30:12.866-04:00

Wjile speaking to reporters about what the disaster that a small huricane would be for the financial district, John Koch a NWS employee had the following to say. It's not like we can all run down to Home Depot and pick up these two-by-fours to board up windows," said John Koch, lead forecaster at the NWS forecast office in New York. Two-by-fours? He's right, NYC would be in real trouble.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1147228118930816012006-05-09T22:23:00.000-04:002006-05-10T07:31:38.800-04:00

"Big Love" on HBO is about a polygamist. I've noticed that on the news there are a number of feel good (favorable) stories about polygamists, including one about a man who is on the FBI's most wanted list. Once Gay marriage is allowed where is the line drawn?

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146830608205164932006-05-05T07:35:00.000-04:002006-05-05T08:05:44.116-04:00

According to the state Treasurer, The state could be short as much as half a billion dollars in the coming budget year because in come and corporate taxes aren't bringing in as much money as ex pected, state Treasurer Bradley Abelow announced yesterday.Of course by raising the corporate tax a few years ago we have driven corporations out of the state in droves along with their highly compensated

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146744206168358872006-05-04T07:49:00.000-04:002006-05-04T08:03:26.220-04:00

Like global warming, the famous "hole in the Ozone is turning into something taht is a natural phenomena not man made. Weatherhead and Signe Bech Anderson of the Danish Meteorological Institute in Copenhagen analyzed data from satellites and ground stations and information from 14 modeling studies.They found that ozone levels have stabilized or increased slightly in the past 10 years. But full

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146657331626406932006-05-03T07:30:00.000-04:002006-05-03T07:56:27.683-04:00

Over at Enlighten there is an interesting post on what the true cost of illegals are to the New Jersey taxpayer from strickly an education standpoint. The quote from assembly member Micheals That's one hell of a price to pay for a cheap short order cook. This quote is the entire crux of the illegal issue. Who really benefits from illegal immigration. I know you think it's the local

RBMnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146571129210465032006-05-02T07:47:00.000-04:002006-05-02T08:00:39.140-04:00

For all of the noise the press made about the great illegal immigrant walkout yesterday, it sure appeared to be quite a bust. The Ledger had to go to the Ironbound in Newark and Speedwell Ave. both in areas highly populated by illegals and immigrants. link . The national "Day Without Immigrants" boycott that emptied many of the traffic-choked streets of the Portuguese-speaking enclave was felt

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146525607643351392006-05-01T19:04:00.000-04:002006-05-01T19:20:08.350-04:00

Medicaid and Social Security are going to go broke sooner than previously thought. As a matter of fact, it looks like medicaid will be broke by 2018 . Accordingly, The trustees, who include the head of the Social Security Administration and three members of President Bush's Cabinet, painted a sober assessment of the health of the two programs in advance of the looming retirements of 78 million

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146225014896004062006-04-28T07:30:00.000-04:002006-04-28T07:50:14.916-04:00

The other day I posted on a column by Bob Braun and an companion article on $80 million in state aid for Newark that the State froze. The other day The Newark City Council and Sharpe James meet with the Governor at the Governors office link. The question is did Corzine cave to James or not. Most believe that Corzine stood his ground as Council members promised that there would be civil

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146186931538293302006-04-27T20:56:00.000-04:002006-04-28T07:28:56.786-04:00

In his zest to explain high gas prices and take a backhanded stab (again) at SUV's, link Paul Mulshine leaves his conservative roots and goes wildly off the reservation and misses the obvious point on who are the real gougers in the current oil mess. His figures show the real culprit of high gas taxes. Of the $2.92 per gallon that you pay, The State and Federal government get $.46. So after

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146139198505171012006-04-27T07:57:00.000-04:002006-04-27T08:01:16.380-04:00

For a guy that needs everyone to love him, this must hurt. It would have been so much better to make REAL cuts in the budget. Only 35 percent of the voters surveyed said they approve of the way the freshman governor is handling his job. That's down from 43 percent last month, before Corzine recommended a new $30.9 billion budget that calls for $2 billion in higher sales, water, cigarette,

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146051496021263872006-04-26T07:32:00.000-04:002006-04-26T07:38:16.023-04:00

Grab your wallets, folks. Abbott heads back to the Supreme Court today. The long-running battle over how much the state should pay for public school funding in Newark and other needy communities will land in the state Supreme Court again next week. The court, which attempted to settle the school funding issue eight years ago, will hear arguments Tuesday in a dispute between the schools and the

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1146050861338338332006-04-26T07:19:00.000-04:002006-04-26T07:27:41.576-04:00

Bob Braun has a column in the Ledger today that praise Corzine for freezing $80 million in state aid to Newark that sharp James was going to move to an agency that he controlled. Braun showed this as an example of how Corzine was a differnt Democratic governor. (link will be supplied when the Ledger provides it.) On the same page there was this story. Newark mayor, council to meet with

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145965620161811552006-04-25T07:35:00.000-04:002006-04-25T07:47:00.206-04:00

Why is that a newspaper's op/ed columnist doesn't have to cite where they got their facts. Jon farmer, the other day, used this statement in his column. Experts says prices may recede a bit as refineries crippled by Hurricane Katrina come back on line this summer and pump out more gasoline. But the days of $2 and below-a-gallon gasoline are -- barring a technological breakthrough still

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145905503318770142006-04-24T15:01:00.000-04:002006-04-24T15:05:03.390-04:00

For anyone that hasn't seen Ken Adams outstanding post on the Geovernor's budget proposal this is a must read. link Perhaps someone from the Ledger will read it so we can stop the dumb puff pieces that they have been doing on Corzine and the budget.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145878786883771202006-04-24T07:27:00.002-04:002006-04-24T13:46:02.690-04:00

On a nearly weekly basis someone is forced to step doewn from a post at UMDNJ because of corrupt or illegal behavior. Why has no one gone to jail? Report accuses UMDNJ dean of unethical activities A top academic dean and a trustee of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey engaged in "unethical and potentially illegal" activities involving the misspending of thousands in public

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145495007784156052006-04-21T07:35:00.000-04:002006-04-21T07:25:29.123-04:00

Voters in New Jersey only approved 53.4% of the school budgets presented. link The 53.4 percent approval rate was among only five in the last 30 years that fell below the 60 percent mark. At the same time, just 15.7 percent of registered voters cast ballots statewide, a slight increase from last year.In addition to the base budget votes, only 28 of 78 separate ballot questions for additional

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145408555350178682006-04-20T07:47:00.000-04:002006-04-20T07:51:52.416-04:00

So, for all of the mess at UMDMJ, the best that prosecutors could do was this ?Sayreville man indicted in theft of funds from UMDNJA 29-year-old Sayreville man was indicted today on charges of stealing $30,000 while working as a cashier in a patient billing department for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.A Middlesex County grand jury charged David Collymore with theft and

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145495881420547952006-04-19T21:14:00.000-04:002006-04-19T21:18:01.440-04:00

On MSNBC, Keith Olberman reported that Halliburton recieved a no bid contract to build American Concentration camps. The only link I could find to this story was this .

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145447190323290892006-04-19T07:42:00.000-04:002006-04-19T07:51:06.230-04:00

In Alexandria the school budget was voted down. A school board member that was re-elected used this logic to explain the budgets defeat . Susan Luthringer, who won re- election in Alexandria, said she didn't think the failed budget necessarily reflected the voters' attitudes about school spending, but signaled more of a general displeasure with high property taxes in the state. Money well

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145407894585559622006-04-18T20:44:00.000-04:002006-04-19T07:34:14.516-04:00

An article in the Ledger today is practically gleeful as it informs us that Corzine paid $1.3 million in taxes on $11.8 million of income. Last year, he paid federal taxes of $1.3 million on adjusted gross income of $11.8 million. His tax hit is probably significantly larger for 2005 because Corzine last year sold the final 400,000 shares he had retained in the stock of his former company,

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1145360176933644632006-04-18T07:21:00.000-04:002006-04-18T07:38:00.766-04:00

In the past two days the Ledger has taken a strong tone of voice in it's editorials. It is refreshing. Yesterday the editorial was about school elections A sense of voter impotence also contributes to the apathy. A rejected budget goes to the municipal council, which can leave it unchanged or make cuts -- usual very minor ones. If the council opts for cuts and the board is unhappy, it can

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1144844884177777232006-04-12T08:23:00.000-04:002006-04-12T08:28:22.346-04:00

Virtually anyone that takes a look at school spending in New Jersey realizes that the only way to stop the madness is to stand up to the State Supreme Court. I've called for it here and others have called for it on their blogs. Now Mulshine makes a strong argument for standing up to the court The governor shouldn't let the court govern.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1144756432076642952006-04-11T07:50:00.000-04:002006-04-11T07:53:52.096-04:00

outrageous! A consultant who was paid almost $390,000 under a no-bid contract with the state's Schools Construction Corp. was fired yesterday, after a review of his contract found problems with how he was hired and monitored. "As of the close of business (Monday), Allen is off the assignment," Scott Weiner, the corporation's transitional chief executive officer, said of the three-year

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1144412036446486212006-04-07T07:45:00.001-04:002006-04-07T08:14:07.433-04:00

In Winslow Township four teenage boys have been accused of plotting to kill other kids at their high school. According to the Ledger The boys, between the ages of 14 and 16, were arrested Wednesday after police heard about the alleged plot from administrators at the school, where three of the teens are students. Authorities did not release their names because of their ages. The police arrested

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1144410665848669692006-04-07T07:45:00.000-04:002006-04-07T07:51:05.870-04:00

Amongst the new sales tax items in the Governor's proposed budget is a new tax on bail bonds services. I wonder how Sen. Wayne Bryant (D-camdem) will vote on that. The inquiry by the U.S. Attorney's Office centers on Sen. Wayne Bryant (D-Camden), whose committees approved significant additional funding for the university's School of Osteopathic Medicine in southern New Jersey, after he was

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1144325050219616582006-04-06T07:57:00.000-04:002006-04-06T08:04:10.240-04:00

What's with the Star Ledger's love affair with Jon Corzine? Yesterday they bury a story on a poll showing the Governor's budget was a disaster from a polling perspective and today they write a puff piece After setting up a Web site to collect feedback on his March 21 budget speech, which called for $1.9 billion in higher taxes, Corzine received more than 230 e-mails. In true Jersey fashion,

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1144241550375941392006-04-05T08:44:00.000-04:002006-04-05T14:10:53.610-04:00

The Star Ledger thought that this story showing that 60+ percent of the people of New Jersey think that the Governor didn't cut enough and raised taxes too much belonged buried, on page 17 of the New Jersey section. In the same poll, 44 percent of the public thinks Corzine's spend ing plan relies too much on tax increases, versus 36 percent who think he strikes the right balance. Fifty percent

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1144153120697306892006-04-04T08:15:00.000-04:002006-04-04T08:20:43.620-04:00

At UMDMJ "The state's medical schools and its hospital became a hiring mill for senators, legislators, university trustees -- even the husband of a Newark councilwoman -- who used the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey as a patronage pipeline. The harshly critical findings, in a report released yesterday by the federal monitor overseeing the university, also found a top

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1144023331416433422006-04-02T20:11:00.000-04:002006-04-02T20:15:31.440-04:00

When i was a kid, we would look at the cartoons in the paper and the nuttiest people were walking around in sackcloth with a sandwich board. Now we have the internet .

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1143809254902029052006-03-31T07:41:00.000-05:002006-03-31T07:49:49.686-05:00

According to yesterday's Ledger Two groups are advocating tax increases. The groups, which include the New Jersey Education Association and the Communications Workers of America, two powerful unions, urged a $462 million income tax increase for more than 100,000 taxpayers who earn $200,000 to $500,000, and more than $300 million in extra business taxes and suspended tax breaks. I have a

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1143548640251395082006-03-28T07:16:00.000-05:002006-03-28T07:59:26.620-05:00

Did anyone see the op/ed piece in yesterday's Ledger by James Soled, a tax professor at Rutgers Newark. The title of the piece is Let the state do our returns. I'd post a link to the piece, but the Ledger didn't post yesterday's op/eds. Anyway, Mr. Soled has decided that it for many people in New Jersey it would be much easier if the State just prepares our returns, mails them to us and we

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1143472161684628412006-03-27T10:03:00.000-05:002006-03-27T10:09:21.826-05:00

The new budget plan is in place. A plan that is mostly revenue generators and very little cost cutting. By refusing to make real cuts in state programs, Corzine has put the remaining taxpayers of New Jersey in the position of having to expect tax increases every year. Yet, where are the people. Do they understand or care. I think not. The lack of interest and outcry by the people of this

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1143118477169834542006-03-23T07:43:00.000-05:002006-03-23T07:54:37.226-05:00

The most disappointing aspect of Corzine's budget proposal is the lack of cuts among the rank and file of the public employee unions. I guess the cozy relationship between Katz and Corzine is still working to her advantage. Let's face it, for a man that promised to bring a businessman's approach to government, Corzine has failed. A "real" businessman, when faced with the realities that

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1143032164163197662006-03-22T07:39:00.000-05:002006-03-22T07:58:35.436-05:00

According to the Ledger's report on Corzine's budget,Corzine estimated his proposed sales tax increases would raise $1.4 billion and cost the average family with an income of $84,000 about $260 per year. In addition to increasing the rate, he wants to expand the tax to new items such as golf and health club memberships, shipping services and music and video downloads. This is a disingenious

RBMnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1143030671841683492006-03-22T07:19:00.000-05:002006-03-22T07:32:38.430-05:00

Alison Littell McHose, a republican budget committee member said yesterday,"It is unfair for the governor to expect our state's taxpayers to accept these massive tax hikes when the size of the state budget is increasing by nearly $3 billion," No kidding!

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1142944867620550372006-03-21T07:33:00.000-05:002006-03-21T22:14:33.390-05:00

Where are the spending cuts! Well, the new budget is out. The largest cut is in higher ed. The actual budget increases mainly due to pension payments. The best part of Corzine's plan is that he only found 1000 people to cut. Amazing. where's all the waste and fraud he told us about during the campaign?

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1142601710304011252006-03-17T08:17:00.000-05:002006-03-17T08:21:50.326-05:00

Yesterday Paul Mulshine wrote that Corzine was foolish not to cut the homestead rebate. Cutting the rebate would save the state $2 billion of the $4 billion that Corzine needs. In the today's ledger they are reporting that Corzine might break his rebate promise.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1142601204093968922006-03-17T08:12:00.000-05:002006-03-17T08:14:17.870-05:00

I was never in favor of the Iraqi invasion and in hindsight it was a correct call. However, this article on the military opening an investigation into a fire fight involving 12 marines and some insurgents bothered me. WASHINGTON - The military has opened a criminal investigation into a firefight between U.S. Marines and insurgents last year that left 15 Iraqi civilians dead, defense

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1142512534174940312006-03-16T07:24:00.000-05:002006-03-16T07:35:47.840-05:00

In Jersey, the growing is slowing New Jersey's continuing population slowdown is prompting some economists to warn it could be a symptom of serious economic illness in the nation's wealthiest state. The relavent quote in the artle comes from Jim Hughes, from Rutgers. It may well be an early warning signal," said Hughes, dean of the university's Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. "

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1142511863074696342006-03-16T07:17:00.000-05:002006-03-16T07:24:23.100-05:00

The Ledger is reportingthat the task force set up to make recommendations on the SCC has recommended that it be dismantled. The state corporation set up to manage a $6billion overhaul of decrepit public school buildings in New Jersey's poorest communities has bungled the assignment so badly, it should be scrapped and replaced with a new agency, a task force recommended to Gov. Jon Corzine

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1142427113018982362006-03-15T07:27:00.000-05:002006-03-15T07:54:28.803-05:00

The tax hikes that we all knew were coming are nearer. A source from Corzine's staff has told the ledger that the proposed budget includes a 1% increase in the sales tax. I love the way the Ledger's reporter phrased that in the article "an additional penny to the sales tax". It must be the way the Governor is going to sell it to the people. The source says that cuts will include 100 million

RBMnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1142381976634900182006-03-14T19:10:00.000-05:002006-03-14T19:20:44.396-05:00

Last week I wrote a post about Assemblyman Peter Bondi's ill advised attack on free speech. Well, I guess others were offended as much as I was and this week in Information Week there was an article about the backlash. A New Jersey Assemblyman's Internet civility bill is on ice since opponents blasted it as an assault on free speech. Assemblyman Peter Biondi and his staff said they were

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1142340907315438822006-03-14T07:51:00.000-05:002006-03-14T07:55:07.360-05:00

The Ledger reports today,A Bergen County school chief was awarded more than a half-million dollars in extra pay for unused sick time and other benefits, including $300,000 that was paid to his estate after his sudden death in 2004. The superintendent in Long Branch saw his income top $300,000 last year due to more than $110,000 in one-time buybacks and other payments. And a former

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141994008222526902006-03-10T07:21:00.000-05:002006-03-10T07:33:28.310-05:00

Every new detailed reveleation about the SCC just makes me want to scream. From the Ledger today. Another one bites the dust at SCCThe embattled state agency in charge of a $6-billion overhaul of public schools lost its third chief executive officer in three years today, as Acting CEO Peter Maricondo announced his retirement.Maricondo, a former utility executive with an expertise in finances,

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141906637035021602006-03-09T07:14:00.000-05:002006-03-09T07:17:55.730-05:00

The governor released a statement on his bail out of a formaer staffer. "I reacted as a human being responding to someone in need. I have a friendly relationship with her family and she worked on my campaign. However, in light of my position as Governor, I realize this was a mistake. I did not adequately weigh the impact this situation could have on my position as a public official and the

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141829958399423402006-03-08T09:55:00.000-05:002006-03-08T09:59:18.500-05:00

Jon Corzine bailed out a former staffer from jail the other day. Gov. Jon Corzine paid $5,000 to bail a Trenton lobbyist out of jail last month after she was arrested and charged with stalking the chairman of the Democratic State Committee, Corzine's office confirmed yesterday. Karen Golding, manager of government relations at Prudential Financial, had been accused of stalking and breaking

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141736644073825592006-03-07T07:54:00.000-05:002006-03-07T08:04:04.073-05:00

Corzine, yesterday, told a group of people that he was speaking to that there would be deep cuts and tax increases. Former state Treasurer Michael Horn, a Republican and a member of Corzine's transition team, said he thinks tax increases are inevitable. "I think enhanced revenues through tax increases, whether they be permanent or temporary, will have to be done," Horn told the gathering. So

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141735921705832012006-03-07T07:43:00.000-05:002006-03-14T19:21:37.316-05:00

Someone must have really taken some shots at assemblyman PETER J. BIND on the internet that will disallow anonymous post on internet forums. This bill would require an operator of any interactive computer service or an Internet service provider to establish, maintain and enforce a policy requiring an information content provider who posts messages on a public forum website either to be

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141389204183456072006-03-03T07:22:00.000-05:002006-03-03T07:34:55.520-05:00

In Trenton yesterday the debate continued regarding mandating that certain size employers provide health care coverage for their workers. According to the Ledger The bill (S477) would require companies that have at least 1,000 employees in New Jersey to provide affordable health insurance coverage to them or pay a special surcharge to the state. It is aimed at companies whose employees and

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141302367276043932006-03-02T07:20:00.000-05:002006-03-02T07:26:07.303-05:00

Today the Ledger reports that boaters are in a tizzy because then acting Governor Codey passed a bill requiring boaters to take a safety class. Taking the boating community by surprise, then-Gov. Richard Codey signed a law in January requiring operators of all power boats more than 12 feet long to take a safety course. The legislation, introduced three years ago, kicked around the statehouse

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141218243166818362006-03-01T07:55:00.000-05:002006-03-01T08:04:03.216-05:00

Tom Moran toady has an excellent article/op-ed piece on the State's Pension system. In the article, This pension system will be the death of us he sights multiple examples of abuses such as: A 1998 report by the state Commission of Investigation found abuses everywhere. South Orange allowed 11 police officers to boost their pensions by counting unused vacation time as salary. Bradley Beach

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1141130558565785622006-02-28T07:20:00.000-05:002006-02-28T07:42:38.713-05:00

I live in Clinton Township. Out here in Clinton we are assessed at 100% of full market value. This assessment occurs every year. Well, this year my assessed value went up 17%. Is that insane? Absolutely! I moved to town in 2000 and since then the amount of cash that I actually pay in property taxes has risen over 36%. That 36% translates to the equivalent to 20% of the increase of equity in

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1140636351159956882006-02-22T11:42:00.000-05:002006-02-22T14:25:51.283-05:00

The Ledger is reporting today that a Federal Appeals Court has struck down a 1999 Department of Transportation regulation keeping large trucks off of secondary highways. This requlation was passed, because at the time there were a number of serious truck accidents on secondary roads around the state and local officials were complaining about the large truck traffic on local roads. It seems to

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1140461449280448012006-02-20T13:45:00.000-05:002006-02-20T13:50:49.456-05:00

According to the AP : TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Three northern New Jersey lawmakers want voters to consider allowing the state to borrow $75 million to fix its financially neglected parks.Sens. Bernard Kenny, D-Hudson, and Robert Littell, R-Sussex, and Assemblyman Jack McKeon, D-Essex, are sponsoring measures that would put such a referendum before voters in November I like State Parks and use them

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1140384370790338972006-02-19T16:21:00.000-05:002006-02-19T16:26:10.816-05:00

Reported today:JAKARTA, Indonesia - Hundreds of Muslims protesting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad tried to storm the U.S. Embassy on Sunday, smashing the windows of a guard post but failing to push through the gates. Several people were injured. link Organized, planned chaos. That's what the Imans want and that's what their getting.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1140209166459993912006-02-17T15:30:00.000-05:002006-02-17T15:46:06.660-05:00

At least that is what the administration believes. The administration has approved a deal for UAE owned Dubai Ports World to purchase P&O shipping. P&O is currently British owned and controls several east coast ports including New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a U.S. inter-agency panel that reviews security implications of foreign

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1140178778084726332006-02-17T07:15:00.000-05:002006-02-17T07:20:50.240-05:00

Reported in the Ledger State taxpayers, who have already paid $6billion for a court-ordered overhaul of public schools in needy communities, would have to spend about $13billion more to finish the job, state officials say. The Department of Education yesterday gave the Legislature its estimate of what it would cost to complete all 313 school construction and renovation projects awaiting work

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139919844759259492006-02-14T07:15:00.000-05:002006-02-14T07:24:53.986-05:00

The headline screams "Millions in Katrina aid goes misused". Fraud and waste, no oversight money from those #2000 debit cards spent on Adult entertainment, massages, tattoos, an engagement ring sex paraphanalia. I think after a stressful event like Katrina and being locked up in that superdome a massage is just what the doctor ordered and who would want to miss out on the "I survived Katrina

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139670971603488972006-02-11T10:01:00.000-05:002006-02-11T12:29:15.253-05:00

When did the Italian city of Turin, as in the Shroud of Turin, become Torino? Even on maps it's called Turin. What made the U.S. media start calling it Torino? I guess its's for the same reason that they actually report on Women's ice hockey. So politically correct.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139575507692425172006-02-10T07:42:00.000-05:002006-02-10T07:45:07.796-05:00

After living this winter in the warm glow of global warming it appears that cold and snow will be returning with a vengence. It's good that it is as I bought a plow for my truck this year, I have a long drivway, and my wife hasn't stopped telling me how much money I wasted. Sigh! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139489968475307382006-02-09T07:44:00.000-05:002006-02-09T08:01:38.113-05:00

Wasn't it just yesterday that we were told that one of the goals that Corzine set for the SCC board he had just appointed was "....to determine whether the troubled agency in charge of the venture should be disbanded." link. Now today the Ledger has a report and this is what a board member says on the first day one the job: We need to focus the SCC on being a highly effective and efficient

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139488880401777732006-02-09T07:29:00.000-05:002006-02-09T07:41:41.526-05:00

The Danes are confused . A lot of Danes have problems understanding what is going on and why people in those countries reacted this way," said Morton Rixen, a philosophy student, looking out his window at a city awhirl in angst and snow. "We're used to seeing American flags and pictures of George Bush being burned, but we've always seen ourselves as a more tolerant nation. We're in shock to now

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139450452622285132006-02-08T20:57:00.000-05:002006-02-09T07:45:14.070-05:00

CNN has refused to post "The Cartoons", however, it has no pangs of remorse telling the whole world that there are 5 Senators in the basement garage of the Russell office building during a threat of a terror attack. I guess we see where their priorities are. The other farcical tidbit about the Russell Office Building Nerve Agent Scare is how MSNBC and FOX reported right away that it was a false

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139425385375840852006-02-08T13:59:00.000-05:002006-02-08T14:03:22.426-05:00

I thought this was a solid post on the MSN reluctance to post the "offensive cartoons" link .

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139401976988692452006-02-08T07:24:00.000-05:002006-02-08T07:36:01.896-05:00

Corzine signals that he won't fight the State Supreme Court and will continue to spend your tax dollars in an ill fated attempt to improve test scores in Abbot school districts by spending money on school construction. Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday launched an overhaul of New Jersey's $8.6 billion public school construction program, appointing six new directors and a special panel to determine

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139350666288661542006-02-07T16:36:00.000-05:002006-02-11T10:02:08.110-05:00

Last November I wrote a post about the riots that were then raging throughout France. At the time I wrote about Europe's Muslim issues ...the riots in France are going to become an instructive event. Virtually every country in Western Europe is in the midst a native population decline. In order to stem this decline and to keep up economic activity, they have allowed virtually unfettered,

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139317774736128352006-02-07T08:07:00.000-05:002006-02-07T08:09:34.773-05:00

Iran to publish Holocaust cartoons IRAN'S largest selling newspaper announced today it was holding a contest on cartoons of the Holocaust in response to the publishing in European papers of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed."It will be an international cartoon contest about the Holocaust," said Farid Mortazavi, the graphics editor for Hamshahri newspaper - which is published by Teheran's

RBMnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1139279611930397842006-02-06T20:53:00.000-05:002006-02-06T21:33:32.046-05:00

I read today, at EnlightenNJ, an interesting post on the Massachusetts flat income tax and Rhode Island's effort to get rid of their progressive income tax and employ a flat tax. Enlighten's post contains substantial information complete with references to his data and presents a solid supply siders point of view on taxation. Today I also read John Farmer's column in the Star Ledger which is

RBMnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138885392708220402006-02-02T07:25:00.000-05:002006-02-02T08:03:13.280-05:00

I don't normally pay attention to Fran Wood, Op-Ed columnist for the Star Ledger, because she rarely writes a thought provoking column. However, yesterday she penned a column that I thought was instructive on how most of our neighbors view of state spending and tax increases. Fran starts with Steve Lonegsan's idea that we ignore court mandated funding: In last year's Republican

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138798012965422972006-02-01T07:44:00.000-05:002006-02-01T07:46:52.990-05:00

The press this morning is all over Bush for not making enough mention of New Orleans. They are all complaining that he only gave it 6 lines at the end of his speech. What do they expect after the people in NO called him every name in the book. If I were him I'd let the place rot.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138767356096667112006-01-31T23:10:00.000-05:002006-01-31T23:21:08.690-05:00

Isn't this what each of us was thinking about the press over coverage of the Robert Woodruff experience . "In Iraq, and throughout the military, there is sympathy and concern for anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt, but there is also this question: "Why do you think this is such a huge story?" wrote an officer stationed in Baqubah, Iraq, Monday via e-mail. "It's a bit stunning to us

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138766074058392482006-01-31T22:51:00.000-05:002006-01-31T22:54:34.433-05:00

I was watching Matthews at 10:48 Pm 1.31.2006 and he wanted Brian Williams and Russert to talk to Howard Dean. MSNBC cut the lead.. Look at it. Williams and Russert would not go on TV with Dean.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138759189893008802006-01-31T20:58:00.000-05:002006-01-31T23:06:49.360-05:00

9:00: Matthews - Can't say anything against Laura9:01: Supreme court walks in. Alito walks in. A victory for Bush for a long time.9:02: Matthews says other supreemes won't come because they think they are being used. What's up with that? They are?9:03: Rumsfeld, according to Matthews is one of the most controversial of the cabinet members. Among who?9:05: Alito, a Jersey boy, looks

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138759074597320972006-01-31T20:49:00.000-05:002006-01-31T20:57:54.626-05:00

I was just watching MSNBC. I always do. I know what FOX will say. Chris Matthews said these strange things. He said the president had a 39% approval rating when ABC has a similar poll with bush at 46%. Why is MSNBC taking this stand. Does GE want to ride MSNBC into the ground. What are they thinking. My dollars won't go into their stock, not because of their stand (I never invest on

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138711099216024762006-01-31T07:27:00.000-05:002006-01-31T07:38:19.266-05:00

Paul Mulshine has a great column in today's Star Ledger . Mulshine took the time to read through all of the transion teams reports that Corzine recieved. He focused on the property tax report and it was enlightning at best. According to the report, Corzines "second prong" in his property tax relief plan, a citizens' convention, "If a citizens' convention were empowered to also address the

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138625966539419762006-01-30T07:50:00.000-05:002006-01-30T08:02:36.480-05:00

I was listening to Imus in the Morning today and he had Joe Biden, the Democratic Senator from Delaware, on his show. They were speaking about the Sam Alito confirmation and Biden said that he wouldn't vote for Mr. Alto even though he was a highly qualified person because he disagreed with Alito's stance on Presidential powers. According to Biden, he asked Alito if he thought that the President

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138571277210554312006-01-29T16:39:00.000-05:002006-01-29T16:47:58.066-05:00

One of the recomendations that Corzine has in front of him to help balance the budget is to tax your 401-K contributions. So, in order that our fine upstanding State Employees can retire in the manner they are acustomed to the State is going to raid my retirement plan. What are these people thinking? There is nothing like the plans I've read about in the paper to drive people and business from

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138366360050734492006-01-27T07:47:00.000-05:002006-01-30T08:00:29.790-05:00

Tax increases are always the first thing that a Democrat can think of. link Not once do these politicians worry about the impact of increased taxes on the people they represent. I say no new taxes. Balance the budget by cutting State programs and workers.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138365345349627612006-01-27T07:31:00.000-05:002006-01-27T07:35:45.423-05:00

"Authorities were searching yesterday in Red Bank for an alleged deadbeat dad who escaped from custody as sheriff's officers were trying to arrest him. Rasheem Yarbrough, 26, his hands still handcuffed behind his back, was believed to have been hiding somewhere in the area of the Dr. James Parker Boulevard home where Monmouth County sheriff's officers went to arrest him on a warrant for

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138324355769232182006-01-26T20:02:00.000-05:002006-01-26T20:13:36.700-05:00

Drudge is reporting that Bush snubbed Helen Thomas. Look at the questions she was prepared to ask and tell me that it wasn't the right choice. "BUSH SNUBS HELEN THOMAS [AGAIN]Thu Jan 26 2006 15:42:32 2006President Bush today again avoided taking a question from White House doyenne Helen Thomas during his 45-minute press conference, even though he took questions from every reporter around her

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138322290103571032006-01-26T19:35:00.000-05:002006-01-26T19:47:59.043-05:00

Well the Jersey Senators are no shows so far tonight. It is somewhat surprising that Byrd and Johnson have voted in the affirmative for cloture. It's hard to believe that that idiot Lautenberg and the sniveling Menendez won't vote for a Jersey boy and will follow the Democratic stupidity.By the way. Alito is more than qualified for SCOTUS. I find it very offensive that Democrates vote on

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138302929367896432006-01-26T13:51:00.000-05:002006-01-26T14:15:29.470-05:00

The New York Times is losing it. Today they published this editorial begging the Democrates to block Sam Alitos appointment to the Supreme Court by using a filibuster. On what grounds do they claim this is needed? Look at this inflammatory, ridiculous and unsubstantiated claim in their first paragraph. "Judge Samuel Alito Jr., whose entire history suggests that he holds extreme views about

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138280199739269202006-01-26T07:35:00.000-05:002006-01-26T21:17:28.563-05:00

On January 16th I read a column by the Ledger's Bob Braun. He wrote about a woman named Virginia Javras who worked as an office manager at a small engineering firm. Her employer provided medical benefits which were very important to her. Eventually, however, she was laid off and according to Braun,"So she worked out an arrangement with her employer. She would contribute to a medical benefits

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138195122135762952006-01-25T08:11:00.000-05:002006-01-25T08:18:42.136-05:00

Well the Devils seem to have committed to moving to Newark. The site is just south and west of Penn Station between 21 and Broad St. I have never been in favor of this deal. Newark receives so much money from suburban taxpayers for failing schools. I think that the $100 million that Newark put towards an arena should have been required to go towards Newark schools in place of SCC money.

RBMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1138194607597858982006-01-25T08:07:00.000-05:002006-01-25T08:10:07.643-05:00

I don't understand why their have been no indictments of the people in charge of UMDNJ. $69,000 in limo rides? An apology of I didn't know it cost so much to drive from the Poconos to Newark in a Limo. Give me a break! Lying, stealing garbage is what these people are. link

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1137762391612888682006-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:002006-01-20T08:06:31.646-05:00

In the opinion Journal speaking of her wish for the Republican party on the anniversary of Regan's inauguration 25 years ago..."That it regain a sense of its historic mission. That it stop seeming the friend of the wired and return to being the great friend of Main Street, for Main Street still, in its own way, exists. That it return to basic principles on spending, regulation and state

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1137760004806901132006-01-20T07:15:00.000-05:002006-01-20T07:37:08.230-05:00

Yesterday Osama Bin Laden surfaced in a poor quality audio tape released in parts by Al-Jazeera ""The delay in similar operations happening in America has not been because of failure to break through your security measures. The operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute they are through (with preparations), with God's permission." and "What prompted me to

RBMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997999.post-1137502417047168982006-01-17T07:50:00.000-05:002006-01-17T08:02:11.710-05:00

What would happen if the Governor refused to enforce a decision of the State Supreme Court. What if the legislature and Governor just refused to either create legislation according to the edict of the court or to act to enforce one of its decisions. For example, the NJSC ruled that schools were not funded properly based on the thorough and efficient clause of the constitution in the Abbott. It

RBMnoreply@blogger.com1