Hey, New Jersey - This Is Really Scary!

Just a reminder, China has the contract for our E-ZPass here in New Jersey in February '25

Here's the kicker, they actually charged us $250M more, & the NJ Dems agreed to it! Way to go dumbasses https://t.co/hxhpBpuYzz pic.twitter.com/QpfvTjkWOH

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) July 18, 2026

New Jersey? You Can Pretty Much Fuhgeddaboudit!

I was hoping I could avoid this day and this moment. But, the truth must be told: I'm at the point where I have very little hope, if any, for the future of my native state, New Jersey. To put it bluntly, siammo spacciati! 

New Jersey's long-standing one-party Democrat dominance— with loony lefties controlling both legislative houses since 2002 and the governorship under disreputable figures like Phil Murphy (2018-2026) and now Mikie Sherrill has brought us to this point and has turned the Garden State into a tale of fiscal mismanagement, crushing regulations, and brazen corruption. While Democrats tout their beloved progressive policies, their unchecked power has inflicted severe damage: skyrocketing costs, crumbling infrastructure, and a betrayal of hardworking residents.

Runaway government spending under Democrats has ballooned to unsustainable levels. Murphy's final budget hit a record $58.8 billion in 2025, stuffed with over $700 million in pork-barrel earmarks that lined the pockets of Democrat allies while ignoring fiscal warnings. Sherrill, fresh in office, rammed through a $128 million add-on in January 2026 with minimal oversight, exacerbating a $3 billion shortfall and draining reserves. This reckless splurge has fueled outmigration, with thousands fleeing the state annually, all while Democrats prioritize pet projects over prudence.

Now, Sherrill has seized a familiar first-term tactic: crying fiscal crisis, blaming her problems on predecessors and warning of belt-tightening. It's all a show, folks -- a scheme destined to hit the hardest working people in the state with even more taxes, fees, tolls, charges and levies, all likely to be advanced in the name of "investment". What a scam!

High taxes are the bitter fruit of Democrat-led excess. Consider the following:

• New Jersey ranks second nationally in overall tax burden, per a 2026 ConsumerAffairs study. In fact, property taxes alone rank as the highest in the U.S., devouring over 10% of many households' incomes.
• The Tax Foundation pegs the state at 49th in competitiveness, thanks to Murphy's hikes on income (up to 10.75%) and corporations.
• Compounding the insult, New Jersey is a massive donor state to the federal government, sending far more in taxes than it receives back—ranking dead last in federal dependency and getting just 51 cents on the dollar, according to a 2025 MoneyGeek analysis. A WalletHub study confirms NJ pays more to Washington than any other state yet gets the least in return, receiving as little as 48-67 cents per dollar while "moocher states" like New Mexico rake in over $3. Democrats like Murphy and Sherrill have failed spectacularly to claw back these funds, leaving residents double-taxed: hammered at home by state hikes and shortchanged federally.
• And where were our US senators (Booker and Kim) while we were being shortchanged by Washington? They were busy making media appearances, grandstanding, defending illegal citizen/criminals and crying like a couple of sob sisters while doing absolutely nothing!

On top of everything I've just cited, utility bills have exploded under Democrat green energy mandates. Rates tripled for many during Murphy's tenure, driven by failed offshore wind projects that collapsed under soaring costs. Sherrill's token 2026 rate freeze and credits are mere band-aids on a self-inflicted wound, leaving average bills at least 4% above national norms.

But wait, incredibly, there's more:

• Auto insurance rates and highway tolls pile on the pain. Under Murphy's 2022 law jacking minimum liability coverage, rates surged 10.46% in 2026—the nation's worst—pushing full coverage to $3,254 yearly in the ninth-priciest state. Tolls on the NJ Turnpike and Parkway climb 3% annually since 2020, courtesy of Democrat-controlled authorities, turning commutes into cash grabs.
• Also, rampant regulations choke businesses, with New Jersey languishing in competitiveness rankings due to Democrat-imposed red tape and permitting nightmares. Sherrill's so-called reforms, like pay transparency mandates, only add layers, stifling growth and jobs while rewarding union cronies. Time and again, New Jersey has been rated one of least business friendly states in the nation.
• The public transit system is a Democrat disaster. NJ Transit endures constant breakdowns from aging rails and underfunding, with ridership still down post-pandemic. Murphy's 2.5% corporate transit tax averted a $766 million hole but burdened businesses further, while Amtrak tie-ups expose years of neglect. Public transit in New Jersey is unkept, often dangerous and scandalously unreliable.

Do we have to remind you that corruption still thrives under this one-party stranglehold?

Disgraced Sen. Bob Menendez ("Gold Bar Bob") a Democrat fixture, was convicted in 2024 on 16 bribery counts for peddling influence to Egypt and Qatar, pocketing gold and cash before resigning. Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, another Democrat, pleaded guilty in 2025 to misconduct after racist tirades surfaced. Echoing past scandals like Camden Democrat Wayne Bryant's 2008 pension fraud conviction, these offenses reveal a culture of graft that Democrats perpetuate—evident in their failed 2025 bid to gut a corruption watchdog.

In essence, Democrat rule has ravaged New Jersey with fiscal recklessness, punitive costs, and ethical rot, driving residents away and eroding trust— a startling 84% of residents view officials as corrupt.

And yet, I have little hope that voters will break this Democrat stronghold on the state. Why? Because the state's Republican Party is splintered, unfocused, undisciplined and, for all intents and purposes, impotent.

For example, every elected Republican in the state senate recently voted to confirm an ultra liberal, clearly woke attorney general nominee who has already become a progressive warrior. Can you imagine anything more lame (or more destructive!) than that?

So, New Jersey will continue bleeding under leaders who prioritize power over people and a "loyal opposition" characterized by benign loyalty to its enemies and bewildering opposition to its stated principles and presumed allies.

If all this doesn't spell doom, I don't know what does!

This Interminable Project Drives Us MAD!

🚧 The NJ 295/42 Direct Connection Project: A Modern-Day "Big Dig" Nightmare? Why Is This Highway Interchange Taking FOREVER? 😤🗞️

If you're a South Jersey commuter stuck in the eternal traffic jam at the I-295/I-76/Route 42 interchange in Bellmawr, you know the pain. This… https://t.co/oEno9Nisbn pic.twitter.com/W7V2HnYhVq

— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) September 1, 2025

The following is from Wake Up NJ:

The NJ 295/42 Direct Connection Project: A Modern-Day "Big Dig" Nightmare? Why Is This Highway Interchange Taking FOREVER?

If you're a South Jersey commuter stuck in the eternal traffic jam at the I-295/I-76/Route 42 interchange in Bellmawr, you know the pain. This "Direct Connection" project meant to fix one of NJ's most congested and crash-prone spots by building elevated bridges and direct ramps started construction in March 2013 That's 12+ years in (as of September 2025), with full completion now delayed to 2032. We're talking 19 years total for what should be a straightforward highway upgrade! Original plan? Done by 2021 But nope—utility issues, right-of-way fights, and a massive retaining wall collapse in 2021 (costing $90M+ to fix) have turned it into a black hole of bureaucracy and delays. At a cool $900 million (and climbing), it's already rivaling Boston's infamous Big Dig in absurdity But here's the kicker: Compare this to ACTUAL modern marvels built in under 15 years. These beasts involved insane engineering, harsh conditions, and billions in costs—yet they got done FASTER than our little NJ interchange! Check this out: - Channel Tunnel (Chunnel): 6 years (1988–1994), $21B. Digging a 31-mile undersea link between UK and France? Met in the middle despite floods and fires - Hoover Dam: 5 years (1931–1936), $1B (adjusted). Taming the Colorado River with millions of cubic yards of concrete in 120°F heat! During the Depression! - Millau Viaduct (tallest bridge on Earth): 3 years (2001–2004), $400M. "Rolling" a massive cable-stayed span over a windy French gorge - Mini Sky City(57-story prefab skyscraper): Just 19 days assembly (2015), $160M! Even ancient wonders like the Great Pyramid of Giza took only 10–14 years (~2580 BCE) with 20,000 workers and copper tools hauling 2.3 million stone blocks. No cranes, no computer, just ramps and grit. And the Colossus of Rhodes? 12 years for a 108-ft bronze statue on a tiny island The 295/42 project? It's "only" reconfiguring ramps and bridges for 150,000 daily drivers, improving safety (crunches are 7x the state average), and adding noise walls/utilities. Sure, it's in a tight urban spot near homes and a cemetery, but with modern tech, lasers, and endless funding—why 19 years? Delays from compressible soils, groundwater "boat sections," and that Wall 22 fiasco (slid due to sandy foundations) are legit, but come on, NJDOT— we've got robots building space stations faster! South Jersey deserves better. This endless construction is shaking foundations, clogging locals, and burning cash while traffic weaves at 35 mph. When it's done (if ever), it'll be great—direct 60 mph flow to Philly, Shore, and Delaware. But at this rate, my grandkids might be driving it

For Ciattarelli & Gannon: 14 Outside-The-Box Ideas!

New Jersey GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli has picked his running mate and he and Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon (Jack & Jim) certainly seem to be within striking distance of toppling the Democrat party's grip on NJ's statehouse.

So, let's take a page from our optimistic friend Matt Rooney at Save Jersey and think about what a Red New Jersey should look like. Here are some audacious, outside-the-box ideas Jack and Jim might want to advance. These are ideas that go to the heart of our affordability crisis and put New Jersey and New Jerseyans first: 

Freeze salaries for all state employees. Freeze these now pending a complete budget review and thorough audit. Establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for New Jersey. Inefficient and unnecessary departments and agencies can and should be streamlined, consolidated or dismantled outright.

Free beaches for New Jerseyans, everywhere.  In the majority of our nation's coastal states citizens have unrestricted, free access to the beaches. Not so throughout much of New Jersey where access to many of the beaches can only be gained via a beach tag that you need to purchase. At least for all New Jersey residents (goodness knows we pay enough in taxes and fees) this practice should end. Beach tags should be free for those whose primary residence is in New Jersey. All others should pay for beach access where such fees are in effect. 

Free access to state parks, lakes, etc. for New Jerseyans. Except for overnight accommodations for cabins, etc. all fees for state parks, lakes and other facilities should be eliminated for New Jersey residents. We don't even have that many state recreational facilities so those that we have should be free. Out-of-staters of course would still have to pay where such fees are applicable.

End the onerous automatic gas tax hikes. Somewhere along the line, though a complicated formula enacted when no one was looking, an automatic gas tax hike was approved by the state legislature. This is a copout and it should be sunsetted. 

Raise the speed limit.  The maximum speed limit on most New Jersey highways is 65 mph. On roads such as the Garden State Parkway, the Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike that limit should be raised to 70 mph which is the standard in 23 other states. Right now, 39 other states have a higher speed limit than New Jersey -- some as high as 75 mph or even 80 mph!

End the automatic toll hikes. Similarly automatic hikes have been enacted on toll roads. Not only should those automatic hikes be sunsetted but, with EZ Pass, tolls should be halved for all New Jersey residents all the time. It's time to give something back to the beleaguered  tax and toll plagued residents of this state!

No property tax for seniors below a certain income level who have already paid New Jersey property taxes for 30 consecutive years or more. Above the income level, and with the same consecutive year stipulation, property taxes can be reduced on a sliding scale up to a certain percentage.

Pump your own gas? Let the people decide! Currently, New Jersey is the only state in the US where it is illegal to pump your own gas. Oregon used to be the other state with this restriction, but it lifted its ban in 2023. It's time to put this up to a vote and let the people of New Jersey decide whether or not they want to pump their own gas, perhaps with the stipulation that the savings accrued by eliminating attendants be used to lower gas prices.

Take a closer look at marijuana legalization. The use of recreational marijuana in New Jersey and its repercussions remains an area of critical concern. The whole system seemed to be adopted far too quickly and maybe even capriciously. A "marijuana lounge" will now open near me and increasingly I hear of marijuana users driving under the influence. It all seems to be far too accessible especially when you consider that a majority of the states do not permit recreational marijuana use. Plus, the long term medical effects of such use are troubling. Legalization should be revisited without delay.

Permit the widespread sale of beer and wine in supermarkets and convenience stores. No, this does not negate or contradict what I've observed about marijuana. In many states where pot is still illegal, beer and wine are readily available in supermarkets and convenience stores. Alcoholic beverages have been legal since the end of prohibition in 1933. But in New Jersey, convenience stores generally cannot sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption. State law limits the number of retail distribution licenses that can be held by a single entity, typically restricting these to liquor stores and, in limited cases, supermarkets. While some legislation has been proposed to enact a broader sale (as is the case in many other states) it has not been enacted in New Jersey. It's time to enact that legislation. 

End the plastic bag ban. The ban is stupid and cosmetic. It's virtue signaling, pure and simple -- nothing more! And, carting your own sloppy bags around is an unsanitary nuisance. Jack Ciattarelli says he will end the ban on Day One if he's elected. We should hold him to this and in the meantime he should press his opponent on this issue.

Free public transportation for seniors. In nearby Pennsylvania (which enjoys much lower property taxes) fixed-route local public transportation is free for all senior citizens. If they can do it, why can't we? Let's enact this free service for seniors now.

End the tax funded four day teachers' holiday. Under NJ state law public school teachers are given paid time off in November to attend the annual New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) convention in Atlantic City. Since the free days are Friday and Saturday, this gives the teachers a four-day weekend and effectively closes all public schools. It also needlessly interrupts the classroom schedule and extends the length of the school year. The NJEA is a radical, far left, partisan political organization and should not be subsidized in this way by taxpayers. Furthermore, teachers can easily avail themselves of  the professional enrichment they need either online, in the summer or during other non-school hours. This law should be repealed.

If you've lived in New Jersey for any length of time you know that there are lots of people waiting to tell us why any (if not all) of these things cannot be done. Excuses, excuses! That's nonsense! What we need is bold leadership that shows us how they can be done. It's time!

Lower NJ Tolls In Store For Commuters?

In an effort to provide some financial relief for commuters, New Jersey State Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano (all R-10) have introduced S-3552/A-5205 to appropriate $250 million to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority in the form of a toll relief program.

To provide some financial relief for commuters, Senator Holzapfel and Assemblymen McGuckin and Catalano have introduced a bill to appropriate $250 million to the NJTA and SJTA in the form of a toll relief program. (SenateNJ.com)

“Qualifying commuters have a unique opportunity to save big when they travel on toll roads across the state,” Senator Holzapfel stated. “Ocean County commuters make up a majority of the cars on our major highways each day and this legislation will make the average cost of the daily commute more affordable.”

This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to each create a toll relief program to provide a qualifying account that records 35 or more qualifying transactions per electronic toll collection system (E-ZPass) transponder for the calendar month with an account credit equal to 50 percent of the amount paid in that calendar month for the qualifying transactions per transponder.

“Many of our residents who travel along the Garden State Parkway rack up thousands of dollars each year on tolls,” added Assemblyman McGuckin. “Combine this with rising gas prices and inflation and commuting to work is a financial burden for many families. It only takes 35 or more E-ZPass transactions a month to qualify for this program and that’s an easy number to hit for most of our Ocean County commuters.”

The bill appropriates $250 million to the NJTA and $250 million to the SJTA from the General Fund to support the provision of account credits issued under the toll relief programs.

“This is an opportunity for the state to give back to its loyal commuters and thank them for their continued support of E-ZPass,” Assemblyman Catalano said. “The NJTA and SJTA should be proud to offer this cost savings for the thousands of New Jersey residents who rely on our major highways everyday to make a living.”

NJ Senator: Don't Be Bullied By 'Dimwitted' NY Pol

New Jersey State Senator Declan O’Scanlon blasted a dimwitted proposal by a New York lawmaker that would charge every New Jersey driver entering New York City a $50 fee as punishment for pending legislation that would prohibit the NJMVC from helping other states enforce automated camera tickets on Garden State motorists.

Sen. Declan O’Scanlon blasted a dimwitted proposal by a New York lawmaker that would charge every New Jersey driver entering New York City a $50 fee as punishment for pending legislation that would prohibit the NJMVC from helping other states enforce automated camera tickets on Garden State motorists. (SenateNJ.com)

“New Jersey got rid of our red light camera program because we learned it was a scam that enriched corrupt tech companies at the expense of drivers without improving public safety,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “Automated red light and speed camera systems are engineered to entrap drivers by shady operators that have been caught bribing politicians all over the country. The only way these systems make money is if proper yellow light and speed setting engineering criteria are ignored. Every competent, unbiased study of these systems demonstrates they have no overall safety benefit — and that’s the only measure that counts. Automated camera enforcement is a policing for profit racket that New Jersey rightfully banned. These camera systems have nothing to do with making roads safer and everything to do with making money. New Jersey doesn’t inflict these scams on our drivers or anyone else’s, and we should not be complicit in helping other states to perpetuate their automated injustice on New Jerseyans. The sooner all of these abusive programs end everywhere, the better.”

In June, the New Jersey Senate unanimously passed O’Scanlon’s “Automated Enforcement Inoculation Act,” which would shield New Jersey drivers from predatory fines for traffic violations captured by red light cameras and speed cameras in other states.

Under O’Scanlon’s legislation, S-460, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and other State entities would be prohibited from disclosing the personal information of New Jersey drivers to help another state impose or collect a fine for alleged violations captured by automated camera ticketing systems.

Out of fear that the Empire State might lose a stream of easy camera ticket revenues from out-of-state drivers, New York Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz introduced legislation in Albany that would charge New Jersey drivers, and those from other “uncooperative” states, a punitive $50 fee every time they enter New York City.

The proposed $50 fee would be in addition to existing bridge and tunnel tolls and a $23 congestion pricing toll that New York is considering charging drivers to enter much of lower and midtown Manhattan.

“I won’t let a dimwitted New York politician try to extort New Jersey into enforcing a corrupt automated ticket racket that preys on both his constituents and my own. And it should be noted that the folks most devastatingly impacted by these systems are the poor and middle-class workers,” added O’Scanlon. “I would warn Assemblyman Dinowitz that this escalating abuse of New Jersey workers by New York will give large employers even more incentive to open satellite offices in the Garden State. You’ll lose your precious corrupt ticket revenue and billions more in income tax payments to New Jersey, all while commercial vacancies in Manhattan climb even higher. New York has the most to lose by a long shot.”

Murphy Says He Wants A 'More Affordable' State

 

Lockdown Phantom Toll Hike Deemed Unconsionable

New Jersey State Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, and Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-Monmouth) today condemned New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s vote to approve a toll hike along the Turnpike and Parkway.

O’Scanlon, DiMaso & Scharfenberger condemned the NJ Turnpike Authority’s vote to approve a toll hike along the Turnpike and Parkway. (SenateNJ.com)

“It is completely astounding that the Turnpike Authority believed they should move forward with this toll hike process. We are in the midst of a pandemic. Loved ones have been lost. People have been confined to their homes for more than two months. Hundreds of thousands are currently worrying about whether their businesses will be able to reopen in time for their livelihood to be saved.

“It does not matter whether or not someone believes that a toll increase is necessary. Because the ultimate issue is that proceeding with a policy that requires public hearings during a pandemic is ridiculous and offensive.

“Currently, people are completely occupied worrying about their health, lives, and livelihoods. Over a million residents have applied for unemployment. To move forward with a proposed toll hike is truly unconscionable.”

Ohhh, YEAH . . . It's Really Heating Up Now!

State Senator Jennifer Beck doesn't like New Jersey's planned gas tax hike. She says she likes being screamed at even less.

Things got loud on the state Senate floor Thursday as she and Sen. Paul Sarlo got into a heck of a shouting match. BTW: NO action was taken on the tax today. Governor Christie and the legislature have effectively reached an impasse, though we're told negotiations will continue.

We applaud Senator Beck for standing up for herself, for her plan and for the people of New Jersey. It's about time somebody gave the established "know-it-alls" in Trenton some serous hell. These career politicians have been screwing the people of this state for a long, long time. 

There should be NO increase in the gas tax, period. Here are Five Big Reasons why:

1) New Jersey already spends a whopping 8.4 times the national average for every mile of road it maintains or builds. North Dakota (which gets tons of snow) spends a fraction of what we spend per mile.
2) Our highway funding system is inefficient. Our state spent nearly $45,000 per every mile of roads on highway administration. The national average is just $10,500.
3) Other states with similarly dense metro areas and high costs of living spend far less per-mile than Jersey. Even New York and California spend less.
4) New Jersey has also made little use of public-private partnerships to finance and execute transportation projects. It's been reported that such projects are already lowering costs in 30 other states.
5) New Jersey’s has mishandled its transportation funding. The state should have spent annual budgeted money on a pay-as-you-go basis. But New Jersey inefficiently relied on debt to finance its roads and bridges.

On top of all this, New Jersey toll collections are through-the-roof. Our state is taking in more money from tolls than any other state except New York. What's happening to all this money?

Until New Jersey cleans up its transportation revenue and funding act, it will have to make do with the money it has.
Tell your state legislators: NO NJ GAS TAX HIKE!

Here's what you can do to stop the gas tax hike. But you must act NOW!

Do it NOW!

No Matter How You Count, Costs Are Astronomical!

From our friends at Save jersey

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

The Trenton bureaucracy and its allies are celebrating a new study out this week (sponsored by NJ DOT and taxpayer-financed Rutgers University) which pegs the cost of maintaining New Jersey’s roads at approximately $187,000 per mile, significantly less than the Reason Foundation’s oft-cited $2 million per mile figure, Save Jerseyans.

Forgive me for holding my applause!

The biggest reason for the difference? Rutgers and the state aren’t counting debt which, for most ordinary working stiffs like you and me, is an inescapable aspect of our respective financial realities. I can’t tell a mortgage rep “just ignore those student loans!” when going through the pre-qualification process, can I?

But let’s assume $187k is a fair number.

That still makes New Jersey one of the nation’s most expensive transportation states by – pardon the pun – a mile. Our neighbor Pennsylvania and the similarly densely populated state of Rhode Island both spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $100,000 less per mile than we do back home in the Garden State. Their roads are more than 50% cheaper per mile.

I’m going to keep saying it: until the Reason study’s detractors are willing to get serious and talk about a solution that involves MORE than “new revenues” (read: gas tax hike), including measures to make roads cheaper by addressing the prevailing wage, then there’s nothing to talk about. Only serious people are worthy of serious consideration!

Kean Pushes Bi-Partisan Port Authority Reform

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean stated the following about reforming the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey:
“Now that the New Jersey Senate Democrats have gotten this political game out of their system, I hope that they will join our caucus and New York Senate and Assembly colleagues, who aren’t acting on the dated and incomplete legislation that failed again today.
“We don’t have to start over. We can immediately pass comprehensive, common-ground legislation that I introduced last week to finally reform the maligned Port Authority for commuters and taxpayers. My new bill includes all of the workable provisions from bipartisan sponsors and governors on both sides of the Hudson River. It’s the solution that sponsors and leaders in the New York Senate, Assembly have been waiting for, as they are abandoning the legislation that failed again here today and was outright vetoed by their governor. This is the opportunity for sponsors and leaders in New Jersey to pass complete reform that has a real chance of being signed into law in both states.”
Senator Kean said that he will continue to work with all parties to advance the only chance for Port Authority reform, S-2794:
“I understand the external political pressures that may have led Senator Gordon to walk back his initially supportive and optimistic comments about my common-ground bill, as he continued to push for today’s doomed override vote. As Senator Gordon and I have recently discussed, I welcome his sponsorship of S-2794, which includes all of his workable proposals to the extent that he initially told reporters that my bill is 95 percent his.”
S-2794, as introduced on March 9, 2015, in part:
·        Protects toll paying citizens of New Jersey by ensuring at least six meaningful public hearings with participation from Port Authority commissioners prior to any toll hike;
·        Contains appropriate legislative oversight of the Port Authority by requiring Port Authority officials to testify on important issues upon bipartisan approval of presiding officer and minority leader;
·        Provides for a Chief Ethics Officer and Inspector General to oversee the actions of Port Authority Commissioners and employees;
·        Provides for Governance, Finance and Audit Committees of the Board;
·        Provides for a whistleblower protection program;
·        Requires each commissioner to sign a statement of independence and fiduciary faith to the agency;
·        Prohibits any commissioner from voting on or participating in any discussion or decision if the commissioner or a family member has any “direct or indirect financial involvement;”
·        Establishes the new Chief Executive Officer of the Port Authority to ensure appropriate executive management of the Port Authority and to avoid conflicts between the states that have created serious governance issues over the years at PANYNJ;
·        Requires the Port Authority to establish a core mission that focuses on the region’s critical transportation infrastructure needs.  The PANYNJ would not be able to take any action inconsistent with that mission, including the purchase of real estate or the engagement in, real estate development efforts unrelated to its mission;
·         Prohibits the PANYNJ’s capital plan from including any discretionary regional development funds;
·        Requires that the annual report include a list of all real property and a list of all real and personal property disposed of during that period. (The list must contain the price received and the name of the purchaser);
·        Requires a needs assessment of any toll increase to be completed 90 days prior to a vote; and
·        Requires, at a minimum, commissioners, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, those in policy-making positions, and those earning over $200,000 in total yearly compensation adjusted for inflation annually (about 241 employees) to file financial disclosure statements.

Long-Overdue DRPA Reforms Proposed

Pennsylvania State Senator John Rafferty, New Jersey State Senator Joe Pennacchio and Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Vereb held a press conference on Thursday to announce bi-state legislation to significantly reform the Delaware River Port Authority.

“I am pleased to stand today with my friends and colleagues from both sides of the Delaware River and both sides of the political aisle to call for long overdue common-sense reforms,” said Rafferty (R-44), chairman of the P.A. Senate Transportation Committee. “DRPA spent nearly two decades and a half billion dollars carelessly wasting the resources of its users for purposes that in no way benefited DRPA’s bridges or the PATCO commuter system. This legislation will ensure that DRPA honors its core mission of providing safe and efficient travel as opposed to pet projects and perks.”

“People have long been at the breaking point with the DRPA and are demanding better transparency and accountability,” said Pennacchio (R-26), a N.J. Senate Transportation Committeeman. “The DRPA must use the people’s money to provide the best possible transportation via its regional railway and four bridges. They are not an ATM to be used for outside development. This legislation is a wake up call to the DRPA: Representatives in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania will not tolerate any more abuses.”

View the New Jersey version of the reform legislation: http://www.senatenj.com/uploads/DRPA-reform-legislation-NJ-version.pdf

“In a single word, these reforms are about integrity,” said Vereb (R-150). “The people who pay to ride these trains and cross these bridges want to know that their money isn’t being wasted. These bridges and trains were established to serve the travelers, not the people who work in positions of power at the Delaware River Port Authority. These changes are intended to remind port authority officials that they work for the people they serve.”

The bi-state legislation was announced at a press conference along the Delaware River waterfront in Camden, with the support of Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, a Democrat.

“This no nonsense reform proposal reflects my longstanding philosophy toward open and responsive government,” DePasquale said. “These changes would certainly serve as a reminder that the DRPA’s fundamental mission is to provide safe, reliable and affordable transportation. I do recognize and appreciate that DRPA has made improvements since the late 2000s, but it is clear that more needs to be done and those changes must be imbedded in both our states’ statutes so we never have to revisit the old days of DRPA.”

This reform bill will be officially introduced in both states’ legislatures on April 28.

Provisions of this legislation:

· Prohibit the DRPA to engage in economic development activity;

· Allow people to obtain public records from the agency via Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law or New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act;

· Establish a Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) Commuter Council to study, investigate, monitor and make recommendations pertaining to the maintenance and operation of PATCO’s facilities for the transportation of passengers, including those with disabilities;

· Restrict DRPA board member, officer and employee perks by prohibiting -

--Vehicle allowances, toll exemptions and lump-sum expense allowances;

--Any personal lines of credit from DRPA;

--The acceptance of any gifts that could affect the conduct of DRPA business;

--The hiring of immediate family members of current commissioners, officers, directors or employees; and

-- Salaries to be higher than those of the Governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

· Prohibit political activity using DRPA time or resources;

· Prohibit DRPA officers and employees (at the director level and higher) from being employed by an entity that does business with DRPA for two years after the individual leaves DRPA service;

· Require biennial budget audits, biennial performance audits and a biennial review of compensation for all DRPA employees;

· Prohibit DRPA management from receiving their salaries until audits are complete;

· Prohibit officers and employees at the director level or higher to hold outside employment during their tenure at DRPA;

· Require board members to file financial interest statements and identify any potential conflicts of interest in writing in advance of board meetings;

· Prohibit any transaction or professional activity and engaging in any outside business that presents a conflict of interest with DRPA duties;

· Prohibit charitable contributions by board members and officers on behalf of DRPA;

· Provide 30 days public notice prior to any vote concerning a contract;

· Prohibit DRPA from negotiating, extending, amending or otherwise altering the terms of a contract, or entering into a contract, unless the action is taken by the DRPA board at a public meeting;

· Require the use of best practices in procurement and the acceptance of bid proposals online; and

· Require current and prospective vendors to disclose a list of political contributions annually and for the prior four years.

Christie, Cuomo Wary Of Toll Hike Plan

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today released the following statement regarding the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's proposed toll hike plan:
 
"The Port Authority has informed us of its proposal to dramatically increase tolls on its tunnels and bridges and fares on the PATH.

While we understand the Port Authority leadership's concerns about a potential downgrade to its bond rating if toll increases are not instituted, our primary concern with this proposal is its impact on our respective states' residents and commercial users of the crossings.

A downgrade of the Port Authority's bond rating does indeed pose a potentially disastrous result on a transportation network that millions of residents of the states of New Jersey and New York rely on and would be unacceptable.

We will review the proposal with that in mind but have obvious and significant concerns. The Port Authority is facing financial issues but so are families in the states of New York and New Jersey, and the answer cannot always be an indiscriminate and exorbitant increase in the cost to the taxpayer, or in this case, toll payer. As families must carefully and effectively manage their finances at this difficult time, so must government.

It is our joint intention to cooperatively address this issue without regard for partisanship or parochialism, as was the intention and spirit of the creation of the Port Authority as a regional entity in 1921."

Move To Privatize NJ Toll Roads Advances

The Christie administration appears to be moving in the direction of an all-automated, privatized New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.
Here's a piece of the story from the Newark Star Ledger:

A plan to privatize manual collections on New Jersey's two major toll roads could save the state millions, but it's likely to cost 800 full- and part-time toll collectors their jobs.
Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson said the state is slowly moving toward all-electronic toll collections. Meanwhile, he said two reports issued since Gov. Chris Christie took office 15 months ago bolstered the administration's push to privatize manual toll collections on the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

Click here to read the rest. 

Christie Praises Authority For Ending Freebies

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today issued the following statement welcoming the action taken yesterday by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) to come into compliance with his September 16, 2010 directive to abolish the practice of providing free E-Z Pass trips that are not available to the general public:   

“The granting of free passage to authority Commissioners, officers, employees or retirees, simply by virtue of their current or former employment, sends the wrong message to the toll paying public and represents yet another type of abuse common in New Jersey’s ‘shadow government.’ I’m pleased that the DRJTBC has joined the other entities in receipt of my directive and acted to come into compliance with my demand that these inappropriate perks be brought to an end. My Administration will continue to take a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the abuse and misuse of public resources, and continue to insist on accountability and ethical conduct in the conduct of all authority, board and commission business.”   

Since taking office, Governor Christie has worked aggressively to rein in the waste, abuse and misuse of public funds and resources at so-called “independent” authorities, boards, commissions and bi-state agencies in New Jersey. The action taken by the DRJTBC brings it into line with similar prohibitions on the use of E-Z Pass and other free passage called for by Governor Christie and implemented by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Delaware River Port Authority, and the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
On September 16, 2010, Governor Christie issued letters to each of those agencies demanding that they move to eliminate the use of E-Z Pass perks at toll payer expense. Those letters and the accompanying press release are available here.

Another Bloated Agency (DRPA) Robs Taxpayers

New jersey Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco, R-Gloucester and Camden, yesterday called on the Attorneys General of New Jersey and Pennsylvania to investigate the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and its practices following the admitted abuse of public funds by its public safety director and reports of alleged cronyism and pension padding.

See today's news articles below:

• DRPA faces more calls to reform
• New Jersey, Pennsylvania lawmakers push for federal probe of Delaware River Port Authority

DRPA CEO John Matheussen, who called the matter "a judgment error," imposed a small fine on DRPA Director of Public Safety Michael Joyce for allowing his daughter to use a borrowed authority-issued transponder for 18 months to travel to Philadelphia to attend school.

In a letter requesting the federal probe, DiCicco wrote, "The public is entitled to know whether this episode warrants criminal charges and if the authority is engaged in any other practice that law enforcement should be concerned with. Separate media reports have suggested instances of cronyism and pension padding. All matters should be fully investigated."

The $300-million-a-year bi-state agency is funded by the $4 tolls of hard-working New Jersey and Pennsylvania commuters and families who cross the Delaware River for work and recreation.

Corzine Wants Toll Hikes

It turns out Jon Corzine's admission Friday that he would revisit his failed toll hike plan is not the first time in the last year he has bullheadedly suggested a return to this failed plan.
During an interview with the Star Ledger in December 2008, Governor Corzine "left open the possibility" that he would reconsider toll hikes despite the public outcry.
Even though New Jerseyans loudly rejected Corzine's original 800 percent toll hikes, the Governor is desperate for ways to cover his $8 billion deficit and looking to pass the burden for his irresponsibility onto taxpayers.
Jon Corzine has made it clear that he will raise taxes and tolls on New Jerseyans and we simply cannot afford it. It is time to send Jon Corzine and his out-of-touch, out-of control taxes packing.

"The prospect of higher tolls also stoked growing fears about the economy, he said, calling it "not the most user-friendly time" to introduce a dramatic long-term plan. 'I will say that I -- like many -- did not see the depth of the current economic slowdown,' he said. He said paying down state debt -- now about $32 billion - 'still has to be done,' and left open the possibility he would attack it again.

"'Some format. Some governor -- maybe this one -- will still have to take that issue of debt on, and it's clear that that should be done during periods when we have economic strength, not economic weakness,' he said." (John Appezzato, "Corzine sees economy as major hurdle in his 2009 re-election bid," Star Ledger, 12/21/08)

To view the full Star Ledger article, please click here.

Daggett's Scary Tax Schemes

Gas Taxes and Tolls
“We have a circumstance now where the trust fund is broken and it needs to be filled. The only way we are going to be able to do realistically is probably deal with it through additional gas taxes or possibly putting additional tolls on our roads or increasing the tolls...”
(Daggett, Gubernatorial Debate, 10/1/2009, 00:10:28)

Gas Taxes, New Toll Booths, Increasing Tolls
“The funding for this program will be debated vigorously, however, we must honestly and forthrightly assess the true costs of future transportation needs and puts potential user-based funding sources up for consideration, including but not limited to: the motor fuels tax; conversion to a sales tax on fuel; adding tolls to existing non-toll roads; local option; voter approved dedicated sales tax; and public private ventures that preserve public control but attract new sources of funding to meet the challenges of these times.” (Transportation, DaggettForGovernor.com, Accessed: 10/12/09)

Massive, $3.9 Billion Expansion Of The Sales Tax
“Daggett’s tax reform plan would extend the existing 7 percent sales tax to a wide range of personal, professional and household services, including services provided to individuals by professionals such as lawyers, accountants and architects. The sales tax extension would not include business-to-business services. The expansion would add $3.9 billion in tax revenue.” (Tax Reform, DaggettForGovernor.com, Accessed: 10/12/09)

$205 Million Shore Tax
“The $3.9 billion sales tax expansion includes a $205 million extension of the 7 percent sales tax to vacation home and condominium rentals to establish a stable source of funding for open space preservation and related uses. Only 19 percent of the tax would be paid by New Jersey residents, and it makes taxation of private rentals comparable to hotels and motels, as most states with shore tourism economies, including North Carolina and Florida, already do.” (Tax Reform, DaggettForGovernor.com, Accessed: 10/12/09)

Senator Knocks Corzine

New Jersey State Senator Gerald Cardinale has responded to reports that Governor Jon Corzine has paid a huge settlement to prevent the public disclosure of the unusual circumstances under which Rocco Riccio was dismissed from a string of patronage positions in which he was placed. Riccio was reportedly paid $362,500 in late-September after threatening to sue Corzine and make public the terms of his employment and eventual termination from a pair of taxpayer and tollpayer funded positions.
“Governor Corzine has once again opened his personal checkbook to prevent those with inside knowledge of his dealings from talking to the public,” said Cardinale. “By paying off Riccio, Corzine has prevented him from publicly discussing how he obtained two patronage positions or detailing the alleged improper political research he performed on taxpayer time.”
According to published reports, Riccio was asked to resign his position at the New Jersey Department of Human Services after allegations were made public that he had improperly looked at the tax returns of political enemies. Corzine then placed Riccio into another patronage position at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, where he resigned after just two weeks and continued media scrutiny.
“On the same day that Governor Corzine hikes tolls on the Parkway and Turnpike, we are again reminded that the Turnpike Authority is a favored patronage pit for use by the Corzine Administration,” said Cardinale. “Maybe if Corzine had worked as hard to protect taxpayers and tollpayers as he does to protect guys like Rocco Riccio, hardworking commuters would not have to pay more at the toll booth today.”
The $362,500 paid to Riccio was not the first payout he received from Corzine. Following his resignation from the Turnpike Authority, Corzine admitted to paying his “friend” Riccio $10,000. Riccio is also the brother-in-law of Corzine ex-girlfriend Carla Katz, who received a reported $6 million payout from the Governor following their break-up.
“We knew that something didn’t smell right after the first $10,000 payout, and another $362,500 later, this whole situation just stinks,” added Cardinale. “The public deserves the details of Corzine’s $6 million payout to Katz and the nearly $400,000 paid to her brother-in-law. More importantly, it’s time for an official investigation into these matters to ensure that laws weren’t broken and that taxpayers are protected.”

'Leading' The Nation

In January New Jersey was responsible for a whopping 56% of the nation's job loss.
Under wacky Jon Corzine and the all-Democrat state legislature New Jersey continues to drift deeper into debt, borrowing more and attempting to push forward with relentless rounds of toll and tax hikes. At the same time the state is bleeding jobs, businesses and residents. To say that New Jersey is not a business friendly state would be an understatement.
State spending must be drastically reduced now if there is to be any chance to prevent total economic collapse. Call your state legislator now and demand spending cuts and no increases in tolls or taxes.