It is time to end New Jersey's long-standing practice of home rule

Exorbitant taxation in New Jersey is hurting the backbone of the state's economy, the middle class and the employers who provide the jobs. There is evidence that New Jersey's high taxes has led to larger than expected migrations out of state since the beginning of this decade.

Accordingly, New Jersey's population growth projections are being revised downward by half. This is an alarming trend - if played out to its logical conclusion this will take a toll on the state's economic growth and exacerbate New Jersey's already grim economic situation.

New Jerseyans are overtaxed. Raising taxes rather than reducing them is unconscionable. Our neighboring state of Pennsylvania has a population that is 50 percent larger than New Jersey's and its geographic area four times greater. So how is it New Jersey's budget is some 20 percent larger or $5 billion more than Pennsyl-vania's? Something is blatantly wrong.

The problem is New Jersey's government spends too much. The first order of business for New Jersey should be to prioritize what is important and to eliminate what is no longer affordable. Then find ways to improve economic conditions which in turn will increase revenues to the state coffers.

New Jersey's system of government needs to be modernized. The time is now for a constitutional convention in order to tackle the fundamental problems with New Jersey's governmental structure which has lead to overspending, corruption and overtaxation.

We can no longer afford the duplication of effort that is prevalent in our system of government. New Jersey's legacy of home rule is an ancient practice that whose time has come. We have four times the number of boards of education and municipalities than what are necessary. It is urgent the governor and the Legisla-ture provide leadership in modernizing our system of government now.

Louis Ricchione

Hazlet