Christie Selects Princeton Native Ford Scudder for State Treasurer’s Post
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has named Princeton native and Princeton University alumnus Ford Scudder as the next New Jersey State Treasurer.
Scudder, the chief operating officer of Laffer Associates, an economic research and consulting firm, replaces Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, who left the Christie administration in the summer. Scudder is slated to begin his new post the second week in November.
“With over a decade of private sector experience at one of our country’s premier economic research and analytical institutions, Ford Scudder brings important insights and management experience to our seasoned team of Treasury professionals,” said Christie in a news release. “The unique approach Ford brings will help build on my administration’s approach to responsible management of the state’s finances and prudent oversight of taxpayer funds.”
Christie said he would look forward to Scudder’s insights on fiscal and tax policy solutions that he claimed would continue to grow the state economy and bring “much-needed relief to the burden shouldered by New Jersey taxpayers.”
Scudder earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University and a master’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University. The Scudder family’s Princeton roots date back to the 1600s.
In addition to serving as the chief operating officer at Laffer Associates, a firm led by former Reagan Administration economist Arthur Laffer, Scudder has also served as a senior research analyst for Laffer Investments, a privately-held equity management firm.
Gordon MacInnes, president of New Jersey Policy Perspective, expressed concerns Tuesday afternoon about Scudder’s connections to Laffer.
“While we trust that Mr. Scudder will bring an independent and clear-eyed approach to managing New Jersey’s finances, and have no reason to doubt his abilities, we are concerned by his deep connection to one of America’s most radical anti-tax ideologues,” MacInnes said.
“Cutting state income taxes is a failed economic-growth strategy. It certainly didn’t work for New Jersey in the 1990s. Yet Mr. Laffer and his firm have pushed this tax-cutting agenda, which mostly benefits the well-off, for decades,” MacInnes said. “Most recently, his work advising Gov. Brownback to push through a massive income tax cut in Kansas has turned out to be a dismal failure: the promised economic returns never materialized, but the budget gaps and cuts to schools and other essential public services sure have. That is not the kind of economic agenda New Jersey needs, and we trust it’s not the kind Mr. Scudder will bring with him to Trenton.”
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.
Just what we don’t need, a trickle down advocate. Paul Krugman masterfully demolishes supply side/trickle down/voodoo economics. He calls them zombie myths that refuse to die in spite of their track record of total failure. Lowering taxes (overwhelmingly benefitting the wealthy and the giant multinational corporations) does not work, does not raise all boats (except for the yachts) and in fact increases the deficits and sets the stage for economic failure (think the great recession of 2007-2008). What’s the matter with Kansas? Gov. Brownback pushed through a massive income tax cut in Kansas which has turned out to be a dismal failure: the promised economic returns never materialized, but the budget gaps and cuts to schools and other essential public services sure have. Guess who gave advice to Brownback?
Yes, we certainly cannot trust people to make their own decisions about how to spend their own money when government knows so much better than they do. Thank you, Liberals, for teaching us so much about how much more you know about taking and spending other people’s money than we could ever imagine.
Now, sorry, we are leaving and moving to Florida (no state income tax). Hopefully, you middle class folks won’t mind picking up the tab. Catch you later.
The Wealthy.
What took you so long? Why didn’t you move to Florida years ago? First you had to make a bundle in NJ and then scuttle off to FL. The only thing I like about FL is the climate.
Look up – you’ll see the whole point flying right over your head.