PublicMind on What Jersey is Thinking

These are phenomenal numbers for Jon Corzine (0.00 / 0)

Historically in New Jersey, Governor's have terrible numbers in their first year, often their first two years, before turning it around.  51-29 for Jon is unbelievable after only a year.  He is going to be a very popular, and powerful Governor, as his term continues.

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by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair @ Mon Jan 08, 2007 at 18:08:35 PM CST

Maybe It'll Give Hime The Courage To Make Some Really Profound Changes... (0.00 / 0)

...or at least propose them.

Here's a few bits from Elliott Spitzers recent "State of the State" speech.... (wouldn't it be cool if Corzine decided to "see" Spitzers and "raise" him on them! ;-)

Ethics Reform

We gather here today with the front-page stories of scandal fresh in our minds and the minds of all New Yorkers.  We are in danger of losing the confidence of those who elected us.  To restore their confidence, we must overhaul our campaign finance, lobbying and election laws.

Campaign Finance Reform

To neutralize the army of special interests, we must disarm it.  In the coming weeks, we will submit a reform package to replace the weakest campaign finance laws in the nation with the strongest.

Our package will lower contribution limits dramatically, close the loopholes that allow special interests to circumvent these limits, and sharply reduce contributions from lobbyists and companies that do business with the state.

But reform will not be complete if we simply address the supply of contributions.  We must also address the demand.  Full public financing must be the ultimate goal of our reform effort.  By cutting off the demand for private money, we will cut off the special-interest influence that comes with it.

Lobbying Reform

We also must address lobbying reform to restore the public's faith in government decision-making.  In the coming weeks, we will propose legislation that fully bans gifts to elected officials and strengthens the "revolving door" law, which still allows legislative employees to immediately lobby their former colleagues.

Election Reform

Still, we must do more.  We will submit legislation that reforms our elections - specifically legislation that establishes an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission.  Until this happens, I will veto any proposal that reflects partisan gerrymandering.  More competitive elections will lead to a more responsive government.

Structural Reform

In addition to ethics reform, we must work together to implement structural reform at every level of government to make it more flexible and adaptive to change.

Judicial Reform

First, we must reform our state's sprawling judicial system.  New York has the most complex and costly court system in the country, a system that too often fails to provide justice while imposing an undue burden on taxpayers.  Chief Judge Kaye has forged consensus within the legal community for how we must fairly administer justice.  Now is the time to act.

In the coming weeks, I will submit a Constitutional amendment that incorporates Judge Kaye's recommendations to consolidate and integrate our balkanized courts.

I will also submit a second constitutional amendment that will take the politics out of the selection of judges and implement a merit appointment process.

Public Authorities Reform

Second, we must continue to reform our state's public authorities.  Originally created to be lean, anti-bureaucratic machines, they have become patronage dumping grounds, adding yet another costly bureaucracy, entrenched in the status quo and insulated from accountability.

We will build on the Legislature's recent reform effort and submit legislation to strengthen transparency and accountability.  We will promptly review each of the authorities and develop a plan to consolidate and eliminate those authorities that have outlived their usefulness.  And we will staff our authorities with experts picked for what they know, not whom they know.

Local Government Reform

Third, we must consolidate New York's multiple layers of local government - those 4,200 taxing jurisdictions that cost taxpayers millions each year in duplicative services and stand as yet another impediment to change.  I will appoint a Commission on Local Government Efficiency to report back with a specific plan of action.  Together, we must summon the political will to face the reality that 4,200 taxing jurisdictions are simply too many, too expensive and too burdensome.

Budget Reform

Fourth, we must fix our unwieldy budget-making process.  We will work with you on a reform package based on three principles: timeliness, transparency and fiscal responsibility.

To increase timeliness, we must accelerate consensus revenue forecasting, reduce the Governor's 30-day amendment period and require conference committees to meet as early as possible.

To increase transparency, we will move forward - as the leaders have already agreed - to eliminate lump-sum member items, and require that all member-item spending be specifically itemized in the budget, so this spending can be clearly defined, analyzed and is transparent to the public.

To increase fiscal responsibility, we must require that the enacted budget be balanced, and we must require the Legislature to report on the financial impact of any changes made to the Executive Budget.

I am also sensitive to the important balance of power between the Executive and the Legislature in the budget-making process.  I look forward to working with you to maintain appropriate legislative discretion.

Together, these ethics and structural reforms will transform a government that is structurally oriented to resist change into one that is oriented to embrace it.

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by: Nick Lento @ Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 00:54:03 AM CST

btw Spitzer's Whole Speech Can be Found At.... (0.00 / 0)

http://www.ny.gov/go...

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by: Nick Lento @ Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 00:55:21 AM CST