Governor Chris Christie has spent the day with Republican members of the of the Redistricting Commission, according to a report published on Politickernj.
The commission, 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans and 11th member Dr. Alan Rosenthan of Rutgers have been holed upped at the Heldrich Hotel in News Brunswick today. Democrats and Republicans have been meeting with Rosenthal separately throughout the day, making their respective cases for the new legislative map’s configuration.
Our friends at InTheLobby are questioning Trenton Democrats political sanity. Daily Muse says the Democrats seem to be poised to blame Governor Christie for NJ’s average 4% property tax increases, yet they are giving Christie very strong ammunition with which to run against them in the coming legislative election by failing to pass the “tool kit,” pension and benefit reform and expanded veto power over the shadow government of the authorities and commissions.
But a lot of what is taking place in Trenton these days confuses us.
We get that Democrats are looking to blame Christie for the 4% rise in property taxes. Higher property taxes are always a good campaign issue, especially in a year when all 120 seats in the Legislature are up for re-election.
What we don’t get is why the Democrats are giving Christie so many talking points to counter that with on the campaign trail. They won’t pass the bulk of the tool kit; they haven’t passed the pension or benefit reforms; and they won’t give Christie the expanded veto power over authorities that he wants.
We know that the unions are opposed to the pension and benefit reforms. And we know that the Assembly is balking at any health benefit reforms, saying that the reforms should be made in collective bargaining. Which, by the way, doesn’t sound like it’s a point that will sell well with the rest of New Jersey’s voters, but we’ll see how firm the Assembly’s resolve is after Senate President Steve Sweeney posts his health benefit bill for a vote.
But that still leaves the question: why don’t Democrats call Christie’s bluff, and pass the rest of the tool kit, the epanded veto power, and the pension and benefit reforms? They’ll still have the 4% increase in property taxes, and they’ll take away one of his campaign speeches. Otherwise, he will barnstorm the state, accusing Democrats of being beholden to the special interests, and choosing them over the taxpayers.
Frankly, as it stands now, it’s almost as if Democrats instead are giving Christie a tool kit of campaign rhetoric he can them against them this fall.
I don’t think the Democrats behavior is confusing at all. They are doing what they always do; protecting the status quo and hoping to find ways to preserve the troughs from which they and their friends are swilling.
There are two things the Democrats are waiting for before they will do anything about Christie’s reform agenda. 1) The new legislative map and 2) certainty that Christie will complete or not complete his term.
The Democrats don’t want Christie’s reforms to happen ever. They want the economy to improve so that the public’s mood improves and cash starts flowing into the Trenton coffers. They want to bide their time waiting for an angry electorate to become complacent again in order that Trenton can resume its spending rampage.
If the Democrats think the new legislative map favors their retaining control of the legislature they won’t give Christie the reforms he is proposing. If the new map is one they think favors Republicans picking up at least one house of the legislature, the Dems are likely to be more cooperative with the governor.
Likewise, so long as there is a Christie for President buzz, the Democrats are motivated to stall on his agenda. Their stalling weakens Christie’s resume of accomplishment if he does run for president. If he runs, they won’t have to deal with him. They don’t know how tough Kim Guadagno is, but they don’t think she is as tough as, or as talented a politician as Christie is.
There is not likely to be any movement on Christie’s reform agenda before the November election, unless we get a new legislative map that is a clear Republican gerrymander. That is not going to happen.
Regardless of the map, Christie will make this election a statewide race. Every district will be a race between Christie and his legislative running mates vs. the Democratic legislative candidates. The governor will spend the summer and fall on the campaign trail throughout New Jersey with the power of incumbency. The election will be a referendum on Christie’s reform agenda.
If Christie pulls off another improbable statewide victory by winning both the Senate and the Assembly, turning blue jersey red, his presidential prospects will soar. The clamour for him to run for president will become a national demand. If he can turn the governor’s office over to Kim Guadagno with a Republican legislature to enact the reform agenda he can declare that he has succeeded in turning Trenton upside down and that he is accepting the call to save our country from another four years of Obama.
Should the Democrats retain control of both houses of the legislature and retain or expand their margin of majority, Christie’s national prospects become more complicated. On one hand a statewide defeat would hurt Christie’s national prospects on the top of the national ticket. On the other hand he might personally conclude that with the legislature safely in the hands of the Democrats for another 10 years that he has turned Trenton as upside down as it is going to get. In that case, the Vice Presidency might not look so bad if the thinks the eventual GOP nominee in 2012 has a chance to beat Obama.
I don’t see anything happening with Christie’s reform agenda until after the November election, nor do I see the Christie for President buzz going away or getting louder before the November election.
Governor Stresses Community Input and Gives Overview of Ongoing Process of Selecting a New Superintendent
Trenton, NJ – In a visit to Ann Street School this morning, Governor Chris Christie engaged in a conversation with students and members of Newark’s education community, reaffirmed his commitment to bringing fundamental reform to Newark Public Schools and underscored the importance of community involvement in reform efforts and the process of selecting a new superintendent.
“It has been 15 years since the State of New Jersey took over public schools in Newark with the hope of transforming the district and ending its failure of so many of our children. But a decade and a half later, with the exception of a few bright spots of progress, we have yet to achieve our goals of providing a quality education to every child. The work of changing Newark’s education system did not begin the day I came into office, but I believe we have brought this issue into sharper focus in this Administration with our education reform efforts and partnership with the City and community at large,” said Governor Christie. “As we endeavor to change the status quo, cooperation at every level – the State, the City’s leadership, Education Task Force, School Advisory Board and the whole community – will be critical to replicate the bright spots and successful models in this school district, and improve the public schools across this city. In partnership, I believe we will finally accomplish meaningful change and reform for the children of this city, and in areas across the state where opportunity is not being delivered.”
The Christie Administration has taken numerous, proactive steps to ensure that every opportunity for reform and progress is seized and that progress continues in Newark, even while the selection of a new superintendent is underway. Rochelle Hendricks, who recently served as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Education, has assumed responsibility for the Newark Public Schools during this transition period. Hendricks is a dedicated, accomplished education professional with the knowledge and background necessary to achieve progress during this interim period. She is working closely with interim-superintendent Deborah Terrell to ensure that the district’s most pressing challenges are met with solutions as soon as possible. Both are working closely with the educational and community leadership in Newark to deal with the serious challenges facing the district today, most specifically the budget gap and the shortage of quality schools.
Governor Christie also outlined the process being undertaken by the State, in cooperation with the Newark community, in the selection of a new superintendent for Newark Public Schools:
The next Superintendent of the Newark Public School system will send a strong signal to the community that Governor Christie and the Administration are serious about real reform and real results. As a result, the process for choosing the next superintendent is built on transparency, community involvement and real input from educators. The selection process, already underway, for finding a qualified, dedicated superintendent has been set out to be broad, thorough and staged to allow for plenty of community input along the way.
·The first stage began in January when Acting Commissioner Cerf solicited names of top candidates in conversations with national reform leaders and local community leaders.
·The second stage was to seek sound input and guidance from members of the community on critical education reform issues, ongoing and emergent challenges that will face the incoming superintendent, and the qualifications demanded of the next superintendent. This began the process of engaging a wide swath of people who live and work in the Newark community:
oThe School Advisory Board, headed by Shavar Jeffries, is the body elected by the people of Newark to represent them in the schools and a critical source of advice and counsel;
oMayor Cory Booker, who is providing valuable leadership as an advisor in the process, offering input and guidance into the reform challenges facing Newark schools, and lending his perspective in the superintendent search process;
oThe Education Task Force, a group of Newark community leaders who provide guidance around education policy and consist of leaders from Newark Public Schools, higher education, parents, the non-profit community, and the charter school community;
oVarious educational leaders, including principals, parent representatives and teachers; and
oLocal representatives, including members of the city council and the legislature.
Each one of these groups represents a different part of the City of Newark and its education and civic community. As such, through each stage of the process, they have provided and will continue to provide counsel on the needs of the Newark Public School System and the qualifications necessary for the next superintendent.
·The final stage of this process, which is now beginning and will continue over the coming weeks, will allow for each of these groups to meet face to face with prospective candidates.
oFinding the next superintendent of the Newark Public Schools can and must integrate a high level of community involvement and investment in the process. Bringing real change to education in the public schools begins and ends with the community; the community’s input will inform the recommendations ultimately made to Governor Christie for this vitally important decision.
At that point, after sufficient time has been spent on soliciting community input and feedback, listening and considering all of the insights and recommendations of the aforementioned groups, Governor Christie will meet with each of the final candidates prior to the Education Commissioner’s final selection being made in May, ensuring that the new superintendent is in place by the end of the school year.
As Gannett’s Bob Jordan points out, New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dowd, who works for Governor Chris Christie and used to work for U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, is continuing the work that was started during Christie’s seven years as New Jersey’s federal prosecutor.
Jordan is referencing the Attorney General’s Annual Report which touts the accomplishments of Dowd’s team against public corruption, gang activity, fraud, and organized crime.
According to a press release from Dowd’s office, their first year accomplishments include:
Obtained an eight-year prison sentence against former State Assemblyman and former Perth Amboy Mayor Vas, who solicited an illegal payment from a city vendor and illegally funneled money into his congressional campaign via straw donors; a seven-year sentence against former Irvington Mayor Steele, who took kickbacks from contractors while serving as business administrator for the Irvington schools; a three-year prison term against former Jersey City Municipal Court Administrator Virginia Pagan, who admitted to fixing hundreds of parking tickets; the forfeiture of office of former Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone, who admitted to filing false reports with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Obtained a five-year prison sentence against former Assemblyman Neil Cohen, who admitted to viewing and printing child pornography on a computer in his legislative office.
Secured convictions and prison sentences against individuals responsible for more than $16 million in fraud including investment fraud, embezzlement and identity theft.
Took legal action to protect students by holding schools accountable for preventing bullying. Among other actions, Findings of Probable Cause were issued against two school districts – Old Bridge and Emerson — accused of failing to protect students who had been bullied and harassed for years.
Resolved three major civil prosecutions of mortgage foreclosure “rescue” fraud, resulting in defendant payments of $17 million in penalties, judgments, restitution and other fees.
· Fought traditional organized crime, obtaining a major indictment charging the Lucchese crime family hierarchy with running an illegal sports betting network that employed violence and extortion and, in a separate case, joining with the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor to arrest a top official of the International Longshoremen’s Association, three ILA members, and a Newark police officer in an alleged scheme to extort money from dock workers.
Obtained indictments charging nine defendants in connection with illegal gun trafficking. The indictments were obtained as the result of a cooperative investigation with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. One indictment outlined a network that allegedly trafficked firearms from the Eastern Shore of Virginia to Trenton, where they were allegedly sold to gang members and other criminals.
Spearheaded the Fugitive Safe Surrender program in Central New Jersey. The four-day initiative resulted in approximately 4,000 fugitives surrendering, voluntarily, to authorities on outstanding warrants for predominantly non-violent crimes.
Achieved a 170 percent increase, compared with the prior year, in the amount of civil monetary penalties executed by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor. OIFP also increased both the number of indictments filed and the number of defendants charged in 2010.
Implemented a statewide Summer Warrant SWEEP initiative resulting in the arrests of more than 1,100 high-risk parole and probation absconders during the months of July and August, when violent and property crimes tend to peak.
Protected investors by settling four Auction Rate Securities cases. The four companies repurchased $1.1 billion in Auction Rate Securities held by New Jersey investors and paid the N.J. Bureau of Securities $7.2 million in penalties for failing to disclose the risks of Auction Rate Securities to investors.
Provided emergency assistance to thousands of residents and motorists during four federally-declared natural disasters. During the December 2010 blizzard, State Police handled 1,077 accidents and provided emergency assistance to an additional 2,889 motorists.
InTheLobby reminds of that the war of words between Governor Chris Christie and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is heating up as neither of them runs from president.
Meanwhile, Quinnipiac released a poll this morning that says voters rate Christie as much hotter than Palin.
Posted: March 2nd, 2011 | Author:Art Gallagher | Filed under:Chris Christie | Tags:Chris Christie | Comments Off on Correction? Did Christie say he “will not” or “may not” be governor in 2014?
In a column published in The Star Ledger and at NJ Spotlight, Mark Magyar says no. Magyar says that like all the governors before him, except Florio, Christie is simply tinkering at the margins and that whether Christie serves one term or two, New Jersey’s property taxes will still be the highest in the nation.
Magyar, who was a policy advisor to Chris Daggett’s Independent gubernatorial campaign against Christie and Jon Corzine, makes the case that unless New Jersey increases income taxes and sales taxes with the State taking over a higher burden of education funding, that property taxes will continue to be a dispropotionate and inequitable source of funding for education and government services.
A good tax system is generally considered to be one in which income, property and sales taxes are in some rough balance, with each providing somewhere between 30 percent and 40 percent of total revenue for these three major taxes. That is the case in most states, but it is not the case in New Jersey, where property taxes actually make up 58 percent of the income/property/sales tax pie, with income taxes accounting for just 24 percent and sales for the remaining 18 percent.
The only way to actually lower property taxes in New Jersey to a competitive level with other states is to shift billions of dollars of the cost of K-12 education or municipal or county services to another major tax or taxes — with the income and sales taxes being the most logical choices — while simultaneously making sure that an effective cap prevents any new increase in school district and local government spending.
That is what Democratic Gov. Jim Florio tried to do in 1990 when he dedicated half of his $2.8 billion tax package to property tax relief, but most of the money was quickly eaten up by school districts and municipalities for new spending, and by the second year property taxes were rising again as rapidly as ever. Voter repudiation of Florio led to the election of a Republican legislature and GOP Gov. Christie Whitman, and scared politicians in both parties away from any meaningful attempt at overall tax reform.
However, Magyar’s argument is a non-sequitur to the current debate happening in Trenton (and nationally).
Even if Christie and the legislature were to institute Steve Lonegan’s flat tax, increasing income taxes on the poor and middle class while reducing them on the rich, and even if they instituted Chris Daggett’s $4 billion sales tax increase, and used the new revenue to reduce property taxes, the problems that Christie is addressing would remain. They would just be paid for differently.
New Jersey, and many other states, has too much government. There are too many government employees making too much money and getting benefits that are too generous to sustain regardless of how the revenue is generated.
It is only by reducing the size of government on all levels, which means less government employees making less money with less generous pensions and benefits, that our overall tax burden will decrease. That is what Christie’s reforms are designed to do. By forcing the downsizing within the current system, rather than radically changing the way New Jersey taxes its citizens and then implementing cuts, Christie is demanding that municipal, county governments and school boards make the hard choices now. If Christie did it Magyar’s way, government and taxes would continue to expand.
Let’s first reduce the size of our governments. Once that is done we can address the way we pay for them.
While criticising President Obama’s comments to the nation’s governors about public employee unions and health care, Governor Chris Christie told reporters that he will not be governor in 2014, according to Herb Jackson of The Record.
“I’m not going to even be governor in 2014, so the fact that he’s offering flexibility in 2014 is really of no moment to most governors who need to balance their budgets this year,” Christie said.
If reelected in 2013, Christie would be sworn in to his secord term in January 2014.
Requests for Proposals To Be Issued Next Week for Monmouth Park
Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie today moved forward with his commitment to making horse racing in New Jersey a self-sustaining industry by signing legislation to expedite the establishment of off-track wagering facilities in New Jersey. Another step forward comes early next week, when the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority will issue a request for proposals to bring a long-term solution to Monmouth Park through private operation.
On December 17, 2010, Governor Christie announced a break-through agreement to end public subsidies of operations and purses for Standardbred racing at the Meadowlands Racetrack through the lease of that facility to the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (SBOA). Governor Christie is looking forward to similar progress with Monmouth Park and Thoroughbred racing there with the RFP for a private operator.
“We were successful in the Meadowlands, and we can do the same for Monmouth Park to the benefit of New Jersey taxpayers,” Governor Christie said. “I want to see a vibrant but self-sustaining horse racing industry in New Jersey, but that can be accomplished without tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies every year.”
Assembly Bill 1705, which Governor Christie conditionally vetoed on January 31 and the Legislature subsequently amended to include the Governor’s recommended changes, removes barriers to the establishment of OTWs by permitting persons other than racetrack operators to run OTW facilities, making OTWs a permitted use in all municipal land use zones, and increasing the accessibility to liquor licenses for OTW operators.
Despite enactment of an original OTW law nearly a decade ago, only three of the 15 facilities allowed by law were established. Governor Christie’s conditional veto was necessary to preserve the NJSEA’s ability to transfer licenses in connection with the sale or lease of the state’s racetracks. It also eliminated a 1 percent fee on OTW operators, but expressly noted that the Administration will work with the Legislature to find an alternative source of revenue for OTW host municipalities
