CORZINE SAYS HE WELCOMES IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO RESOLVE NJ's FINANCIAL MESS

WANT TO SEND HIM A MESSAGE? NOW YOU CAN!

            During his State of the State address to the Legislature last week, Gov. Jon S. Corzine said he is receptive to "intellectually honest" ideas about how to address New Jersey economic crisis and chronic budget problems.

            "My door is always open to anyone who is seriously interested in putting good ideas, intellectually honest ideas, on the table," the governor said.

            Is it really? Just in case this is another instance of a disconnect between Gov. Corzine's rhetoric and reality, New Jersey Assembly Republicans are making it possible to actually deliver a message to the governor.

            Just go to NJAssemblyRepublicans.com and click on the blue box that says "Fight Back! Let Corzine Know You Won't Pay for His Mistakes." That will take you to a page where you can describe how New Jersey's worsening economy and seven years of rising taxes, tolls and fees have affected you. You can share your thoughts about what the governor and Legislature should do balance the state budget without inflicting more financial pain on the taxpayers.

            We will collect your stories and suggestions and send them to the governor before the Legislature votes on a new budget. In addition, we will post the best entries (without your name) on our website. Your ideas and recommendations will also be reviewed by our budget analysts and shared with our members serving on the Assembly Budget Committee.

            "People are losing their jobs, homes and savings," says Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic.

            "Many families are living day-to-day, stretching every dollar to the limit. Yet the governor and the Legislature want to make life in New Jersey even more unaffordable. Taxpayers have endured too much pain. They should not have to pay for Governor Corzine's mistakes and the continued inability of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature to live within its means," DeCroce said.

            "The only way they will get the message is if enough people speak up and tell the Democrats they can no longer bail themselves out at the taxpayers' expense."

            Assemblyman Joseph Malone, R-Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean, the ranking Republican on the Assembly Budget Committee said some of the best ways to save the taxpayer money have over the years have come from the public.

            "If we don't, as elected officials start listening to the people, I think they're going to revolt," said Malone. "We feel that it's absolutely critical that every opportunity be set up for the residents of the State of New Jersey to have some input into this budget process. We need to look at solid ways of helping the governor and the State of New Jersey out of this dilemma."

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