Same Old, Same Old in NJ

I write this as a shocked individual; I agree with State Senator Stephen Sweeney on something:

TRENTON - Democratic State Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney, a major union leader from Gloucester County, shocked state employee unions yesterday by calling on their members to take a 15 percent cut in salaries and benefits.

Sweeney's proposal threw a bomb into talks over a $30.9 billion New Jersey budget full of unpopular taxes but championed by the unions because it would spare them painful cuts.

"New Jersey has a government that we can't afford any longer," said Sweeney, a powerful Iron Workers business agent, who held a Statehouse news conference with a fellow Gloucester County Democrat, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, and a Union County Democrat, Assemblyman Jerry Green.

Sadly, the only reason Sweeney said anything is because the state workers union, the Communication Workers of America (CWA) were about to be exposed as scammers and that would put all unions in a bad light:

Sweeney said he was angered by a union flyer that asked legislators to support a proposed increase in the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent - "so that," he said, "state workers don't have to experience the pain that every taxpayer in the state is going to experience."

Got that? If the state sales tax was raised, thus costing everyone in the state more money, the state workers wouldn't be hurt by cutbacks and pay freezes. Mighty selfish of them if you ask me.

But wait, it gets better:

Sweeney, Moriarty and Green said that salaries and benefits totaled $4.6 billion, and that a 15 percent cut would save nearly $700 million. They are also calling for reductions in paid holidays, vacation time and workers' compensation.

But the Corzine administration all but dismissed the proposal yesterday, and unions immediately balked.

Makes sense, cut spending and you don't have to increase taxes as much. Just like any business, money gets tight and you have to trim the work force and increase efficiency. That's something that every Republican can agree with, right? Not in New Jersey:

Assemblyman Bill Baroni (R., Mercer), who said his district had the most state employees, said burdening the rank-and-file did not equate with slashing government waste.

"I do not believe we should balance the state budget on the backs of public employees," he said.

There are about 30% more workers than are actually needed, Assembyman Baroni.

Wait, I'm not done. This is my favorite part:

The CWA has mounted a campaign in support of Gov. Corzine's budget, including a rally scheduled for June 19.

Further complicating the matter is that Carla Katz, president of CWA Local 1034, is Corzine's former girlfriend, and he made headlines for forgiving a $470,000 mortgage to her. Both have said their former relationship would not affect contract talks.

"The budget is not the time or place for contract negotiations," Corzine spokesman Anthony Coley said yesterday.

Okay. Let's sum this up; Corzine's budget increases the state sales tax one percentage point, the CWA supports it wholeheartedly because no workers will be fired and gets busted being arrogant about it. A state senator who is also a major union player calls for a decrease in state workers by 15% to avoid the inevitable stain that will be placed on all unions. The governor--whose ex-girlfriend is a major player in a CWA local and was a recipient of nearly a half-million bucks with no strings attached--backs the CWA and would rather raise taxes on every citizen than cut $700-million by shedding workers.

Are we clear?

Boy, New Jersey politics was so much easier when the governor was getting busy with guys in bookstores and truckstops as well as appointing unqualified people to very important positions because they were having sex with him.