My Gubernatorial Platform for New Jersey

If I could run for Office Of The Governor in New Jersey, my home state, I would present a platform based on common sense. I would make sure, before I get started, that both abortion and gun control would be excluded from the debate(s). Both are non-issues because,: 1)The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America gives citizens the right to bear arms, and 2) the liberal Democrats always use these these topics as a last resort to cover up their lack of new ideas (aka Democratic Party playbook stuff). I feel that if we could make a contract with residents of New Jersey, similar to the Contract With America innovated by former Speaker Of The House Newt Gingrich, the potential to right the ship would be a step in the right direction.

One of the first things that I would push for is a real ban on grafting, also known as "pay to play". My plan would ban grafting and "wheeling", where money cycles from one county to another, on all levels. In the same package, I would forbid dual office holding. Burlington County already has this concept enacted, and I would use that as a model for the other twenty counties in the state. If this should ever come to fruition, then maybe the politicians of this state can get an actual reality check. I would also forbid the concept of no-bid contracts.

If I can sidetrack on the aforementioned, when our forefathers founded this country, they never envisioned the thought of career politicians. They viewed public office as a way of serving the citizens, not as a road to instant riches nor the "same old song and dance", bankrupt ideas out of the mouths of some today. A return to fundamentals would be healthy and beneficial to both the residents and economy of the state.

While I am mentioning the economy, I have a suggestion or two on rectifying this. First, I would repeal all of the "one shot deals" enacted by the McGreevey/Codey administrations over the last three-plus years. It seems like every time they implement these quickies, the actual revenue generated is never near their projected totals. Need proof? Look at the cigarette tax.

Even though it is a bold move, I would raise both the sales tax and the income tax. By raising the sales tax from six to seven percent, it could generate nearly one billion dollars annually. My idea of raising the income tax would be similar to the proportionate, or "flat", tax. By using ten percent as a reference, somebody who makes $150,000 annually will always pay more than one who earns $30,000 a year. Since New Jersey is the most affluent state in the nation, it does make sense, even though we have a population of approximately eight million.

For the first fiscal budget, I would cap it at three billion dollars, with annual increments no higher than three percent. The politicians always preach fiscal policy, or "tightening the belts", to us serfs. It is time for them to practice what they preach. Once this state has retired the debt brought upon by our arrogant, self-indulged politicians of both past and present, along with a treasury surplus, then we can discuss tax cuts. Fixing the broken machine now will produce better efficiency in the future.

The next item on the list will be education funding. As you may be aware, roughly sixty percent of our state taxes fund public education. This is too much of a burden with little or next to nil in return. I would push for the dissolution of the failing School Construction Corporation initiated by former Governor McGreevey. This, along with the Abbott Schools ruling, is like squeezing blood out of a stone. Without them, the state would be generating almost three billion dollars in the black, and the point would be moot. I would push to unify all of the school districts to twenty-one, county level school districts. This way, they can act as a co-operative in purchasing books, supplies, and other shared services. Having over six hundred school districts is too much for those who pay property taxes, besides being too bureaucratic. (Contrary to popular belief, home rule does not exist.) The states of Maryland, Florida, and New York already have these in place, and are proven successful.

It would be a tall mountain to climb; but, with determination, hard work, and overall efficiency, we can make New Jerseyans proud to live in this state once again!

Sincerely,

William N. Phillips, Jr.
"Bill"