Dick Codey

**PREVIEW**

SENATE ANTI-CORRUPTION BILLS TO RECEIVE FINAL CONSIDERATION ON MONDAY

TRENTON - Senate measures intended to crack down on corrupt politicians and introduce increased transparency in State government are scheduled for consideration by the Assembly on Monday and, if approved, would be sent to the Governor to be signed into law.

Caliguire apologizes, Corzine's pal might buy casino, Healy will head HCDO, McGreevey and Codey signed off on EnCap loan despite warnings, Levin is officially a double-dipper, shoplifting charges dismissed against Coogan, Booker faces opposition from city council, NJ polling places not very handicap accessible, bill will test pregnant women for HIV

MERKT: "WHAT DID SENATE PRESIDENT CODEY KNOW,
AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?"

SOMEBODY HAD TO KNOW ABOUT SLUSH FUND GRANTS

Reacting to Senate President Dick Codey's highly publicized call for reforming last-minute special appropriations added to the state budget, Assemblyman Richard A. Merkt (R. - Morris) today commented that Codey's proposals would have more credibility, were it not for the current doubts swirling around how state grants got made to recipients who employ senators or their spouses or who are clients of senators.

"I find it difficult to believe that no one in the Senate knew anything about these slush fund grants," declared Merkt, adding, "The whole story is just plain 'Alice in Wonderland.'"

Merkt noted that Senators Bryant, Turner, Scutari, Kenny, and Conigilio all have links to grant recipients, yet most claim to have played no role in the grants.

"Here we have a group of senators who work for or have other connections with grant recipients, but most supposedly made no request for the grants," said Merkt, asking, "If they did not steer state grant money to such employers or clients, then who did?"

Merkt stated that Senate President Codey owes the public an explanation about how the slush fund grant process works, particularly where senators have financial connections to recipients.

"It certainly seems curious to me that tens of millions of taxpayer dollars somehow get handed out in state grants to politically connected beneficiaries," observed Merkt, "and no one in the Senate -- from the senators themselves to Senate President Codey himself -- has any idea how it happened. It's just unreal!"

To get to the bottom of the story, Merkt suggested that all state documents relating to how grants get awarded be made public immediately, so the people can see exactly how their tax dollars get doled out from budget slush funds.

"The days of secret deals that, directly or indirectly, benefit legislators should be over in New Jersey," asserted Merkt. "It's time to shine a very public light on exactly how these grants get made, especially when legislators have a financial interest in what happens."

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CODEY MUST ACT ON BRYANT
What Happened to the Candid, Honest Man of the People??

Trenton, NJ - New Jersey Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson issued the following statement today:

GOVERNOR CORZINE’S REMARKS TO JOINT LEGISLATIVE SPECIAL SESSION ON JULY 4, 2006
AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
Good morning, President Codey, Speaker Roberts, Minority Leaders Lance and DeCroce, my esteemed colleagues.

GOP Says People Won't Buy "Tax Hike for Tax Relief" Snake Oil
Sales Tax Hike for Property Tax Relief Is Insane and Immoral

DeCROCE CALLS SUMMER SESSION A START

A long overdue agreement between the top Democrats who control the Legislature to begin an examination of ways to provide property tax reform this summer is an encouraging sign, but Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says the Legislature should act to help people now.

"With each passing day, New Jersey is becoming more unaffordable for many middle class families," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "Thousands have already given up on New Jersey and moved elsewhere. Thousands more can't hold out until 2008 or 2009 for real reform that is constitutionally guaranteed. They need our help today.

"I told Speaker Joe Roberts that I support the plan he and Senate President Dick Codey outlined today, given the alternative, which is continued inaction. I commend both leaders for finally agreeing on a course of action. But we shouldn't give up so easily on trying to deliver meaningful relief now."

Ginty Blasts Codey and NJ State Senate
On Embryonic Stem Cell and Human Cloning Bill

By Steve Adubato, Ph.D.

Obviously, Governor Jon Corzine didn't make any friends this past week when he delivered his "no magic bullet" budget address. What the governor DID do in his 31-minute sobering speech is talk like a strong leader who understands the severity of our fiscal situation and who talked to the rest of us like the adults we are supposed to be.

Don't kid yourself and don’t listen to those who say that Governor Corzine is exaggerating the budget deficit. It doesn’t matter whether we are $4, $5 or $6 billion in the hole. When you have a $30 billion budget and the hole is that big, you’ve got a serious problem. Add to this the fact that the vast majority of the state budget is really untouchable and things get really dicey. What's untouchable? Mandated costs, contracts that have been agreed to for employees, commitments that have been made and interest payments on the obscene borrowing that previous governors and legislators have engaged in over the past three decades.

Drastic times call for drastic measures. That's why Governor Corzine proposed raising the sales tax from six to seven percent. He also called for increasing taxes on hospitals, alcohol, luxury cars and cigarettes. But that's not all. Corzine said we need to freeze state aid to local governments. That means that as municipal and school costs go up, somebody has got to pay the bill. That's likely to mean higher property taxes in our state that is already known for our property tax mania.

Corzine also proposed massive spending cuts in state aid to higher education. The governor has told his department heads that they have no choice but to cut back. This includes the elimination of 1,000 state jobs and 75 individual programs. The largest spending cut was $193 million in what has come to be known as "Christmas tree" items, which is a euphemism for projects and programs individual legislators want for their home districts. (Otherwise known as "pork.")

Are you starting to get the idea now that our new governor is dead serious about getting our fiscal house in order? No wonder during his budget speech that he was interrupted only three times by applause. That’s rare in the Statehouse, which is known for gratuitous clapping on either one or both sides of the political aisle in response to gubernatorial speeches that often tell us what we WANT to hear as opposed to what we NEED to hear.

Just on the sales tax increase alone, the legislative response from the Republicans was clear, as Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex) who serves on the budget committee bluntly stated, "If you ask me, it's political suicide." But the Democrats are also perplexed as to how to deal with their governor's tough talk on state finances. According to Senate President Dick Codey who also served as our last governor, "I think everything is on the table in terms of negotiations and compromise."

In theory, that may be true, but the stark reality is that there is a new sheriff in town and business as usual when it comes to the free spending ways of Trenton are over. Jon Corzine has taken a huge political risk and he should be commended for it. He could have easily played games with the numbers and artificially reduced the budget deficit by directing the state's accountants and fiscal experts to produce a more desirable set of numbers. He could have fudged, but he didn't. He played it straight. Expect his popularity and poll numbers to drop in the short run, but that's okay, because he has four years, at least, to help right this ship.

It's funny. Everyone, including many voters, will say that government is too big and cuts need to be made. Some of his detractors actually accused Corzine of being a "big spending liberal" when he was in the Senate. He may have been then, but as governor, he has taken a very different approach. The hypocrisy of those who rail against Corzine now is amazing. The governor did exactly what so-called "fiscal conservatives" said he should do. He cut state programs. He cut the amount of money the state spends on higher education. He cut those "Christmas tree" items. He cut the size of the rebate checks he had promised to send when he was a candidate. He froze state aid to local governments. He got rid of all kinds of programs as well as 1,000 state government jobs. And what happens? He gets criticized by some for cutting the size of state government aid because they are on the other end of the gravy train.

And get this; others argue that there should have been even greater cuts before Governor Corzine proposes any new or increased taxes. But when pressed, none of these grandstanders and bomb throwers will identify a single program or state government service to be cut. What Corzine has done is responsible and sound. He has combined government cuts with modest tax increases. Popular? Of course not. But we didn't elect Santa Claus to bring us gifts and good cheer. We elected a governor who will lead in difficult times and get us out of this massive fiscal mess. I may not have liked hearing what Jon Corzine had to say, but there is no doubt that it needed to be said. But then again, I could be wrong. What do you think about the governor’s fiscal plan? Write to me at sadubato@aol.com

By Steve Adubato, Ph.D.

Consider these staggering numbers. Nearly 1.2 million New Jerseyans smoke. Almost 20,000 New Jersey teenagers become smokers every day. Each year in our state, 11,000 die from tobacco-related causes. And as for the argument that smokers are only wreaking havoc on their own bodies, consider this: $2.5 billion is spent on direct medical expenses related to smoking, which doesn't even include the impact of secondhand smoke.

Further, employers are getting killed by their workers' smoking. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, tobacco costs New Jersey employers and workers $2.2 billion annually in lost worker productivity. All these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg at how devastating and disgusting smoking is to smokers and those around them.

So for those of us who have been railing against smoking and trying to warn of its dangers, New Jersey's new law banning smoking in all public places (except cigar clubs and casinos) can't be signed soon enough. Governor Dick Codey will sign the bill next week and the law will take effect in April. This is a tremendous victory but it has taken far too long. For too many years workers and customers in restaurants, bars and other establishments have been subjected to secondhand smoke and dangerous carcinogens all because those who are nicotine-addicted believe they have some sort of convoluted “right� to blow smoke in other people's faces.

Predictably, smoker’s rights groups are up in arms, livid that the smoking ban in public places is soon to take effect. They say things like, "Smoking and drinking go together," or "My neighborhood bar is like my second home. I should be able to do what I want there." They also accuse the government of being too "intrusive" and trampling their rights as citizens to do as they please. These arguments are absurd. The neighborhood bar is not your home. Relax, smokers, you will still have the right to smoke in your own home, even if it effects the health of other family members, including your own children.

As for smoking and drinking going together, think about that. Drinking and fighting sometimes go together as well, but we also have laws against punching someone in the face in a bar. It's called assault. Sometimes it is even called attempted murder and the fact that you are in a bar drinking doesn't make it okay, does it?

And about the government being too "intrusive,"and trampling your rights, that’s a funny one. Local health departments don't let you spit on the floor or table in a restaurant, because it’s not only disgusting but it could potentially impact those around you. It's why you don't have the right to yell "fire" in a crowded theater, because it puts other people at risk. Any way some smokers try to spin it, you simply don't have the right to put other people and their health at risk, just because you want to do it to yourself.

So finally, the legislature and our outgoing Governor Dick Codey have stepped up to put an end to all this insanity. New York City did it several years ago when many said it couldn't or shouldn't be done. So as is sometimes the case, we in New Jersey do something positive in the shadow of New York, but it’s better late than never. I do have some empathy for businesses who argue they may be hurt by the smoking ban, but the fact is, any business whose economic model is based on the ability of patrons to put the health of other patrons at risk is seriously flawed.

Smoking in restaurants and bars never should have been allowed in the first place, but the tobacco, liquor and restaurant lobbies were simply too strong for too long and had a strangle hold on legislators who were afraid to stand up and do the right thing. There may be some short-term economic impact to certain bars and restaurants, but the "ventilations" systems that were set up to protect non-smoking customers were never adequate. The idea of "separating" smokers from non-smokers in restaurants was laughable at best. It’s as if we expected all this nasty smoke to make a u-turn or evaporate just as it was getting to patrons whose lungs were clear and wanted them to stay that way.

Simply put, smokers have been allowed to do what they should have never been allowed to do for way too long in the first place. It was wrong then, and as we've learned more about the dangers of secondhand smoke, it’s even more wrong now. For me and millions of other non-smokers who just want to go to a restaurant with our families and enjoy a meal without smoke in our faces and smelly clothes when we get home, April can't come soon enough. Let the smoking ban begin and let us finally start clearing the air in the "Garden State."