>Stop by the Ridgewood Avenue StarBUCKS from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, grab a free cup of coffee, and talk budget with the Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent for Business, and Board of Education members.
Take advantage of this special opportunity to get your questions answered in advance of School Election Day, Tuesday, April 21.
This casual event is geared to members of the public of voting age.
>Washington, Apr 15 –
From federal taxes to property taxes, New Jersey residents face one of the highest total tax burdens in the nation. Tax day serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present fact that these crushing taxes make New Jersey unaffordable for too many individuals and families. New Jerseyans are not unaccustomed to this reality, but this year’s tax day arrives amid a unique level of populist anger. Americans all around the country are participating in citizen protests in the form of tax day tea parties, such as the one taking place in the Hampton Plaza in Sussex County, in order to express their outrage at the use of their tax dollars to bail out Wall Street and “stimulate” the economy through a spending bill with questionable economic impact.
In addition to authoring income-saving legislation such as the Individual AMT Repeal Act of 2009 and the Economic Recovery and Middle-Class Tax Relief Act of 2009, I have been outspoken against government actions that increase taxpayer risk. I opposed the bailout of Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, AIG, and the auto industry, I voted against the TARP program, and called on Congress to give its Members time to actually read the stimulus package, rather than rushing the legislation through the House and Senate.
While the actions taken by our government have staggering costs, I remain an optimist and have great confidence in the power of the American people. Americans recognize that the government needs their tax dollars to function and provide essential programs for our country, and Americans have always been willing to pay their fair share. During times of extreme crisis, the people of this country have banded together and made sacrifices for the greater good, but there is no tolerance for the spending rampage in which our government is currently participating.
On tax day this year, taxpayers are asking the American government to be accountable for how it spends their money. In a state like New Jersey, which only sees sixty-one cents in return for every dollar that goes to Washington, DC, taxpayers have a right to demand such accountability for what is being done with their tax dollars. Washington politicians should set aside their political agendas to see how Congress can reform the tax code, reduce the financial burden on the American people, and promote accountability and transparency in government spending.
Rep.Scott Garrett
Rep. Scott Garrett represents New Jersey’s fifth district and is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises for the House Financial Services Committee.
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| 04/15/09 | 8:00PM | Village Council Public Meeting | ||
| 04/21/09 | 7:30pm | Planning Board Public Meeting | ||
| 04/22/09 | 7:30PM | Village Council Work Session | ||
| 04/26/09 | 8:00PM | Board of Adjustment Work Session | ||
| 04/28/09 | 8:00PM | Board of Adjustment Work Session | ||
| 05/05/09 | 7:30PM | Planning Board Public Meetng |
>4-13 Status Report on Valley Hospital Project
The Planning Board of the Village of Ridgewood is winding up its series of work sessions on Valley Hospital’s proposed Renewal program, during which it has heard from experts on many technical subjects as well as representatives of Valley Hospital and members of the public.
The proposal involves the demolition of certain existing hospital buildings and the construction of new ones as well as parking decks. In the proposal, the new buildings would contain four stories, the same as the existing ones, but the story heights would be increased by two feet each.
At its March 16 meeting, Village Planner Blais Brancheau gave Board members a draft proposal to amend that portion of the Village’s master plan that deals with the Hospital Zone, known as the “H Zone”. That section has not been amended in 31 years and does not reflect the current conditions in the zone. The master plan language concerning the H Zone is also very brief, general and lacking in specific policy guidelines.
Another work session is set for April 21. If the Planning Board were to complete its discussion that evening, it would move forward with the draft master plan amendment and schedule a public hearing on it. The draft amendment, which is still a work in progress, would be made available to the public in advance of any hearing. That would not occur until May at the earliest.
At the public hearing, questions and comments would be considered from representatives of Valley Hospital, the general public and other interested parties. After considering all questions and comments, the Board would decide whether or not to adopt the draft master plan amendment or to revise it before a vote.
If an amendment to the master plan were to be adopted, a draft ordinance would be prepared by the Board and submitted to the Village Council
Such an ordinance would amend the zoning regulations for the H Zone based upon the policies in the master plan.
The Council would then consider whether or not to introduce the ordinance or to amend it first. If and when the Council were to introduce an ordinance, it would schedule a public hearing at which time Valley Hospital and members of the public wuld be given an opportunity to speak on the ordinance. Once the hearing was concluded, the Council would decide whether or not to adopt, amend or defeat the ordinance.
Were an ordinance to be adopted by the Village Council, there would be a third opportunity for the public to speak on Valley Hospital’s proposal.
This would be at any future public hearing involving a site plan application submitted by Valley Hospital to either the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment for multiple buildings that, if the plan were approved, would go up in coming years.
>4/10 Update: Shuttle Bus to Start on a Limited Basis
Please be advised that the NJTransit shuttle bus will resume service starting tomorrow, Saturday, using the new hours discussed last night at our Village Council meeting. For the moment it will use the same bus and route as before. NJTransit has agreed to buy a smaller bus asap. It has already earmarked a bus that has 10 seats plus one handicapped space.
However, NJTransit has said that once a bus is bought, we will have to use it for the entire nine months until this portion of the project is complete. Therefore we need to ascertain whether in fact we need a bus with more seats.
To that end we will be noting how many people use the bus on each and every run for a week starting next Monday. So please if you intend to use it at all during these nine months use it this week. Once we get our far-smaller bus we will be stuck with it for the duration, and NJTransit is going to make the Village sign legal papers saying that what we’ve asked for is our final request. No more buses – bigger or smaller – down the road.
So please, if you intend to use this bus service, please use it this week. Someone will be recording all week long the number of passengers on each run. That will determine whether the bus that is bought is a 10-seater, or a bit larger, or a bit larger than that. For that reason, it’s crucial that this survey accurately reflects usage.
Hopefully you now have enough advance notice to plan on using the bus next week if you’re commuting to the city or walking to school. Please share this information with neighbors, and thanks to those who attended our meeting Thursday night. We are trying hard to make this less of a headache for everyone.
Here is a recap of the bus schedule:
Saturday and Sunday: 10am-4pm, once an hour: Leaving Ridgecrest every hour on the hour, and leaving the train station every hour on the half-hour.
Monday-Friday: From 6am-8:30am, making the loop as necessary for the express and other trains during rush hour, and repeating for the evening rush hour between 5-7pm.
In between, from 9am to 4:30pm, it will make a trip once an hour: Departing on the hour from Ridgecrest and from the train station on the half hour.
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Residents around Valley Hospital were awoken by a loud and low vibrating noise on Easter Sunday, emanating from the Hospital. The noise continued until the equipment shut-off at 9:30am.
Thanks Valley for ruining our Sunday morning.
The neighbors!
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A free fall in tax revenue is driving more state lawmakers to turn to broad-based tax increases in a bid to close widening budget gaps.
At least 10 states are considering some kind of major increase in sales or income taxes: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. California and New York lawmakers already have agreed on multibillion-dollar tax increases that went into effect earlier this year.
Fiscal experts say more states are likely to try to raise tax revenue in coming months, especially once they tally the latest shortfalls from April 15 income-tax filings, often the biggest single source of funds for the 43 states that levy them.
The squeeze is especially severe in states hit hardest by the recession, such as Arizona, where sales-tax revenue has fallen by 10.5%, income-tax collections are down 15.7% this fiscal year, and the government faces a $3.4 billion budget gap next year. But such shortfalls are likely to be widespread; federal income-tax receipts from individuals have dropped more than 15% in the past six months, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.
While most states so far have managed to cope with dwindling cash by cutting spending and raising fees on things such as fishing licenses and car registrations, that is unlikely to be enough in the new fiscal years that generally begin July 1, many analysts said.
“Income taxes and sales taxes are the go-to taxes when you really need to raise a lot of money,” said Donald J. Boyd, who monitors states’ fiscal health for the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, N.Y.
Sales-tax revenue has fallen more sharply than at any time in the past 50 years, Mr. Boyd said, and he expects income-tax collections to drop below levels state officials projected — though the extent of the damage probably won’t become clear until May.
![[quarterly state tax collections]](https://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AP418_STATET_NS_20090408190836.gif ">At least 10 states are considering some kind of major increase in sales or income taxes")
Raising taxes is a perilous proposition for lawmakers, who must balance their states’ budgets every year. Not only do they face political heat for increasing financial burdens during the recession, but added taxes risk worsening their states’ economic problems by, for example, further hobbling consumer spending.
Some lawmakers say they have little choice. “With the size of our budget gap, we are looking at a situation of closing down our courts, releasing prisoners and cutting the school year by as much as a month,” said Rep. Peter Buckley, co-chairman of Oregon’s joint Ways and Means Committee.
His committee is considering an income-tax increase on high-earners, along with major budget cuts, to help close a projected $4.4 billion budget gap over the next two fiscal years. And things could get worse after a revenue forecast due out May 15, he said, because Oregon’s unemployment rate has climbed to 10.8% and the state relies on income-tax revenue.
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski is likely to support the surcharge, said a spokeswoman , because the state is faced with losing as much as a third of its tax revenue.
Legislators know the increases will be unpopular with residents. “There will be blame, we accept that,” Sen. Eileen M. Daily of Connecticut said earlier this month when she and fellow Democrats announced a budget that raises income-tax rates and expands the sales tax to raise more than $3 billion over the next two years. Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell, a Republican, has said she would veto the plan.
But some governors are proposing tax increases. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell wants to raise the marginal income-tax rate by one percentage point, to 6.95%, on those earning more than $60,000 a year, effective in 2010. His budget plan also includes increases in corporate taxes as well as spending cuts to close a projected $750 million shortfall in a $3 billion budget, said spokesman Joe Rogalsky.
Many states remain determined to balance their budgets by relying solely on spending cuts. That is the case in Indiana, where raising revenue “is really not on the table,” said Pat Bauer, the speaker of the state House.
Instead, he hopes to tap the state’s rainy-day fund and to produce a budget that covers only one year, rather than the usual two, because plunging revenue makes it impossible to forecast that far in advance.
Tax collections have dropped drastically the past four months, according to Christopher A. Ruhl, director of the Indiana Budget Agency. Income-tax collections, which reflect withholding and estimated tax payments, fell 21% in March compared with last year and are down 7% for the fiscal year.
States have lowered revenue forecasts repeatedly in recent months, yet the estimates still seem to exceed the grim reality. Last week, Pennsylvania officials said total March tax collections were $334.6 million, or 7.9%, short of expectations, due to sharp drops in income and sales taxes and a steep decline in corporate income taxes. For the fiscal year that began July 1, 2008, collections to date are running $1.6 billion less than forecast.
This has led some experts, such as Nicholas Johnson of the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, to predict more legislatures will take up broad-based tax increases as early as May or June. “The problem,” he said, “is that they are filling a hole that has gotten a little deeper.”
Write to Leslie Eaton at [email protected]
https://online.wsj.com/article/SB123923448796803135.html
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With Gov. Jon Corzine’s proposed state budget facing a possible $605 million shortfall and state workers across New Jersey protesting his plan to save money by furloughing them, lawmakers spent time today debating this question: Are New Jersey residents taxed too much?
Members of the Assembly Budget Committee — all up for re-election this year — took turns either praising or picking apart Corzine’s $29.8 billion budget proposal.
New Jersey State Treasurer, David Rousseau, testifies before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee in Trenton on Monday.And state Treasurer David Rousseau, who appeared before the committee for the first time since Corzine’s March 10 budget address, got caught up in the political arguments.
Rousseau, in his introductory remarks, said the Corzine administration is bringing “property tax growth under control.”
When Assemblyman Joseph Malone (R-Burlington) asked Rousseau if he thinks New Jersey residents are “overtaxed,” the treasurer paused, said “no,” and then said that while New Jersey property taxes are among the highest in the country, the state has relatively low income taxes on the middle class and provides quality schools and other services.
“I think that anybody, everybody up there (on the committee), believes that they would like to pay lower taxes, but there’s a choice between how we tax and what we provide,” Rousseau said. “We also provide a lot more services than other states provide.”
Malone suggested there is a “disconnect” between the public and state government when it comes to taxes.
Rousseau responded: “I don’t think there’s a disconnect. I think there’s a frustration over the level of taxation in this state, but again, how do you deal with that? Do you cut services? The only way to cut taxes right now is to cut services either at the state level (or) the local level.”
Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union)Two Democratic committee members later came back to the same topic after Republicans criticized the treasurer’s statements in a news release issued during the meeting.
Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union), who is also chairman of the Democratic State Committee, asked Rousseau if he thinks property taxes “are fine.”
“No, and actually my statement says the rate of growth is under control,” Rousseau said.
Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) said it’s a legislator’s job to “feel the pain” of state taxpayers.
“I just want to make sure that people not walk away thinking that you’re cold or callous or anything else,” Schaer said. “You do obviously feel the pain and we appreciate your sensitivity.”
The political discussions left little time for lawmakers to ask Rousseau about how he could cure a possible $605 million gap in revenues that was outlined Monday and again today by David Rosen, budget and finance officer for the nonpartisan state Office of Legislative Services.
David Rosen, budget director for the Office of Legislative Services, speaks before the Assembly Budget Committee at the Statehouse in Trenton in this 2008 file photo. If Rosen’s analysis holds true, Corzine would have to either raise taxes or make more cuts to a budget that already reduces spending by $3 billion.
One of those plans to reduce spending — enacting a wage freeze and unpaid furloughs for state workers to save more than $400 million — drew protests from the Communications Workers of America outside the Statehouse and at two dozen other sites across the state.
“In our case, they reneged upon our contract we had agreed to,” said David Weiner, president of CWA Local 1081 as several dozen union members picketed county offices in Newark. “They want us to give up the last two years of the contract. It’s unfair. We’re hard working men and women and we shouldn’t have our wages and our salaries threatened because of conditions we didn’t create.”
The CWA is one of several unions suing to stop the furloughs of state workers and other government employees. An appeals court panel is scheduled to hear the case on April 16.
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/state_assembly_debates_state_b.html
>Since its inception in 1897, the Ridgewood Fire Dept. has built five fire stations. Ridgewood’s first station, Protection Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, was built on Hudson Street and served theVillage between 1897 and 1910.
During a period of rapid residential development in the 1890’s, residents on the east side of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook pressed for additional firefighting services. They formed the Eagle Hose Co. No. 1 in January, 1900, and laid the cornerstone for the Village’s second fire station at 19 Circle Avenue on September 21, 1902. This building remained in use until it was demolished in 1940.
The third facility and second Hudson Street Station was built as a municipal complex, housing both the fire and police departments and the municipal and district court. The building was completed in 1911 and remained in service as Fire Headquarters until July 30, 1993. It was razed three months later.
In response to residents’ concerns after a serious fire in the mid 1940’s and to better serve the west side of town, Engine Company No. 31 was established in 1947. Located at 311 West Glen Avenue, the structure is a renovated barn which houses an apparatus room, offices, and living quarters for firefighters. This fire station has served the Village for half its firefighting history.
The Village’s fifth fire station and current department headquarters is located at 201 E.
Ridgewood Fire Station.
Glen Avenue. This facility has been operational since June 1, 1992 and serves as quarters for the officers and men of Engine Company No. 35, Ladder Company No. 36, and Rescue Company No. 42. The building also houses the administrative offices, the Fire Prevention Bureau, and Engine Company No. 37, which is comprised of volunteers.
Just a reminder the installation and proper maintenance of smoke alarms are important factors in saving lives. An inspection to assure that smoke alarms are present and in proper working condition is required prior to the sale of all homes in Ridgewood. Further information may be obtained by calling the Bureau at 444-7898.
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/subdept_detail.cfm?sub_dept_id=112&dept_id=8
>***PUT YARD WASTE OUT APRIL 6 FOR SPECIAL PICK UP THIS WEEK***
Prior to the commencement of scheduled pickups, there will be a Village-Wide Yard waste pickup between April 6th to the 9th Monday thru Thursday only. Place containerized yard waste and brush at curbside Sunday Night. Any questions please call 201/670-5585.
>New Jersey
The following is a list of CONFIRMED Tea Party Tax Revolts planned within the state of New Jersey. Please note that we ONLY list events happening on April 15th.
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City: Belmar
When: April 15, Noon – 3:00pm
Where: 16th Avenue boardwalk
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info:
Facebook Group:
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City: Flemington
When: April 15, Noon – 2:00pm
Where: The northwest corner of Main Street and Court Street
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info: https://flemingtonteaparty.blogspot.com/
Facebook Group:
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City: Morristown
When: April 15, Noon
Where: On The Green at the center of Morristown
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info: Yahoo Group
Facebook Group: CLICK HERE
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City: Newark
When: April 15, 12:00 pm
Where: Gateway Center One – 782 McCarter Highway, Newark Offices of Senator Lautenberg and Menendez conveniently located in the same building.
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info:Parking: 66 Edison Place, Newark
Google Map: Click Here
Facebook Group: CLICK HERE
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City: Piscataway
When: April 15, 5:00pm
Where: Johnson Park (River Road, Piscataway Township)
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info:https://www.americansforprosperity.org/032409-new-jersey-tax-day-tea-party
Facebook Group:
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City: Trenton
When: April 15, 11:30am – 4:00pm
Where: New Jersey State House, 125 W State St
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info:
Facebook Group: CLICK HERE
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E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 973-406-4688
Web Site: https://tomsnow.serveblog.net
Face Book: CLICK HERE
When: April 15th, 1-4PM
Where: 722 E Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360
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Have an event planned for the state of New Jersey? Email and let us know!
https://taxdayteaparty.com/teaparty/new-jersey/
Also, be sure you join our Facebook group.
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Monday , April 06, 2009
By Yvonne K. Fulbright
Think “sexting” is only about sending nude pictures via cell phone? Think again. It can be so much more.
Sexting is also the explicit sexual dialogue people have via text, which is meant to sexually excite one another.
Referred more generally as “flirtexting,” two people sending text messages can lead to a hot date, a sexual partner, and/or sexual relationship. It can add more fuel to fires already ablaze.
So what is it about this form of communication that is quickly making it the first step in hooking up for old and new lovers alike?
“Text me” has become the latest of mating calls. This digital, wireless communication is enabling potential partners to make first impressions like never before. It’s helping couples rekindle the passion. It’s bowling over flirts who are literallyl looking to charm the pants off one another.
According to Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz, authors of “Flirtexting,” text messaging is the most widely used mobile data service on the planet. In 2007, 363 billion text messages (TMs) were sent in the United States alone. These master flirtexters maintain that your short message service (SMS) is ideal because:
— Messages are short, sweet, and to the point;
— The witty banter can reflect just how brilliant (thus attractive) you are;
— You’re totally in control of the conversation, and not subject to awkward phone moments;
— They allow people to explore their sexual feelings and mutual attraction for one another;
— You’re more approachable and can be more open with your feelings in a low-risk way;
— This mode of communication increases your confidence, helping you to overcome shyness;
— For singles, it’s a non-committal; no-strings attached way of saying “I like you;”
— You can flirt with many potential partners at once.
Established and would-be lovers alike are having a blast spicing up their sex lives with naughty texts. Whether shooting off “XOXO” (hugs and kisses), “French” (French kiss), “IWSN” (I want sex now), “
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Location: Van Neste Park
Join us for the popular Easter in Ridgewood Celebration! This annual event includes family fun with the Easter Bunny in the park, a trolley ride through town, and much more!
Chamber members are invited to sign-up and be a Trolley stop from 11AM – 2PM. The Ridgewood News will be sponsoring the trolley, which will travel from the east to west side of Ridgewood.
https://www.ridgewoodchamber.com/
Location: Columbia Bank, 40 S. Broad St, Ridgewood, NJ
Rep. Scott Garrett will be speaking to New Jersey business owners about issues that directly affect their communities. As the top Republican on the Subcommittee on Capital Markets for the House Financial Services Committee, and an active member of the House Budget Committee, Garrett is intimately familiar with the economic issues facing many of these business owners. He has been one of the most active proponents of small business in Congress, authoring multiple pieces of legislation aimed at protecting and preserving American jobs. Garrett often says that history has shown the most effective way to reinvigorate the economy and spur economic growth is to ensure that job creators face a lower tax and regulatory burden, and he has worked to make this goal a reality.
This Networking in Ridgewood will be FREE to everyone who attends. Reservations are required. Limited space available. Light refreshments & beverages will be served.
Please RSVP to the Chamber Office by April 10.
Call (201) 445-2600 or email [email protected].
>A year ago a Ridgewood High School Student made this video.
The intention was for it to air on the Village’s public access television station, the closed circuit televisions at the High School and in the Driver Education Classes.
In light of the tragic pedestrian accident last week I think everyone should see it!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djH5p6RwVG0
Thanks,
Jeanne Johnson
>Mike Kelly: Too many hospitals spoils the bottom line
Thursday, April 2, 2009
By MIKE KELLY
RECORD COLUMNIST
For just a moment, think what good could come of $2 million.
You could, for example, buy a year’s worth of health insurance for almost 200 North Jersey families. You could educate 150 students in local public schools. You could hire 40 cops at $50,000 each.
Now consider how The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood would spend $2 million.
Valley wants to buy the state license to the defunct Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood but never use it. By owning Pascack’s license, Valley could block a competitor hospital from opening.
This is no April Fool’s joke. It is, sadly, the latest battle in a war between North Jersey hospitals.
At issue is not improving care for sick people. Yes, hospital administrators will surely whip out their rhetorical violins and insist they are deeply worried about curing illnesses, repairing broken bones and giving life to damaged hearts. Indeed, most hospitals in the area offer top-flight care.
But another devil lurks in the shadows of this debate — a persistent worry by local hospitals about losing money.
Which brings us to Valley’s $2 million bid for Pascack’s old license.
Ever since Pascack Valley Hospital went bankrupt and closed its doors in December 2007, a funny thing happened at the remaining hospitals in Bergen County. They all turned healthy profits.
If you are trying to balance the books at your hospital, it makes sense to keep Pascack closed. Pascack is viewed as competition for the business of sick people. Indeed, a state report suggested that Bergen County had too many hospitals before Pascack closed.
But Hackensack University Medical Center bought Pascack’s campus and proposed to open a 128-bed hospital there. To other hospitals — particularly Ridgewood’s Valley Hospital and Englewood Hospital — the move by Hackensack was viewed as the equivalent of a new Shell gas station moving into a town that had been ruled comfortably by a Lukoil and a Sunoco.
In other words, Hackensack threatened Valley’s and Englewood’s profits.
In a free market, this would be just fine. But hospitals are not gas stations. Yet, on the other hand, shouldn’t Hackensack be allowed to expand its services? And, if you listen to the pleadings of many officials in the 18 towns once served by Pascack Valley Hospital, shouldn’t Pascack be able to reopen if someone puts up the money?
Valley did just that — in a back-handed way. As part of Pascack’s still-undecided bankruptcy proceedings, The Valley Hospital bid $2 million for the old Pascack license. Valley made no secret of its intentions: It plans to sit on the license and never use it. All in an attempt to keep many of Pascack’s old patients going to Valley.
In the cold calculation of hospital economics, Valley’s plan makes sense. If Hackensack is viewed as a competitor, why not find a way to beat it?
But isn’t this a pathetic strategy? The notion of hospitals fighting over customers who happen to be sick is not a matter of cold economics. This is about ruptured morals.
But this is also the state of American health care now, a grinding battle over money and marketing while doctors and hospitals struggle to make ends meet and ordinary people struggle under the crushing cost of medical insurance.
Given that state of medical affairs in America, we should not be surprised that this is where we have come: a bid to buy a hospital license merely to kill it.
But where are we going?
Read Mike Kelly’s blog at northjersey.com/freshjersey.
![[Big Jumps in Taxes Loom in 10 States]](https://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-DL573_usmap_D_20090408234653.jpg ">At least 10 states are considering some kind of major increase in sales or income taxes")