Lonegan laments Corzine's budget proposal

By Max Pizarro | March 10th, 2009 - 5:13pm

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Lonegan laments Corzine's budget proposal

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, a Republican candidate for governor and a champion of deregulation, objected strenuously to Gov. Jon Corzine's budget proposal today.

Lonegan sees Corzine's effort as a failure to identify the underlying structural problem of New Jersey state government.

"The Governor's budget ignores the fact that New Jersey is the highest taxed state in America," Lonegan said in a statement. "His proposal exacerbates this condition by increasing the income tax, guaranteeing that we will continue to drive out high-income wage earners. I have proposed a flat income tax of 2.9% that will provide the state with the revenue we need while stopping the outflow of jobs and high-income tax payers from New Jersey.

"This budget increases destructive small-business corporate income taxes – the third highest in the nation – perpetuating New Jersey's ranking as the worst state to do business in," Lonegan added. "As I predicted in 2007, the rebate program which was funded with higher income taxes will once again be cut back and turned into nothing more than a glorified welfare check. New Jersey's governing establishment has failed time and again to recognize the role played by the State Supreme Court in burdening property taxpayers with funding mandates and regulation."

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Such a bogus statement

Submitted by NYBri on March 10, 2009 - 4:30pm.

"His proposal exacerbates this condition by increasing the income tax, guaranteeing that we will continue to drive out high-income wage earners."

Like....how is anyone going to sell their house in this market and move...and where are they going to go?

We've heard this for years in New York....high income earners are going to leave the state, and it's flat out not true.

What a sourpuss

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 10, 2009 - 4:41pm.

PolitickerNJ must really have it in for Loonegan. That is one ugly mug shot. Loonegan isn't just a loser; with that mug he really looks like one.

"As I predicted in 2007, the rebate program which was funded with higher income taxes will once again be cut back and turned into nothing more than a glorified welfare check."

Way to go Steve. Compare seniors and families making less than 75K getting a rebate on their taxes to welfare recipients. That'll get you votes.

Keep up the good

Submitted by republikyle on March 10, 2009 - 5:17pm.

work Steve. The only way this state is going to be fixed is through a fundamental change in the way government operates.

NYBri do you live in NY?

Submitted by MiddleClassSqueeze on March 10, 2009 - 5:44pm.

It's understandable if you did, then you wouldn't know that people are leaving this state in droves. Over half of all pension checks sent out by the State of NJ are sent out of state. True, some may be the state workers than live in PA in order to avoid the high taxes. There are plenty of those, all you have to do is drive through the state employee parking lots in Trenton and you will see the PA tags. However, many of these are people who lived in NJ during their working lives and then faced with the reality that this state is too expensive to retire in, moved to PA, Deleware, the Carolinas, Florida, etc. To put it in perspective, if you sell your home in New Jersey and establish your primary residence out of state, you are hit with a transfer fee. If you are moving into Deleware from another state you are hit with an upfront realty purchase fee. Deleware makes you pay to get in, New Jersey makes you pay to leave.

The insanity of the left

Submitted by Demsandonts on March 10, 2009 - 5:52pm.

The above postings are so moronic it's hard to think anyone takes them seriously.

So you think top wage earners in NY have not settled in New Jersey over the past two decades because of the tax disparity?

Now NJ has become a tax mirror of NY and high wage earners in Nj are leaving for safe havens like Delaware to the south and Pennsylvania to the west. This isn't rhetoric, but economic reality to the tune of nearly 300,000 people!

For someone to actually post about a candidate's looks really tells you something about that individual. A person who hides behind the name of a deceased officeholder.

CC is hardly Ronald Reagan in style nor apperance and can certainly shed a few pounds.

These consistent attacks on Lonegan are going nowhere because people want a leader with ideas and Lonegan is that leader. He's moving in the polls with plenty of time to catch and pass CC!

I think our liberal poster will be the next one leaving the state when Mayor Steve upsets the empty suit frontrunner come June 3rd.

Vote Column "A" - All the way!

haha

Submitted by dverchow on March 10, 2009 - 5:54pm.

I actually know people who have left New jersey because the taxes are so high in this state. People are moving out to PA cause the taxes are so low. Steve gets it. Do you think Christies could make a statement like that. No, because he doesn't know how to express republican views. Christie needs to drop out and stop defrauding state republicans.

Cliff

Submitted by dverchow on March 10, 2009 - 6:00pm.

What is the connection your making here? Do you even understand what your saying?

"He's moving in the polls

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 10, 2009 - 6:21pm.

"He's moving in the polls with plenty of time to catch and pass CC"

The only moving Loonegan will be doing is getting out of the way of the Chris Christie express train to victory!

Cliff...

Submitted by JoeSchilp on March 10, 2009 - 7:18pm.

Lonegan's right, Corzine's budget is basically Corzine crossing his fingers, pandering to seniors, the poor and the unions and hoping that these people produce enough votes to carry him to a second term.

I just hope that seniors are smart enough to realize that next year Corzine will do away with their rebate checks too!

"We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work!"
- FDR's Treasure Secretary, Henry Morgenthau, in 1939, on 8 years of New Deal spending as an attempt to end the Great Depression.

Even worse

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 10, 2009 - 7:50pm.

PolitickerNJ must have taken my comments about the picture seriously, or else Mountaintop Media complained about it. However this mug shot looks even worse than the first one. He looks like a dead fish with a bad rug.

If they use this mug in the campaign the only vote he'll get is a lovesick mackeral.

POPULATION OUTFLOWS - from The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

Submitted by Kafarski on March 10, 2009 - 8:11pm.

http://www.njchamber.com/News/oct%2007%20bloustein.asp

Bloustein School Study: New Jersey's Population Drain is for Real By James Hughes and Joseph Seneca, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

There is a growing perception that increasing numbers of New Jerseyans are cashing out and moving to lower-cost, more-affordable states, or establishing permanent residence in low-tax states while continuing to maintain a New Jersey home. Unfortunately, this perception is statistically confirmed by recent Census Bureau and Internal Revenue Service data. The population outflow is very real, and our analyses show it is already exerting a small but increasing negative impact on the New Jersey economy.

Census Bureau data reveal a sharp downturn in New Jersey's population growth in the 2002-2006 period and a sharp upturn in the number of people leaving the state. In 2002, the state's population increased by 79,184 persons. The absolute population growth declined steadily in the next four years. It was up only 63,144 in 2003, 56,467 in 2004, and 32,759 in 2005. By 2006, the state's population growth was just 21,410 persons. A simple extrapolation of this trend indicates New Jersey would experience an absolute population loss in 2008. Three factors - births minus deaths, international migration and national migration - go into calculating these numbers. The overall deceleration in the growth rate has been caused by the sharp acceleration in the number of New Jerseyans moving to other states - national migration. In 2002, New Jersey had a net outflow 23,759 people - that is 23,759 more people moved from New Jersey to other states than people from the rest of the country moved into New Jersey. The losses accelerated over the next four years: 33,225 in 2003, 45,045 in 2004, and 56,989 in 2005. By 2006, the new outflow was 72,547 persons. A simple extrapolation of this trend suggests that New Jersey would have a net outflow of over 100,000 persons in 2009.

These losses are starting to have significant economic and fiscal consequences. Internal Revenue Service data on tax filers and their dependents show a substantial loss of income in the state. New Jersey's 2005 net aggregate adjusted gross income (AGI) was reduced by an estimated $7.9 billion because of the net loss of tax payers between 2000 and 2005. Our estimates of continued out migration indicate that our AGI was reduced by over $10 billion in 2006. In essence, because of the cumulative net outflow of taxpayers, $10 billion was removed from the New Jersey economy in 2006, reducing consumer expenditures, employment, and state and local taxes. All this translated into a total direct and indirect tax loss (state income and sales taxes) of $539 million in 2005. Based on 2006 population out migration data, the tax losses are estimated to have increased to $680 million in 2006. CHAMBER NEWS Bloustein School Study: New Jersey's Population Drain is for Real By James Hughes and Joseph Seneca, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy There is a growing perception that increasing numbers of New Jerseyans are cashing out and moving to lower-cost, more-affordable states, or establishing permanent residence in low-tax states while continuing to maintain a New Jersey home. Unfortunately, this perception is statistically confirmed by recent Census Bureau and Internal Revenue Service data. The population outflow is very real, and our analyses show it is already exerting a small but increasing negative impact on the New Jersey economy. Census Bureau data reveal a sharp downturn in New Jersey's population growth in the 2002-2006 period and a sharp upturn in the number of people leaving the state. In 2002, the state's population increased by 79,184 persons. The absolute population growth declined steadily in the next four years. It was up only 63,144 in 2003, 56,467 in 2004, and 32,759 in 2005. By 2006, the state's population growth was just 21,410 persons. A simple extrapolation of this trend indicates New Jersey would experience an absolute population loss in 2008. Three factors - births minus deaths, international migration and national migration - go into calculating these numbers.

The overall deceleration in the growth rate has been caused by the sharp acceleration in the number of New Jerseyans moving to other states - national migration. In 2002, New Jersey had a net outflow 23,759 people - that is 23,759 more people moved from New Jersey to other states than people from the rest of the country moved into New Jersey. The losses accelerated over the next four years: 33,225 in 2003, 45,045 in 2004, and 56,989 in 2005. By 2006, the new outflow was 72,547 persons. A simple extrapolation of this trend suggests that New Jersey would have a net outflow of over 100,000 persons in 2009. These losses are starting to have significant economic and fiscal consequences. Internal Revenue Service data on tax filers and their dependents show a substantial loss of income in the state. New Jersey's 2005 net aggregate adjusted gross income (AGI) was reduced by an estimated $7.9 billion because of the net loss of tax payers between 2000 and 2005. Our estimates of continued out migration indicate that our AGI was reduced by over $10 billion in 2006. In essence, because of the cumulative net outflow of taxpayers, $10 billion was removed from the New Jersey economy in 2006, reducing consumer expenditures, employment, and state and local taxes. All this translated into a total direct and indirect tax loss (state income and sales taxes) of $539 million in 2005. Based on 2006 population out migration data, the tax losses are estimated to have increased to $680 million in 2006. Why the outflow? Decisions to move are complex, but there are several factors that may prove influential. New Jersey and the Northeast once had a near monopoly on high-paying knowledge-based jobs. However, the current decade has seen improved relative economic opportunity elsewhere, with knowledge-based jobs growing far faster in the southern Atlantic states for example. New Jersey's extraordinarily high housing and living costs provide a strong rationale for moving to more affordable states if equivalent jobs are available. And our higher income and property taxes provide additional incentives for New Jerseyans to seek tax refuge in adjacent states while maintaining their Garden State jobs, or for retirees to move to more affordable locations. Reversing all of these factors will be a daunting task for public policy.

Let them leave

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 10, 2009 - 8:16pm.

This state is overcrowded anyway. We can use a little more lebensraum.

Excellent cite Kafarski.

Submitted by MiddleClassSqueeze on March 10, 2009 - 8:17pm.

Now we know what the problem is, it MUST be Christie Whitman and the New Jersey Republicans. After all, weren't they in charge of this state during that sharp upswing of people leaving between 2002-2006? Oh wait....

Hey Cliff

Submitted by MiddleClassSqueeze on March 10, 2009 - 8:40pm.

Do you think the billions those people are taking with them might help this state out? Or do working people with high paying jobs just not the type of people you want in a state? And those newly retired workers who are collecting pensions (many from the state government) who won't burden school districts with more kids, you are OK with them taking their money and leaving the state as well? If I didn't know better I'd say Cliff is from the McGreevey/Codey/Corzine school of economics.

"If I didn't know better I'd

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 10, 2009 - 9:29pm.

"If I didn't know better I'd say Cliff is from the McGreevey/Codey/Corzine school of economics."

You're wrong. I studied voodoo economics from a master at using blue smoke and mirrors to con voters into thinking their taxes were going down when they were really going up.

The same guy who borrowed his way out of an even worse recession in the 1980s than the one we're in now.

Is it official???

Submitted by Opus on March 10, 2009 - 9:59pm.

Hey Clifford boys, boys, boys, is the new Christie mantra gay marriage, illegal immigration and lebensraum?

Sig 8C, Sig Christie.

Don't let the door hit you in the ass when you leave Cliffy unless you have something else stuck in there first, courtesy of your house wife.

Cliffy or should I say Carl... Nice chatting with you!

CLiff

Submitted by Panama Jack 88 on March 10, 2009 - 10:12pm.

"This state is overcrowded anyway. We can use a little more lebensraum."
You little Nazi, you.

However this mug shot looks even worse than the first one. He looks like a dead fish with a bad rug. "
Heh, yeah and his opponents are Jabba the hutt and a bald guy that sports a retarded beard from the 18th century..... who's former girlfriend looks like howard stern. CLiff I don't know what you look like, but i know when you look in the mirror, you see an idiot.

Wait, I know this one....

Submitted by MiddleClassSqueeze on March 10, 2009 - 10:54pm.

"I studied voodoo economics from a master at using blue smoke and mirrors to con voters into thinking their taxes were going down when they were really going up."

A: Jon Corzine

Unitarian nut case

Submitted by broy on March 11, 2009 - 6:37am.

Clifford wants " Lebensdraum for illegals". what an idiot. Soon Cliff will be the only one left with the illegals shoveling the manure from the streets of NJ. Cliff is a born loser who hangs out in his basement in his underpants masturbating in front of pictures of Chris Christie while writing his free lance crap for the liberal groups.

Corzine

Submitted by J_Joseph_Rivera on March 11, 2009 - 11:37am.

A Corzine victory would show just how many taxpayers are left in the state and how outnumbered they are by tax receivers.

I'm sorry, but no taxpayer with half a brain could possibly consider re-electing this man to a second term.

"Hope that lives upon hope will die fasting."- Benjamin Franklin

Dino, you got that right!

Submitted by Republican Cons... on March 11, 2009 - 12:21pm.

I already gave up on NJ. This is coming to you from the Sunshine State.

I did not want to be the last person left in NJ to pay all the taxes.

"Democrats could sell refrigerators to Eskimos before Republicans could sell them blankets." - Thomas Sowell - Random Thoughts for February 10, 2009

"is the new Christie mantra

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 11, 2009 - 3:55pm.

"is the new Christie mantra gay marriage, illegal immigration"

Don't forget killing babies and grabbing guns.

"Soon Cliff will be the only

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 11, 2009 - 4:57pm.

"Soon Cliff will be the only one left with the illegals shoveling the manure from the streets of NJ."

Fine with me. I won't have any shortage of cheap labor to cut my grass, clean my toilets and do my laundry.

"Cliff is a born loser who

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 11, 2009 - 4:59pm.

"Cliff is a born loser who hangs out in his basement in his underpants masturbating in front of pictures of Chris Christie"

Better pictures of Christie than Loonegan's ugly puss.

"Heh, yeah and his opponents

Submitted by CliffordCase on March 11, 2009 - 5:03pm.

"Heh, yeah and his opponents are Jabba the hutt and a bald guy that sports a retarded beard from the 18th century"

On June 2 Loonegan is Bantha fodder.

PA is no Better!

Submitted by njexile67 on March 12, 2009 - 8:38pm.

I am tired of all you geniuses that think the grass is greener over here in Pennsylvania. I have lived in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania and the costs are generally the same. Here are the facts (check them if you want):

Pennsylvania has a population of 12.4 million people, and the State budget for FY 2010 is $61.7 billion dollars, or approximately $4,900 for every man, woman and child to run the State Government.

New Jersey has a population of 8.7 million people, and the State budget FY 2010 is $29.8 billion dollars, or approximately $3,400 for every man, woman and child to run the State Government.

Bottom line, a family of four here in Pennsylvania pays an additional $6,000 in “hidden” state taxes than you do in New Jersey. You say that your property taxes are few thousand higher per year in New Jersey than Pennsylvania, and this is exactly why they are. Though, property taxes are something you can do something about by asking your tax assessor to reassess the amount you pay (especially since your home values probably have fallen like they have over here - I just did this and saved almost a $1,000/year), but these hidden taxes are silent and forever.

Be careful with guys that spout the flat tax (like we have here in Pennsylvania), they will try to make it up in these hidden taxes and fees that you don't even see and can not do anything about. I know it sux, but they will get you one or another. Plus the pizza stinks over here compared to New Jersey (sorry, but this has been bothering me for years).

Then why don't you move back?

Submitted by MiddleClassSqueeze on March 14, 2009 - 11:32am.

Pennsylvania may have its drawbacks, but it is easier to live off of a middle class wage on the other side of the Delaware than it is in New Jersey. I lived in Pennsylvania for three years before I moved back for family and job reasons. I know it has its drawbacks but PA is in a better position than New Jeresy, if it wasn't then businesses wouldn't be leaving this state for there. And many people, including a lot of state workers, would live and work in New Jersey instead of crossing a bridge every day to get to their jobs in this state.