If we’re really serious, a oneyear selective freeze won’t cut it. The governor and Legislature have got to stand together to:
• Declare a three-year freeze on all public salaries — state, county, municipal, executive, legislative, judicial, commissions, task forces, etc. All. That will eliminate all increases in payroll and attendant costs across the state — union, nonunion, Newton to Cape May.
• Cut or eliminate the pernicious fees, regulations and taxes on small businesses.
Result:
• No jobs, pension benefits or health benefits will be lost.
• The exhausting, all-consuming property tax issue will be off the table for three years.
• Small businesses can then begin to hire rather than leave the state.
• No single group or union can claim prejudice. They will be on a par with the retired citizens who are receiving no increase in pension or Social Security for 2010.
Then, all our new prosecutors can go after tort reform, the outlandish pension and retirement uses and abuses, Medicare fraud, illegals, corruption, et al., that are eating us alive. Special interests may float politicians’ boats, but they are sinking the ship of state.
It’s a win-win for all statewide, an example to the other eight states in trouble, and the unseeing, unlistening dudes in Washington will feel the boot on their backs.
All it takes is the will to end the state plight.
Theresa Ward
Edison