What New Jersey can teach America

I am proud that I am from a great state. New Jersey has been a leader in America. However, for 22 years under democratic and republican Governors, New Jersey faced tremendous problems and shoved them down the road, even as congress dealt with problems such as welfare, the economy, and two wars. Now, the roles are reversed; congress is not working, but New Jersey is. Despite having problems, New Jersey has enjoyed some of the lowest crime rates, best schools, and best equipped work force in the nation. New Jersey has benefited greatly from pharmaceutical companies, retail industries, tourism, and a surplus of people leading to job opportunities in various sectors. However, our core was broken for many years. To be middle-class in New Jersey, a person needs to make more than it would take to be middle-class elsewhere. Inner-cities have experienced crime problems for decades now. However, in the past 2 years, it seems New Jersey government has functioned better than the federal government. In the midst of a budget deficit and a bad economic climate, a tough-talking former federal prosecutor, Chris Christie, was elected Governor on a platform to reform government. As Governor, Chris Christie has fought to reduce state spending and hold the line on taxes. Debate occurred, but at the end of the day, Governor Christie and the legislature did cut spending. In his first year in office, Governor Christie managed to cut state spending by 9%. Furthermore, Governor Christie has asked public employees to contribute more to their health benefits, he has cut state spending, he made it harder for future legislators to increase property taxes, and he even managed to sign tax cuts on individuals and businesses into law, something that has been desperately needed in the garden state. Governor Christie deserves tremendous credit for taking on the unions and being fiscally responsible. However, the state legislature has worked with him to do so. Republican and democrats worked together to put New Jersey on a more fiscally sustainable and economically advantageous course. In the nearly 2 years he has been Governor, Chris Christie has made government work. Washington D.C. is a different story. Washington politicians in the past few years have supported tremendous deficit spending, an unconstitutional and costly health care reform bill, new regulations that hurt the private economy, and uncertainty for business and families. As represented by the "super-committee", Washington can't cooperate. Democrats claim republicans want to hurt the average person, while republicans simply name-call. Perhaps Washington can learn some things from New Jersey. In Washington, President Obama has delegating responsibilities to ideologues in his party. He should learn from Governor Christie that leadership is about taking part in debates and at times, proposing legislation to congress. Members of congress in both parties should actually talk to each other. They can debate, but working across the isle is not always a bad thing. There are times when it is important to hold firm; Governor Christie refused to raise taxes in New Jersey, and Washington D.C. politicians should also oppose any tax increase that hits the middle-class or business. It's time for Washington to become more like New Jersey.