WISNIEWSKI: CHRISTIE PLAN FULL OF TAXES BUT NO TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION

Notes Plan Also Comes After Christie’s 25 Percent Transit Hike

(TRENTON) – Assembly Transportation Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) released the following statement Tuesday after Gov. Chris Christie’s budget address:

“First Gov. Christie seeks to tax New Jersey commuters through a 25 percent increase in NJ Transit fares along with service cuts.

“Now Gov. Christie is slashing property tax relief for working New Jerseyans with no solution in sight for our an aging yet vital transportation infrastructure that is crucial to our state's economy.

“This much is clear - commuters and working class New Jerseyans should hold onto their wallets and pocketbooks because Gov. Christie is coming.”

Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), the Democratic State Chairman

“Over and over when defending his policy positions, Governor Christie has said ‘this is what I was elected to do’.  I must have missed the election where people voted for a Governor to impose the single biggest property tax increase in state history. “

“Throughout the campaign he promised New Jersey voters he would restore more property tax rebates, and increase funding for everything from higher education to beach replenishment.”

“Today not only did he go back on those promises, but he told New Jersey’s already stressed middle class to drop dead”

“During every recent budget, no matter how difficult, a priority was placed on education, property tax relief and healthcare for New Jersey’s children.  This budget has one priority, and that is to shift this state’s tax burden from the top income bracket to the hard working middle class.”

Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains, the Republican State Chairman

“Today, Governor Christie outlined the bold steps necessary to tackle years of reckless spending and fiscal mismanagement in Trenton. Facing one of the highest budget deficits in the country, and New Jersey's worst in recent history, the Governor is implementing real reforms by reversing the irresponsible budget practices that have ruled the state capital for too long,” said Chairman Webber.

“The Governor is doing exactly what he promised he would do - cut spending and balance the budget without raising taxes.  That is good news for New Jersey, and a sure path to economic recovery in the very near future. ” added Webber.

Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), the Democratic State Chairman, says that Tea Party members seeking to recall U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez “are on a crusade to undermine the U.S. Constitution and to discredit human evolution.”

“Those are not the kinds of radical movements that typical, hard-working folks in New Jersey sign up to join, and that's why this group is looking to Glenn Beck for help,” said Wisniewski. “Attacking the constitutionality of the Constitution is a strange, hypocritical effort, which contradicts the system of elections that most Americans have taken pride in for more than 200 years.”

The most irresponsible rhetoric of the day – so far, since it’s just 11 AM – comes from Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski.  Wisniewski put out a press release blasting GOP congressional candidate Jon Runyan for locating his campaign in Woodbridge, outside the borders of the third district.  Democrats know that the address on Runyan’s Federal Election Commission filing is the office of his campaign treasurer, Ron Gravino.  This isn’t unusual – both parties do this on early filings, before a campaign headquarters opens up.

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS ON TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: CHRISTIE’S 25 PERCENT NJ TRANSIT FARE INCREASE A TAX ON WORKING PEOPLE

(TRENTON) – Assembly Democratic lawmakers on the Assembly transportation committee released the following statements Friday after Gov. Chris Christie – who promised no tax increases – proposed a 25 percent NJ Transit fare increase:

Assembly Transportation Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex):

“Gov. Christie’s fare increase is a tax on working commuters and will make our economy even less competitive and our roads even more congested. Gov. Christie promised New Jerseyans no tax increases, and this fare hike is nothing more than a tax increase by another name.”

Top Democrats this morning assailed Gov. Christopher Christie over the Philadelphia Inquirer’s report that he is considering cutting property tax rebates, a key campaign promise he made while running against former Gov. Jon Corzine, who had scaled back the program.

Democratic State Chairman/Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) called it part of  a “one-two property tax punch.”

“Obviously he is going back on most of his campaign promises, except for one thing.  He has been steadfast in his commitment to giving a huge tax cut to people making over $400,000 a year,” said Wisniewski

Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union) turned around Republicans’ criticism of Corzine for eliminating rebates for many New Jersseyans.

“It was Christie himself who called reducing property tax rebates ‘a declaration of war on the middle class,’” said Cryan. “It’s clear that Gov. Christie’s war against the middle-class is now marching forward.”

WISNIEWSKI & LAMPITT BILL ADDING DRIVER INATTENTION TO POLICE REPORTS MOVES FORWARD

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members John S. Wisniewski and Pamela R. Lampitt sponsored to require police accident reports to include whether drivers were distracted at the time of an accident was released Thursday by an Assembly committee.

“A quick glance at directions, a newspaper, a family pet or even the radio dial can mean the difference between a safe trip and a car accident,” said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). “With distracted driving becoming the rule rather than the exception for many motorists, details concerning driver inattention should be required information on all police accident reports.”

Even if the Committee to Recall Robert Menendez succeeds in its court case and wins the right to start the recall process against New Jersey’s junior senator, they will face the nearly insurmountable task of collecting 1.3 million valid petition signatures. 

Nevertheless, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), the Democratic state chairman, weighed in today, suggesting that the group targeted Menendez because he is Hispanic.

“The attempt to recall Senator Menendez is an affront to the voters of New Jersey and has no standing in law,” said Wisniewski in a written statement.  “One day these folks are trying to disprove human evolution, the next day they are challenging the  constitutionality of the Constitution.  These are radical people who chose Menendez off of a list of Democrats because of the sound of his last name."

WISNIEWSKI APPLAUDS SWIFT END TO FEDERAL BICKERING OVER DOT FUNDING

(TRENTON) - After a U.S. Senate vote late Tuesday to authorize a 30 day, $10 billion extension for unemployment benefits and critical transportation funding, Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman John S. Wisniewski issued the following statement:

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

COUTINHO, QUIGLEY, WISNIEWSKI ON IMPORTANCE OF FIXING BAYONNE BRIDGE CLEARANCE PROBLEM

Inaction Could Cost Region More than 50,000 Jobs; Permanently Cripple Ports Newark & Elizabeth

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Albert Coutinho, Joan M. Quigley and John S. Wisniewski issued a multimedia package Thursday on legislation sponsored by Coutinho emphasizing the importance of addressing the Bayonne Bridge's low ship clearance and restoring Ports Newark and Elizabeth's competitive edge.