Corzine Spends Money

Well, ok. It’s not exactly a shocker. Look at NJ finances. Here are excerpts from an article about spending.

Corzine’s total tally for his 3 campaigns: $131M

He spent $131 million of his own money on three runs for political office since 2000, including primaries, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal and state campaign finance data, including a report issued Tuesday by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission. [...]

“After $130 million, what he got out of it was a term in the Senate, a term in the Statehouse and a portrait in the outer office,” said Peter McDonough, an adjunct professor at Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute of Politics and a former communications director for Republican former Gov. Christie Whitman.

Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center of Responsive Politics, says it’s safe to say that Corzine has spent more of his own money to run for office than anyone in U.S. history other than New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. [...]

He was pushed out of his job at the helm of Goldman Sachs in 1999 and used his fortune to help him burst onto the state’s political scene. In 2000, the Democrat was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 2005, he was elected governor. And last month, after spending $27 million on a bitter campaign—$25.3 million of it his own—he lost to Republican Chris Christie, who spent $11.4 million. [...]

Over the years, Corzine’s political spending goes beyond what he spent on his campaigns.

He’s spent $5.7 million on campaigns and other political causes inside New Jersey since 1999, the year he launched his Senate campaign. In that time, he’s also spent about $2.9 million on federal campaigns and political action committees.

Add that to what he’s spent on his own campaigns and his total political spending comes to $139.7 million over 11 years. And that doesn’t include final numbers for how much he donated to campaigns other than his own this year, how much he bankrolled municipal candidates, or the charitable donations that his critics say were made to curry political favor. One example of those: Last year, Corzine gave $87,0000 to St. Matthew AME Church in Orange. This year, the pastor there, Reginald Jackson, who is also head of the important Black Ministers Council, endorsed Corzine.

While Corzine’s total is staggering in terms of political spending, it’s modest compared to the state’s financial problems.

Spending…

NJ debt climbs to $33.9 bln in FY09-report

TRENTON, New Jersey, Dec 1 (Reuters) – New Jersey’s official state debt rose to $33.9 billion in the fiscal year ended June 30, from $31.86 billion in the previous year, according to an official report obtained on Tuesday.

The annual Debt Report by the state Treasury shows that when obligations such as pensions and health benefits are included, the state’s total debt load increased to $51.25 billion at the end of fiscal 2009 from $44.5 billion a year earlier.

$51.25 billion in debt.

New Jersey paid $2.5 billion in debt service in fiscal 2009, excluding the obligations of agencies such as the state’s light rail system and the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Including their debt, service on New Jersey’s debt totaled $2.91 billion, the report said.

In NJ, The State can’t borrow money without voter approval. To get around that, they set up front groups called “Authorities” to borrow money, so they can claim “The State” isn’t borrowing money. Does that include debt by “authorities” such as the School Construction Corp. (whatever it’s called today), Turnpike Authority, Port “Authority, etc?? Is doesn’t say.

Spend too much money and you wind up with debt.

$51.25 billion.

We are already one of the highest taxed states in the nation. They have to stop spending so much.

Where would you start cutting?

New Jersey’s private-sector employment was lower by 4,400, while public sector jobs rose by 2,600.

HEADLINE (and link):

New Jersey Unemployment Rate Fell to 9.7% in October

Another HEADLINE:

N.J. unemployment rate drops slightly to 9.7 percent

WOW! GREAT NEWS, falling unemployment, right???

New Jersey’s unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point in October to 9.7 percent from a 32-year high the previous month, according to the state’s labor department.

The [9.7 percent] rate last month compares with 6 percent in October 2008.

Gee, that doesn’t sound so great… how about the rest of the country?

The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 10.2 percent in October, the highest level since 1983, from 9.8 percent in September.

Obmanomics brings us the highest unemployment since Carternomics.

Is there any more bad news?

New Jersey’s private-sector employment was lower by 4,400, while public sector jobs rose by 2,600.

Uh… BIGGER government and less economic activity to pay for it… wonderful. Gee, thanks Gov. Corzine.

Governor Corzine "negotiating" with the largest Public Employees Union

HAHAHAHahaha!!

Thank YOU, people of the Great State of New Jersey for voting this man out of office. Thank you!

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Corzine Concedes.

(links in dark red)

Chris Christe is the winner!!!

Congratulations!!!!

Jon Corzine concedes (with teleprompters. ?!)

Chris Christie thanks supporters (with video goodness)

This comes from no less than the Wall Street Journal. Here’s the link:

Chris Christie’s Next Case: Who Stole My Election?

Absentee voter fraud may play a significant role in New Jersey’s gubernatorial election.

Huh. Isn’t that what we read about a couple of posts ago?

The race for governor in New Jersey is so close in final polls that it may well end up in a recount — the 1981 election did and was decided by less than 1,800 votes. If there is a recount, you can bet disputes about absentee ballots will loom large. Moreover, if serious allegations of fraud emerge, you can also expect less-than-vigorous investigation by the Obama Justice Department — which showed just how seriously it takes such allegations when it walked away from an open-and-shut voter intimidation case against the New Black Panther Party in Philadelphia earlier this year.

I remember that. Obama’s justice (Holder isn’t it?) department thought this was just peachy-keen!

MMMMMM, MMMMMM, MMMMMM…. Where’s the ACLU?

Moving on…

Plenty of reasons exist for suspecting absentee fraud may play a significant role in tomorrow’s Garden State contests. Groups associated with Acorn in neighboring Pennsylvania and New York appear to have moved into the state. An independent candidate for mayor in Camden has already leveled charges that voter fraud is occurring in his city. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party in New Jersey is taking advantage of a new loosely written vote-by-mail law to pressure county clerks not to vigorously use signature checks to evaluate the authenticity of absentee ballots, the only verification procedure allowed.

The state has received a flood of 180,000 absentee ballot requests. On some 3,000 forms the signature doesn’t match the one on file with county clerks.

I’ll bet Jon Corzine will certainly use taxpayer-provided attorneys (that he’s in charge of) to vigorously defend him again. Isn’t that what he did in the Carla Katz scandal to keep his correspondence secret?

Moving on…

Absentee voter fraud is in danger of becoming a hardy perennial in New Jersey. Atlantic City Councilman Marty Small and 13 campaign workers were indicted in September on charges of conspiring to commit election fraud using absentee ballots. One worker pleaded guilty last month. In Newark, five campaign workers were indicted in August on charges involving absentee ballot fraud.

MMMMMM, MMMMMM, MMMMMM. Election fraud indictments.

Moving on…

After repeated election-related scandals, Acorn has become toxic for many candidates who once relied on the group. But Acorn’s longtime allies, the Service Employee International Union and New York’s Working Families Party, have both moved into New Jersey. Peter Colavito, Acorn’s former political director in New York and a board member of the Working Families Party, is now the political director of SEIU Local 32BJ, which is heavily involved in New Jersey’s election. Nationally, the SEIU is a political powerhouse with White House visitor’s logs showing that Andrew Stern, its national head, visited 22 times in the first six months of the Obama White House — more than any other person. “Andrew Stern practically lives at the White House,” notes Politico.com.

The Working Families Party, which is co-chaired by Acorn head Bertha Lewis, is no stranger to absentee ballot fraud. A special prosecutor in Troy, N.Y. is investigating New York’s September primary, in which at least 38 ballots cast for Working Families Party candidates were thrown out as forged or fraudulent. New York Judge Michael Lynch found “significant election law violations that have compromised the rights of numerous voters and the integrity of the ballot process.”

Nor is in-person fraud at the polls unknown in New Jersey. In 2007, a former Hoboken zoning board president noticed a group of men outside a polling place being given index cards by two people. One of the loiterers later tried to vote in the name of a voter who had moved out of the area. When challenged by the former zoning board president, he ran out of the building and was caught. He later admitted to police he was part of a group from a homeless shelter who had been paid $10 each to vote using the names of other people.

MMMMMM, MMMMMM, MMMMMM. ACORN, SEIU, WFP

Ah, well there is more. Good article Mr Fund.

We know Jon Corzine cannot win based on his terrible record as Governor.

Here are links to some information about the Friends Of Corzine:

ACORN

SEIU

Working Families Party

ACORN

• Largest radical group in America, with more than 400,000 dues-paying member families and more than 1,200 chapters in 110 U.S. cities
• Was implicated in numerous reports of fraudulent voter registration, vote-rigging, voter intimidation, and vote-for-pay scams during recent election cycles
• Pressured banks to lend money to underqualified minority borrowers
• Maintains close ties to organized labor
• Opposes capitalism
• Calls for more government control over citizens and the economy
• Favors a government monopoly in healthcare

SEIU

Gives millions of dollars to Democratic lawmakers and politicians who promote government expansion and higher taxes.
With 1.8 million members across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) ranks among the largest and fastest-growing unions in North America. It has more than 300 local affiliates and 25 state councils. Giving voice to its wish to radically transform an American society that it deems rife with inequity, SEIU’s mission is “to improv[e] the lives of workers and their families and creat[e] a more just and humane society.” Classifying Women and minorities as the most aggrieved victims of discrimination and maltreatment, SEIU notes that 56 percent of its members are women and 40 percent are “people of color.”

Working Families Party

Currently composed of some 30,000 members, the Working Families Party (WFP) is a front group for ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). WFP functions as a political party in New York State and Connecticut, promoting ACORN-friendly candidates. Unlike conventional political parties, WFP charges its members dues — about $60 per year — a policy characteristic of ACORN and its affiliates.
Advocates an open-door immigration policy.

MMMMMM, MMMMMM, MMMMMM. Governor Jon Corzine

Guess who is running against Jon Corzine – Chris Christie!!!!

As US Attorney, Chris Christie indicted and convicted 130 corrupt public officials in NJ.

It’s a no-brainer.

Vote for Chris Christie.

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Obama came to NJ yesterday to “help” Jon Corzine’s re-election. Corzine can’t win without help, his record is one of failure.

On Jon Corzine’s website is a transcript on his speechifying whilst introducing president Obama. Ya just can’t make this stuff up! Below are some editorializing by yours truly.  Here’s a link to his transcript:

PRESS RELEASES Transcript: Governor Corzine’s Speech with President Obama

Here we go:

I first met President Obama in early 2004…

At the time, I was the chair of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee … and he was one of seven Illinois Democrats running in a crowded U.S. Senate primary.

When you’re the chair of the DSCC, you’re supposed to be impartial …

If you take sides in a contested primary, it better be for a very good reason.

So when we sat down to share a meal at a steak house in Chicago, I didn’t expect to be swept up by a little-known law professor and state senator with a funny name.

But I walked away from that dinner convinced that Barack Obama was unlike anyone I had ever met in my life.

Once in a generation … if we’re lucky … a leader emerges from the crowded ranks of public life to summon our best instincts …
a leader to marshal the generous and inventive spirit of the American people.

At that first meeting … I knew that Barack Obama could be just that kind of leader.

Really? He must have forgotten that in 2008 when he was trying to help Hillary defeat Obama in the Primary!!!!

Corzine calls for ‘do-over’ votes in Michigan, Florida

Corzine, a superdelegate who supports Clinton and was the first governor to endorse her candidacy, said Michigan and Florida voters should be given a chance to weigh in on the contentious struggle for the nomination between Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

And another article:

2 Clinton Backers Offer a Way to Stage New Primaries

Two of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s biggest supporters, who are also two of the Democratic Party’s most successful fund-raisers, have offered to help raise millions of dollars to stage new primaries in Florida and Michigan.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey and Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania said Sunday that they would be willing to raise half the $30 million it would take to run new contests in those two states.

If you take sides in a contested primary, it better be for a very good reason. – Jon Corzine

So what is the reason, you took the side against Obama, Jon?

Where were we? Oh, yes. Jon knew from their first meeting what kind of leader the “guy with the funny name” would be.

Back to Governor Corzine’s speech:

Mr. President … it was an honor to serve with you in the U.S. Senate … and it is a great privilege to call you my friend.

I share your values … I share your commitment … and I share the sense of purpose you bring to public life.

We are both engaged in the fight to bring quality, affordable health care to all New Jerseyans … and all Americans …

Corzine fights FOR Obamacare? Get all your teaparty friends to the polls tomorrow! Vote Christie!

President Obama believes that health care is a right … not a privilege …

That’s why he is fighting to create America’s first universal health care system — a system that preserves patient choice while holding down costs.

We’ve been fighting that same fight in New Jersey.

He is admitting this?

I don’t have to say any more do I?

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Here we are a day before the election and lo and behold.

This is a link to the Robocall news story (that’s what a link looks like, there are more below):

N.J. Republicans, Democrats dispute source of automated calls for independent candidate Daggett

They have a recording of the robo call.

Republicans today accused the state Democratic Party of trying to trick GOP voters into casting their ballots for the independent candidate in an effort to aid Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who is seeking re-election Tuesday.

Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), the chairman of Republican Chris Christie’s campaign, told a Monmouth County crowd that “Jon Corzine’s Democratic State Committee” has been making automated calls to people urging them to vote against Christie and go for the independent, “that guy Daggett or whatever his name is.”

Chris Daggett, a Republican turned independent, has won a lot of attention during the campaign and is perceived by experts to be more dangerous to Christie’s chances than Corzine’s.

Thats’ what we been sayin’.

The woman’s voice on the recording criticized Christie for being “extremely wrong when it matters most” and admitting to the New York Times that he’s already backing off his promises — key talking points for the Democrats. The unidentified woman then said voters should “remember Chris Daggett’s words: ‘It’s never wrong to vote for the right person,’” quoting a familiar Daggett line.

The call closed with a disclaimer that it was paid for by the “NJDSC, 196 West State Street, Trenton,” which is the address of state Democratic headquarters.

…and the Democrats think they can plausibly deny it?

NJ Democratic State Committee Paying for Daggett Robo Calls

The calls, which are coming from 866-519-9370, end with a disclosure, “paid for by….a project of the NJSDC.”

A Google search of the phone number reveals that it was used for Democratic robo calls by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley during the days before last year’s election.

What do you think? Dirty tricks by the Democrats? This is NJ. Note: Chris Daggett was challenged to pledge NOT to take a position in the Corzine administration if Corzine should be elected. He refuses. We will have to wait and see.

Will Corzine Allies Steal the Election in New Jersey?

More telling that the fix is in, however, is the sudden appearance of ACORN on the scene. Not by name, mind you, as their reputation is so tarnished that even New Jersey Democrats don’t want to be associated with them. No, in New Jersey ACORN sought cover behind its big brother, SEIU, specifically SEIU Local 32BJ.

The political director for the SEIU local is Peter Colavito. Just last year, he was ACORN’s political director in New York, working directly under Bertha Lewis, ACORN’s CEO and co-chair of ACORN-backed Working Families Party. He was, and remains, a top official and board member of the Working Families Party in New York. In fact, his wife is currently an employee of the Working Families Party. Corzine has made much of his endorsement by the SEIU local, failing to mention the union’s deep ties to both ACORN and its Working Families Party in New York.

These ties are starting to appear, however. GOP officials recently received a phone tip from a hospital in Newark, reporting that people in ACORN t-shirts were in the facility signing up and collecting absentee ballots. New Jersey law allows anyone to take up to 10 absentee ballots at a time. The tipster reported seeing individuals in the ACORN shirts entering the hospital with blank absentee ballots and leaving with completed ballots.

There are reports out of Camden, New Jersey that voters are discovering that absentee ballots have already been submitted under their name. They did not authorize these ballots. Early reports suggested that the number of absentee ballots ‘requested’ in Camden city is higher than in any previous election. This will no doubt spark confusion on election day.

Oh, by the way:

ACORN. ACORN-backed Working Families Party. I know I’ve heard those names before.

Breaking: WFP/ACORN Takes The Fifth On Corruption Suit.

The VERIFIED PETITION explains pretty well what is suspected. Now this is in NY but that’s ACORN and ACORN-backed Working Families Party.

The suit itself – I’m working to get a copy of it sent to me – alleges that WFP (which is, of course, a front for ACORN) is violating campaign finance laws by having WFP front group Data and Field Services provide “canvassing and other services for [City Council candidate Debi] Rose in her primary campaign against [current Conservative candidate* Ken] Mitchell for which the firm received far less than the market value.”  In that context, trying to avoid financial disclosure on the grounds of possible self-incrimination is at the very least eyebrow-raising; which is why they tried to walk back on it before 24 hours had passed. It should also be noted that the Rose race in Staten Island is not the only one where this sort of thing went on; Queens City Council candidate James Van Bramer is likewise heavily involved with WFP/Data & Field Services, as this diary from the Daily Kos (of all places) makes clear.  I’m sure that his campaign is watching this case unfold with great interest.

Will all of this be forgotten after election day?

Jon Corzine hasn’t had to explain “negotiating” public worker union contracts via email with his ex-girlfriend, the president of the CWA. He hasn’t had to explain the Carla Katz scandal, the Rocco Riccio scandal, the Zulima Farber scandal, the Jeanne Fox scandal, the Joesph Ferriero scandal or Encap or Xanadu or The School Construction Corp… to my satisfaction and I imagine a lot of people feel the same way. His popularity ratings are in the tank. Jon “Borrow & tax & spend” Corzine.

Obama was in Camden and Trenton yesterday campaigning for Corzine. Jon Corzine can’t win by running on his record of failure, he needs all the help he can get.

UPDATE!

Democrats admit paying for pro-Daggett call

The worst, lowest, bawdry, dishonorable, dishonest, deceitful, skulduggery… it’s so low it’s just like the Democrats.

The Democratic State Committee now admits paying for a robocall to Somerset County voters that slams Republican Chris Christie and promotes independent gubernatorial candidate Christopher Daggett. [...]

The call angered Republicans and further fueled conspiracy theories that Daggett is in cahoots with the Corzine camp.[...]

“Yesterday, Jon Corzine’s party boss Joe Cryan said that ‘No, zero, nada, no,’ when asked if he had anything to do with the robocalls,” said Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for the Republican State Committee.  “Today, it’s clear that Cryan is an outright liar. Corzine’s party boss knows what we know – Jon Corzine’s record is so dreadful that they feel a need to try to trick voters into a second term.”

In other robocall news, the Democratic State Committee is calling voters with a recording of President Obama imploring residents to “get out and vote on Tuesday, and vote for my friend and your governor, Jon Corzine.”

AS IF that is a positive thing.

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Here is a link to the Story:

(I know, it would be nice if it were underlined or something.)

Independent stirs up close New Jersey governor contest

Voters in New Jersey, faced with an unpopular Democratic governor

Governor Jon Corzine

and a Republican challenger

Chris Christie, who as US attorney, convicted 130 corrupt elected officials in NJ (so far).

The independent is Chris Daggett, a former federal environmental official, and although he is not expected to win New Jersey, which backed President Barack Obama in 2008, he could affect who does.

A former environmental official. Daggett was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine as chairman of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Permit Efficiency Task Force. So they aren’t exactly strangers…

Daggett is seen as draining votes from the Republican side, but a large chunk of his supporters have indicated they could change their minds by Tuesday’s Election Day. He is fairing better than expected, but support has declined somewhat since he polled a high of 20 percent.

Daggett has no change of winning, but like Ross Perot was, he seems to be a spoiler in the race. Let’s hope voters change their mind and vote for Christie.

Currently:

New Jersey Voters Split Between Corzine, Christie

The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll showed Christie with a 1-point lead over Corzine, well within the margin of error.

Among likely voters, Christie pulled 43 percent and Corzine pulled 42 percent. The survey also showed Independent Chris Daggett becoming less of a factor, with his support dropping from 14 percent to 8 percent.

It’s so close, Daggett is having a difference.

But the poll data suggests Daggett’s supporters are drifting toward Christie.

Let’s hope so. May the best man win.

We know who that is

I agree with this article. What follows are excerpts, my comments, and why we need to vote Jon Corzine and his fellow Democrats (did I mention NJ is one-party rule?) out of office. Here’s a link to the article:

Bribing the voters of New Jersey

How Democrats like Corzine survive

Lets elect Chris Christie. Jon Corzine has not been a good governor.

“Who is voting for Corzine?”

The answer is simple: people who benefit from big government. In a high-tax, big-spending place like Jersey, much of the burden of funding government falls on a narrow slice of residents who pay steeply progressive taxes, while the benefits of expanding government are enjoyed by those who receive more in services than they pay in taxes, or those who work for the government.

That sure sounds like a “conflict of interest” doesn’t it? When people can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit… wasn’t that learned by Rome?

look at the massive geographical redistribution of wealth that is going on in Jersey. Several years ago two Rutgers University professors studied the flow of tax dollars throughout the state and concluded that six suburban counties (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris and Somerset) were sending $2 billion more in taxes to Trenton than they received in state services. At the same time four urban counties (Camden, Essex, Hudson, Passaic) received $2 billion more in state aid than they paid in taxes.

That money is used to pay for government and school systems in cities like Camden and Newark. The state, for instance, pays more than 90% of the bill for the Camden school system, one reason why the schools there can spend a whopping $22,000 per student. So it’s no wonder that Camden residents will support Corzine against any candidate who promises to rein in state spending. In one poll, 61% of the state’s urban dwellers said they would vote for Corzine.

Jersey also has a problem with high local property taxes, and the solution has been to heavily politicize the system through a rebate program that creates yet more winners and losers.

Why not just cut taxes instead of rebates? The rebate checks were sent out right before elections.

The other important constituency of the Corzine candidacy is public sector workers, who wield enormous power in New Jersey. The state has the fourth highest level of public worker unionization in the country, with 63% of its workers in unions, and the state’s workers have used their power to garner some of the highest pay and benefits in the country. Average teacher salaries in Jersey, for instance, are $60,000 a year, third highest of any state.

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo. Working without a contract. We have the highest property taxes in the country and most of it goes to bay for “education.”

Big government in New Jersey has meant a rapidly growing public workforce, providing more foot soldiers in political campaigns. Since 2000, for instance, the number of full and full-time equivalent state and local government workers has grown by 13%, or 55,000 workers, at a time when the state’s population has increased by just 3% and its private sector workforce has not added any new jobs.

“Save/create jobs” alright. We have the highest unemployment in the region.

For election day, the NJEA promises to have 3,000 workers at polls, triple the number of the last election.

What’s happening in Jersey is the inevitable consequence of big government. As the public sector grows, reform becomes harder. And Jersey may be a preview of where our national politics are going.

Remember, while President Obama is in NJ today, campaigning for Corzine… (according to the Tax Foundation):

New Jersey taxpayers receive less federal funding per dollar of federal taxes paid than any other state.
We are the number one contributor to the Federal Government! Number One!

Per dollar of federal tax paid in 2005, New Jersey citizens received approximately $0.61 in the way of federal spending.

No wonder Obama loves NJ, even though Corzine spend all that time, money and effort campaigning for Hillary before the primary..

Here’s a link to the story…

Paramus man claiming to work for Corzine arrested on drug charges

Jason Shih, 25, was pulled over on Route 17 by East Rutherford police at about 11:30 p.m. last night for talking on his cell phone. Police found 19 Ecstasy tablets and hundreds of small glassine bags used for distributing drugs, police spokesman Capt. William Schanel said.

Schanel said Shih told police he was an official in Corzine’s campaign, and several tickets to tomorrow’s rally with President Obama at Newark’s Prudential Center were found in his car.

Oh, that’s gonna leave a mark. Right?

A Corzine spokeswoman said the man does not work for either the governor’s campaign or the Democratic State Committee.

The story disappeared from the NY Post:

‘Corzine staffer’ busted with drugs

The story disappeared from WABC

“Corzine campaign worker arrested“

That looks suspicious.

WABC Scrubs Alleged Corzine Campaign Aide’s Drug Arrest From Website

What do you think? You believe the Corzine campaign? Remember, several tickets to tomorrow’s rally with President Obama at Newark’s Prudential Center were found in his car.

Ready for the punchline???

Someone saved the NY Post story:

‘Corzine staffer’ busted with drugs

Now are you ready for the punchline???

Open Secrets.org

New Jersey Democratic State Cmte Expenditure Detail

Recipient	Amount	Description	Date
Shih, Jason, Paramus, NJ	$420	Field Consulting Services	11/03/06

METHODOLOGY: The numbers on this page are based on contributions from PACs, Levin money donors, and individuals giving $200 or more, as reported to the Federal Election Commission.

 

NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2006 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released on July 25, 2007.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.

Sure, we will credit the Center for Responsive Politics for reporting this.

Was he working for the Corzine campaign… what do you think?

Jon Corzine? Well, the Attorney General was representing Jon Corzine for a lawsuit while he was serving as Governor. The lawsuit asked that Jon Corzine make public his emails regarding negotiations with a public employee union representative. It’s public money, after all. His record stopping corruption? “Page Not Found.”

Chris Christie convicted 130 corrupt NJ public officials while working as US Attorney.

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New Jersey does not require a photo ID to identify voters at the voting booth. I think that’s a mistake. This year, we received multiple “vote by mail” applications in the mail. I received at least 4 of them. How do they verify that a vote is being made by a valid, properly registered voting resident citizen? They keep a copy of the voter’s signature.

Democrats Ask New Jersey Secretary of State to Ignore Mismatched Signatures on Absentee-Ballot Requests

Uh-oh. I smell Shenanigans. For that matter, since these “Absentee-Ballot Requests” are so prolific this year, how do they make sure there is only one vote per person?

Makes me think of the ACORN voter fraud. Reminds me of all the ballots that magically appeared in someone’s car trunk – for Democrat Al Franken.

This year, New Jersey’s registered voters can request a mail-in ballot for any reason. [...]

On about 2,300 of those applications so far, the signature on the request form does not match the signature on the voter’s registration forms with the state.

In a development that is depressingly predictable, the New Jersey Democratic party is asking the state to provide provisional ballots for all these voters. Those ballots could, presumably, be used to overcome any narrow lead by Republican Chris Christie over Democrat Jon Corzine on Election Day. [...]

The fears of absentee-ballot fraud in New Jersey is not theoretical or far-fetched. Earlier this year, Atlantic City councilman Marty Small and 13 people who worked on his unsuccessful mayoral campaign “were indicted on charges they conspired to commit election fraud during the June Democratic primary through a variety of schemes involving messenger absentee ballots, state Attorney General Anne Milgram announced in Trenton.” One of those workers has already pled guilty. Five workers were indicted on similar charges in Essex County in August.

Suspicious minds see the letter as an attempt to create a pool of emergency votes to be used if Christie holds a small lead on Election Night.

Can’t Corzine stand on his record and win? HAHAHAHahahahaha! LOL!

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I guess Obama doesn’t think Jon Corzine has the ability to run his own campaign. I agree. He has failed at everything, including all that time he spent (instead of doing Governor-type things) campaigning for Hillary for president.

Nervous W.H. intervened in N.J. race; top Obama adviser now in charge

One of President Barack Obama’s key political advisers has become the central strategist in New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine’s bruising campaign for re-election, a race the White House desperately wants to win to avert the consequences for its own agenda of a Republican winning in a traditionally Democratic state.

The White House was so concerned about Corzine’s chances during the summer that Corzine’s aides feared the first-term governor was being pressured to step aside for a stronger candidate. Those fears turned out to be groundless, but were part of the reason Corzine hired Joel Benenson, who has helped impose discipline on a struggling campaign and crystallize Corzine’s aggressive attacks on the character of his Republican opponent, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.

The race is seen as extremely close, complicated by the presence of a third candidate, Chris Daggett. For the White House, it’s a crucial symbolic prize.

Even with Corzine’s limitless money, endless commercials, he isn’t clearly winning. 

 My vote’s for Chris Christie.

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The latest polling is all over the place at this point.

New Jersey Governor – Corzine vs. Christie

Chris Christie was way ahead until Independent Chris Daggett joined. There is a lot of ABC (Anybody But Corzine) and anti-establishment (R and D) sentiment – which allows Daggett to take votes away from Christie.

Dagget has no chance of winning, but he is helping Corzine by taking votes away from Christie.  

To be honest, you can’t tell right away how liberal Daggett is by llistening to his radio commercials.

When you look at neighboring states, NJ has higher unemployment. When you look at neighboring states, NJ has lost more jobs in the past year.

Don’t take my word for it, look at the data from

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Information and Analysis

There is an interactive map from NPR, too!

Map: State Unemployment Rates

NJ unemployment: 9.8 percent. (NY 8.9, PA 8.8, MD 7.2, DE 8.3)

I don’t know where Governor Jon Corzine gets the idea that NJ unemployment is lower than neighboring states. He did hedge the statement a little by saying something confusing about “urban areas” and other areas with farms.

Other states with farms, like the NJ the Garden state, have lower unemployment. Does he realize that NJ is “The Garden State” with significant farmland? I guess not, he wanted to close the Department of Agriculture last year. Elite bankers don’t get heir hands dirty, I guess. He suggests we move to N. Dakota if we want low unemployment. The unemployment rate there is 4.2 percent. Their Republican Governor has been in office since 2000.

So I guess that is the Honorable Governor Jon Corzine’s solution to unemployment in NJ. If you don’t like it, then move. It’s nice to see that he has specific plans to deal with it while he is hard at work, be it campaigning for Hillary, or campaigning for ginormous borrow and tax toll road schemes, or campaigning for himself.

It’s nice to see him give Republican Governors “kudos” like that. While we are at it, let’s vote for Chris Christie, Republican.

shortlink: http://wp.me/pFZU8-Y

Here’s Jonny!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHahahahaha!!!!!

New Jersey Taxes – And How!!! You know what I’m sayin’?

OK! We will hold you accountable on November 3, 2009.

Some people don’t want to vote for a ‘D’ or an ‘R.’ Independent sounds good! People like to be ‘independent!’

Before Daggett came along:

NJ Gov Poll: Christie +9

Here’s a fun video, captures the spirit of the election:

“My Boy Daggett” – A Save Jersey Web Video

Corzine vs Christie

What did Corzine do in 4 years?

Jon Corzine Has Made New Jersey Number One!

What did Chris Christie do? Plenty. He has accomplished so much, there is even a special section at NJ.com (owned by newspapers) devoted to corruption busts in NJ.

Corruption in New Jersey

Thank you Chris Christie!!!!

A recent survey published by Sabrix indicates that corporate tax audits are on the rise.   Eighty-three percent of companies surveyed report an increased number of audits due to state and local tax revenue shortfalls.  Survey respondents comprised 140 tax executives from the Forbes Global 2000 Index.

Ninety-six percent of the attendees said that despite the recession, transaction taxes such as sales and use taxes will continue to be an area of focus. In response to the economic downturn, 45 percent of the attendees said their companies had reduced their employee headcount, but 45 percent also increased their investment in tax technologies.

Eighty-one percent of the respondents have made sales and use tax and value-added tax a more strategic focus of their company due to the economy. A similar proportion said they have implemented new programs and processes to remain compliant.

The IRS is under pressure to enforce compliance with federal tax statutes.  The US Treasury coffers are seriously depleted given all the stimulus and economic recovery expenditures.  The IRS is mandated to assure that corporations comply with all tax laws.  The IRS has developed an Industry Focus Issue, (IFI) audit strategy that  profiles high risk corporate tax compliance statutes.   IFI guides field audit personnel through a risk based assessment of corporate tax compliance.  The IFI aggregates and ranks  Three Tiers of high risk tax compliance issues.  Examiners will conduct rigorous reviews of these issue sensitive factors.  The factors concern revenue recognition, sales tax, partnership reporting, and the repatriation of revenue derived in foreign domiciles.

Sum2 has published a product, IRS Audit Risk Program (IARP) that guides corporate tax managers and tax professionals through a risk assessment of their exposure to IFI risk factors.  The IARP helps corporate tax professionals score tax risk exposures, determine mitigation actions, estimate remediation expenses and manage tax controversy defense strategies.  The IARP is available for purchase on Amazon.com.

Sum2 also has developed the Corporate Audit Risk Program (CARP).  The CARP is IRS tax risk assessment tool for corporate tax managers.  A  single user license for CARP can be purchased on Amazon.com.

Risk: compliance, tax audit, reputation, litigation

You Tube video: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Taxman

As I understand it, it says in the NJ Constitution that the state can’t borrow money without voter approval. So… “Authorities” are set up to get around that. For example, New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund Authority borrows money (sells bonds) without voter approval. Governor Jon Corzine was Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, was booted out and then ran for Senate. I’m sure the financial wizard, and former Wall Street executive has mopped up that mess. I could be wrong…

New Jersey Pays Goldman Sachs for Swaps on Nonexistent Bonds

Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) — New Jersey taxpayers are sending almost $1 million a month to a partnership run by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. for protection against rising interest costs on bonds that the state redeemed more than a year ago.

Our tax dollars at work!!!!

The most-densely populated U.S. state is making the payments under an agreement made during the administration of former Governor James E. McGreevey in 2003, when New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund Authority sold $345 million in auction-rate bonds whose yields fluctuated with short-term interest costs. The agency finances road and rail projects.

So it was a bad idea?

“The world’s got to see what stupidity even the sophisticated investors like the transportation fund can get into.”

I’ll post it on my blog!

The state paid $940,000 under the agreement last month and a total of $11.4 million since the auction-rate bonds were redeemed. The expenditures come as the fund reaches its borrowing limit and Governor Jon Corzine, Goldman’s former chairman who was a U.S. senator when the contract was signed, seeks $400 million in budget reductions as tax receipts fall.

It get worse…

In New Jersey, the 3.6 percent fixed rate the trust fund is paying on the swap has pushed the cost to taxpayers of the original $345 million borrowing to 7.8 percent, the most the authority has paid since it was formed in 1985, according to records posted on its Web site.

The payments are draining money from a dwindling account that may not be able to support new projects because the $895 million in annual gasoline taxes and toll revenue dedicated to the fund will be needed to pay debt service on $10.3 billion in obligations. To help prop up spending, officials have suggested raising New Jersey’s 14.5 cents-a-gallon gasoline levy, the fourth-lowest among U.S. states, according to research by the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based research organization.

The bonds have been redeemed, no longer exist and we are paying so much and spending so much on new projects that they want to raise gasoline taxes. We already know they just raised tolls.

Instead of spending so much that they have to keep borrowing ever increasing amounts of money, they need to stop spending so much.

They must think taxpayers in NJ have oodles of extra money just lying around to spend on higher gasoline taxes and tolls.

NJ debt is now $44 Billion – it was $29.7 Billion in 2005, when Corzine was elected. That’s a 48 % increase… and I don’t think that includes New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund Authority debt!!!

Vote the incumbents out of office please!!!!

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Former Bergen County political boss Ferriero found guilty in corruption case

Oh, well that is a common occurrence in NJ, politicians found guilty. After all isn’t that where “The Sopranos” are? Come to think of it, as US Attorney, Chris Christie had over 100 convictions!

BERGENFIELD — The former northern New Jersey political boss Joseph Ferriero was found guilty by a federal jury this afternoon [...]

Prosecutors had argued that Ferriero and Dennis Oury, who was borough attorney for Bergenfield, had conspired to defraud the town by hiding their co-ownership of a consulting business. The consulting firm had sought contracts from towns in the county.

Ferriero was head of the county’s Democratic organization from 1998 to 2008; Oury was borough attorney for Bergenfield.

Oury had pleaded guilty and testified against Ferriero.

There is even a blog for the trial!

Ferriero Trial Blog

Another one bite the dust. Wait. There’s more to the story?

Democratic Party Boss Convicted; Christie Accuses Corzine of Enabling Corruption

Happy October Surprise, Governor Corzine.

Today a jury found Joe Ferriero, former chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of mail fraud.

Guess how much money Jon Corzine and his family gave to Ferriero over the years?

$441,600.

Wow. Almost half a million dollars. That’s a lot of money! Must be a close friend. Why else would you give someone $441,600 if they aren’t a close friend.

The Governor is ethically ethical when fighting hard for real, meaningful ethics legislation; or is my memory faulty?

One of the central issues of the New Jersey Governor’s race is ethics. One question that arises from that is, “who is in charge, Jon Corzine or the Democratic Machine?” The case of Jamel Holley is a case in which the machine won.

Say what?

On Stopping Absentee Ballot Fraud, Democratic Machine 1, Jon Corzine 0

Holley is an up-and-coming star of the New Jersey Democratic Party [...] He was also indicted by the Democratic Attorney General for tampering with absentee ballots, “completing portions of the ballots of at least 20 voters,” in a 2006 Democratic Primary for a Roselle City Council seat. Once those voters testified to his behavior, the ballots, which happened to be for Holley’s candidate.

In any case, as soon as the indictment came down, Corzine’s office called for Holley’s resignation. But then, another one of Holley’s former bosses objected, after the judge acted. Assemblyman Cryan (who happens to be the Corzine-appointed State Democratic Party Chairman) wrote a letter attacking the Attorney General’s action.

Corzine’s response? He backtracks on the initial demand to have Holley resign:

Perhaps he forgot? That’s what happens a lot in these ethics cases. People forget.

At a Willingboro rally on Saturday, Corzine told PolitickerNJ.com that he had not seen Lesniak’s letter, nor did he remember his request for Holley to step down from office while fighting his case against the Attorney General’s Office.

Another one of Jon Corzine’s non-accomplishments.

Chris Christie has a record of accomplishments.

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Here is a list of Just Some of Governor Jon Corzine’s Accomplishments!
Congratulations Goes To….

MAKING NEW JERSEY NUMBER ONE!!!!

1. Tax Freedom Day Arrives on April 29 in New Jersey
Let’s have a Tax Freedom Day Party next year!

2. New Jersey’s State/Local Tax Burden Highest in Nation
We are Number One!

3. New Jersey’s 2009 Business Tax Climate Ranks 50th
We are Number One! The worst Business Tax Climate in the nation!

4. Among states levying personal income taxes, New Jersey’s top rate ranks 6th highest nationally.

Do the legislators realize we don’t pay the highest personal income taxes? Corzine’s new budget includes a handy personal income tax increase!! We can be Number One!

5. Among states levying corporate income taxes, New Jersey’s top tax rate ranks 6th highest nationally.
Do the legislators realize we don’t pay the highest corporate income taxes? Does Corzine’s new budget include a handy corporate income tax increase?

6. New Jersey Sales Tax above National Median; Cigarette Tax Second-Highest in Nation
No problem-o! Corzine increased the sales tax by 16.7%. Just wait. Corzine’s new budget includes a handy Cigarette Tax increase!! We can be Number One!

Daggett has the same plan as Corzine! Increase the sales tax again so he can (tee-hee-hee) cut property taxes!!!

7. New Jersey Property Taxes: Highest Per Capita in the Nation
And proud of it!!!

8. New Jersey taxpayers receive less federal funding per dollar of federal taxes paid than any other state.
We are the number one contributor to the Federal Government! Number One!

9. Per dollar of federal tax paid in 2005, New Jersey citizens received approximately $0.61 in the way of federal spending.

The $0.39 per dollar that was “skimmed off” was… umm… … … You know what I’m sayin’?

10. And let’s not forget all that time Jon Corzine was spending campaigning for Hillary Clinton instead of managing the state! (We all know how that turned out).
Be sure to ‘THANK’ YOUR GOVERNOR when you vote for Chris Christie!!!!!

11. Governor Jon Corzine appointed Chris Daggett chairman of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Permit Efficiency Task Force!

OH, COME ON!!!!  If this is as bad as it looks, this is dirty politics, even for NJ.

Chris Christie was leading until Daggett came along. “Independent” Dagget (wink-wink). It is amusing, remember when his good pal Governor Jon Corzine appointed Daggett chairman of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Permit Efficiency Task Force!

Amusing? Like watching “The Sopranos!”

Chris Daggett:
1. He’s a Yankees fan.
2. He sees no corruption in the Corzine administration.

Everyone! Remember, when you go into that voting booth, Jon Corzine and all Assembly members are up for re-election!

Be sure to THANK THEM when you vote!!!!!

New Jersey Taxes – And How!!! You know what I’m sayin’?

Sources:

New Jersey Taxes – And How!!! You know what I’m sayin’?

New Jersey Independent Gubernatorial Candidate Chris Daggett Sees No Corruption In The Corzine Administration He Wants To Replace

Promise: “A More Affordable NJ”

Sales tax increase: 17%

Reason? The excuse was: to lower property taxes. My property tax increase: 20%. ”Your mileage may vary” 

(That’s Daggett’s plan too. It didn’t work, did it?)

State Executive Budget increase: $27.4 Billion increased to $33 Billion

NJ debt is now $44 Billion – it was $29.7 Billion in 2005, when Corzine was elected. That’s a 48 % increase.

So… where did the $8.6 Billion School Construction Corp. money go? It must be magic, it disappeared!  Rename the program to the Schools Development Authority, and borrow $3.9 Billion more!

Where is all that money going to come from?

New Jersey has the worst – 50 out of 50- business climate.

There’s more… Encap, Xanadu…

What we really don’t need in this economic climate is an indoor ski/snowboard resort and a 287 foot high ferris wheel.

Does the Honorable Governor think people have all this extra money to spend on tunnels, trains and ferris wheels?

The Honorable Honorable Governor Jon Corzine did a great deal of work, spent a great deal of time, while governor of New Jersey, campaigning for presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. I’m not sure how that benefited the people of New Jersey, but we all know how that turned out.

There is the Jon Corzine – Carla Katz scandal, which was successfully bought out managed.

There is the Jon Corzine – Rocco Riccio scandal, which was successfully paid off managed.

There is the attorney general Zulima Farber scandal.

Then there is the Jon Corzine – Jeanne Fox scandal…

There’s more… but when I have time.

The Honorable Governor Jon Corzine has created a climate of togetherness in the great state of New Jersey! I can, without trying very hard, think of 5 different ways. Are there any more?

1.) He attempted to borrow $38 Billion dollars by hiking toll road taxes (tolls) for 75 years. Are we going to be driving cars on those roads 75 years from now???

He accomplished bringing together a diverse group of people to protest that plan!

And public school property is private property? Magic!!!

2.) He proposed closing State parks to “balance the $33 Billion budget.”

He accomplished bringing together a diverse group of people to protest that plan!

Park Closing Protest

3.) He proposed closing the Department of Agriculture in The Garden State to “balance the $33 Billion budget.”

He accomplished bringing together a diverse group of people to protest that plan!

Tractors in Trenton

4.) He said “pigs will fly over the Statehouse before there’s a realistic level of new taxes or spending cuts that can fix this mess.”

Pigs Fly Over State House in Trenton