Governor Jon Corzine

Following reports that Governor Corzine hurried an important negotiation with the largest state union to prevent an embarrassing protest during a visit by Vice President Biden, Senator Joseph Kyrillos (R-13) noted the apparent hypocrisy of the Corzine Administration’s use of a “poison pill” provision in the rushed labor agreement.

In return for the agreement of the Communications Workers of America to minor concessions on wages and furloughs, the Corzine Administration has agreed to not layoff any state employees between now and January 1, 2011. The Corzine Administration further agreed to a poison pill provision that would reverse all of the agreed upon concessions if this Governor or his successor violates Corzine’s “No Layoff” pledge.

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Democrats Must Go on the Record to Overcome “Poison Pills”

Senate Minority Leader Thomas H. Kean (R-Essex/Morris/Somerset/Union) released a legal opinion from the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) which indicated that Governor Corzine’s proposal to raid dedicated funds for arts, tourism and shore protection purposes may be unconstitutional. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposes to suspend various “poison pill” laws used to dedicate funding for certain purposes.

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Senator Bucco Questions Why Corzine’s Appointees Receive Double-Digit Raises While Everyone Else Is Told to Sacrifice

Senate Republican Budget Officer Tony Bucco (R-Morris), called on Governor Corzine to explain recent double-digit pay increases for political appointees in his administration. At a Senate Budget hearing this morning, the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services could not explain double-digit raises in that department and promised to get back to the committee with an answer.

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Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) responded to a report in Crain’s Insider titled “Nearby states doing worse than New York.” The March 13, 2009 report, published in the highly respected and influential business publication, noted that New Jersey experienced a 6.8% drop in tax revenue in the 4th quarter of 2008, while New York experienced a dramatically lower reduction of just 0.2%, despite serious problems in the financial sector.

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Efforts May Create Temporary or Government Jobs, Not Long-Term Private Sector Jobs

Senator Marcia Karrow (R-23), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, is calling on Governor Jon Corzine to provide more information about his claims that funds received by New Jersey through federal stimulus spending would create 100,000 jobs for the State.

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In response to Governor Corzine's announcement that he will identify only $800 million in budget savings to address a $1.7 billion loss of revenue and to pay for about $400 million in new spending, Senator Steve Oroho called on the Governor to listen to his own sound advice set forth in an Executive Order he signed in June. Executive Order 103, signed by Governor Corzine after the current budget was enacted, noted that it is incredibly poor public policy for the State to spend more than its recurring revenue.

“Jon Corzine’s record as Governor is clear: higher taxes, record spending, skyrocketing debt, and failed economic policies.”

Curcio and Giordano pointed out that almost 98% of the emergency hospital funds have been allocated to medical centers in just five North Jersey cities which happen to be overwhelmingly Democratic and political strongholds for Corzine, who plans to run for reelection in 2009.

“Corzine may like to go on CNBC to tell everyone how smart he is on financial issues, but we sure haven’t seen any of that intelligence in how Corzine has conducted himself as Governor for the past four years.”

Corzine Continues to Stonewall and Hide Public Documents About Budget Deficit
 
Following the continued failure of Governor Jon S. Corzine to respond as required by law to a December 2, 2008 request for public records made pursuant to New Jersey's Open Public Records Act, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Republican members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee have announced their intention to file a lawsuit against the Governor to force the immediate release of requested documents.