Stender opposes monetization

By Matt Friedman | February 11th, 2008 - 3:20pm
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One way of determining which Democrats will oppose asset monetization is to look at who’s on the ballot this year.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender, who’s running for congress in the seventh district, is opposed to the plan. So is State Sen. John Adler, who’s running for congress in the third district. And U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who’s up for reelection this year, announced that he’s against it last week.

“Linda Stender is opposed to Governor Corzine's toll hike,” said Stender campaign manager Ed Oatman. “While Linda agrees that efforts to reduce our state debt and ending the practice of spending beyond our means must be made, it is unreasonable to penalize residents and businesses that solely rely on thoroughfares such as the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.”

Although the Stender statement today was the first announcement to the press of her opposition, coming after Republican congressional candidates Kate Whitman and State Sen. Leonard Lance challenged her on it, the liberal blog Blue Jersey obtained a letter she sent to a constituent last month declaring her opposition to the plan.

The plan has hit serious trouble in the legislature, with every single Republican in the Senate and Assembly coming out against it.

Democratic State Sen. Jeff Van Drew, who’s considered a potential challenger Rep. Frank LoBiondo in the second district, is opposed to the plan, but said he made that opposition clear in his state Senate campaign last year.

“In our particular campaign in the first (state legislative) district, we were very clear and we actually signed a pledge that we do not support selling the roads, leasing the rolls, or creating a public entity to aggressively increase the tolls,” said Van Drew. “When I say something I stick to it. I don’t make a statement so that I can win elections and then change my opinion afterwards.”

Van Drew said that rather than raising tolls, he supports scaling back the executive branch of government back 10% as a first resort, having a referendum on whether non-senior citizen taxpayers still want a homestead tax rebate and curtailing the use of paper in government agencies.

Van Drew said that he still has not made a decision on whether to run for Congress. 

“My public policy position here is based upon a public policy position that we formulated during a campaign, and has nothing to do with whether I’m running this current year,” he said.

Some Democrats who aren’t facing reelection battles have also announced their opposition. Senate budget Chairwoman Barbara Buono expressed reservations about the plan to the Associated Press last week, and Assemblyman John Wisniewski was among its first Democratic critics.

Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson compared Corzine’s plan to former Gov. Jim Florio’s tax hikes, saying that this issue could hurt Democrats down ballot – even those who have gone on record opposing it.

“It’s a political calculation. It’s an acknowledgement that it’s incredibly unpopular and they fear it could have reprisals for them,” said Wilson. “This is 1990 redux all over again. That was a $2.8 billion tax hike. This is five times that, 20 times that.”

Although Friday’s anti-monetization rally brought far fewer people to the state house than the “Hands Across New Jersey” rally last decade, Wilson said that 700 people was a good showing for a Friday afternoon.

Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray agreed. His own poll last month showed only 15% of New Jerseyans expressing support for the Governor’s plan, with 56% opposed. 29% withheld judgment, though a majority of those were leaning against it.

“In political terms, this is a no-brainer for folks who are running for other offices. Regardless of what happens, how it may be amended in the following months after we hear about Corzine’s budget cuts, this is just so universally unpopular that if you’re going to win in one of these tight races, you’re going to have to distance yourself from it.”

Tags:

Which Stender are we talking about?

Submitted by Clarkvip1 on February 11, 2008 - 4:29pm.

The letter politicsnj refers to is from Assemblywoman Stender, but the annoucement politicsnj covered is from Stender the Congressional candidate...seems like she crossing streams if you ask me. Abusing the powers of one office to get to another.

Nothing wrong with Stender's letter

Submitted by ari2583 on February 11, 2008 - 4:52pm.

The letter they are referencing is a reply to a constituent that contacted her assembly office asking her opinion on a state issue which she votes on as an Assmeblywoman. There is nothing wrong with this. Nor is there anything wrong with Congressional Candidate Stender giving her opinion on a proposal that effects the state. Congressman Andrews and Congressman Holt publically support the plan. Senator Lautenberg is publically against it. There is absoultely no abuse of power with these statements. In fact she is doing the smart thing and opposing the plan so that the Republican's (who by the way do not have an alternative plan at all) can't smear her as Stender the Spender like they did in '06.

Clarkvip1 is right!

Submitted by FormerlyAnonymous on February 11, 2008 - 5:19pm.

PolitickerNJ used information from the campaign and from the office staff, a clear violation of ... what?  That the media gets it's information from multiple sources?

Her opponents are more than happy to talk about her work as an Assemblywoman, but her campaign manager is not allowed to respond? Give me a break.

More attempts to make mountains out of a vacuum.

And the meek shall inherit the earth

Submitted by Clarkvip1 on February 11, 2008 - 5:35pm.

Enough. Stender should have put out a statement from her assembly office to the media AND not have her congressional campaign make a statment.  Keep it spinning!

Guess who owns this site?

Submitted by bergen_prince on February 11, 2008 - 6:02pm.

The former chief financial officer for real estate developer Charles Kushner pleaded guilty this morning in a scheme to illegally write off millions in gifts, entertainments expenses and political contributions.

Marci Plotkin, 52, who was indicted three years ago on charges of conspiracy, fraud and obstruction of justice involving the preparation of tax returns for several of Kushner's real estate partnerships, admitted to a single count of conspiracy to defraud the government.

Her trial was set to begin later this week, along with Richard Stadtmauer -- Kushner's brother-in-law and closest associate. Kushner himself pleaded guilty to witness retaliation, tax and campaign violations in August 2004 and served less than two years in prison.

Plotkin admitted participating in a scheme to create false partnership tax returns by intentionally mischaracterizing charitable and political contributions to offset future earnings. She faces up to two years in prison, under federal sentencing guidelines.

Why Against?

Submitted by TheBullhorn on February 12, 2008 - 10:23am.

Those of us regularly commenting in here are a pretty cynical (practical?) lot.  For us, every issue presented is both politics and policy.  Mostly politics . . .

Obviously Never-Ender Baloney-Bender Big-Spender Dead-Ender Stender comes out against the Corzine Plan with wetted index finger thrust up into the proverbial howling political wind.  A purely political move, as there is absolutely nothing in her political/policy background that informs us that she would require any reduction in the size or scope of government as a means to accomplish the purported/alleged ends of the Corzine Plan.

For all we know, Stender favors complete nationalization of the economy and/or higher taxes and tolls arrayed in a wider, more onerous scope.  In fact, given her record, this is the far more likely scenario.

Notwithstanding, Stender is going to take the seat in the 7th CD in November.  There is no one seeking the GOP nod that opposes the organically-grown and growing, bipartisan Welfare-Warfare State.  The only kind of Republican who could beat her would be a Ron Paul/Murray Sabrin Republican, and no one from that camp is seeking the GOP nomination in the 7th.

Alas . . . again, no one to vote FOR!

Self-preservation

Submitted by Martin Two on February 12, 2008 - 3:28pm.

Our illustrious Governor will soon learn the lesson so well taught by the Donner Party on their epic trek through the Sierra-Nevada mountains.  The instinct for self-preservation is equally if not more profound in the political arena as it was on the wagontrain.  It's just a matter of how those seeking to save their political hides prefer the Great Monetizer prepared - stewed, barbecued or chicken fried.  In any event, it should be remarkably entertaining to watch.

Bon appetite!  

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