»Budget Expert: Income Tax Cuts Will Benefit the Rich-
Christie defends cuts in rebate program that led to 20 percent hike in net property taxes.
»Net Property Taxes Up 20 Percent Under Christie-
»Should Christie Be Cutting Property Taxes Instead?-
The highest property taxes in the nation hurt New Jersey's competitiveness more than the income tax burden.
»Revenue Shortfall Fuels Debate Over Tax Cut-
Democrats question how Christie can afford to slash income tax by 10 percent.
- »NJ Spotlight Editor Talks Politics, Policy, and Perspective On WNYC
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John Mooney Assesses Christie's State of the State on The Brian Lehrer Show.
»Christie Demands 10 Percent Income Tax Cut-
Democrats: Cut property taxes, not 'taxes on the rich'
»Essay: Facing our Fiscal Future-
The fiscal crunch is systemic; it affects every level of government, and will force significant changes throughout New Jersey.
»Why the Port Authority Wants $1 Billion in Toll and Fare Hikes-
World Trade Center cost overruns, economic downturn lead agency to seek record increases, but Christie and Cuomo are skeptical.
»Spotlight Video: Voicing Concerns Over Budget Cuts-
What the budget cuts will mean to some New Jerseyans.
»Budget Override Battle Foreshadows Legislative Election Campaigns-
Veto override efforts fall short as Democrats and Republicans differ over size of surplus and availability of funds to restore Christie's cuts to social programs.
»Spotlight Video: Defining the Balance of Power-
The Democratic-controlled legislature fails in 15 budget override attempts.
- »Long, Hot Summer for Democrats Looking to Override Line-Item Vetoes
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Democrats admit it unlikely they'll find Republican votes to cancel budget cuts.
- »Fine Print: The Line-Item Veto Edition
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The governor racks up more than 100 line-item vetoes, sometimes by just cutting a few key words.
»Christie Cuts Nearly $1 Billion from Democratic Budget -- Line Item by Line Item-
Senate president characterizes Republican budget as "cruel and mean-spirited," vows to fight back.
»The Next Budget Battle-
The Democrats got the budget they wanted -- all $30.6 billion of it. Now the Republicans get what they want: a Christie veto. Here's where it gets interesting.
»Sweeney and Oliver Offer a "Democratic Budget"-
Hammered by the unions for working with Christie on pension and health benefit reform, Democratic leaders propose their own $30.7 billion spending plan, including a millionaire’s tax.
»Spotlight Video: Faces of the Protest-
NJ Spotlight captures the faces and voices of some of the Trenton protestors.
»Sweeney Delivers the Senate-
A new majority coalition easily passes the controversial pension reform and healthcare bill and ships it over to the Assembly. Last stop: New Jersey's High Court?
»Your Clean Energy Funds at Work-
Gov. Christie diverted $42.5 million in clean energy funds to keep the lights on in Trenton, and another $160 million to help balance the budget. Some powerful Democrats have had enough.
»The Push to Privatize-
In theory, outsourcing public services should save the state millions, but some ill-considered initiatives have ended up costing that much.
- »With Rich Getting Richer, Democrats Look Again To Millionaire’s Tax
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The Supreme Court ruling has Democrats aiming to increase school aid for suburbs as well as cities and looking again at an income tax surcharge on the wealthy to pay for it.
»Found Money: Officials Argue About Budget Windfall-
Democrats and Republicans clash over how much income tax revenue will be generated by the Garden State's millionaires -- and how to spend it.
- »Compare and Contrast Municipal Budgets -- Online
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TownStats.org is assembling a database of every municipal budget in the Garden State.
- »Why Christie Won't Cut Property Taxes
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Successfully reducing property taxes means raising other taxes, most likely sales and income, and the governor isn't going to get behind that idea.
»Christie's 2012 Budget: Something for Almost Everybody -- Except Public Employees-
A little fiscal sleight-of-hand helps the governor make sure the overall budget number goes down.
- »Found in Translation: Christie's Other Budget Address
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Reading between the lines of a speech the governor gave last week offers more than a clue as to what he will say on Tuesday.
- »Report Calls NJ Fiscal Woes "Dire" and "Intertwined"
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Facing Our Future offers a neutral examination of the state's budget issues.
- »Christie Identifies State Worker Pensions as a Top Priority in First State of the State Address
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Governor draws sharp rebuke from Senate president for his plan to fix the public employee benefit system.
»Christie’s Transportation Trust Fund Plan Built on Borrowing, ARC Tunnel Money-
Governor proposes five-year, $8 billion plan to fund construction and repair of New Jersey’s highways, bridges and mass transit system.
»Christie's Balanced Budget: Same Script, Different Year-
Christie hopes that voter support for his spartan budget will translate into what he really wants, a Republican-controlled state government.
»New Jersey's Troubled Transportation Outlook-
A proposed subway to Secaucus and a depleted Transportation Trust Fund are only the beginning.
»The ARC Tunnel: What Happened? What Happens Next?-
Gov. Christie rejected a series of federal proposals aimed at keeping ARC alive. His unwavering refusal raises critical public policy questions.
»The Politics of the ARC Tunnel-
Killing ARC would put Gov. Christie in the 'new' national Republican mainstream -- diametrically opposed to New Jersey's bipartisan tradition.
»Christie's Choice-
Will Gov. Christie compromise on a new federal plan to save the ARC tunnel or settle for a quick fix to the bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund?
»ARC: The 21st Century Tunnel that Wasn't-
Citing billions in potential cost overruns, Gov. Christie killed off the ARC Tunnel. Democrats charged the governor really wants to redirect money to the bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund.
- »Administration Diverted Nearly $400 Million into Transportation Fund in Past Year
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Borrowing has become business as usual as administration goes from one budget crisis to next.
»The Future of the ARC Tunnel-
Will Gov. Christie derail the ARC tunnel -- the largest public works project in the nation -- to bail out the bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund?
- »Economic Grant Program Proves Easily Exploited
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Subsidies supposedly restricted to redeveloping blighted areas can actually be used in 80 percent of the state's municipalities.
- »Gov. Christie Looks to Take Huge Bite Out of Public Employee Benefits
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Retirees are not exempt from sweeping changes governor's reform package would make to pensions and health benefits.
»Christie vs. the Public Employee Unions, Round 2-
Gov. Christie has spent the past eight months brawling with public service employee unions -- and the biggest battles are still to come.
»State Retiree Healthcare Costs Could Double Over Next Nine Years-
On the hook for nearly $70 billion, New Jersey already tops all states in unfunded liability.
- »Christie Checklist Aimed at Helping Local Governments Keep Costs in Check
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Noncompliance with checklist will affect the amount of state aid municipalities receive.
- »Opposition to Unfunded State Mandates -- Local and Vocal
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Local officials make sure NJ lawmakers get the message, unfunded mandates drive up property taxes and make it tough on Garden State residents.
»The Pension Crisis-
Given the state's multibillion dollar deficit, will Gov. Christie try to use pensions and benefits to help make up the shortfall?
»Video Spotlight: Democrats Press for Family Planning Money-
More and more politicos are discovering the power of video press releases, and they're using them to get out more and more of their messages.
»Analysis Finds NJ Lags Northeast Neighbors in Job Growth-
Unemployment is worst in region outside RI; new economic activity also sluggish.
