Mike Halfacre

A week to the day after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a health care reform bill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi tomorrow afternoon will join U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell Twp.) for a tour of the University Medical Center in Princeton.

OUT OF TOUCH HOLT CONTINUES TO DEFEND ACORNHalfacre:”172 Democratic Congressman voted for something that was unconstitutional??” 

Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre today took Representative Rush Holt to task for his continued support of controversial community-action group ACORN, calling the Congressman’s comments at a townhall meeting in West Windsor Thursday night part of a continued pattern of siding with the extreme left wing of his party and against the wishes of his constituents.

WEST WINDSOR - At a town hall meeting tonight in front of a crowd of supporters, detractors and agitators, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell Twp.) defended his decision to vote in favor of healthcare reform legislation that Saturday passed in the House by a margin of 220-215. 

"The healthcare bill that passed requires standards of private employers, improves Medicare, and adds assistance healthcare coverage for almost all Americans," Holt, one of seven Democratic congressmen from New Jersey to vote in favor of the legislation, standing onstage in the Grover Middle School.

All five Republican congressmen from New Jersey voted against the bill, along with U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), the lone Democrat to cut from his party on the controversial bill.

"I'm very committed to a public option - a publicly administered government operated insurance policy - in addition to preserving an array of policies that currently exist," said Holt, who next year faces a challenge from GOP Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre, who opposes a public option.

A general election candidate in the 12th Congressional district last year, Alan Bateman, a former deputy mayor of Holmdel, notified voters this week that he intends to pursue a 4th Congressional District 2010 primary challenge of U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), whom Bateman believes has strayed from core GOP principles.

"I am running for U.S. Congress against current incumbent Chris Smith," writes Bateman in a request for financial support printed on "Bateman for Congress" letterhead.

"Chris Smith has been in Washington for 30 long years - that's right - 30 years! He is a Washington insider who is out of touch with the people," adds Bateman, a fierce ally of former gubernatorial candidate and movement conservative leader Steve Lonegan of Bogota. 

"...Chris Smith was one of eight Republicans who voted for cap and trade," says the self-described conservative. "His vote confirmed what most of us have known all along... Chris Smith is way too liberal for this district, drawn to be a safe Republican seat."

Alan Bateman

As part of the cap and trade vote fallout, last year's 12th Congressional District general election challenger could be next year's 4th District GOP primary challenger.

Holmdel businessman Alan Bateman is now mulling a 2010 run against veteran U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), he told PolitickerNJ.com.

"He's done great work on the pro-life issue, but being pro-life doesn't make you a conservative," said Bateman, an ally of movement conservative Steve Lonegan who in last year's general election lost by double digits to U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell Twp.).

Bateman's biggest beef is cap and trade, which Smith supported with an "aye" vote earlier this summer.

"Let's let the free market do its job," said the prospective challenger, the former deputy mayor of Holmdel whose home has been on the market for six months, who says he wants to move into the 4th Congressional District.

Alan Bateman for Congress

Holmdel Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman

It looks like a GOP primary in the 12th Congressional District. 

Republican Alan Bateman of Holmdel, who ran for Congress in the 12th last year and lost, said Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre's decision to pursue the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell) alters nothing.

"I did plan on running and I filed my papers a couple of months ago," said Bateman, a former deputy mayor in Holmdel and hospital administration consultant who lost to Holt last year, 62% to 36%.  

"This doesn't change my plans, not at all," added Bateman of Halfacre's announcement, scheduled tomorrow, that he intends to run.

Bateman said today's news about Halfacre created a surge of telephone calls from supporters, who told the Holmdel resident that he can count on them.