Governor Jon Corzine

Senator Joe Pennacchio is counting down the days until Governor Corzine actually keeps his promise of transparency in the spending of $17 billion in federal stimulus aid. Is this aid going to generate the maximum amount of jobs for New Jersey, or is it being used as an election-year goody bag for the governor's supporters? It's impossible to know if the governor won't keep create a Web site that shows where the $17 billion is really going. 

Senior Freeze are great, but they are no substitute for common sense tax and spending reforms that would make New Jersey more affordable to everyone. Governor Corzine should be apologizing for not providing the tax relief he promised when he first ran for governor, not touting increased spending that is a direct result of his failed policies.

Senator Joe Pennacchio, prime sponsor of the Transparency in Government Act, issued the following statement about the governor's unmet promise of transparency in the spending of $17 billion in federal stimulus funds, and urged the governor immediately to show county-by-county, community-by-community and project-by-project how he expects stimulus money to be allocated and spent in New Jersey:

New Jersey Unemployment Surges to 9.2%

Senator Joe Kyrillos, senior Republican on the Senate Economic Growth Committee, said today’s report that New Jersey’s unemployment rate surged to 9.2 percent in June shows the state is paying a terrible price for Trenton’s inexcusable neglect of economic development over the last eight years. In addition to having the highest unemployment rate in the region, Kyrillos noted that New Jersey led the nation in new jobless claims during the week of June 27.

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“Governor Corzine’s federal stimulus Web site is very attractive, but almost useless to busy taxpayers,” Senator Joe Pennacchio says “Messages remind us that taxpayers have every right to know on a timely basis how their stimulus money is being spent, but where’s the beef? (more…)

Despite his 2005 campaign vow of transparency, the governor now thinks it's better if the public doesn't hear about the coming fiscal crisis for a few months. So much for campaign promises that he would insist on two-year budgets instead of one-year spending plans.

GOVERNOR CORZINE JOINS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY SEBELIUS TO ANNOUNCE $286 MILLION FOR NJ FAMILYCARE 

ENGLEWOOD – Governor Jon S. Corzine today thanked U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for the Obama Administration’s commitment of $286 million for New Jersey’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (NJ FamilyCare). The funding is part of $6 billion in new federal funding that resulted from the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) signed by President Obama in February.

GOVERNOR CORZINE FILES NOMINATIONS 

TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today submitted the following nominations to the State Senate.  The nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Public Should Know If Revenues Other than Tax Amnesty Continue to Plunge

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) today challenged Governor Corzine to provide an update on all revenues in light of recent pronouncements that one-time revenues derived from the tax amnesty program have generated more than expected:

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Corzine Repeats Claims He Reduced Budget Despite Record High Spending

Senator Marcia Karrow (R-23), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, responded to the false claims that have been robotically repeated by Governor Jon Corzine that his 2010 budget plan reduces government spending. While the Governor adamantly insists that the state will only spend $30 billion next year, the true figure approaches $60 billion.

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