The Jaffe Briefing - April 17, 2018
OUR TAKE ON THE NEWS IN NEW JERSEY
AT THE POLLING BOOTH - Guess what? New Jerseyans don't like the Trump tax plan. It's also not surprising that a potential voter revolt could flip all five of the state's Republican House seats, according to a new Monmouth University poll. NJ.com reports that the new federal tax bill disproportionately hurts taxpayers in New Jersey and other high-tax states that already ship off billions of extra dollars to Washington, as we appear to be personally funding the rest of the nation. In those five "red" districts in New Jersey, 46 percent of the poll respondents said they would vote Republican; 44 percent Democrat. A true wash, creating some real competition.
STATEWIDE - So, you are saying New Jersey taxpayers are funding the rest of the country, eh? That's right. On this Tax Deadline Day, NJ.comreports our tax dollars are supporting the good people of places like Florida, Kentucky, New Mexico and 34 others states that get much more money back from Washington than they give. SUNY's Rockefeller Institute of Government says 13 states are subsidizing the other 37. Translation: New Jersey taxpayers are funding roads, bridges and emergency response in far-off places that we have no interest in visiting, while continually getting hit with more and more taxes. In 2015, every tax federal tax dollar paid by a New Jerseyan got back a whopping 74 cents. Yet Trump still refuses to pay the federal share on the Gateway Project. Sheesh.
ON THE PLAYING FIELD - Want three to five? Attack a ref at your kid's soccer game. Assemblyman John Burzichelli is pushing legislation that would make physical attacks on referees a third-degree offense, resulting in hefty fines and even jail time. The focus is on fair competition and sportsmanship, WHYY reports, but there's also a thrust on law and order. Bottom line: Think twice before yelling for the ref to check his voice mails because of all the missed calls. The kids are watching, for god's sake.
BRIDGETON - Wonder what people in the deep south of New Jersey are talking about these days? Likely not, but the big debate in Cumberland County is if it should merge its county college with the neighboring county college in Gloucester County - creating a regional super college that no one north of Trenton will likely ever have a reason to visit. Cumberland County College, with a dwindling enrollment, is facing a $2 million budget gap this year, prompting the freeholders to concoct an exit strategy. And that's why there's been plenty of talk with the Rowan College at Gloucester County, which could be the savior.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, Mich. - If you are thinking about a clever name for your WiFi connection, may we suggest "Bob's WiFi" or something simple like that. Don't be like the Planet Fitness in this town, which named its WiFi connection "Remote Detonator," prompting a full evacuation with bomb-sniffing dogs for about three hours on Sunday. The Saginaw News reports nothing was found at the Planet Fitness, other than some stunned gym-goers, who now have the perfect excuse never to return.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1997 that 115-year-old John Bell received a pacemaker to prepare him for the next 115 years.
WORD OF THE DAY
Preternatural - [pree-tər-NATCH-ə-rəl] - noun
Definition: Existing outside of nature
Example: I have showcased my preternatural talent for basketball by hitting two free throws in a row.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Better