Why Bother The Middleman In New Jersey's Budget Crisis

Democrats in New Jersey’s state Assembly demanded Treasurer Bradley Abelow appear before the Budget Committee today to discuss the state’s financial crisis. The committee chairman Assemblyman Louis Greenwald angrily said, "The administration has some explaining to do."

Greenwald was responding to Governor Jon Corzine’s threat to close down the state’s government unless his proposed 16 percent increase to the sales tax is enacted by lawmakers.

"Members of both sides of the aisle have worked too hard on this committee to engage in a worthless academic exercise," said Greenwald, D-Camden.

"This committee will not adjourn, we will not recess, and we will not take up other bills for consideration until we've had the opportunity to discuss this crisis," said Greenwald.

He ordered an Assembly sergeant at arms to summon Abelow to the committee room. That official delivered a message to the treasurer's office and left.

An hour later state Treasurer Abelow still had not shown up, apparently explaining he was too busy bailing out the office basement from rising flood waters to discuss the budget. New Jersey state government employs more than 80,000 workers; wouldn’t you think another employee could take his place on the bailing line for an hour or so?

But, here’s an idea, why not ask Jon Corzine to appear before the Budget Committee? Corzine is the financial genius that proposed the billions in new spending and tax increases. Corzine’s the man who refuses to compromise and he’s the man making the treats, why bother the middleman?