Larry Casha

LARRY CASHA FOR ASSEMBLY
WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Gregory Andres
January 24, 2007 973-263-1114

“He’s Got That Sinking Feeling�
As Corzine’s job approval rating drops, so do the voter’s approval ratings
of his handling of the state’s property tax crisis

(MONTVILLE, NJ) – With the results of today’s Quinnipiac poll showing Governor Corzine’s job approval rating slipping to a split 42% approval/disapproval and the state’s voters clearly disapproving of his handling of the property tax crisis by an upside down 30% to 51% residents of the Garden State are left to wonder what, if any, relief will come their way this year. The Quinnipiac release goes on to state that a staggering 67% of New Jersey voters believe that meaningful property tax cuts are “not too likely� or “not likely at all�.

“The sad truth about the result of today’s Quinnipiac poll numbers is that Governor Corzine has proved to be just another forgetful member of New Jersey’s Democrat Party,� said 26th District Assembly Candidate Larry Casha. “He seems to have forgotten his “40 in 4� property tax relief plan promised during his 2005 campaign. He seems to have forgotten his promise to bring sweeping reforms to Trenton. In fact, the only thing the Governor seems to have remembered is that he is no longer a United States Senator and that; perhaps he should remain in our state and work to solve our problems, before traipsing around the globe on one fact-finding mission after another.�

“Well Guv, you wanted the job and you got the job, how about doing the job? The residents of the 26th District, and those in the rest of New Jersey, are not only tired of waiting for property tax reform, but they are at a point where they literally cannot wait any longer. How many senior citizens must leave New Jersey for you to truly take on this crisis? How many businesses need to relocate elsewhere before you stand up to the ‘Hudson County Nine’? (Note: Guv, lest you have forgotten, they are actually in your party!)

“Governor, your ship is sinking … and sinking fast. Even the rats from Hudson have left for dry land. It’s time for you to be the Chief Executive you promised you would be. New Jersey needs an independent auditor to take an honest look at our state’s finances. Corrupt state employees, elected or otherwise, should have mandatory jail time and be denied their pensions. And, Guv, for goodness sake, put an end to dual officeholding.�
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Paid for by Casha for Assembly, Richard Clawson, Treasurer

LARRY CASHA FOR ASSEMBLY
WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Larry Casha
January 17, 2007 973-263-1114

“If Not Now, Then When?�
Senate Democrats remove “Dual Officeholding� Ban
from Property Tax Reform Package

(MONTVILLE, NJ) – As reported in an article in today’s Courier Post, a provision to ban dual officeholding was removed from the State Senate’s property tax reform package as it awaits a final vote.

26th District Assembly Candidate Larry Casha responded with the following statement:

“Dual officeholding benefits no one except the dual officeholder himself. However, as the taxpayers of our great state continue to suffer under ever-increasing property tax bills, Senate Democrats found it prudent to remove a provision that would have put an end to the abhorrent practice.

“Senate President Codey and Assembly Speaker Roberts both said ‘they expect to bar dual officeholding in the future’. But, if not now, then when? Can we really afford to wait any longer?

“Enough is enough! Elected officials should be allowed only one paid salary and be eligible for only one pension, and not at the same time. If the State Legislature is ever going to truly offer the citizens of New Jersey a workable plan to reduce property taxes, it needs to begin by taking a long, hard look at its own wasteful practices. Is it any wonder that it is illegal for federal officeholders to hold a second office or that 38 states ban the practice?

“As an Assemblyman, I will work tirelessly to bring an end to this tired tradition of legalized “double-dipping� and fight to bring a new level of accountability to the State House.�

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Paid for by Casha for Assembly, Richard Clawson, Treasurer

LARRY CASHA FOR ASSEMBLY
WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Larry Casha
January 16, 2007 973-263-1114

“It’s All Above Board�
Corzine hires lobbyist to write State of the State speech

Montville – 26th District Assembly candidate Larry Casha issued the following statement concerning the recent revelation that Governor Corzine uses a Torricelli-connected lobbyist to write some of his speeches:

“Corzine appears no different than any of the other Democrats who have gone down to Trenton proclaiming that they would change the culture of our Capitol City.

“Governor Corzine has used the services of Eric Shuffler, a former advisor to Bob Torricelli and Jim McGreevey, to write some of his most important speeches since last year. His services don’t come cheap. The Democrats paid Shuffler $10,000 for a speech written last summer.

“Shuffler isn’t an unemployed speechwriter; he’s a politically-connected lobbyist whose client list includes Geico Insurance, the company that wanted to put large banner advertisements on the historic George Washington Bridge.

“Corzine’s latest speech, the State of the State, was also written by Shuffler. The Governor’s spokesman said that he doesn’t see any problem with a lobbyist writing a Constitutionally-mandated speech given by the Governor. He said that it was ‘all above board’ and that Shuffler is a valued policy expert. Well, with all of the money the taxpayers are shelling out to staff Corzine’s administration, I find it hard to believe that the professionals in any one of his cabinet offices wouldn’t have been able to assist in writing his State of the State speech.�

“It’s disappointing to me and the residents of the 26th District, that the Governor is focused solely on insider politics before sound policy.�

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Paid for by Casha for Assembly, Richard Clawson, Treasurer

LARRY CASHA FOR ASSEMBLY
WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Larry Casha
January 10, 2007 973-263-1114

Same old story, same sad tale
Corzine, Legislature must keep their promises and honestly seek TRUE reforms

Montville – 26th District Assembly candidate Larry Casha issued the following statement in response to Governor Corzine’s State of the State Address:

“Governor Corzine’s State of the State speech painted broad brushstrokes about some of what he sees as the “successes� of his administration: civil unions, stem cell funding, needle exchange and tax increases. Unfortunately, the voters of New Jersey don’t see it the same way.

“We need comprehensive tax, pension, benefit and school reforms. When I am elected, I will introduce legislation that will provide for a truly independent, outside state auditor who will not take marching orders from the Governor, but will work to uncover duplication and inefficiencies with the goal of consolidating and eliminating departments, agencies and programs in order to clean up our fiscal house.

“You can’t cut taxes if you don’t cut spending. Anything less is just a shell game being played on the taxpayer.

“After the speech, the Governor’s chief of staff highlighted the fact that they are working to structurally change how property taxes are levied. He said that it’s more important to fix the root problem of property taxes and not just put a “band-aid� on the issue. I wonder why they didn’t look for this structural change when they raised the sales tax just last year or cap state budget increases to four percent as is being proposed for municipalities or cull pension reform from the legislatures proposals?

“The Governor also danced around the issue of pension and benefit reform. One of several reforms I will introduce will eliminate dual spousal health benefits. For example, if a police officer and teacher are married, why do municipalities need to pay full family health insurance premiums for both? Another reform deals with double dipping pensions and salaries. Currently, there are certain government employees that can apply for pension benefits without retiring and collect both the pension and a salary. These types of practices have got to stop!

“I have been talking about the need for spending, pension and benefit reform for months. Let’s hope that the Governor and the Legislature realize that enough is enough and we need to work towards wholesale reforms that will ease the burden on the voters of New Jersey.�

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WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2006 CONTACT: (201) 602-4468

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT . . .

LARRY CASHA FOR ASSEMBLY
WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Larry Casha
December 18, 2006 973-263-1114

CIVIL UNIONS VOTE SETS TRADITION BACK YEARS
Supreme Court oversteps its bounds; Legislature caves

Kinnelon – 26th District Assembly candidate Larry Casha issued the following statement concerning the Legislature’s approval of civil unions:

“The State Legislature, under unprecedented pressure from the State Supreme Court, approved civil unions for same sex couples. This is wrong on many levels.

“First, marriage between a man and a woman is the foundation of our society. It is not something to be toyed with by those that want to make a crass political statement.

“Secondly, the Supreme Court should not be legislating or in the business of telling the Legislature – a co-equal branch of government – how to do its job. Many of us knew that the Democratic-led Legislature would bow to our activist Supreme Court, but this issue is so important to so many of our citizens, it should have been put to a referendum.

“Thirdly, giving “domestic partners� legal status during a time when our state is in financial crisis will cost government, on all levels, millions of dollars in additional benefits expenditures that we, the taxpayers, simple can’t bear.�

“The residents of the 26th District understand that the social fabric of our State and country is under assault daily. We must continue to press forward to protect our long-held traditions for the sake of our children and grandchildren.�

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LARRY CASHA FOR ASSEMBLY
WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Larry Casha
December 13, 2006 973-263-1114

Needle Exchange Wrong for New Jersey
Republicans and Democrats agree; passage will do more harm than good

Kinnelon – 26th District Assembly candidate Larry Casha issued the following statement concerning the recent vote to approve a pilot needle exchange program:

“Tuesday’s vote to approve a needle exchange program highlights how out of touch the state legislature has become. Supporters of the bill cite scientific studies that show blood transmitted diseases such as HIV can be prevented by the government acting as middle man for illicit drug users. Instead of more scientific studies, we need more common sense.

“Those people that are addicted to illegal drugs need counseling and treatment to escape from the clutches of drugs. They do not need their own government acting as an enabler. Senator Ron Rice from Newark and many other Legislators – both Republican and Democrat - spoke out and voted against this bill because they understand that it will do more harm than good.

“An equally surprising part of the legislation gives the user a “get out of jail free card,� in that someone who is in the exchange program cannot be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia for syringes in their possession even if that person had a heroine-laced needle in a school parking lot. How will law enforcement be able to do their jobs – keeping drugs off the street – if our legislature has allowed drug users to get fresh needles with taxpayer’s dollars?

“What’s next, the Department of Health providing the drugs for the users to make sure they are top quality? The absurdity of this legislation is clear: government should do more to help get people OFF of drugs, not give them the tools to continue into the abyss.�

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LARRY CASHA FOR ASSEMBLY
WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Larry Casha
December 11, 2006 973-263-1114

LEGISLATURE DROPS THE BALL…AGAIN
A chance for reform is dead on arrival

KINNELON – 26th District Assembly candidate Larry Casha released the following statement today condemning Democratic Legislative leader’s decision to strip key government reform proposals from property tax and pension reform bills:

“Once again the citizens of New Jersey have had the rug pulled out from under them. The Governor and Democratic leaders in the Assembly didn’t truly address spending on the state level and what little they did has succumbed to union pressure to strip eighty-nine of the ninety-eight proposals for property tax and pension reform.

“What was the point of having all of the legislative hearings, press conferences and meetings to try and solve our state’s fiscal crisis? If the Governor was more concerned about unions demonstrating in from of his office than helping our citizens with ever-rising property tax bills, he never should have agreed to this process.

“Now the Legislature will not be looking at real pension reform, a new school funding formula or the much ballyhooed twenty percent property tax credits for homeowners, which wasn’t sufficient in and of itself. New Jersey had a chance for reform, but the Legislature, particularly the Democratic leadership and the Governor, dropped the ball.

“Enough is enough. It’s time for real reforms and real leadership in Trenton.�

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Morris County Freeholder John Murphy has taken sides in the upcoming GOP primary for State Assembly in the 26th district: he will serve as Campaign Chairman for Kinnelon Council President Larry Casha, who is seeking the seat being vacated by State Senate candidate Joseph Pennacchio. That's a potentially risky move for Murphy, who sought the GOP nomination for Governor in 2005 and is expected to run again in 2009. If Casha loses the '07 primary to Jay Webber, Murphy could find himself with a problem from conservatives who view Webber as one of their rising stars, and with some serious holes in his Morris County Republican base. Of course, Murphy's base could collapse anyway if U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie decides to run against Governor Jon Corzine.

WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Larry Casha 973-263-1114
November 28, 2006

JOHN MURPHY TO SERVE AS CAMPAIGN CHAIR FOR LARRY CASHA

Kinnelon – 26th District Assembly candidate Larry Casha and Morris County Freeholder John Murphy issued the following joint statement announcing Murphy’s appointment as Campaign Chairman for Casha for Assembly:

Larry Casha:
“I am truly honored to have my friend John Murphy serve as Chairman of my campaign for State Assembly. John has served Morris County as a Freeholder for 9 years and has dedicated much of his adult life to making New Jersey a better place.

“Many people across the state met John when he ran for Governor in 2005. He spoke about lowering taxes, fighting for stronger ethics reforms and bringing a conservative vision of opportunity to state government. John and I will continue to talk about these and many other issues during the course of the campaign.

“We are focused on keeping the tenor of this campaign civil and debating the issues, not throwing mud. The voters of the 26th District deserve nothing less.�

John Murphy:
“I’ve known Larry Casha for many years and he has always worked hard for his community whether as an elected official or private citizen. He has worked with the local volunteer fire departments – which holds a special place in my heart – as well as with charitable and business groups and, as Council President, has actually voted to keep taxes and spending in check in Kinnelon Borough.

“Larry will take his experiences as a true public servant to Trenton and fight for us. A common theme I heard during my campaign for Governor is encapsulated in Larry’s campaign slogan: Enough is Enough! Voters across New Jersey and especially in the 26th District have had enough of the out-of-control spending, corruption and general fiscal mismanagement by politicians in Trenton. They want real leadership. Larry Casha is the leader we need.

“I look forward to working with Larry to conduct an issue-based campaign for the sake of our citizens.�
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