Rendell could use a whack in the head

Am I reading this right?

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine wants to cut state spending by $500 million? Is that allowed? Isn't there a law that says government has to spend more every year?

Corzine, a liberal Democrat, said Wednesday that the days of New Jersey spending beyond its means are over.

Didn't this guy bump his head in a car crash last year? He must not have recovered his senses yet.

From The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Corzine unveiled a proposal to cut the state budget to $32.97 billion, about $500 million below the current spending plan. The governor proposed eliminating the departments of agriculture, commerce and personnel, and cutting at least 3,000 state jobs, mainly through early retirements.

A politician saying he will cut spending? A politician saying he won't spend more than the state takes in? Reducing state bureaucracy? Eliminating government jobs? This is insane.

Over in Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell is still pushing for a $1.13 billion increase in state spending for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2008. Rendell also wants to increase the state's debt ceiling to $3.15 billion so he can borrow more money to spend on his pet projects.

Since Rendell, a liberal Democrat, took office in January 2003, state spending has increased by $7.08 billion.

"During Gov. Rendell's tenure, General Fund spending increased five times faster than increases in the average weekly wage," said Matthew J. Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation. "Today, state government spending is consuming more than 7% more than it did when Gov. Rendell first entered office."

From 2002 to 2007, while government spending increased at a dramatic rate, Pennsylvania ranked 38th in the nation in job growth, 40th in personal income growth, and 42nd in population growth, Brouillette said.

Maybe Rendell could use a sharp blow to the head to knock some fiscal sense into him.