Welcome to the latest installment of the NJDSC's week in review. Here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and toward the end, some of the upcoming events around the state next week:
Christie Bears Responsibility For Property Tax Increases
- New Jersey Newsroom: Assembly Democratic leaders responded that they’ve offered Christie civil service reform legislation and that his charges are part of what they see as his habit of blaming everyone but himself for government financial woes.
Chairman Wisniewski: "This governor not only refuses to accept responsibility for the property tax increases he's passed onto middle-class families while giving tax cuts to the wealthy, but the policies he's playing politics with don't even add up. Democrats believed the Civil Service system need to be reformed and modernized and sent the governor a bill to do so. Instead, the governor wants a system that eliminates taxpayer protections against corruption and nepotism. That's poor policy and leadership."
- Speaker Oliver: "Democrats passed civil service and sick leave payout reforms, only to see them vetoed by a governor more interested in playing politics than bringing relief to property taxpayers. That should come as no surprise, considering the governor's preference for tax cuts for millionaires over property tax relief for working families and senior citizens. The governor is the one responsible for giving New Jerseyans the largest property tax hike since 2007, and this lack of leadership is why voters rejected his message last week."
- Senate President Sweeney: “The governor doesn’t run the Legislature,” he said. “He wasn’t elected king.”
- Assembly Majority Leader-Select Greenwald: "If we've learned one thing for sure about this governor, it's that the buck surely doesn't stop at his desk. In his mind, he is responsible for nothing and everyone else is to blame. That's why New Jerseyans saw through his message last week and decided to increase the Democratic majority. Still, it's understandable why the governor would try to shift the focus and the blame, considering how he's hiked property taxes on working families while zealously ensuring tax breaks to millionaires."
- Incoming Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Prieto: "The governor continues to be all smoke and mirrors and seems to have selectively forgotten that Democrats passed key bills to control property taxes, only to have that progress wiped out by his massive cuts in state aid that helped bring the largest property tax hike since 2007. We tried to alleviate that by asking millionaires to share in the sacrifice, but the governor steadfastly protected their tax cuts. It's the governor's ill-advised policies that continue to pour a heavy burden onto working class New Jerseyans and businesses."
- Moran: Growing divide between rich, poor neighborhoods toxic for N.J.
New Jersey Backs The Millionaire's Tax For True Shared Sacrifice
- Wall Street Journal: Garden State voters are increasingly taken with the idea of bringing back a state surcharge on the wealthiest taxpayers to help plug the state’s budgetary gap, a new poll found. In a Quinnipiac University released Thursday, 64% of those surveyed supported bringing back a so-called “millionaires’ tax,” with 28% opposed. The new poll also found a dramatic rise in support for the tax, with a nine percentage point jump from a survey in February.
- Chairman Wisniewski in the Wall Street Journal: “The ‘millionaires’ tax’ will be tried again,” Democratic Party chairman John Wisniewski, a Democratic Assemblyman representing Sayreville, said in an interview. He characterized the governor’s opposition to the tax as having more to do with protecting his conservative image nationally than wealthy New Jersey taxpayers. "It’s about furthering his brand name on a national stage. His opposition has everything to do with a national litmus test.”
- On the heels of an election and a new poll that both show the overwhelming support of New Jerseyans for truly “shared sacrifice,” Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver said it’s time for Republicans to recognize their knee-jerk opposition to reinstating a true “millionaires tax” is making for bad policy and even worse politics.
- Senate President Sweeney: “For two years, middle-class families and seniors have seen their tax burdens grow, while millionaires continue to enjoy tens of thousands of dollars in tax breaks. Independent research has shown that GOP opposition to the millionaires tax doesn’t have a policy leg to stand on, and the election and this poll have ganged-up to show it doesn’t have a political leg to lean on, either.”
- Assembly Speaker Oliver: "New Jerseyans know that asking millionaires to help a little bit more in this difficult economy is simply the fair thing to do, especially when working class residents continue to struggle to make ends meet under Gov. Christie’s property tax hikes and service cuts.”
- Assemblyman Greenwald: “The Governor's trickle-down philosophy makes for standing ovations at Tea Party retreats and right-wing conferences, but it hasn’t revived New Jersey’s economy, just as the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy failed to help the nation avoid a recession. “It’s time to focus on job creation and property tax relief for middle class families and seniors, not tax breaks for millionaires. New Jersey's families expect us to roll up our sleeves and work together to ensure working class families and seniors get the property tax relief they’ve been denied by the governor.
- New Jersey Policy Perspective: New Jersey’s New Report on Taxes, the Wealthy and Migration Raises More Questions Than it Answers.
NJDSC Delegate Selection
- The New Jersey Democratic State Committee will be holding Delegate selection workshops around the state in the coming weeks. You can get more information about delegate selection here and we will keep you updated on the workshop dates.
- View the Delegate Selection Plan.
- View the 2012 Delegate District Map.
New Jersey Needs Real Education Solutions, Not More Ideological Rhetoric
- Chairman Wisniewski on Christie's Education agenda: "Any public discussion about how we might improve the education we provide New Jersey's children is positive and encouraging, but it must start with recognition that our public schools and public school teachers provide the overwhelming majority of our students with a solid foundation for future success. As we consider reform proposals, our focus should be on the where we fall short, our discussions should include the wide range of constituencies who have something to contribute to the discussions, particularly parents and teachers, and the initiatives we pursue should be based on proven strategies rather than narrow ideological agendas."
- More from Chairman Wisniewski in the Wall Street Journal: "Here's a guy who approaches education reform by saying the whole system is broken. Government is the art of compromise. We are going to push back."
- Assemblyman Greenwald: “I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop real education solutions, not just more 30-second sound bites.”
- Senator Whelan: “We all recognize the need for change. But we also need consensus. If the governor just says ‘my way or the highway,’ we won’t get it.”
- NJ Spotlight: Does Administration's New Accountability System Overstep Legal Bounds?
Republicans Continue Attempts To Shift Burden Onto Middle Class
- Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Pascrell held a press conference call to discuss the dangerous implications of the Balanced Budget Amendment being considered by the House this week. Listen to the call here.
- Chairman Wisniewski: “Instead of engaging in a serious debate and taking the necessary steps to put our fiscal house in order, Republicans have decided to support a plan which would in all likelihood result in cuts to key programs that benefit the middle class here in New Jersey and across the country,” said Wisniewski. “It’s unfortunate that Congressional Republicans continue to spend their time and energy pursuing failed economic policies that benefit big corporations, millionaires and billionaires while shifting an undue burden to hard-working, middle-class families.”
- Congressman Rothman: What America needs is a common sense approach to our budget that reflects the values and views of the American people: spending cuts, closing tax loopholes, ending subsidies for big oil and big agriculture, and, where necessary, shared sacrifices to address our debt and deficit. Americans do not need another political gimmick. Congress already has the necessary tools to balance our budget through hard choices that address both spending and revenue. Previous Congresses have balanced the budget without this damaging and dangerous constitutional amendment – and Congress can do it again.
- Congressman Pascrell: “This isn’t about balancing a budget, this is about enshrining an ideology. … This amendment requires a super majority for emergency spending in the case of natural disasters. I don’t think we can afford that. … The government’s responsibility is to respond to natural disasters.” You can see his floor statement here.
What won't Christie say in an attempt to burnish his national image with conservatives?
- Press of Atlantic City Editorial: "Gov. Chris Christie is at his scariest when he is demagoguing about the state's judiciary. Christie is a lawyer. He was the U.S. attorney for the state of New Jersey. No matter what he thinks about a Superior Court judge's lawsuit claiming that judges cannot be required to pay more for their pension and health benefits, the suit was filed. Somebody has to rule on it. And that somebody is going to be a New Jersey judge, unless Christie is aware of some other way this can be resolved. So all his blather about judges being the "exalted elite" and his personal attacks on "self-serving" judges who are just doing their jobs is disingenuous and ugly. And he is smart enough to know that, which makes all this especially disconcerting. What won't Christie say in an attempt to burnish his national image with conservatives?"
- NJ Appellate court opinion: Judicial independence is not a meaningless catchphrase but the keystone of the third independent branch of government in our tripartite system of governance. To ensure the integrity and sanctity of this critical principle, the framers of the constitution carefully crafted a judicial article to ensure independence. Among the array of constitutional provisions, including appointment, tenure, and a prohibition against judges “engag[ing] in the practice of law or other gainful pursuits,” the framers and citizenry adopted N.J. Const. art. VI, § 6, ¶ 6. Governor Driscoll articulated the purpose of this particular constitutional provision when he observed during the 1947 Constitutional Convention, that the mandate was to “secure beyond any question a strong, competent, easily functioning, but always independent, judiciary, and, therefore, [a judiciary] in a position to curb any tendency on the part of the other two branches of government to exceed their constitutional authority.”
Christie Fudges Facts at Facebook
- Philadelphia Inquirer: On taxes, Christie got away with saying: "We've already lowered your taxes in New Jersey." That isn't completely true, at least not for income and property taxpayers... In reference to his blunt style, Christie said that 99 percent of the time he doesn't have notes in front of him when he speaks publicly. Then what are those pieces of paper on the lectern at speeches and press conferences? The governor is as good as it gets off the cuff, and he doesn't need a teleprompter, but I always see him referencing notes in front of him for stats and facts. "
Congressional Corner
- Senators Lautenberg and Menendez announced the joint House and Senate “Minibus” conference report provides a minimum of $15 million for Amtrak to begin design and engineering work on the Gateway Tunnel project.
Senators Menendez and Lautenberg announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the New Jersey Transit Administration $1.5 million to complete efficiency upgrades to its compressed natural gas fill station in Howell, NJ.
- Senator Lautenberg blasted the House for passing legislation that would allow gun owners to carry a concealed firearm across state lines, even if they weren’t issued a permit by the state they are visiting.
- Senator Menendez announced that he plans to introduce the Child Abuse Reporting Enforcement (CARE) Act that would require states to mandate the reporting of child abuse to law enforcement and child protective services in order to receive federal social services funding, and to make it a felony for any individual who fails to report such abuse.
- Senator Lautenberg joined colleagues and first responders from across the country to call on members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the “Super Committee”) to include in their proposal to Congress the "Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act,” legislation to create a much-needed, nationwide communications network for public safety officials to use during emergencies.
- Women for Menendez cordially invite you to join Senator Menendez, with Special Guests Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for a fundraiser brunch on Sunday, December 4, 2011. The seated brunch will begin at 11:00am at the Liberty House Restaurant, 76 Audrey Zapp Drive in Jersey City. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Samantha Maltzman at 973-732-0756 or smaltzman@menendezfornj.com or Ada Johnson at (202)546-0474 or Ada@katzwatsongroup.com
- Star Ledger: Menendez among backers of bill to create Smithsonian American Latinos Museum.
- Senator Menendez and Congressman Pascrell visited Clifton to continue their fight to keep federal funding for local community policing efforts. The Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring (COPS) Program, which provides competitive grants to help local police departments hire and keep officers on the job, was zeroed out – de-funded – by Republicans in the House of Representatives, while the Senate provided $200 million. As a result, a group of House and Senate members are this week charged with finalizing the Justice Department’s spending bill. Menendez and Pascrell are leading an effort to ensure funding for police is restored in the final spending measure.
- Senator Lautenberg and Congressman Pallone stood with advocates, doctors and parents who have been affected by either a sudden infant death or stillbirth to call for action on legislation that would have a significant impact finding the causes, raising awareness about and preventing deaths that leave so many families with more questions than answers.
- Congressman Andrews office is participating in a new employment and training program to give disabled veterans jobs on staff for two years. The search is on for military veterans with a 30 percent or greater disability to work in the home district congressional offices under a new job initiative known as the Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program. The veteran also must have less than 20 years of service and have served on active duty since Sept.11, 2001.
- Congressman Sires joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in passing H.R. 674, the Three Percent Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act. This bill, which unanimously passed the House of Representatives, will help small businesses and decrease the national unemployment rate for veterans.
- NJTV: Congressman Pallone on securing federal funds for NJ, the Tea party and re-election.
- Congressman Holt visited two toxic waste sites to check on the progress of cleanup work and to highlight the need to require polluting industries to pay the costs of cleaning toxic waste, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported.
- Congressman Pascrell guest column: Ten years after envelopes containing anthrax spores were dropped into a mailbox in Princeton, we still have a long way to go to improve our nation’s biodefenses.
- Congressman Rothman thanked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for working with him to provide more than $18 million in federal funds to soundproof Henry P. Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, NJ. This money comes from the Federal Airport Improvement Program, which is funded by airlines and airline passenger surcharges for soundproofing and other purposes. This means that not a single cent of local taxpayer dollars will be used to pay for the $18 million installation of state of the art, central air conditioning, as well as the soundproofing of all windows and doors, plus new heating and ventilation and other improvements at Becton High School.
- From state to county to city, Newark and Essex are united on one front: keeping the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the university hospital in the Brick City.
- Assembly Environment Committee Chair McKeon called on Governor Christie to rethink his decision to opt out of a multi-state effort to require coal plants in 27 states to reduce harmful emissions that contribute to pollution in other states.
- Assemblyman Ramos is among those fighting to keep Hoboken post office open...
- Legislation to help create strong performing charter schools in failing school districts was officially signed into law.
- Troy Singleton will take the oath of office on Monday to become the newest member of the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the current 7th Legislative District.
- Assemblyman Ramos is sponsoring legislation that would expand the options available to prosecutors and victims to address online identity theft.
- New Jersey Newsroom: Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle has made a commitment to the vulnerable citizens of New Jersey, particularly those with developmental disabilities in residential facilities, including group homes, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals and other in-patient settings.
- Assemblyman Gusciora Says “Time is Ripe” for Marriage Equality Bill.
- Assemblyman Greenwald: “The treasurer blaming poor revenue collections on the weather is like a child blaming the dog for eating his homework. That excuse wouldn’t fly with a teacher and it won’t work for taxpayers, either...”
- Assembly committees on Monday will consider legislation to, among other things, help create jobs and economic development, help families pay for college, improve coastal evacuations, help residents combat mold that can occur after flooding, improve fire safety in new homes and protect against abuse of common cold and cough medicines are also on tap.
- Senator Gordon, Assemblywoman Wagner and Assemblyman-elect Eustace applauded news that a scheduled Monday vote by the Delaware River Basin Commission to allow the controversial practice of “fracking” to take place along the northern edge of the watershed had been cancelled following an outpouring of citizen concern and the announcement by Delaware’s governor that he would vote against the proposal.
- Star Ledger: Family of Newark soldier killed in Afghanistan will be among first to receive accidental death benefits.
Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
We will continue to have updates about news from our elected officials and the many campaigns across the state. There will certainly be more to come next week. Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
John Wisniewski, Chairman
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
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