Gov. did the right thing, at his own political peril
Jon Corzine is my nominee for a Profile in Courage. The governor has given New Jerseyans the disastrous facts about the state's finances. He has presented his unpopular plans to help turn the picture around. Some politicians are telling us there are much easier solutions because that's what we want to hear and because it will help get them re-elected.

Interest alone on our huge debt is $2.6 billion this year and it is set to increase substantially due to back-loaded debt negotiated by previous administrations.

With Corzine's plan, toll funds will bypass the legislative porkers and go directly from the Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) to debt repayment and transportation improvements.

No other plan that critics have offered matches Corzine's plan, which would pay down half our $32 billion debt, reduce the annual interest payments by $1 billion, pay off the enormous transportation debt and provide funding for road, bridge, tunnel and train improvements for years to come.

Also, $5 billion would be available for matching federal funds to improve transportation and new tunnel development. In addition, the toll receipts would provide a dedicated source of debt repayment. The state of New Jersey would not be on the hook.

Sadly, the primary goal of most politicians is to win re-election. This paradigm means most legislators would not risk political suicide to support a more equitable solution such as a substantial increase in the progressive income tax to reduce debt or a hefty increase in the gasoline tax to handle our transportation needs. These taxes, as well as a large sales tax increase, impact all New Jerseyans. We do remember the fate of former Gov. Jim Florio.

Surprisingly, the unfairness of the toll raise is its greatest strength. Because the toll increases directly impact a much smaller number of voters, more politicians should be able to support the plan without re-election jitters. Also, because our tolls are comparatively low, the impact of the first two toll raises, distasteful as they are, would probably not be out of line with toll prices of other corridor states.

Additionally, between 25 and 45 percent of toll increases would be paid by out-of-staters. This would not be true of themuch fairer progressive income tax.

I was certain that Jon Corzine wanted to become governor of New Jersey as a stepping stone to the presidency. The financial quagmire he has to handle certainly means he won't be president and may not be re-elected as governor.

Once the governor fully understood New Jersey's financial disaster, he did the right thing and presented us with a drastic but realistic way forward.Workable alternatives are nonexistent.

Corzine is my Profile in Courage. Who else would promote democracy in action with 21 countymeetings to open up this "toughlove" plan to public scrutiny and often hostile questions?
Marilyn Mix
Monroe Township