Asbury Park Press

December 5, 2006
Assembly Republican Press Office

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...

Here is what major newspapers had to say when Cryan floated his idea to repeal the pay-to-play ban earlier this year:

DEMOCRATS ON PROPERTY TAX CREDITS:
'YOU WANT TRUTH? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!'
Can Taxpayers Trust Anything They Say About Taxes Anymore?

Assembly and Senate Democrats now say the best way to lower property taxes is to eliminate rebates and actually reduce the size of property tax bills received by homeowners. That was the gist of the 30 percent property tax reduction plan offered by Assembly Republicans and Doug Forrester, who was Jon Corzine's opponent in last year's gubernatorial contest, in 2005. Interestingly, this is what many of those same Democrats and the current governor had to say about this particular approach to property tax relief at that time:

"The Democratic chairman of the Assembly Budget committee, Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden), derided the GOP plan as 'a political mirage without real money' that is 'short on specifics.'"
- The Star-Ledger, April 15, 2005

"It's dishonest and irresponsible..."
- State Sen. Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, The Press of Atlantic City, July 6, 2005

"The numbers don't add up..."
- Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr., D-Burlington, Burlington County Times, October 13, 2005

"Garbage in, garbage out..."
- Jon Corzine on cost estimates for the 30-in-3 plan, Asbury Park Press, October 16, 2005

"In at least three different ads, Corzine has aired variations on a charge that Forrester's plan 'eliminates rebates for seniors and the middle class.' It's true the Forrester plan would eliminate the rebate check, but homeowners would still get the money. It's just that the money would be applied to their property tax bill instead of coming as a separate check. If it's evil for Forrester to do that, as Corzine's ads clearly imply, then why does Corzine want to do the same thing? Conversely, if it's a smart thing for Corzine to do - he says it would save $15 million in check processing costs in Trenton - why attack Forrester for it? Corzine gave a confusing response when asked about this at a meeting of The Record's editorial board last week. 'I want to get the technology to have the rebate,' Corzine said. 'I don't know whether you call it a credit or a rebate when it's just a one-time deduction from the quarterly bill. That's different than what I think he is trying to propose. First of all, it's hard to figure out what he's trying to propose because he's changed the overall structure several times, as you well know. I don't actually know how that stuff works, it's not clear, and the Assembly bill, which you can look at, is not precise on a lot of these things.' This apparent confusion did not stop Corzine from running the ads, though. It sure looks as though he's simply trying to scare people about Forrester's plan..."
- Herb Jackson, Capital Games, The Record of Hackensack, October 17, 2005

"Long on political rhetoric, but it has a short shelf life designed only for the campaign. He obviously hoped to gain political ground, but all he did was add to the Republican credibility gap."
- Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman,
chairwoman of the Democratic State Committee,
Trenton Times, April 19, 2005

"The amount of property tax relief proposed by Mr. Corzine is far more modest than the plans laid out by Mr. Forrester, who has promised to slash homeowners' property tax bills by 30 percent over three years, or Mr. Schundler, who is calling for constitutionally mandated spending cuts that he asserts would lead to sustained reductions. Mr. Corzine said both promises were unrealistically generous and were unlikely to be adopted because they called for constitutional amendments that would face a slim chance of being enacted. 'What I'm going to do is what's responsible,' he said."
- The New York Times, May 28, 2005

"Rebates work if you make a strong commitment to them."
- Jon Corzine, Asbury Park Press, June 2, 2005

"The property tax rebates are not a political convenience. They are not a gimmick. They are not a gift. They are a fiscal necessity and, frankly, a lifeline for so many senior citizens, so many first-time home buyers who are trying to afford their homes and pay the taxes, and so many struggling middle-class New Jerseyans."
- Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts, The Press of Atlantic City, June 10, 2005

"How can you say to New Jerseyans that with property taxes going up as quickly as they are, we're willing to give you less property tax relief than we did last year?"
- Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts, The Star-Ledger, June 26, 2005

"The Assembly Democrats, the Assembly majority, recognizes these property tax rebates are a lifeline for them."
- Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts, The Trenton Times, July 4, 2005

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Oct. 31, 2006

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - Congressman Jim Saxton was endorsed today by the largest paper along the Jersey Shore, the Asbury Park Press, which called him a “champion of the environment,� praised Jim’s success at starting the long-awaited LBI beach repair project and hailed his efforts to expand open space in wildlife areas in the Barnegat Bay Watershed..

“In his 10 terms representing the 3rd Congressional District, Republican Rep. H. James Saxton has been a champion of the environment,� the paper wrote. “That is reason enough for voters to return him to Congress. But Saxton also has a strong record on military affairs and senior citizen issues. He is the clear choice over his Democratic challenger, lawyer Richard Sexton of Moorestown.

The paper also praised Jim’s role protect the district's three military bases and the 17,000 jobs they bring to the region, and called him “a leader� regarding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its relicensing procedure at Oyster Creek in Lacey Township.

The Burlington County Times and the Press of Atlantic City have both endorsed Saxton, a former N.J. State Assemblyman and State Senator, citing his accomplishments in the U.S. Congress.

Oct. 31, 2006

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - Congressman Jim Saxton was endorsed today by the largest paper along the Jersey Shore, the Asbury Park Press, which called him a “champion of the environment,� praised Jim’s success at starting the long-awaited LBI beach repair project and hailed his efforts to expand open space in wildlife areas in the Barnegat Bay Watershed..

“In his 10 terms representing the 3rd Congressional District, Republican Rep. H. James Saxton has been a champion of the environment,� the paper wrote. “That is reason enough for voters to return him to Congress. But Saxton also has a strong record on military affairs and senior citizen issues. He is the clear choice over his Democratic challenger, lawyer Richard Sexton of Moorestown.

The paper also praised Jim’s role protect the district's three military bases and the 17,000 jobs they bring to the region, and called him “a leader� regarding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its relicensing procedure at Oyster Creek in Lacey Township.

The Burlington County Times and the Press of Atlantic City have both endorsed Saxton, a former N.J. State Assemblyman and State Senator, citing his accomplishments in the U.S. Congress.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...

Wrong formula for relief

Editorial Excerpt, Asbury Park Press, October 28, 2006

Unfortunately, the state panel on school funding charged with finding ways to help lower property taxes apparently wants to raise them. After this week's meeting, legislators hinted more state aid for education, not less, may be necessary. The money would likely come from higher taxes or from selling off state assets. What are they thinking?

The panel chairman, Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-Burlington, said there's no politically feasible way to substantially cut aid to the Abbotts. How about forgetting politics for once? Do whatever is necessary to provide meaningful tax relief. If spending more money is the best solution lawmakers can come up with, Gov. Corzine should send them back to the drawing board.

Legislators must deliver promised tax relief

Editorial Excerpt, Courier-Post, October 28, 2006

(We) are concerned that (Gov.) Corzine has recently downplayed the ability of lawmakers to offer significant tax relief. He said in a recent radio interview that it would be difficult to cut property tax rates in half. Yet, most of our readers and residents in a poll conducted last week said they want a significant cut...A growing number of residents just cannot bear this kind of weight. There are now more people moving out of New Jersey than are moving into the state..... There are now more people moving out of New Jersey than are moving into the state. That migration could turn into a flood if lawmakers don't get the tax situation under control. It's not only the property tax either. The U.S. Census showed New Jersey ranked 10th last year in the amount of all taxes collected per person...(What) people expect from legislators (is) a government that needs less of their money.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...

End the charade on ethics panel

Editorial, Asbury Park Press, October 25, 2006

The unseemly behavior exhibited at Monday's legislative ethics panel meeting offered further evidence that such panels should consist of only public members. This particular panel should be disbanded and folded into the State Ethics Commission, as recommended nearly a year ago in an ethics reform study commissioned by then-acting Gov. Richard J. Codey.

The meeting was dominated by legislators who spent most of their time bickering along partisan lines, accomplishing next to nothing. It was the panel's first such meeting in 17 months. With the ethical lapses that seem to surface daily in Trenton, that alone is unconscionable.

PETERS CHARGES NO REPORTS FILED FOR BOVA-SCARANO ‘02 CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT
- GOP Surrogate Candidate Says Dem Opponent Violated Campaign Finance Law, Failed to File ELEC Reports for Losing ’02 Campaign –

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora: 'Hatchet Man' or 'Butter Fingers' ?

Red herring on contract

Asbury Park Press Editorial
October 11, 2006

An Assemblyman's request for a criminal investigation into the lobbying activities of Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, on a state contract awarded to the high bidder to operate the state lottery got one thing right: The matter should be investigated.

But not Beck's involvement. She wasn't an elected state official at the time GTech was awarded the five-year contract for $106.7 million - more than $30 million higher than a competitor - last autumn. Beck said she didn't lobby on that contract before she left the agency that represented GTech, the MWW Group, in 2004. She was elected to the Assembly in November and began her term in January.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, asked for a criminal investigation of Beck's role in the GTech matter in a Sept. 29 letter to the state Division of Criminal Justice. The request is a stretch, to say the least. It looks like an attempt by state Democrats to divert attention from the Republicans' call for a special session on ethics - something that is badly needed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...
Senator Ellen Karcher and Assemblyman Michael Panter:
Fearlessly Tackling the Big Issues Facing Monmouth County Taxpayers

Don't force-feed baloney

Asbury Park Press Editorial
October 9, 2006

Two recent initiatives from Monmouth County's state legislators make us wonder if they're trying to set themselves up for late-night talk show hosts' jokes.

First, Assemblyman Michael Panter, D-Monmouth, wants to ban the sale of foie gras - a pate-type spread of fattened fowl liver that is considered a delicacy. Panter, a vegetarian, says force-feeding of the birds to fatten their liver is inhumane. Food distributors say ducks and geese force-feed themselves already to prepare for migration; they didn't invent the practice. We have to agree. Ever walk across a field after a flock of Canada geese stopped by for a meal? Talk about foul.

Next, Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth, wants to ban trans fats in restaurants. She says restaurants should replace the partially hydrogenated oil commonly used in cooking with healthier alternatives such as vegetable oils, to help battle obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

When voters sent Karcher to Trenton to help trim the fat, that wasn't the kind of fat they had in mind.

New Jersey has more pressing problems. Panter and Karcher should be focusing on the reasons people are migrating south, and not just for the winter. It's not because of force-fed geese. It's not because trans fats are used in restaurants. It's because there is too much pork in the state budget that they can no longer afford.