Can I get a years supply?

Here's the sketch:

Thanks for the rebate check, but...

Here is today's cartoon. I hope you all have plans out there to enjoy this beautiful Labor Day weekend. I know I do.

Because after that, it's back to the grind. The politicians will all be back in town, and we will really be getting in knees-deep with all the races for office this year.

So enjoy!

Here's the sketch:

What else is monetization promised for?

So I was under the assumption that the whole idea of asset monetization was for Corzine to be able to pay down New Jersey's enormous debt. It turns out that Corzine has another idea on how to spend the money that will come in to Trenton due to higher tolls; to cover the costs of spending programs.

According to the Star-Ledger, Corzine "...hinted to reporters after the ceremonial ribbon cutting that if the state is to continue financing such projects (the new Catto Elementary school in Camden) it will need to find new sources of revenue, such as raising tolls."

Corzine's equation: More schools equals higher tolls


Here's the sketch:

Is Monetization dead?

Is "Monetization" dead? Probably not. Corzine hasn't released any details of his plan yet, and has said he won't consider doing so until after the November elections.

But is "Monetization" in danger of being dead politically? Yes.

Corzine continues to claim that he doesn't have the plan nailed down yet, but he and Abelow have been working on this thing for quite some time, so they must have some working knowledge of the plan they'd like to put forward. If they don't, what have they been working on all this time? Maybe they have a plan like the one recently put forward for the Lincoln Tunnel; pay $30 for a fast-lane past traffic that can zip you into the city in no time! Would you pay $30 to bypass Exit 8 on the turnpike? How about $50 for a fast lane on the parkway from Toms River down to Atlantic City?

The possible saving grace for the governor; the spectre of raising taxes. A Monmouth University/Gannett poll released last Wednesday clearly showed that a majority of people would prefer monetization over higher taxes. Corzine could take the position that the choice for New Jerseyans would be higher taxes, or asset monetization.

Hooray!!! The government is safe!!! The spending may continue!!!

Here's the sketch:

I'll take Chapter 11 please

Things just keep getting worse. According to the Star-Ledger, New Jersey taxpayers have promised health insurance packages worth almost $69 billion to current and future public retirees. This includes $11 billion in municipal costs and $58 billion to be paid by the state.

And considering that the monetization is fast becoming a dead issue, what is Corzine going to do about this budget? Even if monetization were on the table, and the state were able to raise $30 billion (as proposed to Nancy Feldman, the Director of the Office of Public Finance), it would still leave us woefully short of closing the gap.

Chapter 11, here we come! Ready to make history?

Report: Insurance costs $58B for state, $11B for municipalities
Star-Ledger

Corzine received $30 billion proposal for "monetization" of NJ Turnpike with management contract
Toll Road News