For The First Time In My Adult Life, I Am Proud Of My State

New Jersey has had it rough over the last few years. The last Republican governor was Christie Todd Whitman who was arguably as bad as the Democrat running against her. She went on to write a book It's My Party Too which suggested that the GOP needs to be more like the Democrats. Dear Ms. Whitman, No It's Not.

Then we had Jim McGreevey, since this is a family friendly blog I'll just say that if you don't know about McGreevey already, google him.

Then we had Jon Corzine who succeeded greatly in kicking the can down the road on the Federal Aid deficit, the Unemployment Fund deficit, the Debt Service deficit, and the Property Tax Rebate deficit.

Finally the Republicans again control the governorship and it seems like our latest entry is a true conservative. Governor Chris Christie of NJ has issued 14 executive orders in his first 23 days of office. Many, including declaring a "state of fiscal emergency", aimed at reducing New Jersey's 2.2 billion dollar budget hole. Christie has promised to cut the state income tax which has an 11% top rate and the property taxes of which New Jersey boasts the highest in the nation. In regards to the government pension plan, New Jersey has not made a contribution in over a decade.

Christie is savaged by the NJ newspapers saying that his school cuts will necessarily cause property taxes to rise but even in their own negative articles they admit the schools have a surplus . If the schools have a surplus and the state has a deficit, it makes sense to return the funds. Also, if all we are doing is taking their surplus of unspent money, why would property taxes have to be raised to make up this unspent money that they will not be allowed in the future? The article goes on to say that items such as repairing boilers are taken out of the surplus so how much money are we talking here? No one would deny schools petty cash for infrastructure repair. For example, the Union City district has a $38 million surplus. Last year alone, they accumulated a $14 million surplus. Under the law, Union City is still allowed a $4 million surplus, more than enough to keep the little ones warm in the long winter months. An emergency surplus of an additional $5 million will also be allotted to Union City district. Christie's school surplus cuts gives the state $475 million dollars. Almost a quarter of the amount needed for the state to plug the deficit.

Christie will continue to fight to cut taxes, deflate bloated budgets and stop the state from hemorrhaging residents to the tune of $539 million lost tax dollars every year. I genuinely hope that Christie rehabs the state and it becomes a place where people can afford to live again. But I, like many, can't wait that long so I'm moving to Delaware.