Opinion

Why New Jersey’s interest in Illinois?

Posted March 31, 2011 12:00 am

The state of New Jersey, with a $2 billion shortfall on a $29.8 billion 2010 budget, is a financial disaster. New Jersey schools are in a financial crisis. Salaries and benefits are the highest in the nation and are unsustainable. The New Jersey sales tax rate is 7 percent with some exceptions. Its property taxes are the highest in the nation. The rate of unemployment as of December 2010 stood at 9.1 percent.

I don’t know exactly how conditions there compare with those in Illinois, but it is obvious that both are mired in the same hole of quicksand and sinking fast. So why is Gov. Christie so intent on saving Illinois? He certainly has his work cut out for him right there in New Jersey. I am sure that is what those who elected him had in mind.

Ron Flowers

Elk Grove Village

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