Codey SOS - Challenges Facing the State

Clearly, there are other areas that will demand our attention in the year ahead. I look forward to recommendations from Senators Smith and Sweeney as well as Assemblyman McKeon on how to improve the smart growth bill.

We must consider ... and act upon the report by Carl Van Horn and Michael Cole on the Property Tax Convention.

A four billion dollar budget deficit must be closed.

And the long term needs of the Transportation Trust Fund must be addressed.

But whatever the issue ... let us always remember -- there is a difference between the problems we face in Trenton ... and the day to day struggles faced by so many of our citizens.

When it appears we are out of patience or have reached the end of our ability to compromise ... think of the patient at Greystone Psychiatric Hospital who asks "Governor, when can I go home?" Or the father struggling to raise a family on the minimum wage ... Or the single mom who can't help with her kid's homework because she has to work a double shift.

Yes -- we have a huge budget deficit. Yes -- the federal government seems indifferent to our requests. And yes -- there are more needs to be met with fewer and fewer dollars.

Codey's entire State of the State address here.