Category: Uncategorized

>Balanced Budget Amendment is the Key to Addressing our Fiscal Crisis

Just last week, House Republicans put forth an honest solution to address our nation’s debt crisis by passing the Cut, Cap and Balance Act with bipartisan support.  This was a straightforward, common-sense approach that satisfied the president’s request to raise the debt ceiling while tackling our country’s addiction to debt by reining in Washington’s out of control spending.

The bill would immediately cut the deficit by $111 billion in 2012, institute enforceable caps on spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) over the next ten years, and require a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution to avoid ever having to face this problem again.  Unfortunately, Senate Democrats tabled the bill, essentially killing the bipartisan effort of the House without so much as debating, much less voting, on the measure.

So here we are, just four days out from President Obama’s August 2nd deadline and we still have not seen action from Democrats in the Senate to address our debt crisis.  Furthermore, in the case of President Obama, we haven’t even been told what his plan is to raise the debt ceiling.  Understanding the urgency of forging a solution that can pass both chambers of Congress, House Republicans stepped up to the plate again today by putting forth yet another proposal to raise the debt ceiling—the Budget Control Act of 2011.

As Speaker Boehner will readily admit, the bill brought to the House floor today is far from perfect.  It is not the ideal solution that I or many of my Republican colleagues would like to see come out of this process, but it does satisfy the president’s request to raise the debt ceiling while upholding our commitment to equal-or-greater spending cuts and enacting a balanced budget amendment.  Since Senate Democrats and the Obama administration have drawn a hard line and opposed every good-faith effort by Republicans to reach a compromise, it is my sincere hope that they finally meet us halfway by getting on board with this sensible solution to resolving our country’s debt crisis.

President Obama continues to publicly oppose this bill, arguing that the two-step process in which the debt ceiling will be raised would force us to have to revisit this debate again six months from now.  The President has also expressed opposition to a balanced budget amendment, naively claiming that “we don’t need a constitutional amendment to do our jobs.”

What remains a mystery to me, is why the president, who seems so intent on avoiding this issue in the future, opposes the very thing that will prevent us from ever facing this crisis again.  A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, by its very design, is the only mechanism that will prevent us from having to address this issue again in the future.  Should we not choose this path to budgetary reform, not only will we be saddled with another crisis down the road, but the severity of the situation at that point will be far worse and require even tougher sacrifices.

This is a moment of profound importance for the future of our country.  We have an opportunity to reverse a 50-year trend towards out of control spending and unfunded entitlements that threaten to destroy our country from the inside out.  Just this week, The Wall Street Journal published an editorial explaining the crushing burden our entitlement programs have on our federal budget process.  According to The Wall Street Journal, “The looming debt downgrade only confirms what everyone knows: Congress has made so many promises to so many Americans that there is no conceivable way those promises can be kept.  Tax rates might have to rise to 60%, 70%, even 80% to raise the revenues to finance these promises, but that would be economically ruinous.”

If we do nothing, if we sit back and let this cancer grow, we risk becoming the next Greece.  Speaker Boehner’s Budget Control Act of 2011 is not perfect, but it does take that bold first step in the right direction.  It sets the stage for this Congress to make real structural reforms to give our children and our grandchildren hope that they, too, will grow up in a land of opportunity with the freedom to pursue their own American dream.

Sincerely,

Scott Garrett

 

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photos courtesy of Boyd loving 

photos courtesy of Boyd loving 
Busted 


Ridgewood NJ – A vehicle owned by the Village of Ridgewood, and being driven by a Village employee, was stopped on South Maple Avenue earlier this week in connection with a checkpoint established by Ridgewood PD and the NJ Division of Motor Vehicles (NJDMV).
 
The vehicle was observed to be displaying a NJDMV inspection sticker that expired in April of 2010 (yes, 2010 – see for yourself).
 
Inspectors from NJDMV conducted an emissions test using equipment in their Mobile Inspection Unit.  The vehicle passed all emissions tests and no summons was issued to the driver because he possessed a valid license, 
vehicle registration, and insurance card


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>the dysfunction of Cottage Place

This BOE allows Regina to wreck havoc upon our curriculum. They haven’t a clue how to run a district. Jack is the best thing that has happened to the Ridgewood Public School system in years. It will be a sad day when he leaves us.

With his family moving, it is only a matter of time before he goes too. Wake up Ridgewood and ask yourselves, why does such a fine principal leave us.

The answer is simple… the dysfunction of Cottage Place. We loose a great principal because our BOE and the people who support them refuse to see the problem and believe all the BS that the Admins shovel at them.

We wish Jack’s family well. Alabama’s gain is Ridgewood’s loss

>Global Warming Hoax: Arctic scientist under investigation

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Just five years ago, Charles Monnett was one of the scientists whose observation that several polar bears had drowned in the Arctic Ocean helped galvanize the global warming movement.

Now, the wildlife biologist is on administrative leave and facing accusations of scientific misconduct.

The federal agency where he works told him he was on leave pending the results of an investigation into “integrity issues.” A watchdog group believes it has to do with the 2006 journal article about the bear, but a source familiar with the investigation said late Thursday that placing Monnett on leave had nothing to with scientific integrity or the article.

https://news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-arctic-scientist-under-investigation-082217993.html

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Developer abandons 205 Lotte Rd. leaves it in Blighted Condition 

Seven years ago Suresh Sharma of Ho Ho Kus razed the house on the corner of Lotte Rd. and Lincoln Ave. better known as 205 Lotte Rd. Since that time he has maintained a construction site that has become a blight on our neighborhood.

Several years ago a group of neighbors went before the Mayor and Council to seek a solution, which never materialized. Today a partially constructed house with a rotting plywood frame occupies the garbage-strewed lot. A bunch of rebars is seen among the trees; piles of gravel remain untouched for months, and a porta potty is present for workers who never appear but is often used by passing drivers.

This disgraceful site has aversely affected our property values, robs the Village of Ridgewood of valuable tax dollars, and is a thumb in the eye of everyone in the neighborhood.

That’s why I have decided to try to do something. I have prepared photo posters of the site and intend to present them to the Mayor and Council. I will prepare a letter signed by all who support this effort and send it to Mr. Sharma. And finally I will attempt to have an article published in the local newspapers about Mr. Sharma’s construction site.

I hope you can support this effort. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Please contact me at 255 Lotte Rd. Ridgewood, N.J., 201-410-6025, drpsa2@verizon.net.

Hoping for Your Support,
Philip Affuso

>The Debt Ceiling: Just the Facts
Garrett discusses the ongoing debate to
raise the debt ceiling on CNN.

Each year, Congress is tasked with the job of establishing a budgetary framework to dictate how the federal government will spend its money.  When the decision is made to spend more than the amount we take in, we have to finance the excess spending by accruing debt that must later be paid off.

Over the course of history, borrowing by the federal government has been a common practice.  Many presidential administrations have run deficits and many have added substantially to the national debt.  Additionally, many Congresses have raised the debt ceiling before.  In fact, since 1962, Congress has voted 74 separate times to raise the debt ceiling.

Given our country’s penchant for taking on more debt, one has to wonder why it is so difficult to do it again this time. Why all the sudden is Congress so opposed to extending the borrowing limit when they’ve done it so many times before?  The answer becomes much clearer when we consider a few facts.

In 1980, the national debt represented just over 40% of the nation’s entire economy.  Today, this figure has grown to represent 100% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and our debt is projected to double the size of our economy by 2035.  Since 1960, total government spending at all levels has risen from 27% to 37% of GDP and is set to reach 50% by 2038 under the current projections.

Our nation’s entitlement programs are becoming so large – and will consume such a significant portion of our finances – that it will be impossible for us to fund other areas of our government without borrowing substantially from the rest of the world at very high interest rates.

As you can see, while past administrations and Congresses have had the luxury of extending the borrowing limit with relatively little consequences to the overall economy, I think we can all agree that we’ve reached a moment of reckoning.  If we do nothing, if we choose to put off the tough decision for another day, we are at risk of becoming the next Greece.

So the question remains: How do we move forward?

There are many competing proposals that are floating around that can become complicated and confusing for everyone following at home.  The approach that I and many House and Senate Republicans have put forth would cut government spending by $111 billion next year and place enforceable caps on discretionary spending levels going forward.  And to avoid this issue in the future, it would require Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution in exchange for raising the debt ceiling to the level requested by the president.  This plan would seek to tackle the deficit through spending restraints, not tax increases.

The competing proposals are very different in nature, but ultimately have the same end goal in mind, which is to restore the prosperity of our great nation.  I respect my colleagues across the aisle and understand their motivations for supporting the approach they’ve endorsed.  These are certainly tough choices that will affect many Americans and will make unfortunate cuts to some popular programs.

As Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I can assure you that these cuts are not being made as a function of protecting “special interests” or targeting helpless victims.  Instead, these are being made in response to a 50-year trend of fiscal irresponsibility and excess spending that forced us to this point.  This is exactly the kind of discipline and honesty we need right now in Washington to avoid even harsher predicaments in the future.

>PSE&G : The old street light scam is back in the news once again

the fly wonders if the Village is still paying the same rate to PSEG even though some 250 plus street lights have been out or missing the better part of this decade..

Seems the old street light scam is back in the news once again . Several years ago a Village resident and engineer noticed the case of the disappearing street lights  and reported it to the Village council . The resident met with disdain and was written off by the powers that be . Since that time sources at the County Seat  have confirmed this is a county wide problem.

Inside sources tell the fly the the Village is charged by PSEG for a certain number of street lights , yet often when  a light goes dark its is never replaced or in some cases when a utility pole is removed or replaced the light is not put back on the pole .

The Mayor has noticed the Village is still paying the bill for these lights regardless and the fly is “sure” that PSEG is making every effort to adjust the Villages electric rate for the missing lights , hummmm I wonder….

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Join Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Wisdom Panel Photo Contest! Upload a photo of your mixed breed dog to The Ridgewood Vet Facebook wall (www.facebook.com/ridgewoodvet). The top 3 dogs with the most “likes” by August 15th will win a free Wisdom Panel Professional, Mixed Breed Genetic Analysis and a gift vertificate to the hospital! Please download the attached flyer for official rules. Good Luck! 

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Did Ridgewood apply with the NJDOT and NJT to become a “Transit Village”

I would like to know whether it is true that we are a “Transit Village”. According the the state of NJ website, https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/village/


“Municipalities must meet the Transit Village Criteria and complete a Transit Village Application in order to be designated a Transit Village”


Did Ridgewood apply? I am not passing judgement on whether “Transit Village” is good or bad, but would like to get at whether it is factual that we are one

“The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ TRANSIT spearhead a multi-agency Smart Growth partnership known as the Transit Village Initiative. The Transit Village Initiative create incentives for municipalities to redevelop or revitalize the areas around transit stations using design standards of transit-oriented development (TOD). TOD helps municipalities create attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods where people can live, shop, work and play without relying on automobiles.

Municipalities that are committed to TOD may be eligible for NJDOT Transit Village designation.
The Transit Village Initiative is an excellent model for Smart Growth because it encourages growth in areas where infrastructure and public transit already exist. Municipalities must meet the Transit Village Criteria and complete a Transit Village Application in order to be designated a Transit Village

In addition to community revitalization, the Transit Village Initiative seeks to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by increasing transit ridership. Studies have shown that adding residential housing options within walking distance of a transit facility; typically a one-half mile radius, increases transit ridership more than any other type of development. Therefore, one of the goals of the Transit Village Initiative is to bring more housing, businesses and people into the neighborhoods around transit stations.”

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/village/

 

>Reader thinks fines for stray shopping carts is a bit over the top 

I live on the westside not far from town. From time to time I’ll find shopping a cart on the sidewalk nearby (usually Stop & Shop). I call the respective supermarket & the next time I check it, it is gone.

Maybe the problem is the neighbors don’t call the supermarkets to retrieve their property. It’s hard to fathom what (& why) bureaucratic measures the village has taken against such useful (&nice) stores.

P.S. I have found them jutting into the road & just place them neatly on the sidewalk for the store pickup.

>Is Ridgewood semi-urban?

This was first mentioned id Ed Sullivan’s tribute to Paul Aronsohn — the relevant passage is “well capitalized companies will be able to undertake and complete the kind of large scale projects that are needed that are needed to transform Ridgewood into a thriving semi-urban environment that will offer an array of desirable high wage jobs along with upscale living accommodations that will befit a younger,more upwardly mobile population.”

While semi-urban isn’t a technically defined term, it is clear what Sullivan has in mind –
large scale projects, Ridgewood becoming a place of work for high scale jobs, and attracting what used to be called yuppies.

1. I like Ridgewood the way it is.
2. Yuppies like a place like Hoboken or the new Jersey City area that is a short jump into NYC, so I don’t think Ridgewood is a likely destination (till they have families).
3. Businesses also Hoboken, the “new” Jersey City, Weehawken, because of quick ferry, path, bus into NYC. I don’t think we can compete even if we wanted to

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>Rick Perry Accuses Obama Of Leaving Astronauts To ‘Hitchhike Into Space’
July 21, 2011 3:03 PM

ABC News’ Michael Falcone (@michaelpfalcone) reports:

As America bids farewell to the space shuttle era on Thursday, likely presidential candidate Rick Perry appears none too pleased with the Obama administration, accusing the president of “leaving American astronauts with no alternative but to hitchhike into space.”

In a sharply worded statement issued by the governor of Texas — the state is home to the Johnson Space Center — Perry charges that the Obama Administration “continues to lead federal agencies and programs astray, this time forcing NASA away from its original purpose of space exploration, and ignoring its groundbreaking past and enormous future potential.”

https://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/07/rick-perry-accuses-obama-of-leaving-astronauts-to-hitchhike-into-space.html

>Some Latin American presidents mock U.S. for debt woes
By Brian Winter

SAO PAULO, July 20 (Reuters) – After three decades spent battling their own debt crises and getting constantly lectured about them by Uncle Sam, many Latin Americans are watching the countdown to a possible default in Washington with a mix of schadenfraude and fear of what a collapse might mean for them.

For everybody from presidents on down to street vendors, seeing U.S. politicians argue over where to make painful budget cuts has also been a reminder that those days are over in Latin America. For now, at least, as most of the region enjoys an era of economic prosperity and comparatively tiny deficits.

https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/20/latinamerica-usa-idUSN1E76J09H20110720

>Scott Garrett : End of the Line: Our Last Chance for Spending Sanity
By Rep. Scott Garrett
July 19, 2011

Here we are, just days from a defining moment for this Congress and our nation as a whole – raising the amount of money the United States government can continue to borrow. Rarely in life do we have retrospective vision on failed policies as well as foresight to see an imminent disaster. It is equally rare to be handed an opportunity to correct those problems and make decisions, even if they are not popular, that will affect every future generation of Americans.

Of course, we all know President Obama is asking Congress for another blank check to borrow and spend as he wishes. We also know – from the comical budget he presented to Congress earlier this year – the president is not at all serious about addressing the reality of our $14 trillion national debt and the $188 million that we add to it every hour.

A lot has been said about the catastrophic consequences of not raising the debt limit. I agree, the debt ceiling must be raised, but I firmly believe that failing to immediately address federal spending presents the same risk to our country as failing to raise the debt ceiling. It is crucial that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle understand this is a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Maintaining good credit means more than raising your credit card limit.

I have yet to hear a convincing argument that can explain how taking money away from businesses and corporations as they begin to turn a profit creates jobs. With unemployment locked in above 9% nationally, it is amazing to think that anyone would even offer raising taxes as a feasible solution.

Every dollar the federal government takes out of the American economy is a dollar that cannot be used by American companies and entrepreneurs to create jobs and grow the economy. That is why I will not vote for a debt ceiling increase that involves any tax increases on any segment of the American population. Period.

My colleagues and I in the Republican Study Committee (RSC) have proposed a “Cut, Cap and Balance” solution to end our spending addiction and pay off our nation’s debt. This three-pronged approach would both rein in spending now and ensure we never end up with $14 trillion in debt ever again.

Here’s how it works:

The first step is making discretionary and mandatory spending reductions that would cut the deficit in half next year. This includes evaluating every aspect of the federal government, including entitlement programs.

The second step is setting enforceable caps to align federal spending with average revenues at 18% of GDP. This includes enforcing automatic spending reductions if the caps are breached in any given year.

Finally, the last step is passing a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. Congress’s past failure to produce balanced budgets is a major cause of the fiscal crisis facing the country. It is past time that Congress accepts a limit on its runaway spending so that the federal government can join the 49 states that already govern with some form of a balanced budget.

Of course, it will not be easy to convince my colleagues to support this plan. It involves making difficult decisions and confronting years of irresponsible behavior dating back to before many of us began to serve. Real solutions are not necessarily easy solutions. But given the dangerous condition of our nation’s fiscal health, and the long-standing desire to leave our country in a better state for the next generation, we must recognize that tough choices will be necessary.

No one wants to clean up someone else’s mess, but our constituents sent us to Washington to make difficult decisions. At the end of the day, every Member of Congress will be faced with the question: “What did you do to preserve economic freedom for future generations?

>PSE&G Ready to Meet High Electric Demand

(July 19, 2011 – Newark, NJ) – As hot and humid weather once again grips the region, PSE&G has taken steps to meet the expected high demand for electricity. The state’s largest utility is monitoring weather conditions and the impact on its delivery system. Although PSE&G expects to have no problem delivering the additional power, utility crews are at the ready to respond to service interruptions should they occur. The company has been advised by PJM, the regional grid operator, that power supplies are expected to be adequate to meet the increased demand.  PJM has not issued any request to cut back on power.

Customers can take the following steps to stay comfortable and conserve in heat situations:

• Turn off everything you’re not using, including TVs and computers.
• If health conditions permit, raise your air conditioner to 78 degrees. You can save 3 to 5 percent on air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.
• Also use fans to circulate air. Portable and ceiling fans use a tenth of the electricity of an air conditioner and can make 78 degrees feel cooler than it actually is.
• Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to block summer light and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently.
• Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms.
• Check to ensure that no furniture or other obstacles are blocking ducts or fans, which will enable cooled air to circulate more frequently.
• Cook and use other heat-generating appliances in the early morning and late evening hours whenever possible.
To view demonstrations of how to save energy in your home, visit PSEG’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/psegvideo

For more energy saving tips and to conduct a free online home energy analysis, visit www.pseg.com/saveenergy.  Click onto the “At Home with Energy Star” video podcast.