Greg Bean
Coda
If you want a job harder than the one Hercules had when he cleaned out old King Augeas’ stables in a day, you ought to try explaining New Jersey politics to a bunch of dyed-in-the-wool Red Staters.
That’s the task I found before me on my recent trip to Wyoming, when I was explaining why Gov. Jon Corzine shut down the state government because he and the Legislature couldn’t come to a meeting of the minds over the state budget.
To give you some idea of the philosophical divide between your average New Jersey resident and your average Wyomingite, I’ll tell you a little about that state’s ideas when it comes to politics and government.
When I was growing up out there, I always claimed I was a Democrat, because that was even more rebellious than being a long-haired, sandal-wearing, free-love hippie. My oddball political bent was a horrible disappointment to my parents and most of my friends, and even cost me a few dates because my girlfriends’ fathers said they’d rather see their daughters spooning a drunken horse thief who played piano in a red light saloon than a darned, egg-suckin’ DEMOCRAT.
In Wyoming, almost all of the citizens and elected officials are Republicans, although they generally elect a token Democratic governor (if they can find one) just so lawmakers won’t get too bigheaded.
The Legislature is entirely a citizen legislature, and many of the lawmakers are elected on the platform that they will go to the state capitol in Cheyenne and not make any new laws.
According to the state Constitution, the Legislature cannot meet for more than 60 days over the course of two years. In odd-numbered years, they meet in general session for 40 days to consider new laws, very few of which pass. In even-numbered years, they meet for 20 days to consider the budget.
There is no personal or corporate income tax in Wyoming, no inheritance tax and property taxes cannot exceed 1.2 percent of assessed valuation. For a $100,000 home, that means property taxes cannot exceed $1,200 a year. Wyoming does have a 4 percent sales tax, but despite its modest tax revenue stream, the state currently enjoys a $5.95 billion surplus. That comes out to about $11,941 for every man, woman and child in the state, or $47,762 for a family of four.
Imagine explaining New Jersey’s $4.5 billion budget gap to people like that, and you’ll have some idea what I was up against. Although I talked to both men and women, I’ll just refer to the person I’m talking to by the generic moniker Slim. Most of the conversations went something like this:
Slim: “Man, I hear they shut most of your whole state government down on account of that budget fracas. Was it awful?”
Me: “Nope, to tell you the truth, I couldn’t really tell the difference.”
Slim: “I hear tell they were arguing about how to cut $4 billion from the budget. Is that right?”
Me: “Not really. The governor’s budget actually increased state spending by $3 billion, but they figured they’d still eventually wind up $4.5 billion short. They were just arguing about how to raise the money. Corzine wanted to raise the sales tax to 7 percent and put it in the general fund. Most lawmakers had other ideas.”
Slim: “You already have the highest property tax rate in the country.”
Me: “Right.”
Slim: “And one of the highest state income tax rates in the country.”
Me: “Right.”
Slim: “And other taxes on everything that isn’t nailed down, and a lot of what is.”
Me: “Right. New Jersey taxes you right down to your socks, and if they could find a way to tax socks, they’d do that, too. Corzine even wanted to tax hospital beds.”
Slim: “And they’re still $4.5 billion short? Man, that must mean a lot of state employees are gonna be out of work.”
Me: “Not really. The Republicans say we could save money by doing things like reducing dual pensions and cutting 1,200 or so politically appointed positions and nonessential jobs, but Corzine doesn’t have the stomach for that. He would have done it when he worked in the private sector, but he’s not macho enough to do it now.”
Slim: “No layoffs? How about services, they gonna cut those to the bone?”
Me: “Not so you’d notice. They’re cutting the money they give to colleges, and the money they give back to towns, but nobody’s talking about serious cuts in services.”
Slim: “And the best thing this Corzine can come up with is hiking the sales tax and taking an extra $275 a year out of the average cowboy’s pocket? How long did it take him to hatch that brilliant plan?”
Me: “He’s been talking about it for months, but here’s the rub. Most of the folks in the Legislature also want to raise the sales tax; they just don’t want it all going into the general fund. They want most of it to go to property tax relief.”
Slim: (Chuckling) “So that’s why they shut the government down? Because they couldn’t agree on how to spend the extra $275 they want to pick from your pockets?”
Me: “That’s about it. My prediction is they’ll compromise. Raise the sales tax to 7 percent and split the difference. Half will go to the general fund. Half to property tax relief. They could have made that compromise months ago when it was proposed, but nobody wanted to look like the puny bull in the pasture.”
Slim: (Still chuckling) “Well, that’s what happens when you have a high-paid Legislature and put too many Republicans and Democrats in a confined space. It was probably a good idea to give ’em a time-out.”
Me: “Actually, Slim, this was basically an argument between Democrats. The GOP didn’t have much to do with it.”
Slim: (Looking alarmed) “Democrats! Fighting amongst themselves? Like cousins with a gut full of moonshine?”
Me: “Yep.”
Slim: “Well there’s your problem! Inbreeding!” Slaps the table. “You should have just said that in the first place, and it would’ve explained everything. “
Gregory Bean is executive editor of Greater Media Newspapers. You can reach him at [email protected]