Asbury Park Press

HERGET, APP BACK TO SIDING WITH THE GOP

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Asbury Park Press reporter Alison Herget published an article in the Bayshore Reporter on January 25, 2007 entitled "Motor vehicle agency opens new office in Hazlet."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Reformers, reform thyselves. The evisceration of New Jersey's quest for a comprehensive property tax overhaul is nearly complete, and it gives every taxpayer reason to be angry. After a six-month brainstorming session by Gov. Jon Corzine and legislative committees (Remember the 98 points of reform?), the results have been reduced to mush... Who's going to stand up and read the riot act? Not Corzine. Not Democratic legislative leaders. Although it seems nakedly partisan to tell voters to "elect Republicans" in this year's races, it's now clear that one-party-rule in Trenton has had its day on the tax-reform front, and like other state governments before it, it has failed.
- Struggling homeowners find little help in Trenton, Express Times Editorial, January 26, 2007

New Jersey's Democratic legislative leaders do not want meaningful pay-to-play reforms. Let's say that again, with added emphasis: New Jersey's Democratic leaders do not want meaningful pay-to-play reforms. That has become painfully obvious.
- Dems won't fix pay-to-play, Editorial, Courier News, January 26, 2007

That cloud of dust you now see way out there on the horizon, moving in the opposite direction of the front line, is General Jon's legislative troops in full, all-out retreat from the challenge of property tax reform.
- Behemoth obstacle blocks tax relief, Editorial, The Trentonian, January 26, 2007

Crime fighting is not an exercise in fine legal distinctions. All pension benefits elected officials and state employees earned should be at stake after guilty pleas or convictions for corruption. They should be part of the price paid for putting service to themselves ahead of service to the public.
- Stiffen penalties for corruption, Editorial, Asbury Park Press, January 26, 2007

For voters and taxpayers, all this appears to be more confirmation that government for the people fades near Exit 7A of the turnpike, where New Jersey's authors of law and government policy balance the public good against their own pensions, patronage, and potential prison sentences with a consistently cynical and often transparent tilt.
- Backward steps on tax reform, Editorial, Gloucester County Times, January 21, 2007

We can hardly blame the public for being skeptical. After four months of working hard to look at reforms that would put New Jersey's fiscal house in order, the Legislature has seen special-interest groups and members of its own institution try to kill or at least water down proposals that would cut out double-dipping, get at the systemic problem of public employee pension and health-care costs, and encourage consolidation of school districts and municipalities.
- Still no tax reform, Editorial, Trenton Times, January 26, 2007

Garden State citizens should ask themselves one question. What does it say about New Jersey when there seems to be endless debate over attempts at passing laws that protect state residents from their own lawmakers?
- Legislators talk up self-policing efforts, Editorial, The Jersey Journal, January 23, 2007

Another week passes without true property tax reform for New Jersey residents. Taxpayers are running out of patience very quickly, if they haven't already.
- Spotlighting some of the good and the bad, Editorial, The Daily Journal, January 22, 2007

New Jerseyans are supposed to thank their legislators for something rather than nothing at all. So thanks for almost nothing. It's a pathetic exercise. And unfortunately the way the state's legislative districts are drawn, there is little consequence for Democrats. Democratic seats for the most part are safe regardless of what they do. They have more to lose personally by reforming government than by sticking with the status quo.
- Six degrees of political bacon, Column by Alfred P. Dobin,
Editorial Page Editor, The Record of Hackensack, January 26, 2007

In another disappointing move, the Senate voted to strip public officials of only part of their pensions if they are convicted of a crime involving public service. It would apply only to the office they held when the offense occurred. That's ridiculous: A crooked politician should not expect a dime in pension. Of course, the pension issue is one of many to show that this Democrat-controlled Legislature, with its Democratic governor, has so far lacked the will to speak to the pressing issues of the day. The time for talk is over; what's needed is action.
- Governor must move reform along, Editorial, The Herald News, January 24, 2007

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For more information, contact:
Assembly Republican Press Office / 609-292-5339

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication
January 26, 2007

POC: Victor V. Scudiery
Chairman, Monmouth County Democratic Party
Tel: (732) 739-3232

SCUDIERY CALLS OUT JORDAN ON REPUBLICAN-SLANTED ARTICLE

Questions Puharic on GOP credibility on criticisms of party funding

HAZLET TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): In a January 24 article written by Asbury Park Press Staff Writer Bob Jordan, the reporter wrote an advocated piece that appeared on Page A8 entitled "Treasurer: Monmouth County Dems owe chairman $150G."

MERKT ASKS CORZINE TO MAKE ABELOW PROVIDE EVIDENCE ON HOW PORK GRANTS WERE SPENT

Treasurer has sat on request to provide documents for 116 days.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT..

Democrats cling to pay-to-play
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/25/07
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After a parliamentary maneuver by Senate Republicans to bring a bill for a statewide ban on pay-to-play to the Senate floor for discussion, the majority Democrats refused to vote on whether it could be released from the committee where it's been gathering dust for four years. What were they afraid of?
The Democrats' lack of action makes a mockery of Senate President Richard J. Codey's complaint against the Republicans Monday when they opposed a watered-down bill for a state comptroller's office that even a former sponsor balked at. Codey said, "Is good government the responsibility of only the Democrats and not Republicans? Hello?" Codey didn't vote in favor of bringing the pay-to-play ban � a necessity for good government � to the Senate floor. Hypocritical? You betcha.
Sen. Peter Inverso, R-Mercer, sponsored the bill and said he'll try again � repeatedly � to bring this measure directly to the Senate floor. When he does, Codey and the other Democrats who withheld their votes should show their true colors.
Only Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth, broke ranks Monday, agreeing with the Republicans that the bill needs to be released from committee. The bill would ban pay-to-play � the practice of rewarding campaign donors with lucrative public contracts � and restrict wheeling, skirting local pay-to-play laws by moving money through other campaign committees in the state.
The excuses offered by Democrats range from the lame to the hilarious. The lame: Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny Jr., D-Hudson, who said they're "looking to see more local municipalities adopt them." Hello? A statewide ban would save the 566 municipalities, 21 counties and independent authorities and commissions the expense of coming up with their own rules.
Kenny also pointed the finger at Republican Minority Leader Leonard Lance's Hunterdon County district, saying few of its municipalities have passed such bans. "It seems like Sen. Lance has some work to do in his own back yard before proceeding with a statewide mandate." Hello? The state is Lance's "back yard." He is serving his constituents better by pushing through the statewide ban rather than making them do it individually.
On the hilarious side was this tidbit from Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen: She withheld her vote because the legislation was "clearly partisan." She then said, "The Democrats will be addressing pay-to-play. I think it will be a Democratic endeavor." Hello? That's not partisanship?
Gov. Corzine should heed the Republicans' plea to put his party's support behind the pay-to-play ban. He should apply pressure on Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., D-Camden, to do so now. Maybe then, the state's taxpayers could be relieved of the poison of pay-to-play that strips money from their pockets every time the amount of a campaign donation is added into the price of a government contract, making them say "goodbye" to far too many of their tax dollars.

BECK SAYS DEM BACKTRACK ON DUAL OFFICE HOLDING
LEGISLATION SHOWS LACK OF LEADERSHIP

In response to a published report today that a provision to eliminate dual-office holding was removed from a Senate bill following the latest round of revisions to a property tax package, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck said the move is further evidence of a lack of leadership among the Democratic ranks.

CORODEMUS SAYS DISCLOSURE OF PORK PROJECTS WOULD NOT MAKE PRACTICE ANY MORE 'ETHICAL'

ISSUE IS ABOUT LEGISLATORS GETTING GRANTS FOR EMPLOYERS OR ORGANIZATIONS FROM WHICH THEY PERSONALLY BENEFIT

Assemblyman Steve Corodemus today said that the chairman of the Legislative Joint Committee on Ethical Standards is missing the point of the current ethics complaints pending before the panel if he believes a proposal to give advance notice about pork in the state budget would solve the problem.

GREGG SAYS NJ'S STAGNANT ECONOMIC GROWTH DIRECT RESULT OF DEMOCRAT'S FAILED FISCAL POLICIES

Assemblyman Guy Gregg said today that despite cries for change from residents and businesses, the Democrat-controlled Legislature chooses to turn a deaf ear as it continues taking the Garden State down a path of financial disaster.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...
MORE R&R FOR LAWMAKERS

Editorial, Asbury Park Press, December 19, 2006

The Legislature, which adjourned last week after coming up empty on most property tax reforms, will now be taking three weeks off. It won't reconvene until Jan. 8. It's hard to conceive of any group of people less deserving of time off.

After failing to meet the state deadline for having an approved budget by the end of June, Trenton lawmakers - who are paid $49,000 a year - basically took most of the summer and fall off. While the property tax committees met on a quasi-regular basis, and other legislative committees met from time to time, there were no full voting sessions for six months.

Not enough to do? Not enough problems to solve? Hardly.

The Legislature over the past few years has distinguished itself by its inability to get anything done - at least anything of substance. It might be able to improve on its record if its members spent more time on the job.

That should be a New Year's resolution for the leadership - effective Jan. 1, not Jan. 8.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...
LEGISLATURE BATS .000 ON REFORMS

Editorial, Asbury Park Press, December 17, 2006

Back in the summer, the two most powerful men in the Legislature, Senate President Richard J. Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr., pledged to enact "significant" property tax reforms by Jan. 1. Gov. Corzine pledged to call a citizens' convention if action wasn't taken by year's end.

Well, the Legislature held its last voting session of the year Thursday, and nothing of any substance took place - again. No pension or health benefit reforms for public employees. No revised school funding formula. No action on even voluntary school or municipal consolidation. No concrete plan for tax relief. No property tax cap.

"The people have gotten coal in their Christmas stockings," Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon, aptly observed.

The four special legislative committees formed to study property tax reform came up with 98 recommendations. The year will end with none of them having been implemented. Five key reforms first posted Monday went nowhere in the Senate. Three of the proposals advanced in the Assembly. But there was no further action in either house Thursday. Among the casualties: a bill that would have forced politicians convicted of corruption to give up their public pensions.

"It's clear today the majority doesn't want to produce reform," said Sen. Joseph Kyrillos Jr., R-Monmouth.

Corzine, who last week put the kibosh on any attempts by the Legislature to enact significant pension and benefit reforms, has now reneged on his promise to hold lawmakers to his year-end deadline to get something major done.

Corzine said Thursday that the Legislature had made a "good-faith effort" on reform and warned against judging the reform process until it is complete. "People are calling the horse race when they have rounded the first bend, as far as I can see," Corzine said.

Corzine needs to get his vision checked. And when it comes to horse races, don't put your money on the Legislature or Corzine to cross the finish line. Odds are, you'll lose it.

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