Rick Perry Is Not This Jersey Girl’s Candidate

By Carolee Adams, President, Eagle Forum of New Jersey

Governor Rick Perry is not this Jersey Girl’s candidate – and the primary reason concerns his softness about illegal immigration. 

We need thousands of boots on the ground – and – a wall with electronic surveillance at our borders. Governor Perry supports only the former and, to what degree, I have not heard.  

We cannot encourage more illegal immigration by granting tuition breaks to those who are not citizens as Governor Perry has done  in Texas.

On my radar screen this morning came a report about Governor Perry’s attempted hush hush visit to the Inwood section of Washington Heights in New York. That’s part of Rudy Giuliani’s sanctuary city, by the way. Perry met with Latino leaders – in particular, of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. Politically, it’s not problematic to reach out to the Latino community and those who are discouraged by the Obama administration that attacks their livelihood. However, traditionally, that community represents a large Democratic voting block. They might be helpful to a nominee in the General Election, but not in the GOP Primary that Perry must win first. His visit is curious. 

Rick Perry’s candidacy dies with his stubborn stance on illegal immigration that he strongly defended in the debate last night. Even the Northeast is withering on the vine because of illegal immigration. Reports indicate a minimum cost of over $3 Billion to New Jersey taxpayers alone to subsidize illegal alien activity in hospitals, schools, jails, and more. Illegal immigration cannot – must not – be tolerated or encouraged – particularly by any candidate hoping to win the GOP nomination for President of the United States of America.

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Is bullet voting Un-American?

In last year’s municipal election in Neptune Township, Republican candidate for township committee Warren Lapp did not have a running mate.  He publicly encouraged voters to cast a “bullet vote” just for him, even though there were two committee seats open with candidates on the ballot.

The Neptune Democrats responded by calling Lapp un-American for suggesting such a thing.

Now Neptune Matters, the Republican leaning blog from the township is calling on Neptune Democrats Randy Bishop and Eric Houghteling to denounce Dan Jacobson, the 11th district Independent candidate for Assembly for asking voters to bullet vote for him.  Neptune Matters says that Bishop and Houghteling should call Jacobson un-American, but that they won’t because a bullet vote for Jacobson helps the Democratic candidates in the 11th.

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The Next Vice President Of The United States?

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Dan Jacobson Kills Puppies!

By Senator Jennifer Beck, also published in the September 22 edition of the triCityNews

Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande

Last week I was treated to a column that the TriCities’ very own publisher (and Independent District 11 Assembly candidate) Dan Jacobson said he’d been ‘itching to write’. I’m not surprised that Dan was feeling a little itchy and uncomfortable prior to writing a column dramatically misrepresenting that I might endorse Dan in his latest political foray.  I guess we can take some solace that at least Dan felt a little uncomfortable while knowingly misrepresenting my position!  And I know it was intended to be tongue-in-cheek – just like the headline of this column and the made-up Dan quotes below. He did get some things right….Dan and I have indeed been friends for many years, and he is certainly correct that he was a supporter of mine from way-back when I was running for my first term on the Red Bank Borough Council.  But I’m friends with a lot of folks that, despite our being friends, don’t receive my endorsement for political office.

I do appreciate Dan’s permitting me to use this space this week to set the record straight and offer my official endorsement for this year’s elections.  I’m proud to run with, and support, my two outstanding running-mates: Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini from Ocean Township and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande from Colts Neck, a new demographic for Dan to reach.

Endorsing candidates is something I do not take lightly, and I make sure to hear from all sides before issuing any declaration. On that note, I did not just blindly support my running-mates. I made sure to also reach out to Dan and hear from him on what he’d like to do in his upcoming term if he is elected to return to the Assembly from his 18 year exile.

“Number one, I look forward to raising taxes again on everyday items, just as I did in my first term. Additional taxes on toilet paper, light bulbs, and eggs were such a resounding hit my first time around, I plan on doubling-down in my upcoming term!” Dan told me earlier this week.

Now, of course that’s not a real quote from Dan, just like his “quotes” of me endorsing him weren’t accurate in his column last week.  But at least I got the facts straight – Dan did indeed vote in favor of all those taxes back when he originally served in the legislature.  The residents of New Jersey couldn’t vote Dan and his legislative mates out of office fast enough then, so sorry Dan, as much as I value our friendship, it would be foolish of us to risk going down that path again.  Actually, I should make clear that the “killing puppies” headline was a total fabrication.  At least as far as I know.

But back to the choices you have in this election. If you agree that we need less taxation, limited government, leaders in property tax reform, and true accountability in the state legislature, the choice is clear. Both Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande have been vocal leaders in the Assembly, standing up for taxpayers throughout Monmouth County, and the State.  My running mates and I have proven track records, having led the way on the historic reforms enacted over the past two years.  While Dan may be a good friend, he can’t claim to have been a very effective legislator during his first term.  Not honestly anyway.

We are proud to run as Republicans, but both myself and my running mates are extraordinarily deliberative and don’t always just vote the party line. And unlike Dan Jacobson, when we decide to take a stand that some in our party may be opposed to, we don’t resort to physical altercations with our fellow legislators!  It’s bad enough the cast of the TV show Jersey Shore make it appear as if we New Jerseyians regularly settle our disputes that way – we don’t need the legislature lending credibility to the portrayal!

Dan is right that our friendship will not be affected by his independent run for the Assembly, and even when Mary Pat and Caroline are re-elected in November, I will still let him pick out the drapes for our legislative offices.

So I guess you heard it here first, Senator Jennifer Beck supports her running mates, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande for the Assembly – emphatically and enthusiastically!

I’m glad I could clear things up. After all, I’m your Senator, I’m here to help!

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Nelson Appointed To NJEDA

Governor Chris Christie has appointed Brian M. Nelson, Esq. to the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

Nelson is the Managing Partner of Nelson, Supko & Hanlon, LLC, Shrewsbury.  He is the municipal attorney for Middletown and Tinton Falls.

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Court Reverses Itself, Carl Lewis Is Off The Ballot

Politickernj and the Star Ledger are reporting that the three judge panel of the Third District Court Federal Appeals Court reversed its earlier order that Carl Lewis be on the ballot as a State Senate candidate in the 8th legislative district.

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, acting in her capacity as Secretary of State, had ordered Lewis off the ballot because he does not meet the state constitutional residency requirement.  Today’s order affirms Guadagno’s position.

Politickernj said that the Democrats might make Lewis an Assembly candidate since the Assembly only has a two year residency requirement, compared to the Senate’s four year requirement.

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Does Congressional Seniority Matter? Should It Trump Competitiveness?

In a piece published at Politickernj and on his Real Numbers blog, Monmouth University Polling Director Patrick Murray argues that district competitiveness should be less of a consideration in drawing the new congressional map than he argued it should have been in the state legislative map.

Murray says that no other state uses competitiveness as a criteria for drawing their maps and that New Jersey would be at a disadvantage if it did so.

“If you were expecting me to argue the same for the Congressional redistricting process, though, you would be wrong.  The influence of any state’s delegation is based largely on their influence with the upper echelons of Congressional leadership.  Absolute seniority in itself is not important, but some degree of longevity is necessary for members of our delegation to establish those important relationships.

Since few other states use competitiveness to guide their redistricting process, New Jersey would be put at a disadvantage if it did.  Even if it made a concerted effort, our commission could probably only create 3 to 5 truly competitive districts – out of 435 nationwide.  While that might boost voter turnout in those districts, it would do little to increase the influence of New Jersey as a whole. Influence that we sorely need, considering how little we get back in federal spending for every tax dollar we send to Washington.”
 

While this argument is consistent with conventional thinking about congress, I’m not sure that it matches up with the current reality in Washington. 

It certainly does not match up with the current reality of the New Jersey congressional delegation, by Murray’s own words in the last sentence.  If we are getting so little back from Washington with our current delegation, most of whom have significant longevity, what good is their seniority doing us?  Would be do much worse, or any worse, with a bunch of freshmen?

In the current congress, the freshmen are running the show, much to the chagrin of the left wing media, the White House and everyone else who thinks congressmen should go to Washington to compromise rather than to do what they promised their constituents they would do during the campaigns.

New Jersey congressmen have an inauspicious history of leadership and influence.  Donald Payne and Frank Pallone are the most senior Democrats in the New Jersey delegation.  Neither have ever been leaders of note in Washington. Neither has an impressive record of getting legislation passed.

Republican Chris Smith is the longest serving member of the New Jersey delegation.  No one can deny that Smith is a leader.  He has had more legislation passed that any other member of congress.  His influence as a human rights advocate and champion of the unborn is global.  However, he is not a congressional leader.  Even with his 30 years on the hill and Republicans back in power, he is not a committee chairman or even a sub-committee chairman.

Robert Menendez has been an exception to New Jersey’s lack of congressional leadership.  He catapulted over Pallone, Payne and many other Democrats throughout the country in establishing himself as a congressional leader, eventually becoming the third highest ranking Democrat in congress before moving up to the Senate.

Worse for New Jersey residents than the lack of influence in congress that our representatives have, is some members’ lack of concern for the will of their constituents.  As Murray said during his appearance on the Real Jersey Guys Radio show on August 2, New Jersey members of congress vote however they want, regardless of how constituents feel about an issue, because gerrymandering has made their jobs so safe.

This is clearly the case in Monmouth County, the majority of which is divided between Frank Pallone’s 6th district and Rush Holt’s 12th.  Murray accurately portrays the 6th and 12th as among the most gerrymandered districts.  As a result of how these districts have been drawn in the past, much of Monmouth County is essentially disenfranchised from congressional representation.  One could easily make an argument that the suburban areas of Pallone and Holt’s districts do not have a congressman, while the urban areas have two.

Murray and I agree that congressmen need incentive to serve and represent their constituents.  There is no incentive like competition.   The congressional redistricting commission should make competiveness a prime consideration in drawing the new map.  Without competition, seniority is not all that is cracked up to be, as New Jersey’s congressional delegation has clearly demonstrated.

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$500 Million In State Revenues Projected From New Racino

New York State, that is.

A new “racino” with only electronic gambling is set to open next month at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, NY.  The facility is expected to generate $10 billion in annual betting, $500 million in annual revenue to the State of New York, and 1300 jobs.  The $10 billion bet at Aqueduct will top the $7 billion annual handle at the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway.

So says today’s New York Post.

The Meadowlands Racetrack is closer to Mid-town Manhattan than Jamaica or Yonkers.

Would someone tell me again why New Jersey is leaving all of that money “on the table?”

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Linker Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race

Political newcomer Ian Linker, the only declared candidate for the GOP nomination to challenge Senator Robert Menendez in 2012, terminated his candidacy due to his wife’s health.

In a statement posted on the Ridgewood Blog this evening, Linker said:

I launched my campaign for the U.S. Senate because America is on an unsustainable course. And for the future of our country I could not sit idly by and allow politicians to destroy the last best hope for freedom on earth. Without bold, principled leadership in Washington, America could become, in the not-to-distant future, a second-rate power along the lines of a half dozen European countries now facing severe crises. Career politicians more concerned about their own reelection have failed to solve our problems and have in many cases actually caused them. They have brought America to the brink.

My family inspired me to run for the U.S. Senate. Now, I must exit this race for them as well.

About eight years ago my wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Over the years, her illness has been relatively under control until very recently when it began to rapidly progress. I have been dedicating as much time as possible to my family, which has been to the detriment of my campaign. My family must be my priority and to run an effective U.S. Senate campaign I would be neglecting my duties as a father and as a husband given my wife’s current condition. With two young children at home, I have a moral obligation to take care of my family before anything else and must put off running for political office at this time.

I hope, and pray, that Republicans in New Jersey nominate a principled conservative for the U.S. Senate in 2012 who cares about making a positive difference for our future. I would look forward to supporting this individual to the fullest extent possible.

I want to thank all the wonderful folks who supported me during my brief campaign and I look forward to seeing and working with you all in the future

State Senator Joe Kyrillos, a potential candidate for the NJ GOP 2012 U.S. Senate nomination said, ” I had a nice lunch with Ian over the summer and found him to be a bright and good man.  I am sorry to hear about his wife’s condition.”

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BECK, ANGELINI AND CASAGRANDE RECEIVE ENDORSEMENT OF NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

11^th District Republican candidates Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande issued the following statement after receiving the endorsement of New Jersey Organization for a Better State (NEW JOBS), the business PAC affiliated with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA):

 “We are honored that the NJBIA has endorsed us for re-election. We have spent a good amount of out time in Trenton advocating for policies which will attract and retain businesses and allow them to flourish. To create jobs, government should be removing barriers to help businesses succeed, not putting them up through high taxes and strangling regulation. If we are re-elected, we will continue our advocacy for business and job creation.

 As representatives of the business community in New Jersey, NJBIA knows better than most what their members need to succeed. We thank them for recognizing our efforts and look forward to working with them and their individual members in the future.”

 NJBIA is comprised of  22,000 members representing every industry in the State, including manufacturers, service providers, retailers, wholesalers, builders and engineers. As a group, their members employ more than one million people, one-third of the State’s private-sector workforce. Three-quarters of their members are small companies with fewer than 25 employees.

NEW JOBS is an independent political action committee affiliated with the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, Monmouth-Ocean Development Council, Morris County Chamber of Commerce, Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce and other regional business groups.

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