NJ Guv Kris Krispy's hard-headed fiscal realism wows the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities -- or maybe not so much

Garden State voters love Governor Krispy for his unflinching fiscal realism.

"The Center says New Jersey could get on track if the governor and legislature produced forecasts together, worked with outside experts, and opened up those discussions to the public."

-- from a report by WNYC News's Jessica Gould

by Ken

Perhaps the reason we're hearing all this talk about a "comeback" for New Jersey Gov. Kris Krispy is that, rather than going all gooey and apologetic, he has by God stuck to his guns and thereby allowed Garden State voters to remember why they love him -- for his unrelenting fiscal toughness and hard-headed realism.

WNYC News
NJ Budgeting Gets Low Marks


Gov. Christie delivers budget address for fiscal year 2015.

Thursday, August 07, 2014
By Jessica Gould

After facing a series of shortfalls in recent years, a new report gives New Jersey low marks on its revenue forecasts.

The Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities evaluated states on budgeting best practices, and found New Jersey lacking in several areas.

The Center says New Jersey could get on track if the governor and legislature produced forecasts together, worked with outside experts, and opened up those discussions to the public.

"The consequence is we overshoot, and when we overshoot, then we make what are frequently painful adjustments during the budget year," said Gordon MacInnes, president of New Jersey Policy Perspective.

This year, Governor Chris Christie cut the state's pension payment to balance the budget following a nearly billion dollar revenue gap.

Of course the created need to cut the state's pension payment could be cited as evidence of Governor Krispy's excellent fiscal planning.

One note, though, for the benefit of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, with regard to this idea that "New Jersey could get on track if the governor and legislature produced forecasts together, worked with outside experts, and opened up those discussions to the public." Is this budget and policy priorities you're doing, or comedy? Governor Krispy's idea of working with the legislature is having them do what he wants, and this talk of working with outside experts and opening up those discussions to the public? Hilarious! Who's up for holding their breath for that?

And speaking of Governor Krispy's fiscal grit, don't forget the recent report that, as we come up on the second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey has already managed to distribute a third of the federal funds allocated for storm relief, under the auspices of the state's Friends of Fatso Commission.


You can find a PDF of the report here.

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