Ridgewood NJ, in a new survey, certified public accountants (CPA’s) in New Jersey believe the spending plan put forth by Gov. Phil Murphy would be bad for the Garden State.
Nearly 75 percent of the 786 NJCPA members responded to the survey conducted earlier this month said New Jersey’s economy would either get “significantly worse” (31 percent) or “marginally worse” (44 percent) over the long term under Governor Murphy’s proposed budget plan.
Ralph Albert Thomas, the CEO and executive director at the NJ Society of CPAs, says when members were asked about Murphy’s budget proposal “and the impact it would have on the economy going forward, an overwhelming 74 percent said that it would get worse, and 31 percent said it would get significantly worse.”
Meanwhile just 14 percent of respondents said Murphy’s proposed spending plan would help the Jersey economy.
MONROE TOWNSHIP NJ, in an interesting turn of events Senate President Steve Sweeney today told business leaders that major changes in New Jersey’s fiscal policy and government structure are needed to make the state competitive and affordable, and vowed that the Legislature’s leadership will have the political will to make the necessary changes.
Seems that years of running the state into the ground has taken its tool ,“We cannot tax our way out of this fiscal crisis,” Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said at a New Jersey Business and Industry Association forum. “The problems we face – from pensions to school funding, from health care costs to property taxes – are deep-rooted and complex, and the solutions are politically difficult. But I promise you that we will have the political will on a bipartisan basis to make the changes we need to make New Jersey competitive and affordable.”
Senator Sweeney praised the ongoing efforts of the economists, academics and tax policy experts serving on the Economic and Fiscal Policy Working Group he convened under the bipartisan leadership of Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex) and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) to find solutions to the state’s long-term fiscal crisis. Assembly Budget Chair Eliana Pintor-Marin (D-Essex) and Senators Anthony Bucco Sr. (R-Morris) and Dawn Addiego (R-Burlington) are also serving on the panel.
“This initiative grew out of our concern over the impact of the federal tax law, which unfairly targets high-cost states like New Jersey by virtually eliminating the personal income tax deduction for state and local income, property and sales taxes,” said Senator Sweeney. “We are doing everything we can to reduce the impact, including developing legislation to enable S corporations, LLCs and partnerships to pay the state income tax liabilities of their owners and partners. These businesses will be able to deduct $35 billion in taxes as a result of our work.
“But we realize that it isn’t enough to just respond to the federal tax law. We have to do more – a lot more. Our panel will be coming out with a series of recommendations that will bolster our underfunded pension systems, control health care costs, hold down property taxes and ensure that government services are delivered with efficiency and cost-effectiveness at the level of government that makes the most sense.”
Senator Sweeney said the panel is undertaking a long-overdue examination of the adequacy, fairness and competitiveness of New Jersey’s state and local tax structure, and benchmarking New Jersey tax levels against other states.
“We are committed to making New Jersey competitive and affordable in order to attract jobs and businesses, bolster housing values and make our state a desirable location for millennials to create start-ups, for young families to choose to raise their children, and for senior citizens to retire.”
Trenton NJ, while you been buy on the local election campaign Governor Murphy just handed out a nice payback to the unions that got him elected .Governor Phil Murphy said at the time he doesn’t know the cost to taxpayers of raises he gave to 35,000 New Jersey state workers, members of a union that supported his candidacy.
Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi said , “Maybe these raises are warranted, maybe they aren’t, but how could our Governor authorize them without having some idea of what they would cost the taxpayers of New Jersey???
P.S. it’s over $148 million ”
UPDATE: Below please find today’s press release from the Governor’s office which discusses preliminary increased costs of $149 million.
State of New Jersey
Murphy Administration Releases Total State Cost of Contract Settlement with the Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO
Trenton – Today, the Murphy Administration released the total projected state cost of its recent contract settlement with the Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO:
The total projected state cost of the contract is approximately $148.9 million.
Of this total, $78 million is related to the unprecedented suspension of step increments and clothing allowances by the Christie Administration dating back to FY 2016.
A fiscal year breakdown of the projected costs may be found below. Retroactive payouts for FY 2016 and FY 2017 are assumed in the Fiscal Year 2018 adjusted appropriation:
FY Payout Total
FY16 Retro $24.0 million
FY17 Retro $34.7 million
FY18 Retro $41.4 million
FY 19 Projected $48.8 million
Grand Total $148.9 million
Because of the duration of the retroactivity and the details of the contract negotiations, final totals will not be available until programming is completed.
Ridgewood NJ, Why is it that Erin Chung and her ever growing face book group “women for progress” is involving herself in our local election?
Her group stemmed out of the outrage people felt after Trump was elected. It claims to promote women involving themselves in politics and the political process- as long as they’re Democrats. That advances a percentage of women, but not all. Leave one behind, you may as well leave us all.
She has actively worked to promote Harwin and flat out refused to meet or speak with Susan Knudsen. How and why? Unless she has determined which person promotes her viewpoint- in our NON PARTISAN election!?
Beyond that, what stake does she have? That she has now opted to delete and censor any comments on that page which are against Harwin, she has removed members of that group who support Knudsen Sedon and she will not accept in to her group many members of our Indian community. Why? Is it her personal involvement with Phil Murphy and Paul Aronsohn? Again, this is a non partisan local election. Not the next coming of the Democratic Party.
What actually is going on behind the scenes at women for progress, and what actually is Erin Chung looking to gain from a non partisan election in a town she doesn’t live in? Another notch in the belt? She can claim she helped advance another dem woman in to an office- at ANY expense. At OUR expense. For a national political party which should not matter to any of us here in Ridgewood.
Stay out of it Erin Chung, you are taking your good idea and turning in to a power hungry, monster on the backs of neighboring towns. This is one fight you’re going to have to stay the heck out of. My guess is as smart as you are, you can’t even speak to the pressing issues here in town, and why should you? But since you can’t, then stay out of it! And for gods sake, fact check these people. You’re involving yourself in the spread of lies and slander in the name of progressing women.
That Mayor Knudsen felt the need to graciously respond on your page- despite the utter disrespect you’ve shown HER as a woman and a community leader, says so much about her, and the campaign she and Mike Sedon are running, and not much at all about you, Erin.
Long story short, Harwin is not qualified to sit on the council in Ridgewood at this time. She isn’t versed in the issues- although she may be rehearsed. Her campaign is being run by Paul Aronsohn, Roberta Sonenfeld and Al Pucciarelli. 2 of those people have pending ethics violations with the state. All of them were seen out of their positions in shame after they marred the landscape of this village permanently. We don’t want them back. Not in the form of Harwin, or any form for that matter.
Vote Mike Sedon and Susan Knudsen on May 8th. They’ve put in the time, they have the experience, they’re dedicated and they have not had to run a campaign based on lies and horrible slander, rather their track record of service and knowledge.
Florham Park NJ, in what looks like the first of many, baby food giant Gerber food said Monday that it will be closing its headquarters in Florham Park and moving to Arlington, Virginia, beginning the transition in January 2019.
Gerber will move operations to the same building as its sister company Nestle USA, which also recently relocated to the Washington D.C. area, the company said in a statement.
This leaves close to 180 New Jerseyans will be out of a job mostly in corporate positions such as marketing, finance and HR. The company will offer a chance to relocate, as well as severance and outpatient support for those that can’t make the move.
A congratulations to Governor Murphy , who’s policies seem destine to produce the final mass exodus of companies and labor from the state of New Jersey.
“People always say to me I hate Politics, I can’t deal w all the back and forth and the fighting. Well Politics is all around you. Its in that check you write to your Mortgage Company every month and its in the Schools you drive your kids to everyday. NJ Politicians have completely lost control especially in Bergen and Passaic Counties and they don’t want you to know it. We pay the most ridiculous amount in taxes yet we know the least about what’s happening in Our Town and County Governments. It defies all logic. “
Ridgewood NJ, Senatorial candidate Bob Hugin reminds us of the anniversary of our ethically challenged senator ‘s indictment . There is no special schedule for New Jersey Transit or state holiday planned .
“New Jersey deserves a Senator who will represent them with honesty and integrity in Washington and fight for them every day—not one who spends his time trying to stay one step ahead of the law.” said Hugin Communications Director Megan Piwowar. “The more voters compare Menendez’s failed, corrupt track record with Bob Hugin’s background as a former Marine and job-creating business leader, we are confident that New Jersey voters will elect Bob Hugin and give our state a Senator we can be proud of again.”
Senator Menendez narrowly avoided federal prison, and still faces an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee where his shady behavior will continue to embarrass New Jersey. It’s why the New York Times and Star Ledger both called on Menendez to resign from office. He refused to listen and announced his re-election plans last week.
“Our new :60 ad highlights Senator Menendez’s embarrassing tenure as Senator, where his biggest accomplishment was trying to bury an investigation into his best friend’s scheme to defraud Medicare, and becoming synonymous with federal investigations, private jets, fancy vacations and strong-arming people to get visas for his married best friends foreign girlfriends,” said Piwowar. “New Jersey is 50 out of 50—dead last—in what we get back from Washington for the amount of tax dollars we send down there. Instead of fixing that, Senator Menendez was too busy serving himself and his big donors. New Jersey deserves better. It’s time for a change.”
BACKGROUND
SEN. MENENDEZ ADMITTED HE ACCEPTED EXPENSIVE GIFTS, INCLUDING LAVISH VACATIONS, FROM CONVICTED FELON, DR. MELGEN.
THE NEW YORK TIMES AND STAR LEDGER CALLED FOR SENATOR MENENDEZ TO RESIGN.
UNDER SENATOR MENENDEZ NEW JERSEY IS BIGGEST LOSER—RANKS 50 OUT OF 50 IN MONEY SENT TO WASHINGTON THAT COMES BACK TO THE STATE
MENENDEZ ADMITTED HE ACCEPTED EXPENSIVE GIFTS, INCLUDING LAVISH VACATIONS, FROM CONVICTED FELON
ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT, SENATOR MENENDEZ WAS ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING PRIVATE PLANE FIGHTS AND OTHER GIFTS FROM MELGEN IN EXCHANGE FOR MENENDEZ’S ASSISTANCE. “In exchange, the former chair of the senate foreign relations committee is accused of accepting several private plane flights to a Caribbean resort, other gifts such as a luxury Paris hotel stay and a bounty of campaign donations, according to the indictment. The physician, who was also indicted, even contributed $40,000 to the politician’s legal defense fund involving a recall issue.” (Jay Weaver, “Sen. Robert Menendez, South Florida Eye Doctor Indicted In Federal Corruption Case; Corruption,” The Miami Herald, 4/1/15)
SEN. MENENDEZ VIOLATED SENATE ETHICS RULES BY FAILING TO REPORT OR PAY FOR TRIPS ON MELGEN’S PRIVATE PLANE OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS. “He conceded he had not paid for or properly reported four flights (two round-trips) on Melgen’s private jet and wrote a check to belatedly comply with Senate ethics rules. A year later, his campaign reimbursed Melgen for a third trip. Both times Menendez aides assured reporters that these were oversights and that the senator’s travel had been thoroughly reviewed. But a federal indictment charging Menendez with corruption has revealed free flights the senator never disclosed or paid for – nine others for him, sometimes with a guest – in apparent violation of Senate ethics rules.” (Jonathan Tamari, “Failure To Report Free Trips May Be Used As Evidence Against Menendez, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/12/15)
THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE STAR-LEDGER CALLED FOR MENENDEZ TO RESIGN
THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD: “Mr. Menendez is evidently not in a hurry to get to the stage of contrition, having warned on Wednesday that he’s ‘not going anywhere.’ He would be doing a disservice to New Jersey by clinging to power as a disgraced politician. His colleagues in the Senate should demand that he step aside.” (Editorial, “Step Down, Senator Robert Menendez, The New York Times, 4/2/15)
THE STAR-LEDGER EDITORIAL BOARD: “U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez now begins a fight for his political life that could last for years. New Jersey would be better off if he would resign and conduct that battle on his own time. The state needs a respected senator who is focused on his job, not a tarnished defendant who spends his days fending off credible charges of corruption and raising money for his legal defense.” (Editorial, “Menendez: Resign And Spare Us the Drama, The Star Ledger, 4/1/15)
UNDER MENENDEZ NEW JERSEY IS BIGGEST LOSER WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES AND SPENDING
UNDER MENENDEZ, NEW JERSEY IS 50 OUT OF 50. “The biggest losers when it comes to taxes and spending are New Jersey, Wyoming and Connecticut. New Jersey gets back just 77 cents for every dollar it pays, while Wyoming gets back 81 cents and Connecticut gets 83 cents.” (“Tax Day 2017: Which State Sends Most Taxes to D.C.?”, The Associated Press, 4/16/17)
Ridgewood NJ, On April 18, Uncle Sam will once again take his cut from everyone’s earnings this past year. And many taxpayers are already wondering what that haircut on their finances will look like. However, with such a complex tax code further convoluted by the way taxes are imposed on Americans based on their individual household characteristics, it’s hard to tell unless you wrote the tax policies yourself.
To determine which states’ residents bear the biggest tax burdens, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states across the three tax types that make up state tax burden — property taxes, individual income taxes, and sales and excise taxes — as a percentage of total personal income in the state. Read on for our findings, commentary from a panel of tax experts and a full description of our methodology
One simple ratio known as the “tax burden” helps cut through the confusion. Not to be confused with tax rates, which vary widely based on an individual’s particular circumstances, tax burden measures the exact proportion of total personal income that residents pay toward state and local taxes. And it isn’t uniform across the U.S., either.
Surprisingly New Jersey did not take the top spot as most over taxed state , in came in 7th worst ,bumped from 6th by fast decaying Connecticut that managed to tax two of its largest tax payers out of the state GE and Aetna. Of course this is before Governor Murphy gets his way pushing through his massive tax increases.
According to WalletHub’s analysts
1 New York total tax 12.94% property taxes 4.55% individual 4.76% sales and excise 3.63%
2 Hawaii total tax11.27% property taxes 2.11% individual 2.64% sales and excise 6.52%
3 Vermont total tax10.75% property taxes 4.96% individual 2.29% sales and excise 3.50%
4 Maine total tax10.73% property taxes 4.65% individual 2.58% sales and excise3.50%
5 Minnesota total tax10.24% property taxes 2.87% individual 3.59% sales and excise 3.78%
6 Connecticut total tax10.23% property taxes 4.16% individual 3.24% sales and excise 2.83% 7 New Jersey total tax10.14% property taxes 5.31% individual 2.32% sales and excise 2.51%
8 Rhode Island total tax10.09% property taxes 4.80% individual 2.15% sales and excise 3.14%
9 Illinois total tax10.00% property taxes 4.14% individual 2.66% sales and excise3.20%
10 California total tax 9.52% property taxes 2.72% individual 3.44% sales and excise 3.36%
Ridgewood NJ, Nice to see the $105,000,000 school budget not go to waste and of coarse its always a please seeing adults use children for political purposes . The #NationalSchoolWalkout initiative is promoted by Women’s March Youth Empower. The national walkout is to take place March 14 at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes—one for each person who killed on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas campus on Valentine’s Day. Per the group’s web page, other participating high schools in Bergen County include Hackensack High School, Paramus High School, Lyndhurst High School, Fusion Academy in Englewood, Paramus Catholic High School, Ridgewood High School, Emerson Junior/Senior High School, Tenafly High School, Cresskill High School, Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, and Mahwah High School.
Trenton NJ, Senator Gerry Cardinale, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement opposing legislation that would allow incarcerated prisoners, as well as those on parole and probation, to vote.
Sen. Gerry Cardinale opposes legislation that would allow incarcerated prisoners, as well as those on parole and probation, to vote.
“People who are serving prison sentences for breaking the law are subject to a loss of certain freedoms.
“That’s part of the risk they assume when they break the law, and part of the incentive structure for people to follow the law.
“Do we really believe that murderers and rapists who are serving prison sentences should be allowed to influence elections and public policy?
“We shouldn’t trust people who have demonstrated such bad judgment that they are removed from society with the responsibility that comes with voting.
“Let’s not forget that we restore voting rights once a person has paid their debt to society and proven themselves to be trustworthy following parole or probation.
Ridgewood NJ, we have been told over and over “if you see something say something” , but if the latest school shooting is any indication ,when you say something you get ignored.
With great sadness the Ridgewood blog has had to report the latest mass shooting . It is ever parents worst nightmare. As usual the media has hijacked the dialogue always leaving out significant details .
First the FBI ignored a warning that 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz might attack a school, failing to act on a call just weeks before Cruz allegedly carried out a shooting rampage at a high school in South Florida on Valentine’s Day. An easily traceable Internet threat in is was made and ignored by the Feds.
Next we learned by documents obtained by CNN, that law enforcement officers responded to Cruz’s house on 39 occasions over a seven-year period .
Classmates claimed in post incident interviews the Cruz often introduced himself as a “school shooter” .
Worse yet according to CBS an armed on duty school security officer waited outside the building till the shooting stopped at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School .
CBS also is reporting that documents released by the sheriff’s office show that the school resource officer had information about the suspect and his “potential to carry out a school shooting two years before it happened.” But it’s his actions the day of the shooting that led to his suspension.
It just keeps getting worse and worse. CNN reports it wasn’t just Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson who waited outside during the shooting, apparently, the first three officers to arrive on scene joined him in waiting outside, hiding behind their cars with their guns drawn.
This is only a brief outline of the systematic breakdown that took place in Broward County and proof positive government solutions
And of coarse the media plays the blame game and blames President Trump and the NRA neither of which had anything to do with the shooting . The blame game works for politicians but never fixes any problems.
Blaming guns is like blaming cars for drunk drivers . And blaming guns like all “virtue signaling” will not solve any problems . On 9/11 we lost 2997 people with out a gun , in the Oklahoma City bombing we lost 168 people with the use of common fertilizer as a bomb.
If you want real solutions its time to address the real problems and ask real questions ; First why do we only talk about mass shootings , but never the 40 plus people a day who are gunned down by illegal firearms in cities like Chicago, Newark or Paterson? Why have mass shooting increased since the 1960’s , Why are they almost always committed by Democrats? Why does the FBI always seem to drop the ball ? Why if we can try to make it about race its a big deal and if we cant its not? Why are prescription drugs almost always involved ? Why do school administrators and most parents seem oblivious to problems right under their very noises ? Why can a person who being investigated by law enforcement buy guns ? Why is there not a uniform gun data base , like ATM’s or use block chain ? I am sure there are many more questions that need to asked and answered .
And of coarse the big big problem , I will quote my friend Jessica ” it isn’t an AK-47 problem, it’s not an NRA problem…it’s a people problem! Children aren’t raised to respect anything or anyone! We need to stop over indulging our children and start giving them spankings, discipline and teaching them how to respect!! Wake up people! “
Trenton NJ, State lawmakers were back to their old tricks on Monday quietly advancing legislation that would raise the salaries of judges, county prosecutors, gubernatorial Cabinet members and senior legislative staffers, passing the bill out of committee without a single word of discussion.
The measure, sponsored by state Senate President Steve Sweeney and two of his top Democratic allies giving the governor the ability to boost the salaries of all his Cabinet members from $141,000 to $175,000 a year.
The new legislation would allow for higher pay for the four top legislative staff members, enshrining in law the right of the Assembly speaker, the Senate president and each of the minority leaders to pay their top aides up to $175,000.
The salaries of all state judges, Supreme Court justices, prosecutors, surrogates, county clerks, registers of deeds and mortgages and sheriffs would increase by $24,000. The hikes would be phased in over three years in $8,000 increments. Further raises would be linked to the consumer price index.
County prosecutors and Superior Court judges now make $165,000, and Supreme Court justices about $186,000, while the chief justice makes about $193,000. Current salaries vary for the other positions.
Ridgewood NJ, FDU’s Public Mind released a poll showing Governor Phil Murphy garnering a 35% approval rating in his first two weeks in office, with 21% disapproving and 40% who don’t know yet. His predecessors fared better in their first weeks in office: Governor Christie had a 48-31%, while Governor Corzine had 47-16%.
One bright spot for Murphy, is according to the poll, there is optimism among the respondents in the direction of the state: 39% believe the state is on solid footing with Murphy at the helm, compared to 18% in October when Christie was still in office. President Trump has a 31-60% favorable/unfavorable rating, according to the same poll.
Trenton NJ, This week Governor Phil Murphy was involved with a series of announcements demonstrating he will be taking sides against residents and citizens and favoring illegals and criminals.
The Governor “Sanctuary Phil” Murphy campaigned on massive tax raises and turning New Jersey into a sanctuary state . This week he moved that agenda forward .
First on January 24th NJ Attorney General Grewal announced alongside Governor Phil Murphy that the NJ Office of the Attorney General will use all the tools it has to protect the rights of Dreamers so they can enjoy the American Dream and to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Jerseyans, regardless of their immigration status.
Then on the 26th ,NJ Attorney General Grewal spoke on his focus of restricting legal gun owners rights and New Jersey’s intention to tighten restrictions on handgun-carry permits to combat gun violence for a safer state, despite the fact that criminals don’t get gun permits.
Newark NJ, the U.S. Department of Justice says that it intends to retry Sen. Robert Menendez’s bribery case, which previously ended with a hung jury.
In a letter the DOJ wrote to the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, “The United States files this notice of intent to retry the defendants [Menendez and Dr. Salomon Melgen] and requests that the court set the case for retrial at the earliest possible date.”
Both Menendez and Melgen, a longtime friend of the senator, were on trial last year after being accused of running a bribery scheme between 2006 and 2013 in which Menendez allegedly lobbied government officials on Melgen’s behalf in exchange for luxury vacations and flights on Melgen’s private plane.
Menendez also was charged with making false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms.
At that time jurors were unable to come to a unanimous verdict after about a week of deliberations.The judge then declared a mistrial.
