Poll numbers released today by Quinnipiac University show in statistical black and white that the governor’s toll hike plan is unpopular and that its unpopularity has voters in an ornery mood. The governor’s disapproval raiting is strikingly high — 52 percent, the highest of his term in office. (That said, he remains far more popular than President George W. Bush. But then most people are these days, with the possible exception of Roger Clemens.)
I can understand the numbers, though I do think they are a bit unfair. But that is politics. The governor is making a good-faith effort to fix a problem that has been growing for a dozen years, a problem that presents no easy or painless solutions. So he catches grief.
I agree that his toll plan is the wrong approach, but I also think he is being far more realistic than most of the elected officials in this state — and more realistic than most voters.
I keep having this same conversation with people. They complain about the plan, but offer the same cliched response — eliminate waste and corruption. I say, “great,” but how much of the budget do you think that accounts for?” No answer. Once you back out the debt, pension and other fixed payments, you’re left with maybe $15 billion in spending to tackle, maybe not even that much. If waste and corruption account for 10 percent — an absurdly generous assumption — you still manage to trim just $1.5 billion, about 40 percent of what would be needed to plug what has been a recurring hole. And it still leaves you dealing with future budgets.
I’ve said it before. We need to be realistic and we need to be comprehensive. Everything has to be on the table — streamlining government at all levels, cutting spending, redirecting money to where it is most necessary (antipoverty programs, for instance), reducing the local portion of the school tax bill by increasing school aid, cutting corruption, controlling debt. The list is endless, so we better get started.
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Hank Kalet 