The non-essential government services here in New Jersey have been shut down for a fifth day while the governor and the state legislature wrangle over the state's budget. No one in the legislature wants to admit it, but New Jersey has been on a bit of a spending spree in the last few years, and the time has come to get the state's financial house in order.
The bottom line with the new budget that Governor Corzine proposed is that sales tax will go from 6% to 7%, though it still won't apply to food or clothing. We won't get any property tax relief, which is a pain because property taxes here are pretty high. But for now, while the government staring contest continues, the casinos and state lottery have been shut down and people seem annoyed.
I think of all of this as so much grand-standing, so I am amused. And, if the truth be told, I think that the Governor is trying to do right by the state. I figured that the legislature would cave last night so I am surprised that the fracas continues this morning. Now I wonder if the Governor may start making concessions to the legislature.
I mostly view state politics as a fly in the room ----- you gotta pay attention, but it isn't the really big deal of life. But this week, NJ has stepped up and I'm interested.
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