NEWJERSEY: Tackling the NJ financial mess

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

www.cnbc.com/id/35461056  

Kneale: With NJ Governor Christie, a Star Is Born
Published: Thursday, 18 Feb 2010 | 12:35 PM ET
By: Dennis Kneale
CNBC Media & Technology Editor

*** begin quote ***

And he cited a stunning stat: A 42-year-old state government worker in New Jersey who gets a 20-year pension has paid in all of $124,000—and will take out $3.8 million in payments and health coverage for the rest of his life.

This simply can’t continue, yet few other politicians are talking about the government pension bubble that could bankrupt some cities. A new report from the Pew Center on the States says states have promised to pay $3.35 trillion to current and retired workers—and are running $1 trillion short in funding that obligation.

The worst-off state: President Obama’s home state of Illinois, which has funded only 54% of what it will have to pay out. Unions now represent 40% of all government workers, and they are especially powerful at the local and state levels. Given the Dems’ union ties, ya gotta question whether benefit cuts are a viable option, as I wrote about here.

But I now hold out new hope, thanks to Gov. Christie of New Jersey. He brings a fresh new face and a voluble, emphatic voice to politics. Let us pray we hear a lot more from him.

*** end quote ***

Politicians “adding” part time jobs into lucrative pensions at the taxpayers’ expense is also a big problem.

Time to shift to something that resembles private industry.

(1) No defined benefit pensions for anyone.

(2) Eliminate ALL abuses.

(3) 401ks for everyone. “Recognition bonds” for all unfunded liabilities. Use rock solid Insurance Companies to protect both the employees and taxpayers.

Argh!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Why Not Vouchers? It’s not moral!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2010/01/24/opinions/doc4b5899611e622323956261.txt#blogcomments

DISPATCHES: Keep public schools public
Thursday, January 21, 2010 1:41 PM EST
By Hank Kalet, Managing Editor

*** begin quote ***

   Bret Schundler may be the state’s leading proponent of school vouchers.

   The former Jersey City mayor, who twice ran unsuccessfully for governor, has been an outspoken advocate for using public money to help pay private-school tuition. And if newly sworn-in Gov. Chris Christie has his way, Mr. Schundler will be the state’s new education commissioner.

   With this appointment, it seems pretty clear the governor is not just firing a warning shot at the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s teachers union. He is making it clear he plans to push one of the conservative establishment’s pet causes during his four-year term in office.

   ”We agree on the type of significant reform that needs to happen in our educational system here in New Jersey,” he said in announcing his education choice last week (The New York Times). “I want a strong, reasonable, bold leader who’s going to help me implement those policies.”

   Advocates for school vouchers say they create competition among schools and improve education for all students. The theory is, by giving low-income parents a portion of the money that otherwise would go to their public school, they will be able to pay tuition so their children can attend better private or parochial schools. The threat of losing students — and money — then would spur the public schools to improve, improving quality for all students.

*** end quote ***

Only an ideologue could fail to agree that the “schools” are a failure. Despite what the teacher’s union tells us on TV. They have failed in educating. AND, in failing, they have done it at a price we can’t afford.

So why not try “vouchers”?

(1) It reinforces the idea that the cost of educating a child is NOT that of the parents. (I didn’t have them so why to I have to educate them. I don’t feed them, clothe them, or make any choice about them.

(2) There is no Number 2.

Since I can’t get out from under the burden of paying to ecuate Other People’s Children, then let’s have vouchers which might EVENTUALLY result in my escape from this unfair levy!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Marriage and politics

Friday, January 15, 2010

http://www.catholicvoteaction.org/blog/cva/index.php

NJ Senate votes no on same-sex ‘marriage’
by Joshua Mercer on January 7th, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Victory!

FoxNews.com reports: “New Jersey’s state Senate has defeated a bill to legalize gay marriage, the latest in a string of setbacks for advocates. The defeat, by a vote of 20-14, likely ends any chance that the state Legislature approves gay marriage soon.”

*** end quote ***

Now, don’t misinterpret this as support for either side of this “debate”.

I believe that the gooferment has NO role in marriage.

You could make a SMALL role in ensure that children are appropriately supported.

Marriage “licenses” have their origins in the racist past. Time to file them back there. In history’s dust bin of bad ideas with gooferment education, gooferment money, and gooferment licenses of all types.

Churches should be able to “marry” whomever they want. People have the right of free association.

Benefits for state-sponsored “marriage” are anathema to a Free Society. Income taxes are as well.

# # # # #

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Public Pension have bigger problems

Saturday, January 2, 2010

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091228/D9CSJBM80.html

NJ lawmaker proposes public pension reform
Dec 28, 5:49 PM (ET)
By ANGELA DELLI SANTI

*** begin quote ***

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – A New Jersey lawmaker is planning to introduce legislation that would bar nongovernment workers from enrolling in the state’s taxpayer-funded pension system.

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty’s bill would restrict eligibility to the Public Employees Retirement System by keeping lobbyists and others out.

Currently, employees of some 17 private groups are eligible for state pensions.

“Why should the taxpayers pay even $1 to someone who is not a state employee, but a lobbyist who is trying to get special favors,” asked Moriarty, D-Turnersville.

*** end quote ***

Why do we have such “public pension funds”?

Private industry has gone to 401ks for “pensions”.

The “State” hasn’t made a contribution to the pension fund in a dog’s age. Surely that’s a bigger problem then a few bottom feeders pigging out at the trough.

Perhaps it’s time to “reform” the whole problem.

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: 937M$ for Obamacare

Thursday, December 24, 2009

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/12/the_hidden_costs_of_obamacare.html

December 24, 2009
The hidden costs of Obamacare
Phil Marshall

*** begin quote ***

Let’s take a look using New Jersey as an example.

According to State Health Facts.org , New Jersey has 935,500 total Medicaid recipients at a cost of 7.3 billion dollars. The state’s share is 3.65 billion. The state cost per recipient is $3,904.00.

New Jersey accounts for 1.6% of all US Medicaid recipients. If the reported 15 million are added to Medicaid nationwide, New Jersey’s 1.6% of that total would be 240,000. Multiply 240,000 by $3904.00 and ObamaCare adds 937 million dollars to the New Jersey State Budget. New Jersey will be forced to either raise taxes or make additional budgets cuts.

*** end quote ***

Given the state of NJ’s budget, there’s no way that NJ can come up with 937M$

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Unfunded liabilities

Sunday, November 29, 2009

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/11/public_employees_doing_very_we.html

November 28, 2009
Public employees doing very well, thank you
Rick Moran

*** begin quote ***

Unfunded liabilities from these pension plans is in the trillions of dollars with taxpayers on the hook for the balance. It isn’t just “unsustainable.” It is a catastrophe waiting to happen. The entire system in California and other states could collapse if the stock market tanks again, as much of the pension money is invested in financial instruments – some of them incredibly risky.

*** end quote ***

Public pension SHOULD be 403b, 401k, or just plain old IRAs.

Why should the donut eaters ride on the backs of poor taxpayers?

Why should the cost of “public education” drive old people from their homes?

Why in New Jersey am I de facto renting my property from the State?

Argh!

# – # – #

p.s., Hey NJ State employees: Your union and the politicians are screwing you by having NOT made a pension contribution in decades. Argh!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Holt is proud of his vote.

Monday, November 9, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Dear Ferdinand,

I just now voted for the Affordable Health Care for America Act. I want you to know about this development and what the bill means for you. This bill would provide secure and stable health coverage regardless of whether you change jobs or are between jobs, ensure Americans will never be denied care if they get sick, and extend coverage to those not well served by the current system.

This is a historic vote and the furthest we have come toward providing affordable and quality health coverage to all Americans.

Once this bill becomes law, it immediately would eliminate cases where insurance benefits run out because of an expensive illness, would allow young adults to remain on their parents’ insurance through age 26, and would shrink the Medicare prescription doughnut hole.

The bill would strengthen and extend existing programs. For example, those who have health insurance through their employers would benefit from caps on yearly out of pocket costs. Under the legislation, Medicare would be intact, only better – recipients would benefit from free preventive care and better primary care. Click here to read more about what the bill would do for you.

Reform would preserve the relationship between families and their doctors and shift to a focus on healthy outcomes and rewarding physicians for treating the whole patient.

It would do all these things without adding to the deficit, while it would hold down costs for families in the future.

This bill is the culmination of one of the most open and deliberative processes in recent memory. During the past few years, Congressional committees held more than 53 committee hearings, debated and voted on almost 240 amendments, and considered health reform for 167 hours. We have held thousands of town meetings, read hundreds of thousands of letters, and met with health care experts and patients. Many of the amendments addressed concerns raised by constituents, such as an amendment I championed to help small businesses pool together to purchase insurance at group rates, an idea brought to me by a Monmouth County small businessman.

When I considered health reform, I talked with patients, seniors, doctors, nurses, small business owners, and others to learn their perspectives. I received and responded to thousands of letters from Central New Jersey residents. The stories I have heard highlight the fact that health care reform is about real people who are disserved by the broken insurance system.

For more information and resources about the Affordable Health Care for America Act, including the text of the full bill and a bill summary, please visit my website. There you can also see my remarks during the debate on the House floor.

After carefully analyzing and reviewing this bill, I believe it will improve the quality of life and the economy of nearly all families and of the nation as a whole. I would not support it if I did not think so. I look forward to working toward completion of meaningful health care reform legislation and sending it to the President for his signature.

Sincerely,

RUSH HOLT

Member of Congress

P.S. Just a reminder: I always want to hear from you, but please don’t reply to this e-mail. Instead, please email me through my website at http://www.holt.house.gov, or call me at 1-87-RUSH-HOLT (1-877-874-4658) to let me know what’s on your mind. Please also note that you may unsubscribe from this list by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this email.

*** end quote ***

Welll, when it comes time for reelection, I plan to campaign to replace you! Cutting Medicare with 30% more people coming on to it. And, inserting the Federal Gooferment into my wife’s medical care is unacceptable.

You, sir, may have done what you think gets you reelected, but I think you might have miscalculated.

And, please don’t blow smoke where the sun doesn’t shine.

This law if signed will be a national disaster!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Politicians suck!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Yesterday, coming home from New York, I got the “privilege” of sitting on the NJ Turnpike between 14 and 14C for the President to leave Newark Airport.

Doesn’t anyone think that anyone might be “annoyed”? Change their vote?

Argh!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Gooferment theft by stupidity

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20091025/NEWS/910250315&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Municipal workers’ unused sick, vacation time costing NJ taxpayers nearly $1 billion
By ANDREA CLURFELD • GANNETT NEW JERSEY • October 25, 2009

*** begin quote ***

CENTRAL JERSEY — Call it the billion-dollar retirement bill.

New Jersey’s taxpayers owe almost $1 billion to municipal workers for not taking sick, vacation and comp time during their careers, budget figures show.

*** end quote ***

Time to welcome ALL gooferment workers into the “real world”.

Use it or lose it.

And the ever popular 401k.

No unfunded liabilities. No golden days.

Same as the rest of us shlubs.

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Mob rule in SBTWP

Saturday, October 24, 2009

http://centraljersey.com/articles/2009/10/21/opinions/doc4adf8e896a7e2524530393.txt

DISPATCHES: Power to the people
Farm’s preservation shows that engaged citizens can effect change
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 6:47 PM EDT
By Hank Kalet, Managing Editor

*** begin quote ***

The lesson of all these efforts is fairly simple: If you want members of your local town council, county freeholder board, state Legislature or Congress to act on your behalf, you can’t sit on your hands. You have to get involved.

*** end quote ***

Ahh, the madness of crowds.

There is no way that the individual can stop the mob frenzy to do “something”.

Preserved farmland. How can someone be against that.

Too bad if you are, because your taxes have been used for it. You write as if these “governing bodies” have assets to “invest” in “preserving” farm land. They don’t. They only have that which was taken by force from one’s fellow taxpayers. TO pay for someone’s pet project.

Argh!

If those involved were to form a non-profit and raise money by donations to pull this off, then I’d be impressed.

Perform a mental experiment. How do you think effort would go? Would people VOLUNTARILY chip in? In the amounts you needed to pull this off.

(We both know he answer to that!)

No, see, all you can do is steal what you could not raise voluntarily. And, then the robbers — some of whom may not even realize what they have done — expect kudos for doing it.

Then, you go an urge us to do more of it.

Argh!

The Dead Old White Guys were very right to fear the mob rule of democracy.

Throwing in “health care” is just more of the same. In this case, you and the rest of the mob are stealing from future generations — just as the socialists did with Social Security. And, it is all not going to end pleasantly as the socialists are destroying the country.

# # # # #