From: joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins)
Subject: Re: Why I cannot vote Democratic
Organization: None
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 19:13:10 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.162659.4219@cbfsb.cb.att.com> r2d@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (richard.del monaco) writes:
>In article <1992Aug25.191613.23545@fid.morgan.com> joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins) writes:
>>I have these examples of why I will have a hard time voting
>>Democratic in the near future.
>
>Vague and unsubstantiated criticism of Jimmy Carter deleted.
>>           
>>Governor Jim Florio (NJ):
>>               During his campaign to become Governor, he said (and I quote):
>>                  "I SEE NO REASON TO RAISE TAXES"
>>               Once in office, he pushed through the largest single tax
>>               increase for any state, in the entire history of our country, 
>>               all WITHIN SIX MONTHS. He never apologized or attempted to 
>>               say why. NJ residents are generally *furious* with Jim and 
>>               his party.
>
>There you go again.  Of course Mr Florio saw no reason to raise taxes.  The
>incumbent Republican governor, Tom Kean, distorted the state that the economy
>was in by leading everyone to believe that New Jersey had a huge surplus.

But Florio didn't explain or apologize for raising taxes - he was arrogant.
He only became more approachable after his party lost big-time a year ago.
I looked at state spending between 1980 and recently and it was growing
at 50% FASTER than cpi inflation. And then he raises taxes.
Just where does this money go? 

>Governor Florio should not apologize for fixing the budget mess that New
>Jersey was in.  Under his leadership he maintained New Jersey's AAA credit
>rating (the only northeastern state to do so).  Have you seen yesterday's
>Star-Ledger?  Because the Republican legislature reduced our sales tax,
>the deficit next year is expected to be $1.7 billion.  New Jersey's credit
>rating has been downgraded to AA1.

He BOUGHT that AAA rating with OUR money from the LARGEST single tax 
increase for any state in UNITED STATES HISTORY. I don't mind at all that our 
rating drops - I do mind that the Republicans didn't cut the budget even more.

>As I've pointed out in a previous posting, the budget problems facing New
>Jersey have been felt in many other states under Democrat, Republican and
>independent governors.  California makes New Jersey look like the Golden
>State.  
Now it does....

>Michigan's mean-spirited governor has slashed all kinds of spending.
I applaud his actions...

>Governor Weicker of Connecticut had to introduce a state income tax.  

I have friends in Ct and Weicker is not well liked. Something likea
10% of the entire state went and demonstrated against him. Think of 
that 10% of the entire states' population went to Hartford.

>Don't you get the feeling that this is a national and not a state problem?

Its bigger than that....when state revenues dropped, the states raise taxes.
What do private people do when their income drops? They cut back. What do
corporations do when their income drops, they cut back. But not government. 
That is *exactly* the problem and its a national problem.

>It's true that New Jerseyans are furious with Mr Florio.  I propose that this
>has more to do with ignorance of the situation.

I'm plenty aware of what it means to me - I live in a county that has the
second highest property taxes in the UNITED STATES (Money 1/92, pg 72-73).
Higher than Palm Beach County, Beverly Hills, Fairfield Ct, etc.

I'm not governor but if I was, I would do the following:
1-Abolish tenure for educators and abolish the right for state employees to
  belong to unions.
  Did you know that a teacher MUST be given tenure after 3 years or
  the teacher must be let go? Thats crazy!
2-Require ALL public employees to work as long as private industry 
  employees do. My brother-in-law works for the state, is 46 years old and
  can retire at 1/2 pay right now. That costs us taxpayers big time.
  I believe educators can retire at 1/2 pay after 25 years.
3-Anybody on welfare for more than a year would have 1 year to get a job or
  lose welfare. Anyone who can't get a job calls my office and I will give them
  jobs, in public service. There is PLENTY for them to do.
  The same would be true for unemployed people. Lets get them to work.
4-I would ask every department to plan on cutting its budget between 10%
  and 20%. How they do it is their business. After the cuts, they can raise
  their budgets annually by the inflation rate, except for a major emergency
  and only when approved by the governor and 3/4 of the house/senate.
5-I would require EVERY public employees raise proposal in excess of 3.5%
  to be signed by me personally. I mean every policeman, borough clerk,
  tax assessor - everyone.
6-If you are convicted of stealing a car, you go to jail for 5 years, with no 
  parole or appeal. That might slow the juveniles down in Newark.
  Don't coddle criminals - JAIL THEM.
7-If you are in jail, you are charged rent and must *work* in jail to pay
  that rent. 
8-I support term limits for politicians AND higher pay for politicians.
  Lets get some experts in there with no agenda but to run an 
  efficient government.

>Ask yourself these questions.  Under the Republican legislature has your
>income tax rate gone down?  
The one Florio DOUBLED is still active. Where does all this money go?
All the lottery money, toll money, casino money, income tax money,
sales tax money, fees/services money - WHERE DOES IT ALL GO?

>Do you still get your homestead rebate?
I don't get one but I still pay very high taxes. Why don't they just stop
taking from 'peter to pay paul', after the bureaucrats take their cut?

>Have the Republicans cut the legislative pay raise?  
No...I resent that also.

>Have the Republicans passedinitiative and referendum?  
No...I resent that also. The Democrats bottled it up when they were in
power and now the Republicans do the same.

>Seems like Florio's not the only one breaking promises.
They are both pretty bad. I may vote Libertarian in NJ this year.
Our current government feels it does us a favor by helping us. No thanks.
After all, 'that government is best which governs least'.

>Richard Del Monaco		rdelmonaco@attmail.att.com
>Somerset, New Jersey		    r2d@cbnewsg.cb.att.com
>I support Florio for governor in 1993.


Joe Collins
joec@morgan.com
I will work hard to see Florio and other tax/spend politicans ousted in 1993.

>Disclaimer:  I am not an official company spokesperson.
Me either


From: Tom.Cavender@iphase.UUCP (Tom Cavender)
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