Christie: 'I'm Not Going Anywhere' if Romney Wins
Governor says New Jersey is prepared to handle loss of power after Oyster Creek closes
Photos
Gov. Chris Christie vowed to finish his term regardless of whether Mitt Romney wins the presidency and also addressed local energy concerns during a stop in Lacey Thursday for his 94th town hall meeting.
“I told you I love this job. I want to do this job. I made a deal with you. Four years that I want to stay with you in this job, and then we’ll see what happens after that,” Christie said. “I’m not going anywhere. You people are stuck with me.”
Christie, who addressed approximately 600 people at the Lacey Elks lodge on Beach Boulevard, vowed that if Romney wins the election, he would remain in New Jersey as he made a “four-year deal.”
'Seamless Transition' After Oyster Creek Closes
A Whiting resident voiced his concerns about energy saying that reports have shown that in the next five years 40 percent of cars will be electric. With Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station closing in 2019, the man questioned where New Jersey will be getting electric from and how prices will be controlled.
“I made the decision to close Oyster Creek because of what it’s doing in the Barnegat Bay,” Christie said.
Christie reached an agreement with Exelon Corporation to close Oyster Creek 10 years before its operating license expires. The Whiting resident's concerns would be on target if all he did was to plan to close the plant, Christie said.
Three new natural gas-powered plants have been issued permits to be built in West Deptford, Woodbridge and Newark, he said. The plants will “more than cover what we’re losing by closing Oyster Creek.
“It will cover what Oyster Creek was plus a little when they’re operational,” he said. “We’re ready to go.”
The three plants will create jobs during construction and as it operates as well as move the state away from out-of-state electric generation, Christie said.
“When you add the electric cars into it, I think 40 percent is very optimistic,” he said. “Even if it’s right, we’ll be ready to do it with these three new plants that are coming online.”
Before Oyster Creek closes, the new plants will be operating.
“You will see a seamless transition from the closing of Oyster Creek and the ramping up of these,” he said. “We had to do both. If we were going to make the decision to save Barnegat Bay, closing Oyster Creek plant, we had to supplement that electric generation.”
Christie added that 53 percent of New Jersey’s electricity comes from nuclear power, and PSE&G is in the process of determining whether the company will ramp up another reactor in Salem.
The governor's comments come a day after local and state officials addressed the regional community to brainstorm efforts to possibly also replace Oyster Creek with a new facility, perhaps powered by natural gas.
'You Should Trust Me'
Christie also addressed his ethics, education, taxes and middle-class reform agenda.
“I wanted to see Gov. Christie,” Norbert Danback of Forked River said. “I’m in favor of everything he says. I think he’s on the right track. The one thing I wish he would do is something about the taxes.”
Property taxes increased by 2.4 percent this year, which was the lowest in 20 years, Christie said. The state is working on closing loopholes under the 2 percent state budgeting cap, among other reforms, he said.
This year, changes to the pension benefit system saved Lacey residents 5 percent of money that’s being paid toward the retirement system and 22 percent is saved of the money going toward the police and fire pension system. Combining both those figures, more than $425,000 has been saved toward local property taxes, Christie said.
In addition, school aid was increased by $280,000 this year, he said. Between the aid and the changes in the pension benefit system, that’s more than $700,000 in property tax relief, Christie said.
“If you’re going to trust anyone to be fiscally responsible and to cut your taxes, you should trust me and not the legislative Democrats, and the record shows it,” he said.
Lori Aceto of Lacey said Christie’s talk on ethics reform and public employees not holding more than one elected position sparked her interest in her.
“I wanted to see him in person and see that his charm is true, and it was,” she said. “I wanted to see if I can envision him as president. I can."
Ben Dover
7:20 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Here's a question for all you donkeys out there. If you all hate property taxes so much and the major cause of high property taxes is the salary, healthcare costs and pensions for state, county, school and local employees, what has the party of donkeys proposed to REDUCE property taxes? Let's have a real debate on how we lower property taxes and by that I mean the root cause of why they are so high.
Mac
9:20 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
No sale. The salaries, healthcare costs and pensions of state, county, school and local employees are not the real problem creating high property taxes. Those positions are necessary positions needed by the community and are not going anywhere if we are to maintain our standards of living. They are a legitimate part of our tax base. Get over the class warfare and deal with what you can and should change. Throughout NJ, there are thousands of part-time taxpayer-paid employees that receive fully-funded taxpayer paid healthcare benefits that are complimented with pensions. Most of these part-timers are elected or appointed officials like mayors, council-people, hired contractors such as lawyers and engineers, MUA members (20-30 hrs. per year), members of special committees and commissions, Assemblypeople, Senators and the list goes on and on. There are around 566 communities in NJ alone. Almost every one of them, if not all of them (many positions are publicly unknown) unnecessarily provide generous family health benefits to undeserving individuals to the tune of roughly $20K each annually to anywhere from a dozen or two part-timers to a few hundred part-timers. By counting just 20 people in 566 communities at $20K per year that receive unlawful (less than 35 hrs. per week) healthcare and pension benefits, we arrive at a figure of one quarter of a billion dollars in total annual waste. And we’re just getting started.
Ben Dover
10:07 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Really?? So 60-70% of the local budgets being attached to compensation ISN'T the problem? It's all because of the PTers! How much pension does a mayor make on $4k a year in pay? Did you pay attention in math class?
Let me prove it to you
In your town of Barnegat, here is your budget
http://www.barnegat.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2012-Adopted-Municipal-Budget.pdf
$20.3 million in spending
Salaries = $9.6 million ($5.5 million for police)
Insurance = $1.35 million
Pension = $2.3 million
That is $13.3 million out of $20.3 million local budget for salary, pension and healthcare. How many employees does that cover?
It does list $13k for mayor and committee.....that must be the cause of high taxes!!!!
Silly boy TRIX are for kids!
Mac
11:11 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
You can't be serious. If you are justifying a budget in Barnegat that lists $13K for one mayor and four councilperson salaries, healthcare benefits, pensions and perks, you're on your own. As for the $13.3 million, I'm not saying that amount can't be reduced a bit, but how does one run a township without any services? They cost money and they are necessary. Part-time elected and appointed officials are performing a public service, not a job. Many of them are working full-time taxpayer paid jobs also. If you are making $60,000 a year with bennies, you don't need the part-time bennies and you can usually cash them in for some extra cash. While the pension for the part-time job is peanuts by itself, every year served in the part-time position also count towards and increases the full-time pension benefit. Let's say you head an MUA for 35 years with a token $15K annually. No biggie, right? Now, you're looking to retire, so you appoint yourself to run the MUA for $200,000 a year for three years. That token $15K that no one cared about is now worth over $100K in pension payments for the rest of your life. It's not going to benefit the taxpayers to keep reducing the workforce while our part-time leadership continues to deceive us. And don't forget, the part-time leadership makes all the rules for the bennies for both the workforce and themselves. Control the leadership and the rest will fall into place.
Ben Dover
8:41 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Mac you can't be serious. You make outlandish claims that you cannot provide any evidence on. I showed you the local budget. $13 million for compensation. The problem is the pensions and healthcare benefits of the government employees not the part timers. I agree no one part time should get benes or pensions or sick payouts. You claim they are the problem. I challenge you to prove it.
Does the Baregat mayor get benes or a pension?
Here's a list of sick buy outs....prove to me the hundreds of millions are due to part timers.
http://www.njspotlight.com/assets/11/1216/0121
Mac
12:56 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Ben, it’s unlikely we are going to agree on much here. Your presentation appears to me to be full of anger over the abuse of public compensations, and I share much of that feeling. However, I find it fruitless to attack the receivers of this abuse before we address and deal with the creators of this abuse. There is nothing the receivers get that the creators haven’t either given or allowed them. And the receivers never get anything without the creators getting more. In NJ, the overwhelming group of creators serve as part-time public servants that fill thousands of part-time positions within our state, county and local governments. Many of these individuals also work full-time government positions, thus being in a position to create practices that work the best for them. Once the self-interest is taken away from the creators by eliminating workplace benefits for all public servants, the compensation of the receivers will fall into place. I didn’t response to your original comment to single out any one person, including the mayor of Barnegat. He’s just one of thousands in NJ in the same position, so from that perspective, I find him no better or worse than any of the others. And once I hear that everyone on the Township Committee, including the Mayor, has given up their pay and benefits by their own mouths without compensation from Barnegat or elsewhere, I’ll give some thought to the $13K being more than window-dressing listed on a budget sheet printed in sand.
Janet
2:45 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
@Mac - "I find it fruitless to attack the receivers of this abuse before we address and deal with the creators of this abuse."
I hope you apply this standard to Obama too!
Is our local government REALLY the creator of the system? Last I looked, the Democrats controlled both chambers. They could certainly curtail the spending for part timers and pensions but they don't. Why is that? Let's ask them why they keep giving themselves benefits and pay and pensions while the citizens have trouble filling up the gas tank shall we?
In the end, most people will vote for Democrats like Obama because he has promised them something even if he knows he cannot provide it. We the people are the biggest problem as we do not hold them accountable to their own words and promises.
KC
12:59 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Well put the bloated elephants on a diet and there will be something left for the other ninety-nine percent.
ynot
7:54 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
More Christie threats.....
'I'm Not Going Anywhere' if Romney Wins
“I’m not going anywhere. You people are stuck with me.”
lawrence williard
8:02 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
"Gov. Chris Christie vowed to finish his term regardless of whether Mitt Romney wins the presidency."
Of course he says this, because he knows Romney doesn't have a chance to win.
Opinionated
9:54 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
I bet Obama gave you a nice phone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tpAOwJvTOio
butch cassidy
8:52 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
he has a chance people !!! dont believe all that poll taking its seems to be a ploy for people to give up and not vote for romney
butch cassidy
8:54 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
lol re: the phone thats so true...welfare etc are now issued free phones internet etc.. and i freak over my bill every month..maybe i just wont pay and go get a freebie
make my day
8:17 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Went to the townhall meeting and it was standing room only! Unlike the present President and his administration, he DOES NOT LIE! I appreciate his honesty, whether its what you want to hear or not. 600 people there and support him we did ! Thank you Gov. Christie.
Christie DaLiar
4:10 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
"Nothing will change about your pension when I am elected governor" said Mr. Christie to TEACHERS in 2009. Like him if you wish, but at least be intelligent enough to realize that he is a COMPLETE LIAR.
Dentss Dunnagun
5:34 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
f your going to quote Christie at least get the quote right"Your pension will be protected when I am elected Governor" ...which is exactly what he is trying to fix .Past politicians making promises that could never be met . The state has no money ,he's trying to save your pensions from going Bankrupt
Christie DaLiar
7:35 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
I'm sorry, Mr. Lemming for the misquote. Here is the entire paragraph:
But lately, there has been some misinformation circulated falsely, by supporters of Governor Corzine, suggesting I would attempt to diminish or take away teachers’ pensions and benefits. Let me be clear – nothing could be further from the truth. The claim that any harm would come to your pension should I be elected Governor is absolutely untrue. It is a 100% lie. Your pension will be protected when I am elected Governor.
Mr. Christie is a LIAR. And I voted for him.
Christie DaLiar
7:38 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Here is the next paragraph.
Right now, the Trenton-based leaders of the teachers’ union are literally spending millions of dollars of your union dues to falsely attack me on television and through slick mailers. This is nothing but an attempt to poison me in your eyes so that you will vote for four more years of Jon Corzine and his failed policies. Just so I am clear, what they are saying about my intentions to hurt pensions or lay off teachers is absolutely, 100% untrue.
Uhhhh, really? How did you feel when Bill Clinton said "I did not have sexual relations with that woman". I guess he was just misunderstood like Christie, right?
Christie DaLiar
7:40 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
And while we're sharing facts, the "promise" was being met just fine until the decade of scum known as the Whitman-McGreevey-Corzine-Christie gang decided not to pay the state's share.
KC
1:03 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Christie is in bed with whomever will advance him politically and he plays both sides of the political spectrem to advance his causes. He refuses to tax his rich boy cronies, but schmoozes labor unions for votes he knows he needs in wake of alienating so many working class teachers. If he is superman to you that is your opinion, but I think if you take him out of his footie pajamas you will see it is a costume.
Tim
8:34 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
So the gas powered plants the Gov. spoke of are being built only because the State will guarantee that they get a minumim price for their power. This is being challanged by other power generators, (including Public Service) regarding the legality of the minimum price agreements, as everyone else must compete on price. I like Gov Christie however, closing a Nuclear Plant, loosing 700 plus good paying jobs and millions in taxes and allowing subsides in a free market environment makes me wonder why he considers himself a conservative. Oh P.S. if the plant is so bad on the bay, why are the canals full of fish and attracting eagles and other birds every day to feed. I see a very healthy ecosystem because I work there.
Uncle Moe
9:17 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Christie snubbed me at this townhall meeting! I had my hand up the whole time and still I never got acknowledged. More threats from Christie, Romney is an even bigger fraud.
KC
1:05 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
It is what I call being politely rude.
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
4:59 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Only calls on the shills placed in the audience
(okay, "shills" is too strong a word - "softball pitchers"??)
Mac
10:25 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
I attended Governor Christie's town hall meeting today in Lacey and I must admit it was very entertaining. I definitely enjoyed many good laughs along with the rest of the people in the room (except for the Governor's security detail, who spent most of the afternoon posing for a NJ driver's license photo.) Regardless of your politics, the Governor's presentation is much more commanding in person than on video and news releases, and it makes for a fun afternoon if you attend. Now, if I could just get him to ....................
Ben Dover
10:28 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
if we could just get him and the party of donkeys to get rid of the pensions, we could have tax relief!!! No employee needs a taxpayer funded pension and the work required doesn't mandate it either. Don't like it, go compete with the 23 million unemployed without a pension.
frank rizzo
11:01 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
yes tim because most bays have 110 degree water running into them like a hot tub. the fact you work there and get a check doesnt of course influence your opinion any does it? . christie vetoes everything from taxes on the rich to gay marriage . why doesnt he veto the 50% toll hike that is breaking the backs of the middle class just trying to get to work.? the same ones he flies over in a copter we pay for to go to things like wrestlemania in the met life stadium. wait till you see how many billions of dollars it will cost the tax payers because he has let his developer buddies build strip malls in areas that have been protected for a century and all without an existing sewer system. wait till opinionated and simple truth get the bill for the new water treatment plants needed. they.ll be bringing tomatoes to the next christie town hall meeting that he does at 2 pm for ancient republicans when everyone that has to work cant be there.
frank rizzo
11:02 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
gee mac i was too busy paying tolls and working. guess i missed all the fun.
Thomas A. Blasi
1:42 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
One doesn’t need a degree in economics or government to know that New Jersey is in financial trouble, that the handwriting is on the wall, clearly the times they are a changin’. Observe the number of homes with ‘For Sale’ signs on the lawn. Observe the half empty strip malls and the commercial property with vacant signs. Residents at both ends of the age spectrum are leaving New Jersey for other states where the unemployment rate isn’t 9.8 percent and where college tuition is more affordable and where there is an opportunity structure. And so NJ is pretty much left with the residue, the Mc Donald’s culture, the downtrodden. Road rage, aggressive driving, tailgating, violence and more. It doesn’t matter which party occupies the state house we are doomed the best we can do is unload our homes for what ever we can get for them and relocate. You may not like to hear this but deep down inside you know it’s true. Within two years most of NJ will look like Detroit. Look at Newark, Irvington, Jersey City, Camden, new Brunswick, Trenton etc, the cancer is spreading to the suburbs, it’s only a matter of time.
Ben Dover
8:44 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
The urban failures are because of Democrats. Who runs the cities? Who runs Detroit? Why have they failed? Why would anyone invest, work or live in any of them anymore? The schools are failures despite getting more money than our towns do. The common denominator is Democrats. They don't care about people. They care about power. Name one successful Democraticly run city
Opinionated
9:47 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Ben, I might have said New York until Big Gulps became a crime. Yeah, I know he claims to be an Independent but he means independently wealthy.
Opinionated
7:34 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Thomas, you are right. However, people are in a complete state of denial, ruling them incapable of reading ANYTHING. I read a series of polls from Bloomberg (perhaps that was my first mistake) where one asked if you were better off today than four years ago. Their claim was that over 60% said "yes", right. Hey, look at my previous post's weblink (Ben beat me to posting it on a previous subject, kudos Ben). It may seem outrageous but people like her vote! Also you forgot to add Asbury Park and Lakewood to you list. They ALL have one thing in common. I know what people of a certain mindset will say but their minds are in the gutter and they have hatred in their hearts which make them feel guilty. The answer is: CORRUPTION. They all have politicians who have or should be going to jail. They stole the money given for the people in their care. We hear about the evil 1% who only could have gotten their money dishonestly yet these same people turn a blind eye to this thievery. The pols in these and all cities like it in the US are no better than those who steal from church's poor boxes. They take the food out of hungry children yet there are those out there who will help try to cover up this fact by calling people like you "a name" rather than point out the obvious.
ballyjduf
8:36 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
'I'm Not Going Anywhere' if Romney Wins
YES he is - 6 feet under if he doesnt lose weight
LT Guy
2:11 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Yeah, I was there and that was kind of scary... His face was all red and the room was really hot. I hope he's one of these guys that have nice clear arteries, even though their physical condition is horrible. I wouldn't wish a heart attack on anyone. What I did find funny, though, was how he spoke of the double, triple, and quadruple dippers in his speech, but they all were from North Jersey. What about the ones down here, like Amato (Berkeley), Lacey (Freeholder) and Acropolis (Brick)? He never seems to bring up his "R" buddies when he talks about that topic. Kind of hypocritical, wouldn't you say? By the way, he didn't call on me either and I was front and center just off the shoulder of good old Georgie boy. There will be other chances, I'm sure.
wake up
10:25 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
He is a moron. All of you who love him so much are being snowed. He has higher aspirations than NJ, and is just trying to make a name for himself here. His whole tough guy act is pathetic. People think of him as one of us, one of the regular people ....really? Hmmm, he flys around in private jets and has money up the wazoo. He does not care about the average NJ resident....he cares about making sound bytes and getting publicity.
Christie DaLiar
4:16 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
He's not a moron, his supporters are. I am so sorry I voted for this piece of garbage.
Sal
10:26 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
NO one "Likes" paying any tax; be it sales tax, income tax or real estate taxes. People will always complain about how much tax the pay. It is "Human Nature" that everyone wants THEIR money to stay in Their own pockets to be spent by them alone. State Government, Local Government, Schools, Libraries are all providing PUBLIC SERVICES___so OF COURSE salaries are the Biggest part of the government budgets ___since it takes "PEOPLE" to provide Public Services. Sorry to say this, but only a moron would point out that Salaries are the biggest part of any Government budget, since they all provide "SERVICES" and it requires PEOPLE on the payrolls to provide SERVICES.
When is snows___ you complain the roads are not cleared Fast enough. When the roads need paving__ you complain it is not repaved Fast enough. When the roads flood in heavy rains_____ you complain "They have to do something". When your children are doing poorly in school_____ you complain the schools have to do more.
When crime increases___you complain the police must do more. EVERYTHING you complain about and everything you want___"COSTS MONEY" and taxes are high because YOU Demand too much from Government and honestly you complain too much..
Ben Dover
10:34 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Sal your diatribe makes little sense. I think people are ok paying a fair market value for the work to be performed. The problem is the costs are well above market value because of the pensions and healthcare benefits. What is your solution "shut up and pay more property taxes"??? Do local trash people with pensions do a better job than Waste Management? Does public works plow any better or faster than some landscaper with a plow or does it just cost more? We have serious budget and job problems and NJ. More taxes IS NOT the answer. The problem here and in DC is ALL SPENDING!!!
I don't demand much at all. I am ok if it takes a little time to plow the roads. Where am I gonna go during a storm anyway with all the stores closed. I don't think the schools should do more. I think they should be held accountable for what they claim they already do. Paving roads is a capital item and has nothing to do with pay and benes EXCEPT we all pay more since the work has to be prevailing union wages and not market competitive.
What are your solutions to paying high property taxes?
make my day
1:43 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
@uncle moe: there were a lot of people that didn't get a chance to ask a question. Do you honestly think Gov. Christie purposely didnt pick you? Do you think his men said"look! Uncle moe, dont pick him!" Get a life! The meeting was 2 hours, it would have been another2 hrs if he answered everyone. See you at the next one Moe.
Uncle Moe
5:21 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I will certainly see you there. I will not stop until I get Christie's position on the labeling of GMO foods in NJ, a la proposition 37
Janet
1:58 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
I just love the Governor. He tells it like it is. I was surprised he didn't blame NJ's woes on some spontaneous events. LOL!
make my day
1:59 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
@wakeup...read the headlines, the elite OBAMA FAMILY spent 1.4 BILLION, YES BILLION paid for by the U.S. taxpayers. Obamas love to globe trott, vacations and more assistants & chefs than any other presidential family. They still will not release the cost of malia's spring break to mexico with 2 dozen friends, dozens of secret service agents, exclusive hotels, dozens of nannys, they went by themselves, NO PARENTS!!! SECRET SERVICE PAID BY TAXPAYERS WERE BABYSITTERS. The Pres. Or FLOTUS DID NOT GO. Talk about feeling entitled! That Billion could have paid down the national debt alittle. They think they are royalty on our dimes. I'm sick of it.
Bert Ernest
2:20 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
@simple I'd love to see your factual documentation of anything you've just posted. Just so you're aware, People, In Touch and The National Enquirer are not viable sources. TMZ is not a widely used reference. You have no idea what your saying at all.
The Doc
2:37 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
I am sure that john jay will point it out for you.
make my day
3:03 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
@bert ernst: dailycaller.com, conservativebyte.com, amazon.com/politics
You can google it also. No need to read in touch, national enquirer...i like to read REAL NEWS. maybe if you turned off the Obama lapdog news (AKA: MSNBC) you might learn something new.
Christie DaLiar
4:19 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Please tell me you're joking with these sites. So, was the Obama story part of the Gold Box deal, and if so, were you able to score free super-saver shipping?
make my day
3:16 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
@bert: as far as malias mexican trip: theblaze.com, bookwormroom.com/maliaobama, or just google it. There you go. No enquirer needed! You really need to stop watching chris matthews (aka: leg chills).
Christie DaLiar
4:24 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
I heard Christie tortured and ate kittens. This wasn't in some rag like the Enquirer or the New York Times. I saw this on a reputable site: www.christiesucks.com
John Jay
3:21 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Christie has been the only governor to attack the pension problem -- that I know of -- and the Democrats fought him on it.
Janet
3:33 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
http://www.njtanews.blogspot.com/2012/09/sign-pledge-for-fairer-pension-system.html
Pensions are a ripoff for the taxpayer. No one should get their retirement paid for by the taxpayer. Cut it all loose and give them back what they put in and then we can all be equal. Now isn't that fair??
Christie DaLiar
4:19 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Pensions are paid for by the pensioners. State hasn't paid jack in the last 10 years
Janet
4:48 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Odd, what is this $4 million expense item on page 27 of the Wall Twp budget.....looks to me like of the $25 million collected from property taxes, $4 million was for pensions. What would a $4 million dollar a year tax cut feel like? What services would be lost if there was no pension.
http://www.wallnj.com/docs/finance/2012/budget2012.pdf
Sarah
6:12 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
@Christe DaLiar
That is why the State/Christie should return all money back to the pensioners and let them start over all by themselves. Put it in a 401K and divide it equally amongst each other. The Tax payers should not be paying for anyone's pensions. Don't mix up SS with Pensions because you all will also receive SS too. No one pays for anyone's pension but the pensioners and maybe the company might add to it. Not at the rate they expect the tax payers to pay for all these overly priced Administrators that adds a gross amount of monthly pensions when they retired. Again, Ritacco put in approx. 165,000 of his own money in approx. 30 years. If he did not get caught and charged with the crimes he would have received the amount of $165,000 with in a year in a half. If he lived on another 25 years which is possible. Who the heck is paying for this gross amount of pension money every year after? Wow, and this is only one administrators.
Christie DaLiar
7:45 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
True... but do you attack a banking crisis by robbing the banks?
Christie DaLiar
7:53 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Sarah, Christie's friend Ritacco, and the scores of the other superintendents that have robbed the pension system are anomalies, and quite frankly, have been completely unaffected by this pension "reform". Most teachers will wind up with a pension of 40k a year or less.
Refund the pension payments? Fine... as long as the state also included the legally required payments they were also supposed to make, but didn't; I'm sure many teachers would jump at the chance.
Bennies gohome
5:07 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
500lb Govenor ..Puleeze!!! People starving and outta work are u 4 Real?? U vote him in as President and we will laugh at U Seniors who will LOSE your Medicare/SS and Pensions Cant Wait for Greed to Eat Greed..
Christie DaLiar
7:56 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Christie is definitely an obnoxious benny that needs to go home.
Janet
5:13 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
From 2013 state budget - wow $1.1 Billion or 3.4% of the entire budget just for the pensions. Why are 98% of overburdened taxpayers paying for pensions at the state, local and county levels??? It makes no sense. No services need to be cut by eliminating the pensions. In fact, more services and jobs could be added if some of the pension savings went to providing taxpayer benefits and not pension benefits.
This budget contains $1.1 billion for the state’s pension contribution. This is an increase of $587 million over last year’s contribution. This amount represents 3.42% of our entire state budget this year. In terms of absolute dollars, it is the single largest state contribution ever.
Sarah
6:21 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Janet, Absolutely!!
Sarah
6:50 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Governor Christie, Please work on these pension problems. Also can you please make a few laws or mandates not allowing the schools to hire their families and friends. There is to much nepotism and cronyism going on in all schools including the ones who are considered good schools. So many kids are being left out of the equation and is not getting the same fair chance. It is happening everywhere in the State of NJ and nothing could be done. Going to the Superintendent of Schools and BOE is the highest person in the system you can go to. Only to be told lies and the run around. It is happening and they are all in denial. It is so unfair to all the other kids because they are behind other kids that are no better and really did not deserve all the lime light for just their own political motives and exchange of favors amongst family and friends. These schools officials have no conscience of what they are doing to all the rest of the kids who deserve it just as much if not more. You think I am kidding, these special kids of teachers, friends, administrators, Boe members of all these different schools just happen to be the best at everything. What a bunch of bull, they are looking for free college. Please break up this country club atmosphere with in the school. Disband all of them and start all over. Turn them all over to private companies and watch how fast the industry will change. It can't be any worse than it has been.
Janet
7:47 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Christie DaLiar
"And while we're sharing facts, the "promise" was being met just fine until the decade of scum known as the Whitman-McGreevey-Corzine-Christie gang decided not to pay the state's share."
The level of immaturity and lack of knowledge is downright scary. Let's review. Except for Whitman, McGreevey, Codey and Corslime were DEMOCRATS. They were SO busy spending on everything else they had no money left for your precious pensions. Christie has at least made contributions.
Answer this, while they were all spending like drunken sailors and not funding the pensions for 2% of the population, where was the EXTRA money supposed to come from? We already have high sales, income and property taxes. WHERE WOULD THE MONEY COME FROM?? Instead of solar farms, we can have money farms????
Let's just do away with them and give tax relief to the other 98%. Whatdayasay?
Ann
9:14 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Please Governor, go anywhere in the world...Get out of New Jersey!!!
Janet
10:40 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
@christiedaliar
Another bitter teacher I see. Shame. Let us know when you are ready for merit pay. Do pensions make our kids smarter??
You wrote - "Most teachers will wind up with a pension of 40k a year or less."
HOLY S&IT - $40k a year in pension benefits? Not enough. Wow!!! Who the heck gets $40k a year in retirement benefits AND healthcare??
Lets review the math, a teacher works say 30 years at $50k avg pay. that's $1.5 million in earnings. They contribute say 5% of that or $75k. They retire and ONLY get $40k a year x say 20 years, that's $800k. $75k invested to get $800k. What a steal that is!!! Remember that is for 10 months of work.
How many middle class taxpayers have this deal? NONE. Well guess what you are paying for theirs.
Taxpayers have suffered too long with too high taxes to keep paying for the retirement of yours. We need to pay for our own. Time for you to grow up and do the same.
ELIMINATE THE PENSIONS!
Look up your town's pension costs and see what you would save.
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/2012-employer-billing.shtml
frank rizzo
2:00 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
do you remember when teachers, school bus drivers and firemen sent us into 2 unfunded wars, ruined the economy and then gave themselves billions in bonuses for doing so? yeah neither do i.
frank rizzo
2:02 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
meanwhile christie is making $400 million mistakes filling out a form and taking the state copter to wrestlemania at met life stadium. he had his goons drag an iraq war vet out of a town hall meeting because he didnt like the question he was asking. nothing like a 400 pound guy telling you that you need to cut back and show some self dicipline.
Janet
9:49 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
@Frank....good responses. LOL!!! I guess the answer must be for Obama to spend trillions more each year on unfunded entitlements and placing more and more debt on the backs of our children to have 23 million people wake up today and wonder how they will make it to tomorrow. I'm sure paying for pensions really affects our government services. If the pensions were gone, no one would miss the pensions but be grateful for the tax relief when they buy food or gas. Let's ask the unemployed if they want to pay for your pension? Ready to put it to a public vote? AFRAID of the outcome???
Spooner
1:20 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Janet- eliminating pensions and not have something to fall back on...is unrealistic. Why would anyone take public sector jobs, if you eliminated pensions, medical benefits, and offered mediocre wages? Way back when. . .as I understood being a public servant. . .it was a service to the community. You weren't paid much but you had good medical coverage and early retirement...if you wanted to move on to earn more money in private industry after you served your community. . .then the unions showed up, and we began to have parity wage&benefit fights, with one sector or town playing catch up to the other, while the taxpayers kept footing the ever growing bill. . .
Ronnie
2:41 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
@spooner I totally disagree. There are lots of people that will take these jobs for the salary alone plus they might have a 401k like the rest of us and some form of healthcare...remember it is a LAW to provide coverage now. The pay is competitive. We don't need to allure of hefty pensions and healthcare which was the arguement once upon a time. The average teacher pay is $70k and the average cop pay is $100k. Do you really think people would not line up around the blocks just to have the job with that salary? Look up starting pay for a teacher or cop vs a college graduate. There is parity. Qualified people have a choice. Why are we afraid of this change? Those who earned their pensions get it. Those who are still in the system get it paid back and we close it out. It's not that hard. I worked at Verizon Wireless and that is exactly what they did. Now, I would talk about merit pay but that is asking too much.......
John
10:47 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Janet, Great Point...Personally I feel a lot of issues need to be put to a vote in the towns, states and federal level...Yes, they are all afraid of the outcome. Get rid of the BOE, Useless, Legislators and Senators...Useless. Let the people decide. Take the Judges that voted for themselves. What a Joke, I can guarantee you if they put that to a vote, 98% would be against the Judges decision. Just ridiculous... I don't want to pay for anyone's pensions or benefits...let everyone pay for themselves.
Janet
12:24 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
They want us to vote on minimum wage laws but not giving out pensions and benefits. Sad. Of course, we all know the two chambers are run by Democrats and Democrats don't support eliminating the pensions or benefits for their base. No NJ taxpayer should be paying taxes for the pension of someone else. Everyone take care of themself!
Spooner
12:56 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
John- the Judges paying is on the November ballot as a question. So you and others will have an opportunity to weigh in there...
Janet
1:00 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
VOTE YES to make Judge's pay more for their PENSIONS. It is a start.
If only this question were on the ballot
Do you want to continue to pay sales, income, county and local taxes to fund the pensions for our unions at your own retirement expense?
Janet
1:10 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Found the ballot question. Thanks for the reminder Spooner.
The questions New Jersey voters will face in November specifically states:
“ Do you approve an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution, as agreed to by the Legislature, to allow contributions set by law to be taken from the salaries of Supreme Court Justices and Superior Court Judges for their employee benefits?"
VOTE YES!!!
butch cassidy
1:28 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
janet i am lovin you girl!! and maybe they can go even further and eliminate judges who get more than one pension...the one in lacey gets at least 3 that i know of...toms river lacey seaside and others
Ronnie
2:34 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
I'm with you Jenny!! We the people need to educate one another on these abuses and show people where all this wasteful spending goes. We can still make a difference!!
Brick res
3:24 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Why should we trust Governor Christie? When he starts distributing the correct property tax relief funding allocation to the Municipalities as intended, maybe I'll reconsider my lack of trust in him. Stop appointed political folk to high-paying appointed positions - simply because they served your party well. Sick and tired of the 30-second sound bites and no Property Tax Relief in site anytime soon!
John
4:36 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Jenny Jones, That would be nice, we have a lot of those getting away with 3 pensions, we need to work on the political abuse going on the in the public schools, they need to put that to a vote too as Janet stated. They all are a bunch of pigs and lets get rid of all the BOE members too. They are giving away tax payers money with all the wheeling and dealing for their own self interests. It has become abusive to the point of embarrassment. I don't know how these individuals sleep at night.
John
6:26 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Ronnie....I so... do agree with you... I would not mind making 60,000 in a public position, I will split the health insurance and go with a 401K and be very happy. I know many that would love that deal... All these people who are against changing the system and abuse are the one who are benefiting by it all. STOP THE ABUSE NOW!
sam shore
11:07 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Ok will be the 1st to admit do not know alot about politcs, BUT I Do Like CC & think it will be a good balance will Romney, It seems to when you get down to nuts & bolds they have the same goals. ( maybe disagree on some personal issues) But as far as our state goes I think it will be a good mix ...
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
11:28 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Spoke at length with a Lockheed Martin Engineer, yesterday - they are more than a little familiar with the application of nuclear power...via the United States Navy. This is right up his alley, as an IRAD exec (Internal Research and Development). We both agreed on the lunacy of building a solid to air heat exchanger when an opportunity exists to use CPW (Controlled Pure Water), resin-bed technology, and the heat exchange "wells" we discussed. NDA for now, though, as we may be jointly seeking a patent on the design, if it does not interfere with existing patents. The only drawback, as you and I know from Len Marshall, Candidate in District Four for Congress as a "Democratic-Republican", that, with regard to well placement - "here there be dragons" if you were to dig randomly on the site.
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
11:29 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The reason for the push to the new power plants proposed by Christie (in other communities, and running on LNG...a non-renewable resource primarily produced overseas, or eventually here by "FRACKING", which is a huge environmental risk) is because they can shuffle the clean up off onto the State - meaning "us". Set up for a cooling system as we discussed would be a FRACTION of the 800,000,000 figure bandied about. Nuclear works, and is safe, using today's technologies, but so does/is Wind, Solar (including solar "furnace" technology - see Lockheed's "Pilot Plant" off Borton Landing Road? - a test bed - not final engineering).
Rick
3:52 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Fracking has been used for almost 100 years and suddenly since the Chinese want to sell solar energy sytems here it has become an environmental issue?
If you were to cover the entire Oyster Creek property with solar panels they would barely create electricty to power the building that are on that property.
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
4:07 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Stockton is also a pioneer in Geothermal Applications.
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
4:21 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Housing II and III are powered almost wholly by solar covering over the parking lots.
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
4:08 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Rick, my comment between the last and yours is missing...
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
4:14 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Rick - message me, if you will. A long, detailed explanation of my position regarding Solar, Geothermal, Wind, Nuclear, etc. has disappeared.
Fracking is an older process...one which I am very familiar with. I have several friends who own shale/oil leases in Ohio, WV, and Western PA. The process has an environmental price tag - make no mistake...AND those States are trying to arrange delivery of the tainted wastewater to NJ for Treatment. Meanwhile, I would never imply that a solar installation would generate as much power as a nuclear generating station IN THE SAME FOOTPRINT, but there are nearly 500 acres out there. Not recommending this as a substitute - rather, as an ENHANCEMENT to production. Maybe my far-better worded comments will show up, again, but re-typing redacted commentary is getting tiresome. Anyone who wants to discuss this with me personally may e-mail me at wcprv@hotmail.com - I'll share what I know, and ask what you know - it's like the old saw about rolodexes - when two people exchange rolodexes, BOTH have TWO.
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
4:16 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
That goes for ANYONE else who has a question to ask about this or any other issue related to my candidacy.
I have a phone number for messages only that feeds directly to my e-mail if, for some reason, you would prefer to speak your mind rather than type...1-732-908-3120
bo bo bagens
5:03 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
We have a 1.3 trillion annual budget deficit and $16 trillion in national debt. The federal government needs to borrow money to pay the interest costs on the debt. That is obviously bad.
What will you do to cut the annual budget deficit and get us on track to reduce the debt?