Passaic

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

DeCroce Says Economist's Analysis Underscores Need
To Continue Working on Permanent, Meaningful Property Tax Reform

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says a troubling analysis by respected Rutgers University Economist James Hughes that concludes the increase in taxes for the average New Jersey taxpayer will more than offset any property tax relief he gets this year demonstrates once again the need for the Legislature to continue working on property tax reform.

WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2007 CONTACT: (973) 581-1027

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT . . .

“Webber Faces Different Political Landscape Now,� Fred Snowflack, The Daily Record, January 31, 2007

Jay Webber was totally unknown four years ago when he scared the political pants off of state Sen. Robert Martin, R-Morris Plains, in the 2003 Republican primary.

Webber shot at Martin from all angles, or rather from all right angles. Webber, who has degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Law School on his resume, was so poised and articulate on the campaign trail that expectations for him rose quickly. After six weeks of campaigning, some in the party thought he had a real shot of winning.

In the end, Martin, who kept the party establishment on his side, won rather easily. Webber could take solace in the fact people were so impressed by him that some were surprised and disappointed when he lost. That was a pretty good transformation for someone who had started as an unknown.

This time around, the landscape is different. Webber formally kicked off his campaign for the state Assembly in the 26th District a few days ago. His opponent is Larry Casha of Kinnelon. Martin is not running again, and Assemblyman Joseph Pennacchio, R-Montville, is running for his Senate seat. That creates the Assembly vacancy. Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, R-Parsippany, is also in the race, but most assume he'll win easily, leaving Casha and Webber to fight for the district’s other seat.

Casha has been active in the party longer than Webber. But Webber also has some prominent people on his side, namely Frank Druetzler, the recently retired freeholder and mayor of Morris Plains. Druetzler, a moderate, seems worlds apart from the conservative Webber. He also has been close friends with Martin. But there was Druetzler the other night, introducing Webber to about 50 supporters gathered at the Morris Plains home of Sal and Lisa Cortese. Both Webber and Druetzler are, at least, Met fans.

Webber is a sincerely religious man, and his campaign kickoff began with an invocation, which is something you don’t see every day.

Asked beforehand, how he would separate himself from Casha, Webber said, “If I can articulate principles and a vision for New Jersey, I'll be satisfied. Then, it’s up to the voters.�

Later, when addressing the crowd, Webber attacked the Democrats.

He complained about scandals at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the School Construction Corp., the Highlands Act and the Democrats’ “extreme social agenda.�

For good measure, Webber, a lawyer who once clerked for then-state Supreme Court Justice Peter Vern[ie]ro, said we need a legal system that reflects the will of the people rather than the “whim of a judge.� It’s always a bit disingenuous when lawyers, who should – and probably do – know better attack judges for doing their job. But that’s politics for you.

A more relevant point is that Webber’s condemnation of the big, bad Democrats in Trenton convinced nobody in the room. That’s because they didn’t need to be convinced. Webber was speaking to Republicans. As the campaign unfolds, Webber should tell voters why he would be better than Casha, or for that matter, DeCroce. We know he doesn’t like the Democrats. The same goes for Casha.

The crowd last week included a handful of Republicans from Passaic County. It’s easy to forget that the 26th district includes three towns in Passaic: Bloomingdale, Pompton Lakes and West Milford.

Frank Hannan, the vice chairman of the West Milford Republican party, said he likes Webber’s devotion to principle and that, Webber will have the line in Passaic, “If I have anything to do with it.�

While we don’t know what Hannan’s pull is, we do know that having the line, which is an endorsement by the county Republican organization and a favorable ballot position, is significant. Whoever gets it probably could count on about 60 to 70 percent of the vote in the three Passaic County towns. That would mean something in what probably will be a tight election. Morris, of course, does not have a line.�
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DeCROCE: PROPOSED NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE SALE IS A RISKY SCHEME THAT MUST BE FULLY ANALYZED

MANY QUESTIONS SURROUND PROPOSAL AND, ONCE AGAIN, THE STATE CANNOT AFFORD TO RUSH INTO THIS PLAN

DeCROCE: DEMOCRATS MISS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO ENACT MEANINGFUL PROPERTY TAX REFORMS

REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS DEFEATED AS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF EFFORT FALLS SHORT OF GOALS

PENNACCHIO AGAIN CALLS PASSAGE OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENEDUM BILL

CALLS TRENTON DEMOCRATS' ELECTION YEAR REBATE PROGRAM A FAILURE

21 ASSEMBLY GOP LAWMAKERS SIGN ON AS
CO-SPONSORS OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM LEGISLATION
MERKT AND PENNACCHIO PRIME SPONSORS OF ACR-226

Calling the handling of the state's finances a dismal Democrat failure, Assemblymen Richard Merkt and Joe Pennacchio today announced that 21 of their fellow Assembly Republican legislators have signed on as co-sponsors of Initiative and Referendum (I and R) legislation the two lawmakers recently introduced.

DeCROCE SENDS LETTER TO ASSEMBLY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES URGING THEM TO SUPPORT REFORMS

ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS WILL PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO REFORM BILLS AT MONDAY'S VOTING SESSION

DeCROCE: DEMOCRATS HAVE TURNED OPPORTUNITY
FOR TAX REFORM INTO A TAX FRAUD

Accuses Governor and Democrat Legislative Leaders of
Hoodwinking Middle Class Taxpayers

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today accused Gov. Jon Corzine and Democrat legislative leaders of trying to dupe taxpayers by introducing legislation to implement a 20 percent property tax cut that would actually provide most middle class families less tax relief than they received under Republican - and Democrat - rebate programs in the past.

"This isn't tax reform," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "It's tax fraud. It will rob middle class families of relief they deserve - and actually received in the past.

"How can Democrats look taxpayers in the eye and pretend this hoax will actually help them survive New Jersey's oppressive tax burden? Their plan is bogus. It's not a step forward. It's really a step backward for taxpayers."

Assemblyman Pennacchio to Governor: Ask for Republican Help

Morris Plains, NJ -- Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris, Passaic) called on Governor Corzine to reach across the aisle to build a consensus for property tax reform, pay-to-play reform and a myriad of issues forcing New Jersey citizens to leave the Garden State. Pennacchio challenged both the Governor and Democrat Legislative leaders to "join with Republicans to help fix our State's problems." Pennacchio listed five areas where both the Governor and Democrat leaders have called for action, yet neither side can agree among themselves. Pennacchio's suggestions are as follows:

1. Establish an elected, independent strong State Comptroller.
2. Complete ban on "Pay-to-Play" at all levels of government.
3. End the duel office holding.
4. Eliminate last minute legislative pork.
5. Fair and comprehensive school funding formula.

"One of the untold stories in Trenton is that neither the Governor nor Democrat leadership in both houses are working with fellow Republicans to help improve the lives of the citizens of New Jersey," said Pennacchio. "It is obvious that the political power struggle among Democrats means more to them than any meaningful reform."

The Assemblyman contends that Republicans in the Senate and Assembly can provide enough votes if asked to affect change. Pennacchio concluded, "Republican votes, coupled with Democrat votes could enact substantive legislation and even overcome procedural moves to ‘kill change.'"

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DeCROCE, O'TOOLE OPPOSE BILL IMPOSING A WATER TAX ON RESIDENTS IN THEIR DISTRICTS

BILL WOULD IMPOSE TAX ON CERTAIN TOWNS TO SUBSIDIZE THREE PASSAIC VALLEY WATER COMMISSION OWNER TOWNS

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole today urged their colleagues to oppose a bill in the Assembly State Government Committee that would impose a new water tax on towns served by the Passaic Valley Water Commission and then distribute that revenue to three specific towns.