Voters disapprove of Corzine budget, poll says
By EditorJust 10% of New Jersey voters say they are “satisfied” with Governor Jon Corzine’s state budget, another 34% say that are “not particularly satisfied but can live with it,” and 54% are “decidedly dissatisfied,” according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll released this morning.
"Like the toll road plan two months ago, the budget proposal is not starting off with a groundswell of public support," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. "And like the earlier plan, one of the key questions left unanswered in the public's mind is how these proposals will eventually bring down New Jersey's high cost of living."
Nearly six out of ten New Jerseyans (59%) believe Corzine’s budget will make the state “less affordable for their family,” while just 9% say it will make New Jersey more affordable and 27% say it will have no impact on their family's finances.
New Jerseyans support reductions in the property tax rebate program, including eliminating rebate checks for those earning over $150,000 (59% approve to 39% disapprove) and reducing rebate amounts for those earning between $100,000 and $150,000 (52% approve to 43% disapprove). The public also favors the elimination of pensions for part-time state workers (53% approve to 42% disapprove) and reducing the state workforce by 3,000 employees, mainly through early retirement (51% approve to 43% disapprove).
But New Jersey residents are particularly unhappy with plans to reduce "charity care" funding that provides health care for the poor (22% approve to 74% disapprove), eliminate the Department of Agriculture (22% approve to 73% disapprove), cut back hours at state parks and motor vehicle offices (27% approve to 70% disapprove), and - to a lesser degree - eliminate the Commerce Commission (28% approve to 42% disapprove).
The public also opposes eliminating nearly all state aid to towns with fewer than 5,000 residents (39% approve to 54% disapprove), although they are split on reducing that aid to towns with fewer than 10,000 residents (46% approve to 48% disapprove).
"Once again, a Jon Corzine proposal is beset by a high level of cynicism among New Jersey residents. While the public is generally supportive of a leaner state budget, there seems to be a sense of unease that the proposed cuts may not be the right ones," said Murray.
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Quote of the Day
"I'm tired of this two-party system. All they want is to score points for their team. I'm sick of it. I've had it." -- Karen Dunn, the owner of Blackbeard's Deli in Burlington City, after meeting independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett.
Recent Press Releases
- Jul 2 2009
Syndicate
Just Not Trying...
I'd like to say that he wasn't trying hard enough, but he's just not trying, period. The folks I know in the neighboring states think that New Jersey has really sunken down to the bowels of corruption and incompetence.
Some businessman.. How can a person claim to be a businessman and to run the state like a business when every business tennant has been violated or ignored. First - Where's the audit? You claim a budget crisis and the need to increase all these taxes, yet there is no independently verifiable audit to substantiate this claim. There has been no due dilligence to ferret out waste and abuse.
Those 10% who like it must be the one's who have a vested interest in plan going forward - either directly associated with it, are part of a benefitting union, a die-hard party member or a family of one of those.
The 34% who accept it are probably like the GWB followers who will follow him off the edges of the earth, no matter what he does.
Skim off the 10% of the vested interest folks and it doesn't bode well for the governor at all.
What goes up must come down
What goes up (taxes, tolls, regulations…) must come down (approval ratings, jobs, financial security...)
Corzine is an unveiling catastrophe.
250,000 people and hundreds of businesses left the State over the past few years. Half of all jobs lost in the US last month were NJ jobs.
After raising taxes through the roof, pushing tolls hikes and now Paid Family Leave, this Administration and the Democrat leadership continue to show their ignorance as to what the VAST MAJORITY of people are screaming about.
Polls are a snap shot in time and this one proves what people have been saying - stop with the nonsense and cut spending!
And yes, $11B of new spending has occurred over the past six years. They can cut that in half and the VAST MAJORITY of NJ taxpayers wouldn't feel a thing - except relief.
The Poll is interesting and
The Poll is interesting and might be meaningful but Corzine is Deaf!!
Hey, Corzine, cut the friggin budget!!!
Just make this year's budget is lower than last year's budget!! Then keep doing that each year for rest of your term and I'll vote for you!!
"Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state." - Thomas Jefferson
Do not poll, just vote.
We do not need any polls to state the obvious: anybody suggesting tax hikes and toll increases in a severly overtaxed, overspent, and overgoverned state like ours, needs to go. Gov. Corzine can take his henchmen with him as well. We do not need them. Too bad voters did not clean up state legislature last year. We can do it next time around. Let's clean up some trash this November!
He's Not Serious
I am beginning to think that the Governor isn't really serious about cutting spending. Twice recently I sent e-mails via his home page's "Direct Citizen Input on Reducing Spending" link informing him that I know a way to cut spending by in excess of $4 million annually. It may not seem like alot of money in the big scheme of things. But, the suggestion utilizes a proven method that can be easily implemented. Four million here, six million there. It all adds up! All I got in return was canned e-mails thanking me for my response. I have never been contacted for the details of the plan nor do I suspect that I will be. Therefore, it is my belief that the administration's cost reduction rhetoric will continue and the State will ultimately miss out on the opportunity to save millions of dollars. How many others have had the same experience and how much will the State ultimately loose out on ? Get out the crystal ball (or check all of the unanswered/discarded e-mails) and we may find the answer!