Christie Applauds City/County Camden Cooperation

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today welcomed progress made among the City of Camden, Camden County and the State’s Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further the goal of regionalizing police services in the county. The MOU, reached after months of work between the Christie Administration, Camden County and the City of Camden, signals real progress in a cooperative effort to adopt a new model to more efficiently and effectively keep communities and families safe. 
 
“Today marks a critically important milestone on the path to making regionalization of police services a reality and innovating the way government works in order to fulfill our number one priority as elected leaders – keeping communities and families safe. I have no doubt that the work being done today in the City of Camden and Camden County will serve as a model for the rest of the state in how to more effectively protect the public,” said Governor

“I want to thank Mayor Dana Redd, Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, and the many local elected officials for the time and energy devoted to this effort, and for having the courage to take on this challenge in a candid and unafraid manner that will truly modernize law enforcement in order to best meet the public safety needs of today. By putting the people they serve first, Camden will show that local governments can lead through difficult economic times and work together to ensure our residents are safe,” concluded Governor Christie.
 
The MOU furthers the common goal of assisting financially distressed municipalities that continue to deal with difficult budgetary pressures, increasing costs and tough choices by providing an avenue for cost savings, while maintaining a high level of public safety and confidence. Regionalization of services is intended to combine and maximize the deployment of public safety resources by eliminating overlap and duplication while reducing costs.
 
Participation will be open to every municipality in the county on a voluntary basis.
 

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GOP: No Tax Hikes; Debt Deal Fails, Obama Walks

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Singer Lauds Boost In Tax Relief For Seniors, Disabled

New Jersey Senator Robert Singer (R-Ocean), Senate Republican Conference Leader, issued the following statement after the Christie administration announced that they have already begun mailing Senior Freeze checks to senior and disabled homeowners. Checks for the Senior Freeze program, which protects senior citizens and disabled residents from increases in property taxes, will average more than $1,200 this year, going directly to recipients who earned $70,000 or less in 2009 and 2010.

"We are in a position to increase direct property tax relief for seniors and disabled residents because of the fiscal discipline shown over the past two years by Governor Christie and my Republican colleagues. "Democrats in New Jersey have a penchant to spend now and not worry about tomorrow. This shortsightedness over the past ten years during the McGreevey and Corzine era is a major reason why New Jersey and its families find themselves in such a difficult economic situation today.
"I am confident New Jersey is headed in a better direction as a result of our sound fiscal policies that puts the taxpayers first. The increase in tax relief for seniors and disabled residents today is a harbinger for things to come for all New Jersey families."

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Christie: Senior Freeze, Homestead Tax Relief Secured

Highlighting the direct relief provided to New Jersey seniors in his Fiscal Year 2012 Budget, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today met with senior Sultana Kizides at her home in Perth Amboy to have a conversation about how his budget maintains fiscal discipline while prioritizing and funding core priorities to assist New Jersey seniors. Governor Christie’s budget doubles Homestead Benefits in Fiscal Year 2012 for New Jerseyans, providing property tax relief as a direct credit against homeowners’ property tax bills, and increases funding by $90 million for the Senior Freeze property tax relief program.

Senior Freeze checks are in the mail and on their way, and Homestead Benefits will be applied directly against homeowners’ property tax bills this year.

“Because of the priorities we funded in this budget, seniors and families will get the extra help they need to ease the strain on fixed incomes and family budgets,” said Governor Christie. “While we continue working to deliver lasting, long-term property tax relief, I am following through on my commitment to meet the needs of New Jersey seniors and families for immediate property tax relief in this year’s budget.

“The property tax crisis in New Jersey has squeezed our seniors and middle-class families, and we have attacked the underlying root of the problem with a 2 percent cap on property tax increases and fundamental reforms to drive down the cost of government. We’ve made real progress, but I will not stop until an affordable, secure future is a certainty for our families and future generations.”

The Christie Administration, through the Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation, has already begun mailing Senior Freeze checks to senior and disabled homeowners. Checks for the Senior Freeze program, which protects senior citizens and disabled residents from increases in property taxes, will average more than $1,200 this year, going directly to recipients who earned $70,000 or less in 2009 and 2010.

In difficult economic circumstances, Governor Christie signed into law a Fiscal Year 2012 Budget that maintains fiscal responsibility, while protecting critical priorities that serve New Jersey’s seniors and most vulnerable residents. As a result, senior and disabled homeowners with gross income up to $150,000 will receive Homestead Benefit credits averaging $540 this year, and non-senior homeowners with gross incomes up to $75,000 will receive credits averaging $404.

The Administration mailed out 116,000 Senior Freeze checks to applicants who filed by June 1 earlier this month. Those who filed after June 1 will receive checks throughout the coming months as the State processes applications. New applications are also being accepted because Governor Chris Christie extended the deadline for filing to October 31. In addition, the Governor and Legislature have provided funding for more applicants this year.

Every individual who qualifies for the Senior Freeze program will receive a benefit this year.

The Treasury Department is directly following up with applicants who filed incomplete applications in order to ensure every eligible New Jersey senior receives the benefit to which they are entitled. The Division of Taxation is mailing notices to 13,000 applicants who filed incomplete applications.

Anyone with questions can call the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597. Those who filed their applications by June 1 should wait until July 25 before contacting the Division of Taxation to inquire about the status of their reimbursement checks.

Information about the program is also available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/.

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Christie Fights Back; Defends His Record

Governor Christie’s Record of Protecting and Caring for Seniors

Governor Christie’s FY2012 Budget reaffirms his commitment to seniors, building upon a proven record of compassion toward our Greatest Generation.

While the Democrats’ budget rhetoric remains on repeat as the Assembly Budget Committee holds their second hearing this week, Governor Christie’s FY2012 Budget maintains fiscal discipline while prioritizing and funding core priorities to assist New Jersey’s seniors. Legislative Democrats may find it more convenient to distort the facts for election year political gain, but the numbers are clear – Governor Christie has consistently provided resources to fund services supporting our seniors.

Homestead Benefits and Senior Freeze Program

Governor Christie’s FY 2012 Budget doubles Homestead Benefits in FY 2012 for New Jerseyans, providing direct property relief applied as a straight credit against homeowners’ property tax bills, and increased funding for the Senior Freeze property tax relief program by $90 million:

·         Homestead Benefits will be applied directly as a credit that reduces homeowners’ property tax bills again this year, at double the level of last year;

·         Senior and disabled homeowners with total income up to $150,000 will receive Homestead Benefit credits averaging $540.

·         Senior Freeze checks to senior and disabled homeowners are already in the mail. Checks for the Senior Freeze program, which protects senior citizens and disabled residents from increases in property taxes, will average more than $1,200 this year, going directly to recipients who earned $70,000 or less in 2009 and 2010;

·         Every individual who qualifies for the Senior Freeze program will receive a benefit this year.

Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)/ Senior Gold

• The budget fully funds the PAAD and Senior Gold pharmaceutical assistance programs without increases in co-pays or changes in eligibility.
• Approximately 160,000 low-income seniors receive financial assistance with life-saving medications.
• The state continues to achieve savings by coordinating with the federal government on its Medicare Part D drug assistance programs.
• New Jersey’s PAAD program remains one of the nation’s most generous senior pharmaceutical assistance programs.

Expanding Home and Community-Based Services for Seniors

·         The budget affirms the Governor’s commitment to expand efforts to allow seniors to safely age in their homes or transition from nursing homes back into the community with home care supportive services.

• The budget increases funding for home and community-based services by $47.6 million. 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps

·         81,174 New Jersey seniors are currently receiving SNAP (food stamp) assistance.

·         The Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Human Services have partnered to match data from seniors eligible/enrolled in PAAD with NJ SNAP for outreach/enrollment.

·         The two Departments are reaching out to more than 140,000 seniors in the PAAD program to let them know that they may qualify for food stamps.

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Doherty Town Hall Tonight On Funding Formula

New Jersey State Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, will hold a town hall meeting on his “Fair School Funding” plan. The town hall meeting will be held tonight, Wednesday July, 20th at 7:30PM in the Washington Township Ambulance Hall, Turnersville, N.J.

The Senator has proposed a new school funding formula that is fair and equitable to all students in the state; urban, suburban and rural. The new formula be would implemented by constitutional amendment that would have to approved by the voters.

The proposed constitutional amendment will provide equal school aid for each student, regardless of where the student resides. New Jersey needs to establish a fair, simple, transparent, and straightforward educational funding formula that takes the income tax fund and distributes the fund equally to each student.

Who: Senator Michael Doherty

When: Wednesday July 20, 2011 at 7:30 P.M.

What: Town Hall meeting on the “Fair School Funding” plan

Where: Washington Township Ambulance Hall 4 Willow Street, Turnersville, NJ

There will be a question and answer session following the presentation. For more information contact the office of Senator Doherty at (908) 835-0552.

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Christie To Obama: You're Elected To Lead; So LEAD!

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says the federal budget stalemate is not his problem.
And since there is no deal yet -- and no details of a deal (only rumors) -- what's the point of commenting?
But, as Christie explains it: "What the hell . . . . " He might as well go ahead and comment.
And surely he knew this would make news.
So, here's the Big Guy firing away once again. Yo, Gov: Things were pretty dull while you were on your "working vacation." We missed you. It's great to have you back!

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Oroho: Transitional Fund Ovesight Is Critical

New Jersey State Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today following Governor Christie's announcement that he would support full funding of temporary, transitional aid in the FY 2012 Budget as long as appropriate oversight of the program is restored. Senator Oroho is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 3009 that would strengthen, by state statute, the State’s oversight of municipalities that receive additional aid:
"State aid must be awarded equitably, whether through the Transitional Aid Program, education aid or regular municipal aid. Given our current financial circumstances we need to make sure every tax dollar is spent effectively and efficiently.
"Transitional Aid, formerly known as Special Municipal Aid, operated under the radar, without accountability, criteria, application standards or even an application form for far too long. Needed oversight was enhanced 18 months ago and we have already seen meaningful improvements in the program from reducing vendor fees to preventing inappropriate and unqualified hires.
"I support the Governor's efforts to restore meaningful oversight of this program that is intended to be temporary and put struggling cities on a path of self-sustainability."

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Christie To Restore Transitional Aid, With Oversight

Continuing his commitment to strengthening New Jersey’s urban cities and distressed municipalities through oversight, guidance and accountability, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today committed himself to signing legislation proposed by his Administration that restores Transitional Aid funding and provides permanent, necessary accountability and oversight of the program. Under the Governor’s proposal, changes would be codified in statute to provide the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) with the resources and staff needed to properly oversee the Transitional Aid program.
“When I took office, I pledged to change the culture of Trenton and end the practice of unchecked waste of taxpayer dollars. Legislative Democrats’ efforts to eliminate oversight and accountability for Transitional Aid through the Department of Community Affairs was a misguided effort that would have returned us to the days of Trenton as a free-flowing spigot for taxpayer dollars where no one asked questions,” said Governor Christie. “I stand ready to work with the leadership in the Legislature on Transitional Aid funds, but only under the oversight of a properly resourced DCA. I will sign into law the bill I am proposing today that restores funding in the Transitional Aid program and that provides the resources for DCA to continue its vital work overseeing and enforcing accountability in the program, and serving as a partner with urban cities and distressed municipalities.”
Governor Christie is calling on the Legislature to codify oversight language in statute to ensure it is a permanent, foundational aspect of the Transitional Aid to Localities program, while also restoring funding in the program. Proper levels of oversight and accountability are critical to ensuring that Transitional Aid is indeed temporary as the State government works with recipient municipalities to implement needed reforms and efficiencies. The expenditure of state taxpayer dollars in the program must go hand in hand with proper accountability of those funds. By putting this oversight in statute, oversight and accountability of the aid program will be ongoing and no longer dependent on the whims and product of the annual budget debate and appropriations act.
For twenty-five years, the State’s distressed municipalities have received ever-increasing levels of state taxpayer support, above and beyond that provided by State municipal aid. These programs were provided with little to no State oversight, accountability or guidance. The general result was that distressed municipalities came to rely on these funds in their budgets as an annual appropriation and had no incentive to improve their fiscal management or regain their financial footing.
Upon taking office, Governor Christie has acted on a commitment to aggressively work as a partner with distressed municipalities and to implement responsible management practices, increase accountability and transition toward self-reliance and away from the need for additional state taxpayer funds.
The Christie Administration has aggressively overseen the Transitional Aid to Localities Program through efforts such as:

• Setting and enforcing conditions for the receipt of aid through Memorandums of Understanding;

• Implementing a meaningful, rigorous application process for aid awards where none existed before;

• Requiring regular oversight meetings with DCA and municipal officials to monitor the use of funds and efforts to control costs;

• Utilizing staff to consult with municipalities and assist with professional reviews of municipal operations;

• Advising and consulting with municipal cost-saving initiatives, including police and fire department restructuring to reduce overhead and ensure public safety programs are both efficient and effective;

• Requiring DCA approval for employee hiring;

• Denying non-essential hires, raises, contracts and expenditures and unnecessary travel.

In order for the Transitional Aid program to remain successful, the State must continue to maintain oversight of these transitional funds, and work cooperatively with municipalities in order to guide municipalities in their transition off of state taxpayer subsidies.

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Memo To GOP Leaders: Hold The Line

Congressional Republican leaders have just announced that they will vote next week on a cut, cap and balance bill.They are remaining united so they will have the votes to pass this legislation in the House and they will move it to the Senate.
Remember: All revenue legislation must originate in the House.
That gives the GOP-controlled House and Speaker John Boehner the upper hand.
The challenge for the Republicans is to remain firm and remain united -- to hold the line on taxes and spending.
My memo to my fine Republican congressman and to the entire GOP congressional leadership is this: Stand firm. Cut, cap and balance. Take the proper action and theN let the Democrats in the Senate figure out what they want to do about it.
The imperative is now with the GOP To keep its commitment to the American people and act boldly and decisively. Real, solid action CAN break this logjam.

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Toomey To Obama: Stop 'Shrill Exaggerations'

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey talks with Fox New's Bill Hemmer about the budget and the debt limit.

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McConnell: 'Real Deal' Not Possible While Obama Rules

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell says that "a real solution [to the nation's staggering deby problem] is unattainable" so long as President Obama remains in office.
And Speaker of the House John Boehner says the President and his allies are basically all talk and no action when it comes to cutting spending and decreasing the nation's debt.
Here's a late-breaking excerpt from the Wall Street Journal:

"This debt-limit increase is his problem," Mr. Boehner said after a morning meeting with Republican House members. "The president talks a good game, but when it comes time to actually putting these issues on the table, making decisions, they can't quite pull the trigger."
Mr. McConnell said he concluded after the latest negotiations that the administration had "expressed a fundamental unwillingness" to agree to significant spending cuts.
"But after years of discussions and months of negotiations, I have little question that as long as this president is in the Oval Office, a real solution is unattainable," Mr. McConnell said in a Senate floor speech.

Click here to read the full story.

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Mirage: NJ Senate Dems See Surplus That Isn't There

Why Won’t NJ Democrat Leaders Allow Senators to Talk About the Real Surplus?  

Maybe It's Because That the Money Isn’t There.

SHOT

“Eric, the reason why we can override some of these votes is because there’s a $640 million surplus now, the money is there.” –Senate President Steve Sweeney (Interview with NJ101.5’s Eric Scott, 7/6/11)

“Bruce, because the money’s there now. …Well there’s $640 million in surplus. …So we have no problem having, saying that the money is there, because it is.” –Senate President Steve Sweeney (Interview with FOX29 Philadelphia, 7/7/11)

CHASER

“…Treasurer Andrew Eristoff said Monday that Democrats underfunded several programs in the budget they sent Christie, so the state can expect to end the fiscal year next June with about $365 million on hand.” (Angela Delli Santi, Senate Fails to Reverse NJ Gov's Budget Vetoes, Associated Press, 7/11/11)

BEWARE THE DEMS’ RHETORIC ON THE SURPLUS

Monday on the Senate floor, State Senate President Steve Sweeney shut down talk of the Democrats’ surplus figures. Why? Maybe it's because Legislative Democrats continue to mislead New Jerseyans. Democrats claim there is an endless supply of money available and, at the first sign of real growth, want to revert back to the old ways of spending without regard for the consequences. While the Governor has made serious progress over the last 18 months, with bipartisan support, to right New Jersey’s fiscal course, Democrats in the legislature are embracing a seismic reversal to Trenton’s unrepentant addiction to spending.

The Democrats believe the budget surplus is $640 million when the reality is that this does not account for programs that still need to be paid for. It’s history repeating as Democrats ignore reality and play a shell game with the surplus and revenue figures, all in order to put forward a fantasy budget that promises everything to everyone.

The real surplus is under $400 million, at approximately $365 million.

Simply put, there are programs that must be paid for that the Democrats did not account for in the budget they passed, making it possible for them to achieve a higher, artificial surplus and mislead the public about what can and cannot be funded. The reality is that this money is headed out the door:

· $165 million underfunding of the State Health Benefits account because of the Legislature's failure to account for a lesser level of savings from the recently enacted reform package;

· $50 million in health benefit savings based on an unverified plan by an outside consultant that has not yet been adopted;

· $30 million in debt service that was not fully funded in the Democrats’ budget;

· $30 million that will go out the door starting next week in order to fund the real cost of providing additional property tax relief through the Senior and Disabled Citizens Freeze, not accounted for in the Democrats’ budget.

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Kean: It's Groundhog Day In Trenton -- Again!

“What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?”

-Bill Murray, Groundhog Day, 1993

On Day Two of Senate Democrats’ quest to wipe out state reserve funds and plunge the state budget into the red for political purposes, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) issued the following statement:
It’s beginning to feel a bit like Groundhog Day in Trenton, with another set of politically motivated override votes scheduled by the Majority.
Just like yesterday, this is all about Democrats’ plans for a misleading smear campaign in the fall elections, not the best interests of taxpayers.
Just like yesterday, the Democrats are attempting to spend far more money than the state of New Jersey has in the bank.
And just like yesterday, Democrats will ignore the fact that they handed Governor Christie a budget that was nearly $1 billion out of balance and relied on false revenue estimates and phantom savings.
Their scare tactics, misinformation, and name calling didn’t accomplish anything yesterday. This movie is unlikely to be better the second time we all watch it.

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Video: Christie On Taxes, Budget, Spending

Both in Washington and in the states, Democrats refuse to get real on the need to cut spending and be fiscally responsible -- to balance budgets without raising taxes.
In New Jersey, the Democrat legislature's budget rhetoric is simply history repeating itself.
No matter the budget year or circumstances, Democrats in the legislature have their budget rhetoric on repeat as they trot out the same recycled, overused and rabidly partisan rhetoric to distract from their own empty promises.
Governor Chris Christie knows that New Jerseyans are sick of the political gamesmanship and tired attacks. Instead of engaging in more political theatrics, legislative Democrats' efforts would be better spent addressing the issues they neglected over the past year -- like education reform for every New Jersey child and the unfinished business of the Governor's property tax relief tool kit.
Christie is determined to avoid the theatrics. He will not be lured into the political games. Instead, he will stick to his bold reform agenda for the Garden State.
He wants to do the Big Things.

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Arrogant Obama: Pro Pols Know Better Than Public

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Bucco: Dems Ignore 'How To Pay' In Budget

New Jersey Senate Republican Budget Officer Tony Bucco released the following statement calling on Trenton Democrats to stop playing on the emotions of New Jerseyans in attempt to score election year points:

“As the Trenton Democrats prepare to override Governor Christie’s line item vetoes – which balanced the budget – their continued use of New Jersey’s struggling families and towns as political pawns is disturbing to me.

“Even for Trenton Democrats this latest display of blatant election year maneuvering is shocking. Democrats, who control the Legislature, passed an unconstitutional budget filled with election year spending but they conveniently ignored one thing – a way to pay for it I believe that the Democratic Caucus should stop using the neediest citizens of our state as political pawns and negotiate to achieve the goals that he and his caucus feel are important. The Democrats in the Legislature never intended to make good on their budget. It’s clear that they care more about a piece of campaign mail in the fall than a balanced and responsible budget in the summer.”

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O'Toole Condemns Sweeney's 'False Rhetoric'

New Jersey State Senator Kevin O’Toole, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, released the following statement condemning Senate President Sweeney’s false rhetoric and use of faulty surplus numbers:

“Senate President Sweeney should know better – but he and his Democratic colleagues continue to put on the same politically motivated charade using phony facts.  The Senate President has used a faulty, inflated surplus size to justify his calls for spending the state simply cannot afford, but the facts simply prove him wrong.  Just as they did with their own dishonest budget, Democrats are failing to account for large amounts of spending that must be considered and are not a part of surplus, including savings estimates from health benefits reform and the real cost of providing more property tax relief to seniors through the senior freeze program.  

Democrats know their budget was nothing more than an election year gimmick and, even worse, they knew they did not have a way to pay for their promises.  But that has not stopped Sweeney and the rest of the Democratic Party from fueling their rhetoric with distortions, bad math and ridiculous revenue assessments.  It’s time for them to come clean about the real fiscal state of the budget, instead of continuing with their election year pandering.”

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Kyrillos: NJ Democrats Playing On Emotions

New Jersey State Senator Joe Kyrillos released the following statement demanding that Trenton Democrats take a moment to understand that their election year games have real consequences.

"Trenton Democrats are using an election year to play on the emotions and real issues of our neediest citizens. By passing a budget filled with empty promises – but no funding – Trenton Democrats have crossed the line into the dangerous and disingenuous. Not only are they playing election year politics, they are doing so in a manner that misleads the public about specific programs, as well as the state's finances. Democrats overstate the surplus while ignoring that education funding has gone up $850 million over last year, funding for the AIDS Drug Distribution Program has been protected at the same level as last year, and hospital funding has gone up by $20 million.

"If these Democrats have any sense of decency they will be honest with the people they claim they want to help, instead of continuing to put forward myths, lies and distortions about what we can really afford."

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Kean: United NJ GOP Won't Fall For Dem Budget Tricks

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Sen. Tom Kean, Jr. on Democrat Attempts to Saddle Taxpayers With Nearly $900 Million in Additional Spending
Sen. Kean's remarks as delivered as delivered to the media this morning, July 11, 2011:

We are here for one reason and one reason only- the Democratic Majority saw more value in passing a political, election-year budget that was illegal and unbalanced from the minute it was introduced than in negotiating a budget with the Governor and Legislative Republicans.

And so today's override votes are really worse than political theater- they're offensive. They had the chance do to this properly by negotiating a budget- and they deliberately chose not to.

In our books, when you pass a budget that is nearly $1 billion out of balance, you lose the moral grounds to gripe and complain about what the Governor had to cut to make the books balance.

And when you post a board list that spends more money than the little surplus we have for a rainy day, that's outright irresponsible.

Today's override session isn't about public policy- it's about glossy "gotcha" mailers and TV ads for the fall campaign.

So we are here to tell you that a united Republican caucus is not going to fall for the Majority's political games.

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