While I agree that internet and out of state sales are raindrops to a pond, they're enough to make various state governments take a serious look at attempts to collect their state sales tax. (NY state was even tracking down internet cigarette buyers to collect).
If Corzine had the backing of even his own party in this, it wouldn't be an issue, but the fact is, he doesn't. And if those inside the club are against his tactics, those of us outside just can't muster up a lot of faith, no matter how well placed his heart is in this.
In just three days of state shutdown, the ramifications are being felt across the state.
As of today, casinos and racetracks are closed, losing billions in revenue; at reopening, there will be most likely layoffs, as stated in articles in today's Star Ledger and Home News.
Because lottery tickets, other than scratchoffs, can not be sold, commissions to the stores that sell them, in addition to the moneys generated to the state, have dropped off considerably.
Only criminal courts for bail hearings, etc. are in session, so people even required to appear in court to prevent arrest or eviction are in a quagmire.
Motor Vehicle offices and stations are closed; there will be letters sent out or have been, extending expired licenses one month.
Whitman's cuts and bond issues were, unfortunately, a bad timing on her part to say the least as she did not complete her term and the next elected governor made Jimmy Carter look like the greatest leader of the 20th century.
None of this is new to New Jersey. Quite the contrary, it's become a futile lifestyle, a joke to political pundits and comedians for decades.
As for the changes to educational instructional hiring, they did a hell of a lot of good-many districts' scores have dropped in the last decade; some inner city districts and not even inner city ones have been 'taken over' by the state and haven't fared any better since. Some irony in that is that, here, for example, the district only grandfathered in the most tenured, replaced everyone else with teachers, essentially raising the budget and NJ said our district is too rich to qualify for X amount of dollars.....
*my head spins....