Proud member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.
I am not a Democrat, nor a Republican, I am an American.
Unabashedly pro-life, pro-liberty, and pro-constitution.
I am also an environmentalist, but too smart ot fall for the global warming hoax... I'd fax my banking information to some Engineer from Nigeria before I'd buy a carbon credit from Al Gore.
Barack Hussein "The Solutionator" Obama has proposed some rather radical solutions to the crises facing America since he thrust himself onto the national stage.
Crisis 1: The country, nay the world, was paying record high oil prices due to unprescedented demand.
Solutionator says: getting tune ups and filling our tires would save more oil that we would get from drilling.
Crisis 2: Easy credit and government mandated monetary policies push the economy over the cliff.
Solutionator says: we need to borrow more money, really fast, and don't worry about how we spend it because it is the only thing that will save the economy. He later borrowed even more money saying that it will create or save millions of jobs without offering specifics of how he counts "saved" jobs.
Crisis 3: potential global pandemic caused by a revival of the swine flu in a country adjacent to ours with a porous border.
Solutionator says: wash your hands when you shake hands and.cover your mouth when you cough.
Sebelius is thrust into swine flu crisis Brendan Smialowski / Bloomberg News Kathleen Sebelius won Senate confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary. Within hours after winning Senate confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary, the former Kansas governor gets to work leading the response to the global health emergency. (continued)
Although the lame stream media was rabidly adamant about getting to the "truth" about President Bush firing 5 AG's (which was well within his purview) they have been equally strenuous in hiding information about the current administration. Such as the dozens of openings throughout the government because Obama, unlike Bush, discharged every appointed position in the administration on Day 1. Obama had excellent counsel on why it is a good idea to keep certain, non cabinet level appointees around or at least ask them to stay until replaced... none other than Bill Clinton, whose wife was one of the first appointments to BHO's cabinet, ham stringed his government by doing the exact same thing.
Just as Geithner was left to handle the monetary and financial crises alone and without any competent high level positions reporting to him to take off the burden of the escessive workload, Sebelius is left to do the same as HHS Secretary. Of course with one glaring difference, Geithner spent his entire career in the monetary and financial industries... Sebelius has as her sole qualification being a Democrat Obama sycophant. Certainly her aggressive pro-abortion stance made her questionable as the person in charge of children's health in the country. And her proven inability to manage as witnessed by her routing the treasury of the State of Kansas, as well as her tenuous understanding of the constitution in telling the citizens of Kansas she didn't want to return their money she seized from them in a timely fashion, made her questionable for any position in government.
But just as the approval of Timmay Geithner was "essential" to the recovery of the economy was a lie, so was the rush to confirm Sebelius. And just like Geithner, Sebelius' approval was rushed through because "she" had to manage the manufactured swine flu crisis. Even though she was the administration's second pick for the job and has provided no credible evidence of possessing knowledge of preventing pandemic viruses from becoming global epidemics, she was approved with barely a word questioning her ability to fulfill her duties. And just like Geithner she is walking into a job where not a single appointed position reporting to her has been filled.
Prior to 1.20.09 Obama got credit for the best transition of a President "evah". As the financial crisis loomed there were reports from England and Europe that their financial ministers had no one to talk to in planning a global response to the matter as Geithner was alone at Treasury. During the height of that crisis the G-20 met and at that point there were 17 vacancies at Treasury.
Today when Sebelius officially joins the cabinet she will have 20 vacant positions in her department.
Not only was the transition a bust, but the first 100 days has passed and the government is still incapable of operating fully.
And we still have this swine flu "crisis" to deal with. To date a confirmed 64 US cases have been confirmed and 150 worldwide have died. To put this in perspective, every week 800 deaths in the US are confirmed to be from seasonal influenza... that is EVERY WEEK!!! Year to date about 13,000 people have died from the flu and the estimate is that the 2009 death toll from the flu will be 36,000 dead in America.
And yet we had to have Sebelius, a 2nd string, marginal appointment at best, to handle a "crisis", for which she has no credible experience, because 150 Mexicans in a farming village without a hospital, or even a full time doctor, died.
So to sum things up:
Sebelius is incompetent and her appointment was rushed through using terror tactics,
Obama's transition was a failure as he failed to get people lined up for key positions in his administration,
The first 100 days was a bust because after purging all appointed positions he left the government unable to function and it still can't,
The swine flu "crisis", like global warming, is all BS (bad science) and is being used to control people via terror.
The State of New Jersey is also known as the Garden State. Despite the proliferation of chemical and paint factories, oil refineries and rendering plants it is also the nation's number two producer of peaches, number two producer of cranberries and world's largest producer of eggplants.
But the thing the state is best at is producing taxes. You name it and New Jersey will tax it... again... because most likely it has been taxed already.
This being an election year for the Governor's seat the quadrennial fight between Democrats and Republicans has begun in earnest. Recently, Jon Corzine and some of the Democrat leadership was out decrying taxes and talking about establishing a commission to look at taxes. It was exactly four years ago when the same people were talking about calling a Constitutional Congress to address out of control property taxes. Actually that idea arose during the McGreavy administration but Corzine picked up the ball -NPI- and won on it.
Needless to say as Corzine and the Assembly leaders were talking about "needing to do 'something'" about taxes they have three more huge taxes waiting Senate approval so they can be implemented. Corzine's budget and fiscal plan is heavily reliant on raising $500 million in tolls on the NJ Turnpike and Parkway, a $400 million employer tax to support the unemployment system, and the Governor has proposed tax and fee increases on income, beer, wine, tobacco, and motor vehicle transactions.
This is a list of the taxes that NJ has implemented AFTER recognizing that its residents pay too much in taxes and even still have no chance of getting out from under the bond obligations that every administration blames on their predecessors while bonding even more day to day expenses than the last Governor.
FY 2009
Payroll Tax for Paid Family Leave (P.L. 2008, c. 17, formerly A-873 – Albano/ Oliver/Greenstein) – Beginning January 1, 2009, all employees began paying a portion of their income into an account to be used for family leave benefits. Beginning July 1, 2009 businesses will be forced to expend additional resources to hire new or temporary employees to replace those taking paid family leave.
Transitional Energy Facilities Assessment Reinstatement and Extension (P.L. 2004, c. 43, formerly A-3102 - Caraballo/Lesniak; P.L. 2006, c. 40, formerly A-4709 – Caraballo/B. Smith); and P.L. 2008, c. 32, formerly A-2807 – Quigley/Lesniak) - The Transitional Facilities Energy Assessment (TEFA) was scheduled to begin to phase-out as of January 1, 2009. This legislation freezes the assessment at the 2001 rate with the phase-out not occurring until at least Fiscal Year 2014.
Tax on Non-Residential and Residential Development (P.L. 2008, c. 46, formerly A-500 – Roberts/Watson Coleman/Green) - This law requires the imposition of a fee (tax) on non-residential development and allows municipalities to impose development fees on residential property. The tax to be imposed on all construction resulting in non-residential development, and for construction permits affecting non-residential property, is to be set at a rate equal to 2.5% of (1) the equalized assessed value of the land and improvements for all new non-residential construction on an unimproved lot or lots; or (2) the increase in equalized assessed value, of the additions to existing structures to be used for non-residential purposes. In addition, any municipality that has adopted a municipal development fee ordinance may, with the approval of the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), impose and collect development fees from developers of residential property.
FY 2008
Television and Electronics Tax (P.L. 2007, c. 347, formerly A-3527 – Gusciora/Barnes/McKeon) – This legislation provides for the collection and recycling of used televisions by imposing an annual $5,000 registration fee on television manufacturers, starting on January 1, 2009. The tax revenue will be deposited into a fund, administered by the DEP, and used to provide funding for a State used television recycling and management program, including the administrative expenses and to make payments to authorized recyclers.
Litter Tax (P.L. 2007, c. 311, formerly A-1886 – McKeon/Gusciora) – This legislation imposes a recycling tax on solid waste generation. The litter/recycling tax will be levied on (1) the owner or operator of every solid waste facility at the rate of $3 per ton on all solid waste accepted for disposal or transfer at the solid waste facility; and (2) on solid waste collectors at the rate of $3 per ton on all solid waste collected for transshipment or direct transportation to an out-of-state disposal site. The tax will be considered a “pass-through” cost to the solid waste facility owner or operator and solid waste collector, meaning the fees or surcharges ultimately will be paid by the solid waste generators utilizing the facilities or services.
Parking Tax (P.L. 2007, c. 296, formerly S-2891 – Rice/Caraballo) - This legislation authorizes the imposition of a special event parking tax surcharge to be assessed in addition to any other parking tax currently imposed. The special event parking tax surcharge is 7% of the fee for the parking, garaging, or storing of motor vehicles for special events held in the municipality during weekday evenings, beginning at 6:00 p.m. or later, and held at any time on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. This tax was authorized to provide revenue to the City of Newark to pay for costs associated with the operation of the new arena.
Admissions Tax (P.L. 2007, c. 302, formerly S-2971 – Rice/Caraballo) – This legislation allows a municipality to impose a 5% surcharge on admission charges at places of amusement at which admission charges are regularly paid and which contain fixed seats or bleacher capacity for not less than 10,000 patrons. The surcharge cannot be imposed on major places of amusement owned by the State or an independent State authority, motion picture theaters, or amusement parks. While other towns may fall under the provisions of this law, the tax was authorized to provide revenue to the City of Newark to pay for costs associated with the operation of the new arena.
Emissions Tax (P.L. 2007, c. 340, formerly A-4559 – Chivukula/McKeon/ Stender) – This legislation places a tax on those New Jersey businesses that emit carbon dioxide. This emission tax will raise millions of dollars to create funds in EDA, DEP and the BPU to fund “energy efficiency and conservation programs.” The legislation will require public electric and gas utilities to raise rates on electric and gas bills for residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial customers to cover the costs of implementing energy efficiency and conservation programs.
Explosive (Black Powder) Tax (P.L. 2007, c. 274, formerly S-2055 – Sweeney/Burzichelli) – Legislation increased the taxes paid by those who manufacture, sell, transport, sell, store, or use explosives. Included in bill’s provisions was the doubling of the tax on black powder (in amounts in excess of 5 pounds but not in excess of 100 pounds) which is used by private persons for the hand loading of small arms ammunition and which is not for resale.
FY 2007
Sales Tax Rate Increase (P.L. 2006, c. 44, formerly A-4901 – Payne/Cruz-Perez/Kenny) - As part of his budget message, Governor Corzine proposed increasing the sales tax rate from 6% to 7% and expanding the sales tax to cover previously untaxed items. The Governor chose to raise this tax because it was the only one of the major taxes that had not been increased during the previous five years, and raising taxes is an easier alternative for Democrats than cutting spending. The sales tax is one of the most regressive taxes and its increase has caused Democrats to make up for it by proposing to provide tax relief to the poorest New Jerseyans (through an Earned Income Tax Credit increase).
Sales Tax Expansion (P.L. 2006, c. 44, formerly A-4901 – Payne/Cruz-Perez/Kenny) - In conjunction with the sales tax rate increase, the sales tax base was expanded to impose the 7% levy on previously untaxed goods and services. Those items newly taxed include digital property and pre-written software; shipping and handling; dry cleaning of non-clothing items; landscaping; self-storage rental units; tanning and tattoo services; massages; information services; limousine services; flooring and carpet installation; parking, storing and garaging a motor vehicle; non-subscription magazines and periodicals; investigative and security services; and membership fees. Membership fees include charges by health clubs, gyms, golf clubs, and YMCAs.
Health Care Tax (P.L. 2006, c. 43, formerly A-4716 – Pou/Watson Coleman/Kenny) - This legislation increased the tax on HMOs and their members by 100%; the tax of 1% on net written premiums was increased to 2%.
Tax on the Sale of Commercial Property (P.L. 2006, c. 33, formerly A-4701 – McKeon/Epps/Bryant) - This legislation imposes a tax on the sale of commercial property valued in excess of $1 million. The tax is set at 1% of the value of the property and is paid by the buyer.
Cigarette Tax (P.L. 2006, c. 37, formerly A-4705 – Gusciora/Epps/Lesniak) - This legislation increased the cigarette tax for the fourth time in five years. This increase raised the tax by 17.5¢ per pack, bringing the total state cigarette tax to $2.575 per pack. The legislation also changed the method of taxing moist snuff to a weight-based tax.
Tax on Motor Vehicle Purchases (P.L. 2006, c. 39, formerly A-4707 – Greenwald/ Lesniak) - This legislation imposes a tax on the purchase of any new passenger vehicle with a sales price of $45,000 or more, or that gets less than 19 miles per gallon. The tax is set at 0.4% of the sales or lease price. For a vehicle selling for $45,000, this means an additional tax of $180.
Car Rental Tax (P.L. 2006, c. 42, formerly A-4715 – Burzichelli/Epps/Bryant) - This legislation increased the tax on motor vehicle rentals from $2 to $5 per day.
Transitional Energy Facilities Assessment Reinstatement and Extension (P.L. 2004, c. 43, formerly A-3102 - Caraballo/Lesniak and P.L. 2006, c. 40, formerly A-4709 – Caraballo/Bob Smith) - The Transitional Facilities Energy Assessment (TEFA) was scheduled to begin to phase-out as of January 1, 2007. The phase-out was further delayed until December 31, 2010.
Fur Clothing Tax (P.L. 2006, c. 41, formerly A-4714 – Caraballo/Vitale) - This legislation imposes a 6% gross receipts tax on the retail sale of fur clothing.
Corporation Business Tax Surcharge (P.L. 2006, c. 38, formerly A-4706 – Roberts/Watson Coleman/Kenny) - This legislation imposes a new tax on business. In addition to corporation business tax liability, a business is now required to pay a surcharge equal to 4% of the amount of the corporation’s tax liability. The surcharge is to be assessed for each corporation tax year occurring during fiscal years 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Corporation Business Tax Minimum Payment (P.L. 2006, c. 38, formerly A-4706 – Roberts/Watson Coleman/Kenny) - This legislation increased the corporation business tax minimum payment for taxpayers with New Jersey gross receipts of $100,000 or more. The new minimum tax ranges from $500 to $2,000.
Nuclear Electric Generating Facilities (P.L. 2006, c. 35, formerly A-4703 – Quigley/Cohen/Bryant) - This legislation authorizes the State Treasurer to impose an annual tax/assessment (above and beyond the assessment made under P.L.1981, c.302) against the operator of each nuclear electric generating facility located in New Jersey. The total of the assessments must reflect the actual costs incurred by the State in providing supplemental security services at each nuclear facility.
Motor Vehicle Registration Fee Increase (P.L. 2005, c. 311), formerly A-4584 – Sires/Quigley/Greenwald/Kenny) – This bill imposes a $4 motor vehicle registration surcharge. Of this amount, $3 is intended to purchase and maintain the state’s helicopter fleet. The remaining $1 is statutorily directed to new state police classes. For FY 2007, all of the new surcharge revenue was redirected to balance the budget. In FY 2008, a portion of this revenue was again redirected. Instead of using the funds for their intended purpose, surcharge collections have been used to buy state police vehicles and pay for existing state police salaries.
FY 2006
Eliminates Gross Income Tax Exclusion for Pension Income (P.L. 2005, c. 130, formerly A-4404 - Sires) - This legislation eliminates the ability of certain senior citizens to exclude their pension and retirement income from their gross income for the purpose of paying New Jersey state gross income taxes. Taxpayers with an income of $100,000 or more no longer will be able to exclude their pension and retirement income. Democrats call the individuals impacted by this legislation Ahigh income taxpayers.
Increases the Tax on Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and the Premiums of its Policy Holders (P.L. 2005, c. 128, formerly A-4401 - Roberts/Cohen/Buono) - This legislation establishes a new and higher tax to be paid solely by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Horizon is required to pay an insurance premium tax on all premiums (previously only “experience rated,” or group insurance premiums were subject to the insurance premium tax while individual and small group insurance premiums were not). In addition, the bill excludes Horizon from the maximum tax rule which caps taxable premiums at 12.5% of total premiums for any company whose taxable premiums in New Jersey exceed 12.5% of total worldwide taxable premiums. Some believe that Horizon was targeted for one of several reasons including: (1) the company’s decision to not go public; (2) the inability of the Legislature to grab a portion of the company’s surplus; (3) its position in labor negotiations with Cooper and Hackensack Hospitals; or (4) all of the above.
Health Care Tax (makes permanent) (P.L. 2005, c. 129, formerly A-4402 - Cryan/ Buono) - This bill converts the one-time, special interim assessment of one percent on net written premiums received by health maintenance organizations (HMOs), enacted as P.L.2004, c.49 (C.26:2J-45 et seq.), to an annual assessment to support charity care.
Tax on Builders (P.L. 2005, c. 131, formerly A-4405 - Cryan/Bryant) - Democrats in the Assembly wanted to take balances in the New Home Warranty Fund. However, the New Home Warranty Fund statute provides that balances in the Fund may only be used to provide buyers of new homes with insurance-backed warranty protection in the event that certain standards are not met. In the event funds are spent for other purposes, the obligation of builders to contribute to the fund is suspended until the funds are replenished. This legislation provides that builders will continue to contribute to the Fund (be taxed) even though balances are being used to pay for the Democrats’ spending.
Decouple the Corporation Business Tax and Gross Income Tax from the Federal Deduction of Qualified Production Activities Income (P.L. 2005, c. 127, formerly A-4294 - Cryan/Vas/Bryant) - This legislation increases taxes for certain New Jersey businesses by decoupling New Jersey’s Corporation Business Tax (CBT) and Gross Income Tax (GIT) from the federal manufacturer tax deduction.
FY 2005
Income Tax Rate Increase (P.L. 2004, c. 40, formerly A-100 - Sires/Cryan/Green/ Kenny) - This legislation implements former Governor McGreevey’s proposal to increase gross income tax rates in order to provide higher property tax rebate checks for some New Jersey residents. It establishes a new marginal tax rate of 8.97% on the amount of taxable income in excess of $500,000. In order to generate enough revenue to cover the cost associated with the distribution of homestead rebates at increased levels, the change to the gross income tax rate schedule was made retroactive to January 1, 2004.
Telecommunications (Cell Phone/Land Line) Tax (P.L. 2004, c. 48, formerly A-3112 - Caraballo/Bryant) - This legislation imposes a per month, per phone number tax on telecommunications services. Specifically, a tax of $0.90 is to be assessed on each bill (1) charged by a mobile telecommunications company for each “voice-grade access” service number as part of mobile telecommunications service provided to a customer or for the customer’s home service provider and provided to a customer with a place of primary use in New Jersey, and (2) charged by a telecommunications exchange company for each telephone voice grade access service line provided as part of that telephone exchange service.
Cigarette Tax (P.L. 2004, c. 67, formerly A-3113 - Weinberg/Lesniak) - This legislation increased the cigarette tax for the third time in as many years. This increase raised the tax by $0.35 per pack, bringing the total state cigarette tax to $2.40 per pack. The increase in conjunction with the motor vehicle surcharge fee (see below) is being used to securitize approximately $1.9 billion of deficit bonds to balance the FY 2005 budget.
Motor Vehicle Registration Tax (P.L. 2004, c. 64, formerly A-3107 - Sires/Bryant) - This legislation quadruples the cost of a motor vehicle registration by requiring the purchaser of a new passenger automobile to pre-purchase a four-year registration. Full payment of this registration tax is required upon the initial registration.
New Tire Purchase Tax (P.L. 2004, c. 46, formerly A-3106 - Quigley/Kenny) - This legislation imposes a tax of $1.50 for each new motor vehicle tire sold at retail within the State. The tax is paid by the purchaser and is to be assessed on all new tire purchases, including the tires sold as a component part of a new motor vehicle or whenever new tires are installed on a used motor vehicle prior to that vehicle being offered for sale.
Realty Transfer Tax (P.L. 2004, c. 66, formerly A-3115 - Cryan/Kenny) - For the second time in as many years, the Democrats increased the tax on certain realty transfers. The change translates to a $70 million increase in home costs to be paid by the seller.
Tax on the Sales of Homes Valued in Excess of $1 million (P.L. 2004, c. 66, formerly A-3115 - Cryan/Kenny) - A new tax has been established on the purchase of residential property priced over $1 million. This change represents a $29 million increase in home costs to be paid by the purchaser.
Imposition of Unsafe Driving Surcharges (P.L. 2004, c. 69, formerly A-3114 - Barnes/Bryant) - This legislation creates a new surcharge of $250 for unsafe driving. This is in addition to other fines and surcharges previously established for unsafe driving. The Democrats used this increase in conjunction with the increase in the cigarette tax (see above) to securitize approximately $1.9 billion in deficit bonds to balance the FY 2005 budget.
Deductibility of Net Operating Losses (P.L. 2004, c. 47, formerly A-3110 - Watson Coleman/Johnson/Kenny) - This tax change takes away the ability of a business to fully deduct net operating losses. Specifically, the legislation limits to 50% the application of net operating loss (NOL) deductions under the corporation business tax for privilege periods beginning in calendar years 2004 and 2005. Full deductibility was to have begun for the 2004 tax year. Instead it expired as of December 31, 2007. (Net operating loss is a tax accounting concept; if a taxpayer has more business expense than business income in a tax year, the taxpayer has a net operating loss for that year.)
Disallowance of Depreciation Deduction (P.L. 2004, c. 65, formerly A-3111 - Sires/Cohen/Bryant) - This tax change takes away from New Jersey businesses certain of the tax relief benefits included in the federal Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA). The specific measure being altered deals with the ability of a business to deduct from their taxes an amount for the depreciation of equipment and machinery.
Transitional Energy Facilities Assessment Reinstatement and Extension (P.L. 2004, c. 43, formerly A-3102 - Caraballo/Lesniak and P.L. 2006, c. 40, formerly A-4709 – Caraballo/Bob Smith) - The Transitional Facilities Energy Assessment (TEFA) was scheduled to begin to phase-out as of January 1, 2005. The 2004 legislation froze the assessment at the 2001 rate and pushed back the phase-out date. In 2006, the phase-out was further delayed and now the tax will not sunset until at least December 31, 2010.
Hazardous Discharge Site Cleanup Fund/New Jersey Spill Compensation Fund Tax (P.L. 2004, c. 50, formerly A-3117 - McKeon/Bob Smith) - This legislation increases the tax imposed for the transfers of hazardous substances. Specifically the tax increases from $0.015 to $0.023 per barrel for petroleum or petroleum products, precious metals, elemental phosphorus, or in certain circumstances, antimony or antimony trioxide sold for use in the manufacture or for the purpose of fire retardants. For other hazardous substances, the legislation increases the tax rate to the greater of $0.023 per barrel or 1.53% of the fair market value of the product.
Billboard Tax (P.L. 2004, c. 42, formerly A-3101 - Mayer/R. Smith/ Madden/Sweeney) - This legislation extends the sales tax on billboard advertising space. In 2003, the Legislature imposed a fee of 6% on the gross amounts collected by a retail seller for billboard advertising. Beginning on July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, the tax is reduced to 4%, and on July 1, 2007 the tax is to be discontinued.
Air Emissions Tax (P.L. 2004, c. 51, formerly A-3118 - Greenwald/Bob Smith) - This legislation creates a new tax to be assessed on the owner or operator of any facility that emits certain air toxics. The surcharge is based on the annual emissions of each Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4 toxic substance as reported in the release and pollution prevention report for that facility.
Tax on Medical Care (Ambulatory Care) (P.L. 2004, c.54, formerly A-3127 - Diegnan/Bryant) - This legislation establishes an annual assessment on the gross receipts of certain licensed ambulatory care facilities. Specifically, a facility with $300,000 or more in gross receipts will be taxed at a rate of 3.5% of gross receipts or $200,000, whichever is less. A facility with annual gross receipts less than $300,000 will not have to pay an assessment. For FY 2006, the rate was recalculated to include calendar year 2004 data. Beginning in 2007, a facility’s uniform gross receipts assessment will be based on the facility’s ost recent annual report to the DHSS. No facility will be required to pay more than $200,000.
Health Care Tax/HMO Assessment (P.L. 2004, c. 49, formerly A-3116 - Wisniewski/Buono) - This legislation establishes a special interim assessment on health maintenance organizations (HMOs). This assessment translates to $7 per client and a $56 million tax on the health care industry.
Sales Tax on Cosmetic Procedures (P.L. 2004, c. 53, formerly A-3125 - Cryan/Bryant) - This legislation imposes a 6% gross receipts tax on certain cosmetic medical procedures. “Cosmetic medical procedures” are defined as any medical procedure performed on an individual which is directed at improving the individual’s appearance, and which does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. The legislation defines cosmetic medical procedure as cosmetic surgery, hair transplants, cosmetic injections, cosmetic soft tissue fillers, dermabrasion and chemical peel, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, laser treatment of leg veins, sclerotherapy, and cosmetic dentistry.
FY 2004
Hotel/Motel/Bed and Breakfast Occupancy Tax (P.L. 2003, c. 114, formerly A-3710 - Roberts/Impreveduto/Bryant) - This legislation imposes a new fee on hotel and motel occupancies. The fee is to be paid by the guests of the hotel or motel. From August 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, the new tax was set at 7%, with the total amount going to the General Fund. During this period a local option tax of 1% could be imposed on transient rentals. Beginning on July 1, 2004, the statewide tax dropped to 5% and the local option tax may increase to 3%. This tax was intended to raise $140 million for the State during FY 2004, with a portion of the tax revenue used to restore cuts made to the programs that fund arts, history and cultural grants. The amount of revenue generated by the tax increase now depends on the number of municipalities which opt to impose the local option tax. Revenue available to the state will decline.
Cigarette Tax (P.L. 2003, c. 115, formerly A-3711 – Diegnan/Lesniak) - The tax on a pack of cigarettes was increased by $0.55 per pack. This is on top of the $0.70 tax increase imposed during FY 2003. This brought the total state tax on a pack of cigarettes to $2.05 per pack.
Casino Taxes (P.L. 2003, c. 116, formerly A-3713 - Greenwald) - This legislation raises revenue from new and expanded taxes on casinos. Specifically, the legislation imposes a 7.5% tax on the annual adjusted net income of a licensed casino; a 4.25% tax on the value of complimentary rooms, food, beverages or entertainment provided by a casino; a tax of 8% on casino service industry multi-casino progressive slot machine revenue; and a $3 per day charge on each hotel room in a casino hotel facility as well as a $1 increase, from $2 to $3, in the casino hotel parking fee. The deduction that a casino licensee was previously permitted to take for uncollectible gaming debt, when calculating gross revenue, is eliminated. $90 million in additional revenue generated from these tax changes was directed to the Casino Revenue Fund.
Realty Transfer Tax (P.L. 2003, c. 113, formerly A-3709 – Cryan/Kenny) - This legislation increases the realty transfer fee for each conveyance or transfer of property. The seller is required to pay a supplemental fee based on the sale price of the property. The legislation is intended to generate $62 million in additional revenue for the State and approximately $22 million in additional revenue for the counties.
Billboard Tax (P.L. 2003, c. 124, formerly A-3714 – Gusciora/Bryant/Sweeney) - In addition to Gov. McGreevey’s tax increase proposals, the Democrat-controlled Legislature thought it would be appropriate to impose a sales tax on billboard advertising. This legislation imposes a tax of 6% on the gross amounts collected by a retail seller of billboard advertising.
Fees (P.L. 2003, c. 117, formerly A-3719 – Caraballo/Codey) - A total of $35 million in new revenue is being generated through instituting or raising various fees, including a fee for licenses issued by the Real Estate Commission ($4.5 million), construction code fees under the Uniform Construction Code ($2.7 million), costs imposed on employers under the Right to Know Act ($2.1 million), license and permit fees imposed under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act ($2.0 million), unemployment insurance fines ($2.5 million) and fees imposed for non-criminal background checks ($1.7 million). New fees also have been imposed on limousine owners, and the fee for filing for a divorce has been increased.
Nursing Home Assessment (P.L. 2003, c. 105, formerly A-3686 - Watson Coleman/Conaway/Kenny and P.L. 2004, c. 41, formerly A-3051 – Conaway/Watson Coleman/Kenny) - An assessment on nursing home facilities based on the number of non-Medicare patient days also was levied in FY 2004. The assessment was deemed a health care-related tax which makes the amount collected eligible to be matched by federal Medicaid reimbursement. The FY 2004 budget skimmed $51.5 million from the additional Medicaid reimbursements. Subsequent budgets also have skimmed a portion of this revenue.
Every Governor in my memory has acknowledged the escalating taxes. New Jersey has such draconian business taxes that it annually tops the list of states that are business unfriendly. New Jersey is also perennially at the top of the list of states with the highest property taxes.
Driving away business and people (a/k/a both legs of the tax base) is not good business. Corzine was elected because he promised to run this state like he ran his business.
What business was that? He was CEO of Bear Stearns.
Once again the MSM is either asleep at the wheel... or as many of us have figured out, they have so much at stake in Obama being the Second Coming that they cannot bring themselves to say anything less than flattering about a man whose sole achievement as an adult seems to have been getting elected to a variety of public offices, culminating in the Presidency.
There is a vast difference between ego and narcissism. A good leader needs a strong ego. Narcissism, is mostly bravado, making up for a weakened ego.
But I'm not here to talk about ego vs. narcissism. I'm here to talk about a Portuguese Water Dog.
After making a huge show of getting a dog Obama promised his leftist constituency it would be from a shelter. Then when it was purchased from a breeder they claim it was rescued because the previous owner returned it. But then it ended up being a gift from Teddy Kennedy. I get it, they wanted a Portuguese Water Dog because of allergies... but why the charade. There is NOTHING wrong with buying a new dog, especially when searching for a specific breed. Obama's penchant for lying, especially when it is not necessary, is disturbingly similar to Clinton's inability to tell the truth. And speaking of Clinton, he also has a dog, a Chocolate Lab named Buddy. And both Bushes had dogs, named Millie (41) and Barney (43). Even Abe LIncoln had a dog named Fido, although Fido never made it to D.C., he stayed home in Illinois.
So how exactly does narcissism, Portuguese Water Dogs, the complicit lame stream media, and Obama all come together?
Imagine the field day the MSM would have if George Bush had named his Scottish Terrier "Dubya". But B. Hussein names his dog "Bo"... as in B.O. and not a word from the main stream media about it. It would be funny if it weren't so pathetically sad.
Naming your dog after yourself... that's not ego, that is narcissism.
When the media ignores it... that is journalistic malfeasance.
Oprah, Ashton Kutcher mark Twitter 'turning point'
(CNN) -- As Ashton Kutcher becomes the first to collect 1 million followers on Twitter and Oprah Winfrey sends out her first tweet, tech observers are debating: Does Friday mark a new peak for the microblogging service? Or the beginning of its demise?
Some bloggers and Twitter users have expressed concern that the once-cultish site is being overwhelmed by celebrities and media hype, while others are excited by Twitter's ever-growing reach.
"It's a big milestone. This brings Twitter mainstream," said Andrew Cherwenka, a Huffington Post contributor and Web developer at Trapeze.com, referring to Kutcher and Winfrey's Twitter breakthroughs.
"A lot of people are saying this is going to be the death of Twitter, and I don't understand that at all," Cherwenka added. "It's just another stage in Twitter's acceleration."
"The challenge for Twitter -- besides, of course, getting a business model in place to handle the infrastructure required to sustain this kind of growth -- is going to be maintaining the fact that it's the community at large, not the celebrity users, that's at the core of this service," said Caroline McCarthy, who writes a CNET News blog about social media.
"The power of Twitter is about the millions of people using it and how easily it is to filter and aggregate their thoughts and conversations," McCarthy told CNN. "It can't be all about Ashton and Oprah."
In a much-publicized duel, Kutcher's Twitter account crossed the 1 million mark on Twitter about 2:13 a.m. ET Friday, narrowly beating CNN's breaking-news feed, which had 998,239 followers at the time. CNN passed the mark at 2:42 a.m. ET.
Jeneane Garafalo and Keith Olbermann get it wrong about the reason for the TEA parties, lie about FoxNews, and spread leftard propaganda avoiding the truth at every turn... oh yes, and they play the race card via liberal white guilt.
They are the only two not in on the joke that THEY are the phony, disingenuous ideologues... and very stupid ones at that.
Plus bonus footage of other lame stream media sphincters who try to insult and denigrate real Americans. The socialists who have taken over the Democrat party are intent on destroying America and the media is complicit at every turn.
I have taken to listening to Imus in the Morning on my short trip to work. I never listened to him very much before his comment that enraged Sharpton et. al. but since his return to the airwaves I have started listening. While his comments that led to his trouble were in poor taste they do not even come close to Cooper Anderson's "it's hard to talk when you're tea bagging" comment.
On Imus on Tuesday I heard Paul Begalia ramping up the left's attack on the TEA parties. Like Cooper Anderson, he was making the TEA party phenomenon out to be a Republican organized and run affair. He belittled the movement and denigrated it. Making it out to be a joke. He wished everyone a happy Patriot's day. Saying that paying taxes was patriotic and he was proud to pay them, as should any patriotic American. Using a typical disingenuous strawman argument that anyone who complains about paying taxes to support a bloated, thieving government does not want to pay their fair share.
Then this morning Matt Taibi from Rolling Stone was going on about it being a media created event. Proving, for those who didn't realize it, but Matt Taibi is another faux-intellectual leftard. The media tried to bury the TEA parties. And while talk radio publicized the events, they didn't organize them. The beauty of these events were they were organized locally without a George Soros type funding them through Media Matters or other of his dozen or so front groups.
Which brings us to Countdown. If you can stifle your gag reflex long enough to suffer through this DNC owned propaganda piece listen to them try to "deconstruct" the TEA party movement. First they continually call it a Republican effort, trying to brainwash people into believing it so. Then they coin the phrase "astroturf movement" trying to say it is artificial and not from the bottom up.
The TEA parties were real grassroots protests. This should frighten the heck out of the left. The left only sees "grassroots" protests that are well funded by political front groups. Most recently the protesters that were in front of the houses of AIG employees who received legal compensation for simply doing their legal jobs. These people were organized by ACORN. Fed by ACORN. Had a bus rented for them by ACORN. And yet the media gave these people hours of TV time because the outrage over the AIG bonuses was not a widely held public opinion, it was an opinion rammed down the public's throat by the White house, and DNC operatives in congress.
The hundreds of TEA parties throughout the country were attended by over one million people. And while one cannot determine how many would have attended without FoxNews shows and talk radio hawking the events, the fact that so many popped up around the country organized by we, the people, not some Soros or DNC front group is of some note. And I believe that Obama and the DNC know this, because all of their organized efforts of suppressing the movement cannot take away from the fact that they did occur.
Why did the infamous media whore Cindy Sheehan get more coverage protesting in front of George Bush's Crawford TX house, an endeavour orchestrated and paid for by agenda-driven elitists than Americans around the country demanding that their representatives listen to them, the people?
And why are people not outraged that CNN and MSNBC allow their smarmy hosts to use crass, sexually explicit terms on air? I find the phrase "nappy-headed hos" equally offensive and in equally poor taste. But I expect no less from hypocritical leftards.
