OPEN THREAD MONDAY: What Should Christie Say On Thursday?
| February 8, 2010 Governor Chris Christie will address a joint session of the New Jersey State Legislature on Thursday.
The stakes for our Garden State couldn't be any higher, Save Jerseyans.
We're facing a $2.17 billion deficit for the current fiscal year. That massive gap is expected to balloon to $11 billion for the following fiscal year. Even if the economy recovers AND the new Governor succeeds in dramatically reducing state spending, New Jersey may not be healthy again until well into a hypothetical Christie second term. A grim prognosis, indeed! It's like I've said over and over again -- Jon Corzine and his allies set Chris Christie up to fail.
So suppose the ball is in your court, Save Jerseyans. What in the world would you say to the Legislature if you're in Chris Christie's shoes at the rostrum???
Leave your thoughts in the comments section below...
"The governments of past years, that could never say no to any special interest group, have left us with a very sick financial situation. New Jersey now needs some strong medicine to fight that sickness. I challenge our Legislature, within the next ninety days, to adopt binding initiative and referendum for all State deficit spending and all tax increases at the state level, to be held annually during regular November elections."
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He needs to stop playing footsy with union thug Steve Sweeney and bite his head off! He's Christie's likely opponent in 2013. Better start acting like it1
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"I will drag this government, kicking and screaming if I have to, to regulatory reform!"
Then submit a budget with draconian cuts in spending with a promise to use the line item veto to keep the legislature from adding more to the budget. Force the legislature to over-ride the Governor and additional bit of spending. Make them own the budget deficit.
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Yes!!! I like the way you think!!
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We need to economic competitive. New investment & jobs (other than in malls and strip centers) will provide a sustained future. Thus what I would like to see:
-Announcement of the most attractive corporate tax system in America. Offer a corporate flat tax; offer R&D tax credit; bring the colleges, universities and VC firms together in partnership; dramatically reduce costly regulations; etc. Let's do things that require business to say "this deal is too good to let pass by". Let's jump start the economy by leading!
-Call for TOTAL TRANSPARENCY--Shock the system. If a politician cannot adapt to this then they ought not be elected.
-Call for term limits. This "I got mine" way of thinking has got to end. Call upon these people to act like Patriots. I could write 3 pages on this alone!
-Explore and Drill. The auctions would raise billions, and when you add a 75% NJ content provision, billions more in trickle down.
-Asking State employees to start thinking like investors. Everyone collecting a government paycheck must ask themselves: Am I helping my State? Am I doing everything I can to be part of the solution? Do my actions result in a positive return on the investment The People are making in me? What can I do to participate in the success of the State?
-ID $500 million in fraud, right now. Call upon every department to find fraud. You can start with the Homestead Rebate.
-Call to stop refinancing! Kicking debate from one year to another is absurd!
-And just as absurd: COAH, all these various board, etc
Big questions include what to do about home rule and the pension system (among other things).
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