The Demands of Special Interests Are Never 'Quenched'

The Democrats in Trenton reached a last minute state budget deal and David Rebovich, political science professor at Rider University, is quoted by the Star-Ledger as saying: “while the budget may contain some ‘frivolous’ expenses, many more help quench the ‘pent up demand’ for services in the state."

The thirst of the tax receivers is never quenched. Every year new 'problems' are discovered requiring ever more money from taxpayers, but obviously 'problems' are never solved because government programs never end. Each year funding is increased for the programs enacted to solve the ‘problems’ identified in years gone by. Then new programs are added to solve ‘new problems', requiring more money and on and on the cycle goes.

Over the past four years the state of New Jersey has raised taxes 546 percent, more than the average state in our nation. That amounts to an additional $924 in taxes for every man, woman and child in our state. And that doesn't include local property tax increases and liabilities in the tens of billions that hang over our heads for such things as public employee pensions.

By way of comparison, for the same four year time period, Nevada with the second largest increase, saw taxes go up $508 per person. Our neighbors in New York had their taxes increase $451, Connecticut $474 and Pennsylvania just $65 per person. The average state in the country raised taxes by $143 per resident over the past four years.

The average New Jersey voter seems oblivious to the cause of the state's financial mess, Democrats catering to special interests. How many know that only about 12 percent or $3.4 billion of New Jersey’s $27.9 billion budget is spent to run the state; providing common services such as highway maintenance, state police, courts and operating the state’s sixteen departments? How many know the remaining $24.5 billion is spent ‘solving problems’ by transferring money from taxpayers to tax receivers?

As the New York Times notes, just last year McGreevey and the Democrat controlled legislature increased state spending by 17 percent. So why have the Democrats gone wild with spending over the past four years? Well, here's the money quote from the same New York Times' article:

One Democrat in the Assembly even suggested that the party deserved praise for having "the courage to spend."

The tax receivers will throw New Jersey Democrats a ticker tape parade in honor of their courage. The rest of us will just have to continue working to keep the special interests in a manner to which they have become accustomed.

The Trenton Times describes the Democrats' political feeding frenzy over the $1.5 billion bonanza from this year's unexpected increase in state tax revenue. The Democrats couldn't spend the money fast enough - here's just one example:

Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden), chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, defended a $2 million grant for the West New York Parking Authority, where Assembly Speaker Albio Sires (D-Hudson) is mayor, saying it could help spur a renaissance in the city's business district. "That's a business attraction and retention program," he said. "You have to spend money to make money."

Have you noticed the only ones making money, spending your money are the politicians and the special interest groups. There will never be enough money to quench the demand of tax receivers. How about we just stop trying?