"Abracadabra!" . or Not
Posted June 16, 2008

We think it’s a safe bet that Governor Corzine is none too happy with the results of a recent Quinnipiac University poll. According to the poll, released Wednesday morning, the governor’s job approval stands at just 38 percent, with 52 percent disapproving. These numbers are among his lower ratings yet. And when it comes to the state budget, the news for the governor is even worse, with voters disapproving 57-30 percent of the way Corzine is handling the budget.

While Republicans, not surprisingly, disapprove of Corzine by a large majority – 68-23 percent – even Democrats are anything but enthusiastic for their party’s highest-ranking state official, only giving him a 49-41 percent approval rating. What may be almost equally alarming for the governor, however, is his standing among independents, who outnumber Democrats and Republicans, respectively, in the state and who traditionally vote Democratic. The poll found Independents disapprove of the governor 54-36 percent.

In terms of the state’s fiscal situation itself, 66 percent of voters see New Jersey’s budget problems as “very serious,” while 29 percent view them as “somewhat serious.” (We invite those 29 percent to read previous editions of the Musings!)

And regarding the overall state of affairs within New Jersey, 68 percent of voters responded that they are “somewhat dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied,” and 32 percent are “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied.” In numbers less stark, 50 percent think conditions in New Jersey have remained the same since Corzine took office in 2006. A full 39 percent think they have gotten worse, while only a scant 10 percent believe things have actually improved.

According to Clay F. Richards, Assistant Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, the governor’s numbers, while not unexpected, do not bode well for his 2009 re-election effort. “The drop in Gov. Jon Corzine’s approval rating isn’t surprising given his fumbles with the state budget this year and the increasingly difficult economy,” Richards said, adding, “The Governor is going to have to pull a rabbit out of a hat in the upcoming budget debate this month if he wants to get his numbers back on track and get in shape for next year’s re-election bid.”

But Corzine has yet to give an indication that he even has a proverbial rabbit hidden.

Yet, while he tries to find one, the legislature is not doing much on its part to inspire confidence either. As the Courier-Post reports,

The state Legislature is moving closer to approving a state budget, yet the news out of Trenton surrounding the budget these days isn’t exactly what taxpayers want to hear. Lawmakers are scrambling to find ways to reinstate certain programs and expenditures. Democrats are even talking about continuing a utilities tax set to expire in 2010.

Yes, that’s right, as New Jerseyans struggle to make ends meet amid outrageous costs of living and sky-high property taxes, some legislators actually oppose getting rid of a tax that is already set to expire and support putting more spending back into the budget!  It’s no wonder the Quinnipiac poll also found that the public’s negative impression of New Jersey’s leadership extended to the state legislature, which earned a 57-26 percent disapproval rating, with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all giving a ‘thumbs down.’

Consider this: In 1998, then-Governor Whitman signed a state budget that totaled $18.1 billion. Only ten years later, that number has burgeoned to $33 billion. (See Courier-Post article.) With a decade-long spending spree this size, it’s no wonder we’ve lost confidence in our leaders!

It’s time for them to stop the talk, stop the gimmicks, and start taking the obvious, plain-as-the-nose-on-your-face steps of cutting spending, eliminating government waste, abuse, and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars, cutting taxes, and providing meaningful property tax relief.

We have heard of governors from other states who, when faced with deficit situations, have delivered the message to their cabinet that they expect equal cuts of a certain percentage across the board in every department head’s budget – and any department head unwilling to be part of the process to work for the state’s taxpayers can submit his or her resignation.

There is no magic rabbit to save the day, and our elected officials would do well to stop looking for one and perhaps start proposing across the board cuts, not cherry picking certain programs. Certainly, holding spending at last year’s level is a step in the right direction. But hard times require tough leadership, and it appears, based on the people’s opinion, our governor is not delivering the leadership required.  

 

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