Tampilkan postingan dengan label corruption. Tampilkan semua postingan
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Jumat, 10 April 2009
Kamis, 09 April 2009
Cities Waste State Funding
New Jersey State Senators Steven Oroho and Marcia Karrow expressed disbelief and frustration with the Corzine administration for its decision to grant more than $80 million in so-called “Special Municipal Aid” to three cities that have no stated plans to make sacrifices next year that many other communities are being forced to make during this recession. The aid was granted to Camden, Patterson and Bridgeton.
“These three cities argue that they qualify as ‘distressed’ when they have not taken the necessary steps to control costs as Newark and Trenton have recently done as well as countless smaller communities throughout the state,” Senator Oroho said.
“Governor Corzine -- rather doing what he pledged to do in his budget proposal and demand a fair and equitable distribution of sacrifice -- is giving these towns a pass,” said Senator Karrow. “As far as I am concerned, every local official who has spent countless hours trying to figure out ways to reduce the tax burden should be outraged and crying foul.
“We all have to pitch in,” Senator Karrow said. “It’s not fair to ask taxpayers who are facing layoffs or cutbacks in local services to pay so that residents of other communities can avoid making sacrifices.”
Newark and the state of New Jersey are imposing furloughs on city workers. School districts across the state are cutting hundreds of teaching positions. Camden, Paterson, and Bridgeton today were awarded special municipal aid grants in the amounts of $56 million, $27 million, and $1.8 million, respectively, without being required to cut the size of their governments, impose furloughs or make cuts in spending in other ways. At today’s hearing, not one member of the Local Finance Board publically asked questions of city officials before approving the aid awards. Local Finance Board members are paid $12,000 a year and are eligible for state health benefits. Board members typically meet once a month.
Rabu, 08 April 2009
City's Mayor Is Useless
From Monica Yant Kinney at the Philadelphia Inquirer:Dana Redd recently unveiled a slick new Web site - http://unitedforchange09.com - and a catchy R&B campaign ditty in her quest to be the next mayor of Camden.
Redd seems like a smart, capable public official, but I'm not feeling the United for Change vibe. And it's not because she totally ripped off Barack Obama's swooshy campaign logo, which, while not illegal, is kind of lame.
For starters, there's the fact that Redd is a state senator, vice president of Camden City Council, and the latest golden girl of the Camden County Democratic Party, which is on the verge of dominating South Jersey the way the communists control China.
There's no shame in being a machine candidate, but if that's who you are, embrace it. Don't pretend to be a change agent who'll shake up the system.
The bigger issue is just how ludicrous it is that anyone is running to be mayor of Camden.
The city has been under state control since 2002, rendering its mayor a glorified bobblehead. She gets a $103,000 salary, a social schedule and a swivel chair. Major decision-making is left to outsiders.
In exchange for a pot of cash to aid the ailing city, Camden has seen its mayorship transformed into a legally sanctioned low-show job that makes a mockery of self-rule. If Gov. Corzine really wanted to save a few bucks, he'd mothball the office.
Redd seems like a smart, capable public official, but I'm not feeling the United for Change vibe. And it's not because she totally ripped off Barack Obama's swooshy campaign logo, which, while not illegal, is kind of lame.
For starters, there's the fact that Redd is a state senator, vice president of Camden City Council, and the latest golden girl of the Camden County Democratic Party, which is on the verge of dominating South Jersey the way the communists control China.
There's no shame in being a machine candidate, but if that's who you are, embrace it. Don't pretend to be a change agent who'll shake up the system.
The bigger issue is just how ludicrous it is that anyone is running to be mayor of Camden.
The city has been under state control since 2002, rendering its mayor a glorified bobblehead. She gets a $103,000 salary, a social schedule and a swivel chair. Major decision-making is left to outsiders.
In exchange for a pot of cash to aid the ailing city, Camden has seen its mayorship transformed into a legally sanctioned low-show job that makes a mockery of self-rule. If Gov. Corzine really wanted to save a few bucks, he'd mothball the office.
To read Monica Yant Kinney's entire column click here.
Sabtu, 04 April 2009
Axelrod Cashes In
From Kenneth P. Vogel at Politico:As he prepared to take a job in the White House at the end of last year, David Axelrod sold the political consulting firm that helped elect President Barack Obama for $2 million to a group of consultants who helped steer Obama’s campaign. According to a disclosure form released Friday evening by the White House, the firm, AKP&D Message & Media, paid him $897,000 last year, when it had basically turned itself into an arm of the Obama campaign, which paid the company $2.5 million.
The disclosure indicates that Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe — the "P" in AKP&D and still an influential political consultant for Obama and the Democratic National Committee — was not among the buyers, though he’ll remain a senior adviser to the firm. Instead, Axelrod reported the new owner is a "newly formed S corporation” owned by Obama campaign vets John Kupper, John Del Cecato and Larry Grisolano. Kupper and Del Cecato — the "K" and "D," respectively — handled research and for the campaign and also wrote many of its ads. Grisolano is a Los Angeles-based strategist who handled direct mail for Obama’s campaign.
Axelrod’s disclosure offers a peek inside the business model he used to create a Chicago-based consulting powerhouse, which included both AKP&D and ASK Public Strategies. ASK, which specialized in corporate public relations, paid him partnership income of $152,000 last year, according to the disclosure, even though he had taken a leave of absence to work on the campaign. Axelrod sold his share of ASK to Kupper and Eric Sedler for $1 million at the end of last year. The firm became the source of some controversy during the presidential campaign, when The Washington Post reported that in 2006, Michelle Obama urged the University of Chicago’s hospital, where she served as an executive, to hire ASK to drum up community support for a controversial urban health initiative.
The Obama team disputed the Post’s account, asserting that someone else at the hospital initiated ASK’s hiring. A March BusinessWeek story highlighted how ASK established front groups for corporate giants, including Madison Square Garden and ComEd, to help sway public opinion on controversial initiatives in New York and Illinois, respectively. Entitled “The Secret Side of David Axelrod,” the story asserted that the firm was a master of “Astroturf organizing" — a practice the good government groups with which Obama worked closely in the Illinois Legislature and U.S. Senate have lambasted as a way to skirt lobbying laws. Additionally, New York State lobbying records obtained by POLITICO show that Madison Square Garden paid ASK $1.16 million to lobby in 2004 — the biggest lobbying contract of the year in the state.
Sedler in a November interview with POLITICO disputed that ASK engages in Astroturf lobbying and also asserted that, though ASK had to register as a lobby shop in New York, it actually didn’t lobby public officials, only produced advertisements on matters of public policy debate.
Note that this Axelrod megabucks disclosure was released on a Friday night while the entire Obama team was in Europe. This was calculated so as night to gain much attention.
Don't be fooled: While lambasting corporate titans and setting up strawmen, Obama's team and all the other powerful Dems running the country are now raking it in.
Meanwhile, the rest of us get to muddle through.
Kamis, 02 April 2009
Obama: We're Keepin Score!
From Karl Rove in the Wall Street Journal:
"Don't think we're not keeping score, brother." That's what President Barack Obama said to Rep. Peter DeFazio in a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus last week, according to the Associated Press.
A few weeks ago, Mr. DeFazio voted against the administration's stimulus bill. The comment from Mr. Obama was a presidential rebuke and part of a new, hard-nosed push by the White House to pressure Congress to adopt the president's budget. He has mobilized outside groups and enlisted forces still in place from the Obama campaign.
Senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett and her chief of staff, Michael Strautmanis, are in regular contact with MoveOn.Org, Americans United for Change and other liberal interest groups. Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina has collaborated with Americans United for Change on strategy and even ad copy. Ms. Jarrett invited leaders of the liberal interest groups to a White House social event with the president and first lady to kick off the lobbying campaign.
Its targets were initially Republicans, as team Obama ran ads depicting the GOP as the "party of no." But now the fire is being trained on Democrats worried about runaway spending.
Americans United is going after Democrats who are skeptical of Mr. Obama's plans to double the national debt in five years and nearly triple it in 10. The White House is taking aim at lawmakers in 12 states, including Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad, Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor. MoveOn.Org is running ads aimed at 10 moderate Senate and House Democrats. And robocalls are urging voters in key districts to pressure their congressman to get in line.
Team Obama is also ginning up the Democratic National Committee. A special group at the DNC has been created called "Organizing for America." It is headed by Mr. Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, and is lobbying for the administration's spending proposals. . . .
Members of Congress should also worry about how Mr. Obama is "keeping score." He is steeped in the ways of Chicago politics and has not forgotten his training in the methods once used by Saul Alinsky, the radical Chicago community organizer.
Alinsky's 1971 book, "Rules for Radicals," is a favorite of the Obamas. Michele Obama quoted it at the Democratic Convention. One Alinsky tactic is to "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." That's what the White House did in targeting Rush Limbaugh, Rick Santelli and Jim Cramer. (The president's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, went so far as to lash all three from the White House press podium.) It may also explain Mr. Obama's comments to Mr. DeFazio.
After all, Alinsky's first rule of "power tactics" is "power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have." Team Obama wants to remind its adversaries it has plenty of power, and it does. The question is whether the White House will wield it responsibly. The jury is still out, but certain clues are beginning to emerge. "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother," even if said with a wink and a smile, isn't quite the "new politics" we were told to expect.
"Don't think we're not keeping score, brother." That's what President Barack Obama said to Rep. Peter DeFazio in a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus last week, according to the Associated Press.
A few weeks ago, Mr. DeFazio voted against the administration's stimulus bill. The comment from Mr. Obama was a presidential rebuke and part of a new, hard-nosed push by the White House to pressure Congress to adopt the president's budget. He has mobilized outside groups and enlisted forces still in place from the Obama campaign.
Senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett and her chief of staff, Michael Strautmanis, are in regular contact with MoveOn.Org, Americans United for Change and other liberal interest groups. Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina has collaborated with Americans United for Change on strategy and even ad copy. Ms. Jarrett invited leaders of the liberal interest groups to a White House social event with the president and first lady to kick off the lobbying campaign.
Its targets were initially Republicans, as team Obama ran ads depicting the GOP as the "party of no." But now the fire is being trained on Democrats worried about runaway spending.
Americans United is going after Democrats who are skeptical of Mr. Obama's plans to double the national debt in five years and nearly triple it in 10. The White House is taking aim at lawmakers in 12 states, including Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad, Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor. MoveOn.Org is running ads aimed at 10 moderate Senate and House Democrats. And robocalls are urging voters in key districts to pressure their congressman to get in line.
Team Obama is also ginning up the Democratic National Committee. A special group at the DNC has been created called "Organizing for America." It is headed by Mr. Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, and is lobbying for the administration's spending proposals. . . .
Members of Congress should also worry about how Mr. Obama is "keeping score." He is steeped in the ways of Chicago politics and has not forgotten his training in the methods once used by Saul Alinsky, the radical Chicago community organizer.
Alinsky's 1971 book, "Rules for Radicals," is a favorite of the Obamas. Michele Obama quoted it at the Democratic Convention. One Alinsky tactic is to "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." That's what the White House did in targeting Rush Limbaugh, Rick Santelli and Jim Cramer. (The president's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, went so far as to lash all three from the White House press podium.) It may also explain Mr. Obama's comments to Mr. DeFazio.
After all, Alinsky's first rule of "power tactics" is "power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have." Team Obama wants to remind its adversaries it has plenty of power, and it does. The question is whether the White House will wield it responsibly. The jury is still out, but certain clues are beginning to emerge. "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother," even if said with a wink and a smile, isn't quite the "new politics" we were told to expect.
Senin, 30 Maret 2009
Dodd Put Squeeze On AIG
From Jennifer Haberkorn at the Washington Times:As Democrats prepared to take control of Congress after the 2006 elections, a top boss at the insurance giant American International Group Inc. told colleagues that Sen. Christopher J. Dodd was seeking re-election donations and he implored company executives and their spouses to give.
Getty Images Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, has lost some political standing heading into re-election because of his ties to American International Group Inc.
The message in the Nov. 17, 2006, e-mail from Joseph Cassano, AIG Financial Products chief executive, was unmistakable: Mr. Dodd was "next in line" to be chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which oversees the insurance industry, and he would "have the opportunity to set the committee's agenda on issues critical to the financial services industry.
"Given his seniority in the Senate, he will also play a key role in the Democratic Majority's leadership," Mr. Cassano wrote in the message, obtained by The Washington Times.
Mr. Dodd's campaign quickly hit pay dirt, collecting more than $160,000 from employees and their spouses at the AIG Financial Products division (AIG-FP) in Wilton, Conn., in the days before he took over as the committee chairman in January 2007. Months later, the senator transferred the donations to jump-start his 2008 presidential bid, which later failed.
Now, two years later, Mr. Dodd has emerged as a central figure in the government's decision to let executives at the now-failing AIG collect more than $218 million in bonuses, according to the Connecticut attorney general - even as the company was receiving billions of dollars in assistance from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). He acknowledged that he slipped a provision into legislation in February that authorized the bonuses, but said the Treasury Department asked him to do it.
The decision has generated national outrage and put the Obama administration into the position of trying to collect the bonuses after they were distributed. It also endangers Mr. Dodd's re-election chances in 2010 as his popularity tumbles in his home state.
Despite all the claims that Washington has changed, the tale of Mr. Dodd's lucrative political ties to AIG is a fresh reminder that special interests continue to use donations and fundraising to sow good will with powerful lawmakers like Mr. Dodd.
Getty Images Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, has lost some political standing heading into re-election because of his ties to American International Group Inc.
The message in the Nov. 17, 2006, e-mail from Joseph Cassano, AIG Financial Products chief executive, was unmistakable: Mr. Dodd was "next in line" to be chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which oversees the insurance industry, and he would "have the opportunity to set the committee's agenda on issues critical to the financial services industry.
"Given his seniority in the Senate, he will also play a key role in the Democratic Majority's leadership," Mr. Cassano wrote in the message, obtained by The Washington Times.
Mr. Dodd's campaign quickly hit pay dirt, collecting more than $160,000 from employees and their spouses at the AIG Financial Products division (AIG-FP) in Wilton, Conn., in the days before he took over as the committee chairman in January 2007. Months later, the senator transferred the donations to jump-start his 2008 presidential bid, which later failed.
Now, two years later, Mr. Dodd has emerged as a central figure in the government's decision to let executives at the now-failing AIG collect more than $218 million in bonuses, according to the Connecticut attorney general - even as the company was receiving billions of dollars in assistance from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). He acknowledged that he slipped a provision into legislation in February that authorized the bonuses, but said the Treasury Department asked him to do it.
The decision has generated national outrage and put the Obama administration into the position of trying to collect the bonuses after they were distributed. It also endangers Mr. Dodd's re-election chances in 2010 as his popularity tumbles in his home state.
Despite all the claims that Washington has changed, the tale of Mr. Dodd's lucrative political ties to AIG is a fresh reminder that special interests continue to use donations and fundraising to sow good will with powerful lawmakers like Mr. Dodd.
Kamis, 19 Maret 2009
Obama: Blame Me But Don't
From Jake Tapper at ABC News:
Washington is all in a tizzy," President Obama said at a town hall meeting here this evening. "It's their fault, it's the Democrats' fault, it's the Republicans' fault. -- Listen, I'll take responsibility. I’m the president."
In the next breath, the president said, "We didn’t grant these contracts, we've got a lot on our plate. But it is appropriate when you're in charge to make sure stuff doesn't happen like this."
But the president said, the point isn't to assign blame but to solve the larger issue.
"For for everyone in D.C. scrambling how to blame someone else, just go ahead and talk to me," the president said, deviating from his prepared remarks, "because it’s my job to make sure we fix these messes, even if I don’t make 'em."
So . . . The President says: "Go ahead and blame me but I wasn't really responsible for this but blame me if you want to because I'm the President but remember, don't really blame me for this." Understand?
Washington is all in a tizzy," President Obama said at a town hall meeting here this evening. "It's their fault, it's the Democrats' fault, it's the Republicans' fault. -- Listen, I'll take responsibility. I’m the president."
In the next breath, the president said, "We didn’t grant these contracts, we've got a lot on our plate. But it is appropriate when you're in charge to make sure stuff doesn't happen like this."
But the president said, the point isn't to assign blame but to solve the larger issue.
"For for everyone in D.C. scrambling how to blame someone else, just go ahead and talk to me," the president said, deviating from his prepared remarks, "because it’s my job to make sure we fix these messes, even if I don’t make 'em."
So . . . The President says: "Go ahead and blame me but I wasn't really responsible for this but blame me if you want to because I'm the President but remember, don't really blame me for this." Understand?
Rabu, 18 Maret 2009
Senin, 16 Maret 2009
Other People's Money
From the Philadelphia Daily News:Powerful state Sen. Vince Fumo [shown leaving court with girlfriend Carolyn Zinni] lived like a prince on Other People's Money, the government charged in its corruption indictment against him.
Today, the Other People spoke: Guilty on all counts.
A federal jury, after five days of deliberations, found Fumo guilty of 137 counts of defrauding taxpayers, diverting money for his personal use from a non-profit he ran and obstruction of justice. Co-defendant Ruth Arnao, who once headed the non-profit, Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, was also found guilty of all 45 counts against her.
U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter scheduled a bail hearing for 2 p.m. when he will decided whether Fumo should be subject to electronic monitoring and house arrest while he awaits sentencing.
Fumo, 65, could get at least 10 in jail.
Today, the Other People spoke: Guilty on all counts.
A federal jury, after five days of deliberations, found Fumo guilty of 137 counts of defrauding taxpayers, diverting money for his personal use from a non-profit he ran and obstruction of justice. Co-defendant Ruth Arnao, who once headed the non-profit, Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, was also found guilty of all 45 counts against her.
U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter scheduled a bail hearing for 2 p.m. when he will decided whether Fumo should be subject to electronic monitoring and house arrest while he awaits sentencing.
Fumo, 65, could get at least 10 in jail.
Photo: Tom Gralish/Inquirer
Fumo Guilty, Nutter Comments
A federal court jury today found former Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo of Philadelphia guilty on all counts.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has just commented on the Fumo verdit calling it "stunning."
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Mayor Nutter commented on the verdict as he left his City Hall office to attend a ceremony for slain police officer John Pawlowski, who was shot to death 30 days ago.
"It's certainly kind of a stunning conclusion to what has been a pretty stunning trial. ... You know, the jury has spoken. We are a nation, state and city of laws. All of us are accountable to the law, especially those of us in public service who have, of course, a higher standard we all have to adhere to. ... It's just kind of a bit of a surprise, I guess. ... I certainly wish Sen. Fumo and his family the best in these very trying and difficult times. He in the true sense of public service certainly did many things beneficial to Philadelphia and our region and the Commonwealth. But I think that today's jury verdict is further evidence that no matter how much good you do in public life, no matter even what your good intentions may be, none of us, none of us, are above the law, and we'll all be held accountable for things that we do."
Nutter did not think Fumo's criminal actions would hurt Philadelphia's image.
"It's certainly not helpful, but I think the citizens of this city are smart enough to understand that what an individual may do is certainly not indicative of what generally goes on in the city of Philadelphia." The mayor also pointed out that Sen. Fumo was a state official, not a city official.
So what is Fumo's legacy now?
"It is not for me to write histories or legacies. ... This situation is certainly not good for those of us in public office and how the public thinks about people who are in high elected office. ... I would say, the system worked. It did what it was supposed to do. It held an official accountable."
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has just commented on the Fumo verdit calling it "stunning."
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Mayor Nutter commented on the verdict as he left his City Hall office to attend a ceremony for slain police officer John Pawlowski, who was shot to death 30 days ago.
"It's certainly kind of a stunning conclusion to what has been a pretty stunning trial. ... You know, the jury has spoken. We are a nation, state and city of laws. All of us are accountable to the law, especially those of us in public service who have, of course, a higher standard we all have to adhere to. ... It's just kind of a bit of a surprise, I guess. ... I certainly wish Sen. Fumo and his family the best in these very trying and difficult times. He in the true sense of public service certainly did many things beneficial to Philadelphia and our region and the Commonwealth. But I think that today's jury verdict is further evidence that no matter how much good you do in public life, no matter even what your good intentions may be, none of us, none of us, are above the law, and we'll all be held accountable for things that we do."
Nutter did not think Fumo's criminal actions would hurt Philadelphia's image.
"It's certainly not helpful, but I think the citizens of this city are smart enough to understand that what an individual may do is certainly not indicative of what generally goes on in the city of Philadelphia." The mayor also pointed out that Sen. Fumo was a state official, not a city official.
So what is Fumo's legacy now?
"It is not for me to write histories or legacies. ... This situation is certainly not good for those of us in public office and how the public thinks about people who are in high elected office. ... I would say, the system worked. It did what it was supposed to do. It held an official accountable."
NJ Indictments Keep Comin
Former Democrat Mayor (and now State Assemblyman) Joseph Vas of Perth Amboy had been indicted on charges that, while he was mayor of Perth Amboy, he conspired with city employees to steal approximately $5,000 in funds from the city to pay for personal purchases and expenses.
Vas, 54, was indicted with his personal driver, Anthony S. Jones, 48, of Perth Amboy, on charges he rigged a city housing lottery so that Jones won the opportunity to buy a home through the city’s affordable housing program.
Vas is the 13th Democrat Mayor in New Jersey to recently be indicted. Here's the (nearly)complete list (from Red State) with links to the full story for each.
(1) Orange Mayor Mims Hackett Jr, who pleaded guity to extortion;
(2) Passaic Mayor Samuel Rivera, who pleaded guity to extortion;
(3) former Newark Mayor Sharpe James, convicted along with his former mistress in connection with shady land deals;
(4) former Atlantic City Mayor Robert Levy, who pleaded guilty to making false claims to receive more than $24,000 in veterans’ benefits;
(5) former Hoboken Mayor Anthony Russo, indicted for extortion and bribery and who ultimately pleaded guilty to mail fraud;
(6) former Guttenberg Mayor David Delle Donna, who was convicted along with his wife of extortion and tax fraud;
(7) former Irvington Mayor Sara Bost, indicted for taking kickbacks and who ultimately pleaded guilty to witness tampering;
(8) former Irvington Mayor Michael Steele (no relation, I assume) indicted for bribery;
(9) former Patterson Mayor Martin Barnes, convicted of accepting gifts in exchange for city contracts;
(10) fomer Brick Mayor Joseph Scarpelli, convicted of taking bribes;
(11) former Burlington Township Mayor Joseph Foy Sr., who pleaded guilty to tax evasion;
Oh, and throw in Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy, convicted of resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. Of course, the list * * goes well beyond Mayors.
We can only hope that Joisey residents are FINALLY beginning to come to their senses and are prepared to vote for Christopher Christie for Governor. We need to throw the bums out and turn our state over to a tough prosecutor. That person is CHRISTIE!
To get involved in the Christie campaign, click here.
Vas, 54, was indicted with his personal driver, Anthony S. Jones, 48, of Perth Amboy, on charges he rigged a city housing lottery so that Jones won the opportunity to buy a home through the city’s affordable housing program.
Vas is the 13th Democrat Mayor in New Jersey to recently be indicted. Here's the (nearly)complete list (from Red State) with links to the full story for each.
(1) Orange Mayor Mims Hackett Jr, who pleaded guity to extortion;
(2) Passaic Mayor Samuel Rivera, who pleaded guity to extortion;
(3) former Newark Mayor Sharpe James, convicted along with his former mistress in connection with shady land deals;
(4) former Atlantic City Mayor Robert Levy, who pleaded guilty to making false claims to receive more than $24,000 in veterans’ benefits;
(5) former Hoboken Mayor Anthony Russo, indicted for extortion and bribery and who ultimately pleaded guilty to mail fraud;
(6) former Guttenberg Mayor David Delle Donna, who was convicted along with his wife of extortion and tax fraud;
(7) former Irvington Mayor Sara Bost, indicted for taking kickbacks and who ultimately pleaded guilty to witness tampering;
(8) former Irvington Mayor Michael Steele (no relation, I assume) indicted for bribery;
(9) former Patterson Mayor Martin Barnes, convicted of accepting gifts in exchange for city contracts;
(10) fomer Brick Mayor Joseph Scarpelli, convicted of taking bribes;
(11) former Burlington Township Mayor Joseph Foy Sr., who pleaded guilty to tax evasion;
Oh, and throw in Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy, convicted of resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. Of course, the list * * goes well beyond Mayors.
We can only hope that Joisey residents are FINALLY beginning to come to their senses and are prepared to vote for Christopher Christie for Governor. We need to throw the bums out and turn our state over to a tough prosecutor. That person is CHRISTIE!
To get involved in the Christie campaign, click here.
Selasa, 10 Maret 2009
NJ: It Just Gets Worse
Higher and higher property taxes (via an end to tax rebates). Higher payroll taxes. No cut in the bloated state employee rolls. Frozen or reduced aid to schools or municipalities (more taxes!).
The news is all bad from wacky Jon Corzine's proposed budget that the Governor is set to unveil today.
Of course, Corzine will preserve rebates for "low income" residents. As always, Corzine is out to punish those who are productive and pay taxes and reward those who aren't productive and pay no taxes. And even in the midst of a total economic meltdown (with businesses closing down or fleeing the state in droves) Corzine continues to punish the private sector.
Democrat Senate President Dick Codey says this is the worst economic scenario he's seen in 35 years in the legislature. Hey, Codey: After all that time in Trenton if it's so bad why don't you pack up and get the hell out of town? You've earned enough at our expense and piled up enough money in your pension to pack it in. What are you waiting for?
As for Corzine, we've pretty much given up any hope that this old-line liberal will ever come to his senses. His elitist tax-and-spend mentality is hopelessly out-of-touch with current realities.
New Jersey needs smaller government, fewer regulations, consolidation of government agencies and local government entities, an end to waste and mismanagement, lower taxes and a new, solid pro-business climate.
Here's what Christopher Christie plans to do:
It will be a priority in the Christie administration to reduce New Jersey’s gross income tax during Christie’s first 4 year term as Governor. Christie will seek two types of income tax reductions: One will be an “across the board” rate cut for all taxpayers. The other will be an additional cut or credit for those taxpayers who derive business income from New Jersey-based small businesses. These taxes will be reduced to encourage investment in and expansion of New Jersey-based small business, and make our tax policies more competitive with the other states in the region that have better private sector job growth.
And Christie also plans to reduce the corporate business tax rate, freeze all new agency rules and regulations to eliminate red tape, eliminate agency funding from fees and fines and mandate funding "on budget" from the general fund, eliminate special interest giveaways and nurture and expand the state manufacturing base.
Christie's been one tough prosecutor and he will be an equally tenacious Governor. New Jersey's culture of corruption will be put on notice: Clean up you act or wind up in jail.
New Jersey will face one of the most critical decisions in its history this November: more waste, corruption, mismanagement and tax and spend or a new era of positive action under a new, courageous, independent leader committed to growth and reform.
Avanti!
The news is all bad from wacky Jon Corzine's proposed budget that the Governor is set to unveil today.
Of course, Corzine will preserve rebates for "low income" residents. As always, Corzine is out to punish those who are productive and pay taxes and reward those who aren't productive and pay no taxes. And even in the midst of a total economic meltdown (with businesses closing down or fleeing the state in droves) Corzine continues to punish the private sector.
Democrat Senate President Dick Codey says this is the worst economic scenario he's seen in 35 years in the legislature. Hey, Codey: After all that time in Trenton if it's so bad why don't you pack up and get the hell out of town? You've earned enough at our expense and piled up enough money in your pension to pack it in. What are you waiting for?
As for Corzine, we've pretty much given up any hope that this old-line liberal will ever come to his senses. His elitist tax-and-spend mentality is hopelessly out-of-touch with current realities.
New Jersey needs smaller government, fewer regulations, consolidation of government agencies and local government entities, an end to waste and mismanagement, lower taxes and a new, solid pro-business climate.
Here's what Christopher Christie plans to do:
It will be a priority in the Christie administration to reduce New Jersey’s gross income tax during Christie’s first 4 year term as Governor. Christie will seek two types of income tax reductions: One will be an “across the board” rate cut for all taxpayers. The other will be an additional cut or credit for those taxpayers who derive business income from New Jersey-based small businesses. These taxes will be reduced to encourage investment in and expansion of New Jersey-based small business, and make our tax policies more competitive with the other states in the region that have better private sector job growth.
And Christie also plans to reduce the corporate business tax rate, freeze all new agency rules and regulations to eliminate red tape, eliminate agency funding from fees and fines and mandate funding "on budget" from the general fund, eliminate special interest giveaways and nurture and expand the state manufacturing base.
Christie's been one tough prosecutor and he will be an equally tenacious Governor. New Jersey's culture of corruption will be put on notice: Clean up you act or wind up in jail.
New Jersey will face one of the most critical decisions in its history this November: more waste, corruption, mismanagement and tax and spend or a new era of positive action under a new, courageous, independent leader committed to growth and reform.
Avanti!
Selasa, 03 Maret 2009
Obama Retreats On Earmarks
From Andrew Taylor at the Associated Press:
Despite campaign promises to take a machete to lawmakers' pet projects, President Barack Obama is quietly caving to funding nearly 8,000 of them this year, drawing a stern rebuke Monday from his Republican challenger in last fall's election.
Arizona Sen. John McCain said it is "insulting to the American people" for Obama's budget director to indicate over the weekend that the president will sign a $410 billion spending bill with what Republicans critics say is nearly $5.5 billion in pet projects known as earmarks.
"So much for the promise of change," McCain said in the first of many assaults he is likely to make against pork-barrel spending this year.
Democrats contend that earmarks in the bill total only $3.8 billion, less than 1 percent of the amount Congress is approving to finance government programs through September. Taxpayers for Common Sense, an anti-earmark watchdog group, counts them differently and found $7.7 billion worth. . . .
"I just went through a campaign ... where both candidates promised change in Washington, promised change from the wasteful, disgraceful, corrupting practice of earmarked, pork-barrel spending," McCain said. "So what we doing here? Not only business as usual, (but) an outrageous insult to the American people."
Only a week ago, Obama was pressing Democratic leaders in Congress to pare back the earmarks at a private White House meeting.
The president, however, hit a brick wall with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other Democrats who treasure their right to send taxpayer money to their states and districts for park improvements, university research grants, equipment for police departments and redevelopment projects.
"I'm here to tell everyone that we have an obligation as members of Congress to help direct spending to our states," Reid told reporters last week.
Despite campaign promises to take a machete to lawmakers' pet projects, President Barack Obama is quietly caving to funding nearly 8,000 of them this year, drawing a stern rebuke Monday from his Republican challenger in last fall's election.
Arizona Sen. John McCain said it is "insulting to the American people" for Obama's budget director to indicate over the weekend that the president will sign a $410 billion spending bill with what Republicans critics say is nearly $5.5 billion in pet projects known as earmarks.
"So much for the promise of change," McCain said in the first of many assaults he is likely to make against pork-barrel spending this year.
Democrats contend that earmarks in the bill total only $3.8 billion, less than 1 percent of the amount Congress is approving to finance government programs through September. Taxpayers for Common Sense, an anti-earmark watchdog group, counts them differently and found $7.7 billion worth. . . .
"I just went through a campaign ... where both candidates promised change in Washington, promised change from the wasteful, disgraceful, corrupting practice of earmarked, pork-barrel spending," McCain said. "So what we doing here? Not only business as usual, (but) an outrageous insult to the American people."
Only a week ago, Obama was pressing Democratic leaders in Congress to pare back the earmarks at a private White House meeting.
The president, however, hit a brick wall with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other Democrats who treasure their right to send taxpayer money to their states and districts for park improvements, university research grants, equipment for police departments and redevelopment projects.
"I'm here to tell everyone that we have an obligation as members of Congress to help direct spending to our states," Reid told reporters last week.
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