Americans for Prosperity has been critical of Governor Christie for promulgating the state’s Cap & Trade program, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI, a Cap & Trade program enjoined by 10 Northeastern states, has generated $65M in revenue through the sale of carbon permits since auctions started in 2008.

Americans for Prosperity was pleased last week to have hosted a tele-conference with our friends at Mercatus regarding the state of New Jersey's pension system.

Eileen Norcross, senior research fellow at Mercatus, was our special guest and shared with us the insights of Mercatus' report: The Crisis in Public Sector Pension Plans: A Blueprint for Reform in New Jersey (Visit Mercatus' website to read more here)

Will Alison McHose Be New Jersey's Sharron Angle?

Back in 2005, Angle was the only legislator in Nevada to vote against raising property taxes.

Angle is known for the vote. And now, in 2010 she is the Senate candidate in Nevada against Harry Reid.

Assemblywoman McHose, will you stand tall and be the next Sharron Angle?

Taxpayers in New Jersey are counting on you!

As part of a compromise on the budget, Governor Christie and Trenton Democrats agreed to add back in upwards of another $100M back into the budget. Millions of tax dollars will be reinstated to fund, among other things:

• Keeping open Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in Hunterdon County.
• More funding for welfare, adult medical day care, home-care services, education services for the blind, and various other programs for vulnerable residents.

The following op-ed by Steve Lonegan on Governor Christie's budget appeared today in NorthJersey.com (Bergen Record).

RUSH Limbaugh is singing the praises of Governor Christie’s budget. National pundits talk of “spending cuts.” Some enthusiasts have gone as far as starting a “Christie for President” chant.

So many words. But as the big government spin machine rolls on, what is really happening?

Sweep away the bluster and the attitude, and behind it all is the largest property tax hike New Jersey has ever seen.