New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the Donald Trump lackie has clearly had an all-powerful vision as the budget for 2018 hasn’t been able to negotiate. Therefore, he signed the Executive Order No. 228, this one he sealed on the 30th June 2017. Just before the Independence day weekend. So the Jersey Shore will be sealed of the people going on vacations, the ones wants to chill in New Jersey, has to hit the casino’s and not the beaches. Clearly, not a populist strategy by the Republican governor.
Because the state representatives couldn’t constructively make a budget with his fellow people in the State Assembly. Clearly, the Governor must have an agenda, since he pulls the State Constitution and uses his powers to pull a ‘State of Emergency’. So the state functions stops, because of the powers he has as a governor. Certainly, he needs to show power and his strength towards the State Assembly.
What is striking from any perspective is these passages:
“I invoke the emergency powers conferred upon me by N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et seq., and all amendments and supplements thereto, and such other powers as may be conferred upon me by the Constitution and the Statutes of the State of New Jersey” (Executive Order No. 228). “Until such time as there is enacted a General Appropriations Law for Fiscal Year 2018, I reserve the right to take such actions and issue such orders or directives as may be necessary to meet the various problems presented by this emergency, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State, and to ensure the continued provision of essential State services. The exercise of these emergency powers shall, when required, be subject to future payment of the reasonable value of goods and services, subject to appropriation, and as provided by law” (Executive Order No. 228).
“All employees whose services are not deemed essential pursuant to this Order shall be deemed furloughed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11A:6-1.1 and shall be governed by the rules implementing that program, except as may be prohibited by law. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any such employees who are necessary to implement the orderly shut down of programs and functions as provided in paragraph 16 of this Order upon the completion of such shut down, as determined and documented by the head of the department or agency” (Executive Order No. 228).
So within the bounds of the State now, the core essentials will be working, the needed services and state officers will be there, but the rest will be suspended. Therefore, the famous lackie Christie decided to stop the funding and allocations to the different state functions. Because he wants the State to be on its knees, so the will of the governor can be counted in the budget of 2018. This proves his will for power. He will use Emergency Powers to settle the score of the budget negotiations. So he will keep the state functions hostage over debate and needed State voting in the State Assembly for budget. This isn’t for time of war, this isn’t for time of terrorist crisis. The Governor does this over Budget voting and Budget allocations for the next Financial Year. So they are making sure there a fiscal sound budget and good balance accordingly to the State needs.
Chris Christie has really taken the powers in his hands and he should also fix it with the representatives within the State Assembly, the State of Emergency over budget negotiations and voting of budget post is bewildering. Does seem like he feels his voice isn’t respected or his standing isn’t graceful enough. Clearly, the New Jersey National Assembly needs to talk and vote on the coming election. The State Services and the State Organizations shouldn’t be suspended by the governor, since the state representatives has their duty, the same has their executive. What is visible, that the invisible and needed show of power came into play. Since Christie clearly cannot talk or negotiate with his peers in New Jersey. Not only his ratings, but his scandals are now following him. Peace.
“Corruption cannot be tackled from the top, it has to be confronted from the grassroots” – John Githongo.
Kenyan Government might not like it or trying to deflect it, but here certainly a sorry state when it comes to corruption, graft and embezzlement. If it is either getting a better business deal, paying local council-men for having a shop or being a hawker, paying police officers while passing through a district, getting help by government officials and other buying services from officials like judges and Land-Commissions to get ahead of competitions.
This here is a national problem, but many of the Government Officials and Ministers are involved so the Jubliee Government do not want to be too strong against it; if it is then one of their own have to jump on the sword and lose their job. I think they have learned from Mwai Kibaki’s government and how the Corruption made them eat and let the ethical procedures fly out the window.
I will here show the cases that have come since Januar 2016. And this is not all I presume, this is reports and probes of corruption and grafts in Kenya. There are lots of them and the amount of people says how big the picture is and how big the scope of corruption is; there have to be a general cleaning, but then the Government Officials and the codes of conduct have to be taken from streets to the Parliament. But when Kanjo Kingdom documentaries shows how the certain county cars drives around and pocket money from traders an hawkers in Nairobi as they have target funds to get each week. This proves the levels and stages of corruption. There are viable and visible, and as long as county officials in the capital can get away with having open corruption and trading tax that is not deducted through their financial statement. Then it proves that the re-vamp have to happen from the Grassroot as Hon. Githongo says and I abide by, but the precedence have to be set by the Deputy President Ruto and the President Kenyatta!
Here are the cases and probes.
State House Kenya
200 State Officials needed clearance:
“Close to 200 people on the List of Shame President Uhuru Kenyatta handed to Parliament last year have been charged with corruption and abuse of office” (…)”A confidential report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) shows all cases have been investigated and action taken on at least 61 per cent of them” (…)”The status report says some suspects have been taken to court while others have had their cases referred back to EACC for further investigations” (Gicobi, 2016).
Deputy President William Ruto and his Wife; Rachel Ruto dined VISA to the US:
“The first lady who was to be accompanied with the DP’s wife Rachel Ruto traveled alone due to her (Rachel) being denied a Visa by the USA embassy” (…)”According to reliable source, Rachel was denied Visa following allegations that her banking initiative had extorted donor funds” (…)”Recently, it was revealed that Deputy President was banned from traveling to the United States, however, it looks like his whole family was too after his wife Rachel became the first to be denied a Visa” (…)”Ruto’s involvement in almost all corruption cases might also be the reason why Rachel was denied a US Visa” (Bironga, 2016).
Tunoi Probe:
“Supreme Court Judge Phllip Tunoi sought to discredit his accuser in the Sh 200 million bribery saga as he fought off allegations that could bring down his career and those of several colleagues. Appearing before a committee probing the allegations Tunoi said an affidavit implicating him was possibly drawn by judiciary staff in an elaborate plot to end his career. As Francis Gachuri now reports Tunoi’s accuser Geoffrey Kiplagat also appeared before the committee that has until Wednesday to submit its findings” (Kenya Citizen TV, 2016).
Nike Probe:
“Under its terms, the athletics company would pay the Kenyan athletics federation $100,000 in honorariums each year and a one-time payment of $500,000, which was referred to as a “commitment bonus.” The New York Times reports that the bonus was immediately withdrawn by Kenyan officials and kept off the books” (…)”Nike conducts its business with integrity and expects that our partners do the same,” Nike told Fortune in a statement (Addady, 2016).
Bank’s Probe:
“Several banks are under investigations after a major tax evasion ring was busted at a border entry point. The racket, said to cost the government over Sh120 million in unpaid import duties at Namanga border post, comes barely a month after a similar incident was discovered at the Port of Mombasa” (…)”Two Equity Bank staff members and an unnamed number of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) personnel allegedly aided traders at the Namanga border post to import goods without paying duty, depriving the country revenue of more than Sh100 million” (…)”Nairobi-based financial analyst Aly Khan Satchu said the recent edict from the Central Bank where customers will need to clearly explain cash deposits and withdrawals of at least Sh1 million is welcomed. He said if the rules are enforced to the letter, corruption cartels would be dealt a blow” (…)“It’s clear that banks have a duty of care in this regard. If this new regulation is implemented without fear or favour then I am sure the deluge of ill-gotten proceeds going through the system will come to an abrupt stop. It seems to me it is no longer a question of rules and regulations, it is now a question of enforcement, pure and simple,” said Mr Satchu” (Ngungi, 2016).
King of Graft – Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba:
“A former Nairobi County chief finance officer amassed Sh800 million in cash, motor vehicles, buildings and land, which the government is now seeking to recover” (…)”Mr Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba’s wealth is half of the Sh1.6 billion that President Uhuru Kenyatta announced in his State of the Nation address that the government intends to seize” (Mwakilishi, 2016).
State of Jersey Confiscate Money:
“On 24 February 2016, Windward Trading Limited, a Jersey registered company, pleaded guilty to four counts of money laundering before the Royal Court of Jersey. The Royal Court imposed a confiscation order of £3,281,897.40 and US$540,330.69, thereby stripping the company of all its assets” (…)”Windward admitted to laundering the proceeds of corruption between 29 July 1999 and 19 October 2001. The corrupt activities took place in Kenya where Windward’s beneficial owner, Samuel Gichuru, is resident. During the period on the indictment, Mr Gichuru was also the Chief Executive of Kenya Power and Lighting Company [KPLC], the Kenyan government’s electricity utility company. KPLC awarded valuable contracts to a number of engineering and energy companies worldwide who all made corrupt payments to Windward. The confiscation order provides an indication as to the scale of the criminal conduct that took place” (State of Jersey, 2016).
Afterthought:
This here shows the scope and reach of it. I don’t need to spell it out. It is clear as water. The rain-drops is becoming so much that they are creating a river in the valley; the same is happening with the corruption. There little rain-drops, but they all create a river and the water touches all parts of society. Time to put the kettle on and heat-up some water, because with all this eaten government funds and shady deals we need some sweet tea; Peace.
MinBane 