Another Business Executive Out-Of-Touch With Reality

I found this interesting. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Chairman is William J. Marino. Marino is president and CEO of Horizon Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Jersey which, through sloppy business practices, exposed 300,000 customers to identity theft a few weeks ago.

Last week, Marino endorsed the New Jersey Governor’s controversial plan to raise tolls as much as 800%. Marino called the proposal: “a bold and aggressive plan designed to reduce out-of-control state debt and create stable, long-term funding for much needed transportation projects.”

No doubt that it is important to aggressively deal with spiraling debt. But here’s yet another example of millionaire’s making decisions for the rest of us.

Raising tolls will continue to force small trucking companies and the businesses that depend on such services to go under. Examples: landscapers, florists, uniform launders, private garbage collection, gas stations, etc. Small and mid-size businesses cannot remain barely-profitable with ever-increasing fuel and transportation costs.

But that probably doesn’t matter to the CEO of an insurance company.

Related Links:

• GOP stews while Chamber backs Corzine’s toll hike plan