Christie's plan vs Corzine's plan

Governor Corzine continues to attack Chris Christie over his "lack of a plan". The compliant media repeats his assertions. So I deicded to go to each of the web sites and compare the plans of these two men.

First the Christie web site regarding his "plan":

•I believe we can and we must lower taxes. Lower taxes will invite back businesses, jobs, employees, residents and students. More people paying taxes means more revenue.

◦Reduce the personal income tax. This year alone, Jon Corzine raised income taxes by $900 million.
◦Reduce corporate business taxes. Jon Corzine raised taxes on businesses by $270 million this year.
◦Restore property tax relief for everyone.
◦Eliminate the “double-taxation’ on New Jersey S-Corporations.
◦Eliminate special interest labor union giveaways that increase taxes. End the use of project labor agreements on public construction projects which ultimately raise costs and taxes.
◦2/3 majority vote to impose new tax or to increase existing tax.

•I believe we can and we must control spending and enforce accountability.

◦Use the line-item veto.
◦Elect independent state auditor.
◦Eliminate 2/3 political patronage jobs.
◦Eliminate pensions and benefits for part-time workers.
◦Immediate freeze on proposed new agency rules and regulations.
◦Sunset provisions for all new programs after 4 years.
◦Transparency – put everything online with searchable databases.

•I believe we can and we must fight for priority programs like education and our urban communities, without fail.

◦CityTrak. Enforce accountability to demand results. Measurable goals will save money, ensure efficiency and encourage innovation.
◦First Houses Program. ◦Exempt new residents from income tax.
◦Retaining New Jersey’s urban minority students by expanding New Jersey Education Opportunity Fund.

•I believe bringing sustainable, quality jobs to New Jersey’s the key to our future.

◦Create the New Jersey Partnership for Action to promote economic growth and job creation. Just look at PA….what we need is an executive who makes this their number one priority.
◦Garden State Growth Zones. Combing existing economic zones to create a super zone to attract new private investment and jobs.
◦Putting New Jersey Back to Work. Focus on worker retraining for unemployed New Jerseyans and connecting with them with businesses looking for a specific skill set.
◦Provide grants for public four year institutions and community colleges for renewable energy related curriculum and training.
◦Renew NJ and the Choose New Jersey Energy Campaign. Consolidate all renewable energy manufacturing efforts and have New Jersey undergo a brand makeover to market and sell New Jersey’s resources to energy producers, innovators and developers.
◦Incentivize energy manufacturing with tax credits. 100% of the corporate business taxes or the insurance premium tax for any wind turbine and manufacturing facility that locates in New Jersey.
◦New Jersey will create higher-paying clean energy production jobs in the next four years. Commit to a 5/1 ratio of higher-paying, clean energy production jobs to lower paying, efficiency jobs. While New Jersey has one of the strongest renewable portfolio standards in the country, according to the US Energy Information Administration, the state actually ranks 43rd when it comes to generating renewable energy.

Now the Corzine plan from his website:

Dealing with the national economic emergency: As the governor said in the State of the State, the economy is priority 1, priority 2 and priority 3. The Corzine administration will continue to work tirelessly to address the immediate hardships caused by the crisis, ensure that all New Jerseyans are treated fairly, and see to it that the state is poised to prosper once the recovery takes hold.

Creating jobs and putting New Jersey on a sound fiscal footing: Recovering from the current crisis is just the beginning. Governor Corzine will keep looking for ways to stimulate job creation even as he continues to stabilize the state’s long-term financial practices.

Providing affordable healthcare for all: Even as the Obama administration makes progress on a national healthcare plan, Governor Corzine is ensuring that all New Jersey resident have access to appropriate and affordable healthcare.

Keeping education a top priority: New Jersey schools – from preschools up to universities – are second to none. The Corzine administration will continue to make sure progressive education programs are funded and our children have the chance they deserve.

Protecting the middle class: Too often in a fiscal crunch decisions get made that place undue burdens on the middle class. Governor Corzine has vowed to defend the middle class and find innovative, progressive ways to generate the revenues needed to fund essential programs and balance the budget.

Be a partner, not an obstacle: Governor Corzine’s partnership with President Obama, his cabinet, Democrats in the US Congress and here in New Jersey is well-known. As the country moves in a new, more progressive, direction that attempts to undo to the damage of the Bush years, it’s critical that New Jersey has a leader who is in sync with that vision and will not let New Jersey get left behind.

Christie's plan contains policy objectives and specific actions to support his approach. Corzine's plan is a series of fell good generalities with no action proposed to solved them. Much like his term as Governor, all words with no concrete plans.

Which candidate has no plan? It seems clear to me.

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