1 user logged on

Tips: BlueJerseyDotCom (AIM) |

Sweeney questions tax cut to super rich. Finally.

by: Adam L

Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 10:07:16 PM EDT

The NY Times is out tonight with a story about some of the spending cuts and proposals in the Governors budget. The other day the Auditor reported Senator Sweeney was not in favor of extending the tax on people making more than $400,000 and and the Governor would veto it. We questioned why not make him veto it and send him a bill that had the extension. Apparently, Sweeney had a change of heart and is questioning the lack of even considering it tonight:

"The fact that the governor took that higher income tax off the table, I think is a major mistake on his part," said the Senate president, Stephen M. Sweeney, a Gloucester County Democrat who has been an ally of Mr. Christie's in cutting public-sector pensions. "This is a very cold budget. There has to be a little more compassion for the middle class and poor, because all the burden is being put on them."

Speaker Oliver already said the other night that she believes there is support in her caucus for an extension. The public opposes getting rid of the tax on the super rich across the board, including the more well off. If the Governor wants to take this stand, the Democrats should make him do it and not just talk about it. That can only happen if Senator Sweeney and the Senate join the Assembly sending the Governor a bill that includes it.

And this brings me to the point that we saw back in the marriage equality debate. Sweeney wants to be the Senate President, which is, by definition, a LEADERSHIP position. Which, of course, means he should LEAD. By claiming that Christie will just veto it anyway, he is being a defeatist and not leading HIS caucus to do what the majority of New Jerseyans want anyway.

Say what you want (and we certainly do) about Republicans - but they stand up for what they want, do it unabashedly and don't care if the polls show otherwise. It is one of the things that people actually respected about George W. Bush - you may not agree with him, but you know exactly where he stands and he won't back down from what he believes. And the problem with many Democrats - and from what we have seen so far, Senator Sweeney is one of them - they may feel one way but won't stand up for it because of some weak reasoning that makes the public feel that they really won't stand up for what they believe in or what their constituents want.

This is nice that Sweeney is starting to come around, but he should be ahead of this no brainer of an issue - especially as a LEADER.

In title only, apparently.

Adam L :: Sweeney questions tax cut to super rich. Finally.

Tags: Steven Sweeney, class warfare, Chris Christie, tax, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

Sweeney questions tax cut to super rich. Finally. | 9 comments

Missing the strategy (0.00 / 0)

Sweeney is allowing Christie to have all the attention. Christie is pushing,pushing,pushing. With each speech is he getting more arrogant.

There is no reason to scream back at him right now. Christie is going to keep playing the "big shot" and Sweeney is letting him have enough rope to hang himself.

What is the hurry anyway? Sweeney is making sure that no doubt is left as to who wants to cut back unemployment benefits, who wants to give tax breaks tothe rich, and who wants to be the big shot bully.

The public will get tired of Christie always looking for a fight. It drives the bully crazy when he can't get someone to fight him. That is why he likes going afterthe NJEA and CWA. They feed into his bully personality.

Sweeney is using the rope a dope and Christie is a willing participant.

by: firstamend07 @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 02:55:46 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

in theory, your comment makes sense (0.00 / 0)

but Sweeney already had a chance during lame duck with respect to marriage equality, and he was against putting it to a vote at first - saying that he wanted to focus on the economy (never mind that there was little to no economic legislation put up).

Then he abstained, didn't push for it and apologized afterwards - when it didn't matter -

he already has a history in his short tenure to fight what is best for Sweeney, not what is best for Democrats, the party or New Jerseyans. Look at how he got the Senate President position - he fought for that one, even when it was one of his own already in the position.

Sweeney isn't the "eleven dimentional chess" kind of guy.

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

by: Adam L @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 10:32:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

A time to speak (4.00 / 1)

Sweeney needs to be prepared to speak out as a leader when the time is right. Twice now he has let chances for showing himself to be a leader pass him by. This current situation is yet another time.

Democrats need a strong leader to hold them together in the face of the onslaught from the Governor's office. Sweeney is NOT being a leader; someone else must step up and show some resolve.

by: parnell44 @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 14:03:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Sweeney is a joke (0.00 / 0)

I warned people about this Republicrat. So far, he's been about as good a senate leader as the Republicans could hope for. He has head so far up Chrisite's ass, that you can see his hand waving when Christie opens his mouth. It's the senate Democrats' own fault for picking this guy. But a lot of them aren't much better than him.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 13:17:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sweeney Should Learn From Congressional Republicans (4.00 / 1)

.....they are in the minority and they too have an executive of the opposing party......but they still fight in every way they legally can.

In NJ Sweeney has a legislative majority. Christie should be given good solid legislation to veto.

Make him/hold him responsible for his actions and make every Republican who votes with him responsible for their actions.

There is no need to confront the bully at his low level......bit confronted he must be.......and it should be done with intelligent gusto!

Democrats will do better in November if they fight back and offer a substantial and positive legislative agenda/alternative now.

Every day the Bully gets to carry on unchallenged he digs himself in deeper.......like a bloodsucking bloated tick.

by: Nick Lento @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:43:35 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Agree! (0.00 / 0)

We seem to not agree on many things. I agree with you on this.

by: firstamend07 @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 10:13:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

I agree (0.00 / 0)

Nick outlines a good way for the Democratic majority to fight back; passing good legislation for the people of NJ. Let the public see Christie for what he is when he blusters and vetoes sound legislation.

Simply going about the business of passing legislation and pointing out the contradictions of the Governor's positions should be enough. Christie will draw attention to himself as the attention-seeker he is; the Democrats should be ready with an answer!

by: parnell44 @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 13:53:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Christie On CNBC for St Pat's day (0.00 / 0)

you must admit he comes across much better than that other Govenor we just just rid of

by: speedkillsu @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 14:15:05 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Um, no. (0.00 / 0)