Leonard "NIMBY" Lance's Budget Cuts

by: Juan Melli

Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 05:17:51 PM EDT

You may recall Senator Leonard Lance's reaction to Corzine's budget:

"I am pleased that the Governor and his allies in the Legislature have finally listened to Republicans and have decided to balance the state budget with spending cut rather than tax increases or illegal borrowing. [...]

The Senate Republicans are committed to working towards identifying more substantial and extensive budget cuts as the document moves through the legislative process. I hope that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle join us in our efforts to help make New Jersey affordable for working families.

Regardless of how one feels about these particular cuts, it's instructive to note that Senator Leonard Lance is fighting against only those cuts that will mostly affect his district. It's like he doesn't think his constituents should have to carry any of the burden of balancing the state's budget.

Take the state police patrol cuts, for example:

State Sen. Leonard Lance, R-Warren/Hunterdon, said he has fought this proposal many times before and will try to again.

"Most of these towns are small towns and can't afford it," he said. "State police were created in part to patrol rural roads."

Later, agriculture advocates pleading for the rescue of their department got reassurance from the committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon).

"It is my own prediction that it's unlikely the department will no longer exist," Lance said.