William Campbell writes that dedicating the added fuel-tax revenue to transportation solves just part of the problem.
To the Editor:
The recent Star-Ledger editorial supporting the state gasoline tax "lockbox" ballot question (which appeared in the South Jersey Times on Oct. 26) only goes halfway way in solving the problem of revenue being diverted from the Transportation Trust Fund.
An estimated $460 million was diverted over the last decade. And the solution was to raise the tax by 23 cents a gallon? Meanwhile, Gov. Chris Christie raided $1 billion in "clean energy" funds for New Jersey's general budget. Without the lockbox provision, it will be open season on any fuel tax revenue coming in.
Of course, the governor is the same guy who managed to void an agreement with Pennsylvania that allowed workers who commute between to the states to pay state income taxes only in the state where they live. How much will that cost most state-to-state commuters? It will be good when Christie is gone!
My solution is different than increasing the gasoline tax: Get rid of all the legislators who raided these funds, then didn't pursue the difficult solutions to this problem.
The Nov. 8 election is close. Support State Ballot Question No. 2 to dedicate the gasoline-tax revenue -- but do not support long-term politicians who do not do their jobs!
Let's hope we are fortunate enough to get officeholders smart enough to come up with good solutions, even unpopular ones, at the risk of losing their jobs at the next election.
Lawmaker term limits may be a good idea.
William A. Campbell
Gibbstown
Christie bilked us on Bridgegate
To the Editor:
Concerning Tom Moran's commentary, "The Bridgegate verdict? Christie is guilty," on Oct. 30:
Moran is right. Even though Christie is not on trial and has not been charged criminally, he is guilty in connection with the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal. Anyone with half a brain knows it.
I applaud state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D- Bergen) and Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) for trying to do something about this. But it boggles my mind that Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) are showing no interest in making Christie pay for his part in this, including how he cost taxpayers at least $10 million to defend himself.
The spending included an $8 million investigative report by a law firm friendly to the governor, which vindicated him. In my eyes, the report was bogus, and Christie stole this money from us.
Like Moran, I also ask myself "why?" What are they afraid of? Sadly, I suspect that this is a prime example of corrupt New Jersey politics as usual.
Prieto and Sweeney need to do the jobs the taxpayers hired them to do. They should get to work. Not only is the waste of $10 million obscene, but people's lives were put in danger when those bridge lanes were closed down!
Debi Kelly Van Cleave
Woodstown
In Salem Co, pick budget-smart Democrats
To the Editor:
I would like to again ask the voters of Salem County to vote for progress, financial responsibility and the two-party system on Nov 8.
Voting for the Democratic freeholder board candidates, incumbent Lee Ware and myself, is a step to begin restoring good government.
We have seen over the last five years of a Republican board majority dramatic disturbing tax increases. We have seen much-needed programs for the elderly and disabled discontinued. We have seen Julie Acton, the freeholder director under the Republicans, overspend the county budget two years in a row. Acton is running for freeholder re-election.
In her efforts to balance the budget this year, she zeroed in on one department, the 911 dispatch center, and demanded a 28 pay cut for workers. If they did not accept this, she vowed to outsource the service and end the county's 911 jobs. Ware fought this effort, and he won.
Left with no other solution, Acton and the GOP majority raised taxes. This year alone property taxes for county government went up by 8.6 cents per $100 of valuation.
Acton's leadership has resulted in total dysfunction of county government. Ware and I have a proven record and we commit to better government, greater communication and financial responsibility. We will focus on economic development and leadership qualities that will restore everyone's faith in our county government.
Thank you for your consideration on Nov. 8.
Earl Gage
Democratic candidate
for Salem County freeholder
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