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Christie Calls Separation of Powers "Dumb"

by: deciminyan

Tue Feb 08, 2011 at 10:24:22 AM EST

Apparently, when Chris Christie was in elementary school, he slept through the social studies class that discussed separation of powers. In case he's reading this blog, I'll take just a moment to remind him that there are three branches of government that are equal - the executive (governor of the state, or president at the national level), the legislature, and the judiciary. Each has powerful checks and balances on the other two branches to ensure that one single leg of this three-legged stool we call government does not get too big and topple over the entire stool.

deciminyan :: Christie Calls Separation of Powers "Dumb"

Five years ago, the legislature passed and the governor signed a bill that would levy a small tax on cable television customers. The proceeds from this tax were to help subsidize basic cable for citizens who could not afford it. (And the money would go back to the cable monopolies, increasing their profits.) The recipients of these subsidies are, for the most part, people who have limited options in their ability to obtain news, information, and entertainment.

Since the law was enacted, the fund has accumulated $9.2 million, with none of the proceeds used for the purpose that the legislature and governor intended. Recently, Governor Christie called this law "dumb" and stole the money from the fund to help balance the state's budget.

Now, if the governor can choose to enforce a duly-enacted law because he thinks it is "dumb", why can't I? I think wars of choice are dumb. I think subsidies to oil companies are dumb. I think covert government support of religious schools is dumb. So why can't I deduct a pro-rated value of those activities from my federal and state taxes? If it's good enough for Chris Christie, it's good enough for me.

In fact, there's a loophole that the governor is taking advantage of that makes his robbing of the senior citizen's fund legal, even though it is immoral. The only earmarked funds that cannot be reallocated by the governor are those that are constitutionally mandated. So a legislative earmark like the cable TV tax is, unfortunately, fair game for the governor to poach. Senator Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May) has proposed a common sense constitutional amendment that would prohibit using earmarked funds for purposes other than those originally intended. This makes a lot of sense and should be enacted as soon as possible.

So while Christie's millionaire friends enjoy tax breaks while watching their high-definition thousand-channel, digital satellite televisions in every room of their multiple mansions, basic cable will remain out of reach for low-income seniors, disabled people, and others who have few options for what has become a necessity in their lives.

Once again, Chris Christie has demonstrated the Republican Tea Party mantra of "ideology over compassion." Nice going, guv!

Tags: Cable TV, separation of powers, Jeff Van Drew, Comcast, Chris Christie, (All Tags)

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Christie Calls Separation of Powers "Dumb" | 10 comments

Umm... (0.00 / 0)

The only difference is no one elected you.

By all means though, give it a shot, get elected, stop the wars, subsidies, religious schools, and subsidize cable TV.

Good luck with that platform.

Although, I suspect your post is more about manufacturing criticism of the governor than actually providing cable TV for anyone, otherwise I don't think you would find it so easy to gloss over the fact that Corzine had 4 years to figure out how to administer the fund and apparently 'ran out of time'. Obviously, if the money had been distributed, it wouldn't have been there for Christie to direct to other priorities.

I totally agree with the dedicated funding amendment. But one of those checks and balances is that the democratic legislature has to put it on the ballot.

Good luck with that also.

Finally, I'd like to think that the law was passed because they changed the signalling of TV from analog to digital and people with older sets (seniors obstensibly) would no longer be able to recieve 'over the air' TV with older equipment.

I'd like to think the law was passed as a precaution to see just how much of an impact the change to digital signalling had on the lives of seniors.

My bet would be that there was not much impact (TV's were cheap enough that people probably just upgraded), and I'd like to think that's why the previous administration never dispersed the money. (I'd like to think it was something other other than just incompetence)

In which case, the tax wasn't necessary anyway.

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

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Tue Feb 08, 2011 at 16:27:08 PM UTC

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The difference... (0.00 / 0)

The difference is that while the Corzine administration was not as effective as many would have liked, the former governor never implemented a reverse Robin Hood scheme as Christie has done. I'm glad you agree that earmarked funds should not be allowed to be reallocated, but if Christe were a mensch, that law would not be necessary in this case.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

by: deciminyan @ Tue Feb 08, 2011 at 19:53:32 PM UTC

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So how was the money spent? (0.00 / 0)

If the money was reallocated how was it spent?

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

by: ken bank @ Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 04:29:52 AM UTC

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I'm thinking... (0.00 / 0)

it was raided in much the same manner as all the other funds... it was in the giant pot, and got doled out with all the other spending...

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

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 13:12:58 PM UTC

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I believe Weber is correct (0.00 / 0)

The money just got moved to some general fund <cynicism> to help make up for the shortfall caused by the reduction in revenue due to the millionaire's tax breaks.</cynicism>

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

by: deciminyan @ Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 14:35:05 PM UTC

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Cable TV is a "Necessity?" (0.00 / 0)

You must be joking. Talk about immoral? Putting a gun to the head of taxpayers and forcing them to pony up to pay for someone's cable TV - that is what's immoral. If you think the poor and diabled deserve cable TV start your own charity and raise the funds to provide it to them.

by: RightOne @ Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 15:43:03 PM UTC

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So... (0.00 / 0)

...a disabled senior citizen whose eyesight has deteriorated to a point where she can't read should not get a small subsidy for basic cable to occupy her day, while millionaires get tax breaks? Compassionate conservatism my a**.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

by: deciminyan @ Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 19:37:09 PM UTC

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There is a need (0.00 / 0)

Basic cable does provide emergency notifications and updates, as well as community info. Especially when there is a weather emergency or some other disaster. and broadcast channels are no longer available.

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by: ken bank @ Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 23:00:56 PM UTC

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One's need... (0.00 / 0)

...is no claim on another.

by: RightOne @ Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 00:03:04 AM UTC

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Try logic, not emotion (0.00 / 0)

The issue in question is the proper role of government. It is not the role of government to redistribute wealth. Nor is it proper for you to point a gun at the head of taxpayers and force them to fund the causes you believe in. As James Madison said, "Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."
With respect to millionaire's, they are entitled to keep what they have earned just like everyone else. And you have no right to loot it. When you advocate as much through the use of government force, well, that just makes you an advocate for tyranny.

by: RightOne @ Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 23:59:08 PM UTC

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Christie Calls Separation of Powers "Dumb" | 10 comments