Christie Scrambles to Keep State from Total Bankruptcy

To The Editor:
Gov. Chris Christie got a very unwelcome surprise when he took office. His administration’s audit of the state funds found that the Corzine Administration misrepresented the amount of the deficit.
During prior years, New Jersey’s total Democratic control cost the taxpayers dearly. The actual amount was some $3 billion more than prior reported amounts. Now, Christie is scrambling to keep the state from total bankruptcy and at the same time trying to keep business (and jobs) in the state and bring in new investment.
He pledged to hold the line on taxation. New Jersey taxes are, collectively, the highest in the nation. This week he closed down the New Jersey participation in the New York-New Jersey Train Tunnel project because instead of the projected initial costs stated in 2005 of $5 billion (pre-recession) now can be close to $5 billion.
“Spendaholics” like U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) are unhappy about the cancellation and criticize Christie. But Lautenberg had no problem in backing all the Obama and Democrat-inspired spending spree for Obamacare, Stimulus 1, 2, and 3, multi-bail outs, support of Cap and Trade, and on and on. Where are the stimulus infrastructure Federal funds for this project? Where are the billions and billions held by the autonomous NYNJ Port Authority who take in all the tolls on the existing bridges and tunnels?
Those fees have paid the cost of those building facilities over 40 years ago. Port Authority holds billions in fees and should be the agency to pay for this and any other bi-state projects with the monies “We the Tax Payers and Toll Payers” already paid each time we cross the Verrazano Bridge or the Lincoln Tunnel. A deal could be struck with NJTA funds for ticket revenue and Port Authority. The response by some in New Jersey was, of course, to raise taxes. Why not add a new gasoline tax, they ask, to ease New Jersey’s financial woes? At a time of gas prices at high levels is that just what we need – higher gas prices?
Recently Christie found a way to get New Jersey off the hook for the Bayonne to Staten Island Bridge project. This move could force those agencies, both Federal and Bi-State to rethink both this state’s responsibility as well as being more fiscally responsible with public funds.
ANTHONY DiSIMONE
Wildwood
.