Week one: Christie is already raising taxes

The diversions out of the UI fund began when the (4.00 / 1)

sainted Governor Kean took the employee contributions to pay for the uncompensated healthcare problem and was caught and made to pay it back through an AFL-CIO lawsuit.  His administration then figured out that Federal regulations did not require that an employee contribution be made, so they just diverted them before they ever made into the UI Fund.    

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by: FormerBureaucrat @ Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 22:48:16 PM UTC

A Further Comment, (0.00 / 0)

were this being done by a new Democratic Governor, the cry of "Tax and Spend Liberal" and "Making NJ Unfriendly for Business" would be reaching the same proportions of Remember the Alamo and Remember the Maine did in their day.  The Republican screech machine would be touting this as another example of out-of-control taxation so it seems perfectly appropriate to call them on anything that is at odds with their "lower taxes" agenda.  

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by: FormerBureaucrat @ Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 22:58:26 PM UTC

I think you meant (0.00 / 1)

to say Corzine created this unemployment mess ,(highest in the tristate and higher the the nation) now Christie must deal with it  .

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by: speedkillsu @ Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 23:25:32 PM UTC

Who are you Chris Christie? (4.00 / 1)

Quite frankly, I had hoped that Chris Christie was going to be an ok governor.  But since he took office, he's started to lie about almost everything.   Corzine didn't start the unemployment mess and any suggestion that he did is maliciously false.   Nor did Corzine create the UI problem.  

Christie has raised taxes in his first week on the job.  He said he wouldn't raise any taxes.  So who is lying now?

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by: princetonblue @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 00:49:35 AM UTC

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yawn. (0.00 / 0)

this entry quotes a source that says this increase is stipulated by law.  

so how did Christie raise taxes so soon?

More of an Old School Lefty if anything......

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by: Chubby @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 05:31:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Christie has no problem suspending (0.00 / 0)

other laws, breaking negotiated contracts or issuing Executive Orders - he could have moved funds from elsewhere (even if temporarily) to stave off this increase.

Instead, he threw up his hands, blamed the Federal Government for not forgiving loans (ironically he called for rejecting federal money back in the campaign) and let this happen.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 13:04:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

no, asshat (0.00 / 0)

I didn't mean to say that and no, Corzine didn't create this mess.  Every state is in deep shit and it was created down in Washington under the Bush administration and republican Congress.


Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 13:02:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

New Jersey's problems... (0.00 / 0)

are unique and you know it. Not every state is in as bad fiscal shape as we are. As I posted before, the year after Katrina, Only 3 states ran deficits, Lousiana, Michigan, and New Jersey...

Not blaming Corzine, but to say all the other states are in the same boat is simply inaccurate.

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

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by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 14:18:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

with respect to employment (4.00 / 2)

actually, it is not unique at all.  This is what I do for a living, and 40 states' unemployment funds are either bankrupt or going bankrupt and have increased their rates.

This tax is not based on deficits - it is based on unemployment benefits paid out and number of employees laid off collecting benefits.  Anyone with any clue knows this is a national issue and employers all over the country are feeling the pain of increased tax rates.

Christie never should have made promises he couldn't keep - he should have been up front about it.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 16:48:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

yes... (0.00 / 0)

but other states didn't borrow/steal 4 to 5 billion from their employment funds...

I agree the economy has hit everyone hard, but mismanagement here in NJ has exacerbated the problem.

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

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by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 19:45:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

actually...... (0.00 / 0)

other states did worse things.

For example, when the economy was better, Kansas gave most of the employers in the state a 0.0% unemployment tax rate - meaning that for a few years, the didn't get one penny from most companies in the state.

NC did something similar and drastically reduced the rates during the late 90s/early 2000s, and it came back to bite them big time.

Here in NJ, the "borrowing/stealing" started under Kean and Whitman, and it was only Corzine who not only stopped it, but reversed it by replenishing hundreds of millions back into that fund.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Sun Feb 14, 2010 at 18:45:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey Adam... (0.00 / 0)

You are right about Christie raising taxes. He is acting exactly like Corzine did last year - waiting for a federal bailout. So, he will point the blame to Washington when the taxes go up.

That said, is it really necessary for you to use the vulgar teabagger terms when you post? You really don't help your cause when you present your case with the immaturity of a 5 year old.

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by: RightOne @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 02:31:49 AM UTC

A lot of Republicans here lately (0.00 / 0)

It's interesting that we're getting a number of Republicans here now that Christie is Governor.  One has to wonder how much of a threat BJ is perceived to be.   Could we be on Chris Christie's enemies list?

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by: princetonblue @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 03:42:08 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

yes, it is necessary. (4.00 / 1)

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 18:01:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]