Anthony Bucco

LANCE & BUCCO ASK THAT BILL TO BAR A SWITCH-A-ROO BE POSTED
Legislation Would Prevent Replay of Torricelli-Like Electoral Debacle

Senate Republican Leader Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon/Warren) and Senator Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) sent a letter to Senate President Richard J. Codey asking him to post S-1186 for a vote before the full Senate. The legislation would prohibit the filling of vacancies among candidates nominated at primaries after the 48th and before the 14th day before the general election, except due to death. Senators Lance and Bucco are the prime sponsors of S-1186. A copy of the letter is attached.

Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance has not yet acted on a recommendation from fellow Senators to replace John Samerjan as Executive Director of the Senate Republican Office. A subcommittee formed last November to review possible staff changes submitted their report to Lance last Spring. Lance had named Diane Allen, Gerald Cardinale, Peter Inverso and Joseph Kyrillos to the panel last November as part of an agreement with colleagues who supported his re-election against a challenge from Morris County Republican Anthony Bucco.

Following a PoliticsNJ.com report, Senate Republican staffer Michelle Peal has reportedly declined a request that she change her party registration from Democrat to Republican.

BUCCO TO DEMOCRATS: LOOK IN THE MIRROR BEFORE MAKING DELUSIONAL CHARGES ABOUT POLITICS

Senator Anthony R. Bucco (R-25) issued the following statement in response to erroneous and ill-informed Democrat charges that Republicans were politicizing the cause of property tax reform:

REJECTION OF FAIR RULES FOR SPECIAL SESSION HIGHLIGHTS DEMOCRAT PARTISANSHIP AND INSINSECRITY
Ignore Calls for Fairness While Keeping Their Own Rules Secret

Senator Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) issued the following statement regarding the rejection of fair and substantive rules to guide the activities of the special session on property tax reform:

BUDGET VIOLATES THE GOVERNOR'S OWN PRINCIPLES
Fails New Jersey, Increases Taxes, Omits Property Tax Relief

Senator Anthony Bucco, (R-25), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee issued the following statement regarding the budget deal being celebrated by the Trenton Democrats.

DEMOCRAT STEALTH SALES TAX HIKE STIFLES DEBATE
Public to be Shut Out of Process

Senator Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) issued the following statement regarding the introduction of sales tax increase legislation in the General Assembly, which was placed on Second Reading without reference:

National Republicans scored a major political victory in California's 50th congressional district when they won a Special Election to fill the vacancy caused by Duke Cunningham's resignation. Some of the credit for the win is going to the Republican National Committee's 72-Hour Program, their voter turnout model. An RNC memo says that the program generated over 182,000 direct voter contacts, and since their team arrived in the district, they reversed a Democratic lead in returned absentee ballots by more than 50%.

The Director of the RNC 72-Hour Program is a New Jerseyan, Bill Stepien, who not coincidentally made the PoliticsNJ.com Rising Stars list in 2001 and the Best Operatives list in 2003. Stepien, who spent the last two weeks in Southern California, started out in politics as a volunteer on Anthony Bucco's successful State Senate race in 1997 against incumbent Gordon MacInnes (that's the last time Republicans ousted a Democratic Senator) and was the Campaign Manager for Bill Baroni's winning State Assembly race in 2003 against incumbent Gary Guear. He joined the RNC after running the Bush/Cheney field operation in New Hampshire in 2004. Stepien's boss is another New Jerseyan, Michael DuHaime, who is now the RNC Political Director.

DEMOCRATIC “ANNOUNCEMENT� IS JUST A DELAYING TACTIC
Too Little Too Late On Property Taxes

Republican Budget and Appropriations Committee member Senator Anthony Bucco, (R-25), pointed out today that the creation of a property tax study commission by the Trenton Democrats is too little too late and nothing more than a delaying tactic designed to cynically divert the voters’ attention from the pressing issue of property tax relief.

CORZINE REFUSES TO RULE OUT WATER TAX
Governor and Democrat Legislators Split on Water Levy

Senator Anthony Bucco, (R-Morris), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding published reports that the Chairmen of the General Assembly and the Senate Environment Committees have split with the Corzine Administration and declared the Governor’s proposed tax on drinking water dead in the Legislature.

PLASTICS BILL PUNISHES STATE ECONOMY
Report Highlights The Further Decline Of High Paying Manufacturing Jobs In State

Senator Anthony Bucco, (R-25), issued the following statement criticizing legislation under consideration by the Senate tomorrow which would impose a 25% recycled content mandate on certain plastic container products manufactured or sold in this State.