Difference between revisions of "Jon Corzine"
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In 2005 Senator Corzine was a candidate for the Governorship of New Jersey. It was the most expensive gubernatorial election in New Jersey history. The combined expenditures for Corzine's senatorial and gubernatorial runs exceeded $100 million. He mostly tried to link his Republican opponent [[Doug Forrester]] with the Bush administration. Corzine's campaign was successful, winning 54% of the popular vote and 13 of New Jersey's 21 counties. | In 2005 Senator Corzine was a candidate for the Governorship of New Jersey. It was the most expensive gubernatorial election in New Jersey history. The combined expenditures for Corzine's senatorial and gubernatorial runs exceeded $100 million. He mostly tried to link his Republican opponent [[Doug Forrester]] with the Bush administration. Corzine's campaign was successful, winning 54% of the popular vote and 13 of New Jersey's 21 counties. | ||
| − | ==Governorship== | + | ==Governorship of New Jersey== |
Corzine was sworn in as the 54th Governor of New Jersey on January 17, 2006. | Corzine was sworn in as the 54th Governor of New Jersey on January 17, 2006. | ||
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Jon Corzine had a romantic relationship with [[Labor]] [[Union]] [[President]] Carla Katz of the Communications Workers of America. After living together for two years from 2002 through their breakup in 2004, [[lawyer]]s negotiated finances, which ended with a $6 million settlement for Katz, money for Katz's two children to attend college, and a $470,000 loan that she used to buy a condominium, among other things. After Corzine was sworn in as Governor in 2006, Carla Katz maintained contact with him, despite her colleagues warning that the unusual multimillion-dollar settlement could result in a conflict of interest with union negotiations. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/nyregion/23carla.html?_r=1</ref> In 2007 an ethics panel ruled that labor negotiations did not violate the governor's code of conduct. In May 2008, the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that at least 745 pages of e-mails between Corzine and Katz must be made public, however Corzine's lawyers appealed the decision. In March 2009 Katz was expelled from Communications Workers of America after she spent $138,000 on personal and political expenses in violation of union regulations. <ref>http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/carla_katz_will_have_radio_sho.html</ref> | Jon Corzine had a romantic relationship with [[Labor]] [[Union]] [[President]] Carla Katz of the Communications Workers of America. After living together for two years from 2002 through their breakup in 2004, [[lawyer]]s negotiated finances, which ended with a $6 million settlement for Katz, money for Katz's two children to attend college, and a $470,000 loan that she used to buy a condominium, among other things. After Corzine was sworn in as Governor in 2006, Carla Katz maintained contact with him, despite her colleagues warning that the unusual multimillion-dollar settlement could result in a conflict of interest with union negotiations. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/nyregion/23carla.html?_r=1</ref> In 2007 an ethics panel ruled that labor negotiations did not violate the governor's code of conduct. In May 2008, the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that at least 745 pages of e-mails between Corzine and Katz must be made public, however Corzine's lawyers appealed the decision. In March 2009 Katz was expelled from Communications Workers of America after she spent $138,000 on personal and political expenses in violation of union regulations. <ref>http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/carla_katz_will_have_radio_sho.html</ref> | ||
| − | In July 2009 a major corruption probe led to the arrests of 44 | + | In July 2009 a major corruption probe led to the arrests of 44 New Jersey officials, in which 43 were [[Democrat]]s. A member of Jon Corzine's cabinet, Commissioner of Community Affairs Joseph Doria was raided by the [[FBI]]. |
===Government Shutdown=== | ===Government Shutdown=== | ||
Revision as of 21:03, August 18, 2009
| Jon Corzine | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Governor of New Jersey From: January 17, 2006 – Present | |||
| Predecessor | Richard Codey | ||
| Successor | Incumbent (no successor) | ||
| U.S. Senator from New Jersey From: January 3, 2001 – January 17, 2006 | |||
| Predecessor | Frank Lautenberg | ||
| Successor | Robert Menendez | ||
| Information | |||
| Party | Democrat | ||
| Spouse(s) | Joanne Dougherty Corzine (divorced) | ||
| Religion | United Church of Christ | ||
Jon Corzine (born January 1, 1947)[1] is the Democratic governor of the state of New Jersey. He graduated from the University of Illinois (1969) and earned an MBA at the University of Chicago in 1973. Corzine worked in banking and in 1994 become Co-Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, alongside Henry Paulson. He retired in 1999 and entered politics.
United States Senate
In 2000, Jon Corzine was elected as the junior United States Senator from New Jersey, defeating Republican Congressman Robert Franks by 50% to 47%, after spending more money on a senatorial race then any other candidate in New Jersey history. With a net worth of over $71,000,000 he was the fourth richest member of the U.S. Senate. [2] He was a member of the Committees on Banking, Intelligence, the Budget, and Energy and Natural Resources. Corzine sponsored 127 bills while in office, however 120 never made it out of committee and only one was successfully enacted. [3] In 2002, Corzine voted against authorizing President George W. Bush to go to war against Iraq. He chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2003-2005, during which Democrats lost 4 Senate seats.
2005 Gubernatorial Campaign
In 2005 Senator Corzine was a candidate for the Governorship of New Jersey. It was the most expensive gubernatorial election in New Jersey history. The combined expenditures for Corzine's senatorial and gubernatorial runs exceeded $100 million. He mostly tried to link his Republican opponent Doug Forrester with the Bush administration. Corzine's campaign was successful, winning 54% of the popular vote and 13 of New Jersey's 21 counties.
Governorship of New Jersey
Corzine was sworn in as the 54th Governor of New Jersey on January 17, 2006.
Corruption and Scandals
Jon Corzine had a romantic relationship with Labor Union President Carla Katz of the Communications Workers of America. After living together for two years from 2002 through their breakup in 2004, lawyers negotiated finances, which ended with a $6 million settlement for Katz, money for Katz's two children to attend college, and a $470,000 loan that she used to buy a condominium, among other things. After Corzine was sworn in as Governor in 2006, Carla Katz maintained contact with him, despite her colleagues warning that the unusual multimillion-dollar settlement could result in a conflict of interest with union negotiations. [4] In 2007 an ethics panel ruled that labor negotiations did not violate the governor's code of conduct. In May 2008, the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that at least 745 pages of e-mails between Corzine and Katz must be made public, however Corzine's lawyers appealed the decision. In March 2009 Katz was expelled from Communications Workers of America after she spent $138,000 on personal and political expenses in violation of union regulations. [5]
In July 2009 a major corruption probe led to the arrests of 44 New Jersey officials, in which 43 were Democrats. A member of Jon Corzine's cabinet, Commissioner of Community Affairs Joseph Doria was raided by the FBI.
Government Shutdown
On July 1, 2006, Governor Corzine was forced to shutdown the state government after clashing with fellow Democrats in the the state Assembly to pass a sales tax increase, resulting in the Assembly being unable to pass a new balanced budget. As a result road construction projects were halted, the New Jersey Lottery, Motor Vehicle Commission and the New Jersey Department of Education was shut down. Gambling at Atlantic City casinos were suspended and 45,000 state employees were in indefinitely. [6]
They reached a compromise, with the New Jersey legislator passing Corzine's sales tax increase in exchange for half of the revenue created from it would be used to give New Jerseyans direct property tax relief. The state government was fully restored on July 10, 2006.
Automobile Accident
On the way to an unimportant publicity meeting on April 13, 2007, Corzine ordered his police driver car to go at high speeds, and refused to wear a seat belt. In the resulting crash the air bag did not work and Corzine was inches from death. He suffered multiple injuries especially to his thigh bone. He paid a fine and after intensive hospital care and rehabilitation returned to work.
Economic Record
Under Governor Corzine New Jersey was ranked as the worst business climate of any state by the Tax Foundation [7], and overall has the highest tax burden in the nation. Since Corzine took office, property taxes have risen 17%, twice the rate of inflation. [8] The state budget deficit has increased from $3.6 billion to $10 billion and there unemployment rate has risen from 4.8% to 9.2%. [9] [10] In connection with rising jobless claims, Corzine said, "Now the piper is coming home to roost".[11]
In response to the rising deficit Corzine has proposed eliminating New Jersey's property tax rebates, which provides tax relief in the state of New Jersey, which already has the highest property taxes in the nation. [12] Corzine has already cut $382.5 million from the rebate program in June 2008.
2009 Reelection Campaign
Corzine has announced his candidacy for reelection in 2009, however trails his Republican opponent Christopher Christie in public opinion polls. [13] [14] [15] Corzine's record on property taxes and the economy are the number one issues during the campaign. [16]
A poll from Research 2000/Daily Kos conducted in early August shows Christie leading by eight percentage points overall and by a wider margin in other polls. Campaigning by President Obama has not reversed Corzine's steady downward slide. Voters are dubious about giving Corzine another term as the New Jersey economy continues to weaken, high property taxes are a heavy burden, and recurrent corruption scandals have tainted Democrats in the state.
References
- ↑ http://www.state.nj.us/governor/about/
- ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/13/senators.finances/
- ↑ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300028
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/nyregion/23carla.html?_r=1
- ↑ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/carla_katz_will_have_radio_sho.html
- ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/01/AR2006070100864.html
- ↑ http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/bp58-es.pdf
- ↑ Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services Website, www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/, Accessed 6/4/09
- ↑ http://www.christiefornj.com/images/corzinesrecord.pdf
- ↑ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/nj_unemployment_rate_hits_high.html
- ↑ http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/topstories/index.ssf/2008/12/surge_in_jobless_claims_taps_o.html
- ↑ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/corzine_may_propose_eliminatin.html
- ↑ http://race42008.com/2009/03/13/poll-watch-new-jersey-more-good-news-edition/
- ↑ http://www.politickernj.com/wallye/31284/gop-poll-has-christie-15-points
- ↑ http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20090714_ap_pollchristiewidensleadinnjgovsrace.html
- ↑ http://www.politickernj.com/alan-steinberg/30521/governors-race-eight-key-quinnipiac-findings