In terms of its impact on the state’s finances, Assembly bill 787 isn’t going to raise many eyebrows, but the bill to issue certificates to New Jersey veterans serving in the military during the 50 years of the Cold War doesn’t come without a cost.
That cost — about $350,000, according to Assemblyman Vincent Polistina, R-Northfield, as reported by the Associated Press — is one that we could skip to cut state spending.
That was Mr. Polistina’s argument last week, when the measure came up for its first vote, and one we think typifies the lack of progress in Trenton towards solving the state’s budget mess.
And with a $2.5 billion shortfall looming, how many of the 76 members of the Assembly were swayed by Mr. Polistina? Three.
Take a typical day in the Statehouse and one can find a number of similar measures, measures that in ordinary circumstances might be fine, measures that — like A787 — acknowledge a bit of thanks towards somebody or some group in the state.
But these are not ordinary times. We’d say it’s time to get real about the mess the state is really in.
Gov. Jon Corzine has proposed a massive rewriting of billions of dollars of state debt, a plan that’s getting a reception as chilly as the arctic winds that blew Monday.
Gov. Corzine rightly asks, however, that if we’re not going to use his plan to fix the budget, what spending will be cut to do it?
How about we start with the small stuff? It’s sort of like a homeowner getting rid of premium cable channels to help pay for an increased property tax bill — it may not cover it all, but it’s a responsible thing to do when you’re low on money.
Clearly, politicians are loathe to turn down such mom-and-apple-pie measures as thanking veterans but if they want to look serious about fixing the state’s finances, it’s really what must be done.
Officials are quick to point out they can’t do anything about contractual guarantees, or gaps in funding for Medicare and pharmaceutical programs caused by federal cuts, or municipal assistance or a dozen other areas that account for the bulk of the state budget.
In the end, the state may need to make serious changes to some of these plans, as well as accept Gov. Corzine’s plan in some form.
But for right now, we hope the legislators will do what thousands of New Jersey families are already doing to make ends meet — skip the luxuries.
