“The Wall of Pork”

Now that the Wall of Pork has been ‘completed’, I will be getting back into the swing of researching and posting. Many of my posts will be studies of various sections of the wall. Unfortunately the wall, and the state of NJ, grew to such a size that photography that is legible has been a problem. The wall itself does however have an impact and a history of it’s own.

Numerous unanswered letters and questions addressed to Governor Corzine and sponsors of various bills that take money out of taxpayer and business pockets provided the fuel and my desire to start digging for information. Each department and agency in the state can be viewed from this link. Under the Treasury Department the budget information can be studied.

The vision and importance of a compilation of the information into a visual format was the immediate response from Steve Lonegan, Executive Director Americans for Prosperity NJ (AFP-NJ). Now that the project is completed to a level of illustrated appeal that shows the bloated bureaucracy of NJ, I can see the dynamics of its magnitude that Lonegan envisioned from the beginning.

Understand that the information is ever changing. Each time Gov. Corzine signs a legislative bill or appoints a new position, or judicial mandates are handed down, the wall grows. This means the financial burden of taxpayers increases. There is much more information that could be compiled, which would more than double its 10 foot by 44 foot size.

On the wall are many red labels that depict entities that have a high degree of independence from the state of NJ but receive tax dollars to support them. These agencies, authorities, councils, offices, and commissions are of special interest to me because of the powers allowed them by the state. I intend to study these “in, but not of” elements in future posts.

Without the staff at AFP-NJ, we would have been denied the opportunity to view this display of the reality and the enormity of the oppression we taxpayers must live under. It has been a pleasure to work on this important project with guidance and the intuitive leadership of Steve Lonegan.