The Lincoln Club Announces Focus Candidates for 2011 Legislative Races

Princeton – June 8, 2011 –The newly formed Lincoln Club of New Jersey wasted no time in jumping into the debate for New Jersey’s future by announcing its support for three challengers in the 2011 legislative elections, all of whom are first-time candidates for statewide office. Club President and 2010 Congressional candidate in NJ-12, Scott Sipprelle, said,” We cannot solve a problem by re-electing the problem. The time has come for a new breed of public servant, connected to the people, committed to problem-solving and willing to make the honest and difficult decisions required to restore our sickly state to health.”

Sipprelle continued, “There is a large void in American politics for new entrants, people who choose to enter the arena despite having limited resources and few political connections. The Board of Directors of the Lincoln Club has decided to provide support and assistance during this election cycle to send to Trenton three fresh faces committed to serving the public good. We strongly believe that these independent-thinking New Jerseyans, if elected, will work courageously to challenge the broken status quo.”

Lincoln Club Focus Candidates

Marcia Silva for Assembly in District 18

Marcia is the former Assistant Prosecutor for Middlesex County, where she spent seven years taking dangerous criminals off the streets. She currently has her own law practice in her hometown of South River and she takes pride in providing pro bono legal assistance to local veterans groups. Marcia has witnessed first-hand the struggles of small businesses and the ideal that we call the American Dream. Her father immigrated from Brazil to New Jersey, where he labored as a factory worker until he was able to start his own small business. Starting with a small masonry operation, he eventually built a successful real estate company. Marcia is a single mother of two young children.

Shane Robinson for Assembly in District 19 Shane recently graduated from Sacred Heart University only to return to his home state of New Jersey to find, like many other young people, a distressingly unattractive job environment. Shane is the son of the Rev. Winston Robinson of Faith Fellowship Ministries, a large ministry in his hometown of Sayreville. As a young, underemployed African-American, Shane represents multiple different constituencies that have been hard hit by the economic downturn and which are also strikingly under-represented in the state legislature. His presence in Trenton would bring a fresh and youthful perspective to addressing the ills affecting our state. Shane serves on the Sayreville Board of Health and has remained active in politics as he continues to pursue employment opportunities.

About The Lincoln Club of New Jersey The Lincoln Club of New Jersey is an independent political club engaged in ideas and actions for a better governance in New Jersey. More information at www.LC-NJ.org.

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Solutions Pregnancy & Health Center host Medical Clinic Grand Opening with Congressman Chris Smith expected as Guest Speaker

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Shrewsbury Welcomes Solutions

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NJ Right To Life Rally To Oppose Planned Parenthood Funding

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One Meadowlands Racetrack Union Imperils Deal to Save Standardbred Racing

Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie today called Thursday’s inaction by the union representing the mutuel clerks at Meadowlands Racetrack on a proposal from prospective track operator Jeff Gural a potentially fatal obstacle to continuing racing operations at the East Rutherford facility.

In the face of unsustainable racetrack losses, and the recognition that jobs and livelihoods could nonetheless be saved, substantial progress had been made to save standardbred racing in negotiations with Mr. Gural. That progress included the overwhelming acceptance by another racetrack union of new contract provisions.  

Said Governor Christie: “Apparently, one group has decided on its own to put at risk the livelihoods of many others. We were patient and accommodating, but these deadlines for achieving self-sustaining horse racing are very real.  This is an unfortunate outcome to say the least.” 

The failure of Local 137 to vote will trigger the following consequences, which Local 137 was keenly aware would occur: Live racing at the Meadowlands Racetrack will not resume on May 7 as previously scheduled. Meadowlands simulcasting will cease as of May 12. Racetrack employees were issued notices March 8 of potential layoffs as required by law, and absent a vote by Local 137, those layoffs will commence on May 12, the first date for which the legal cessation of all operations at the racetrack can now occur.

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CASAGRANDE: DEPUTIZE PRIVATE ACCOUNTANTS TO HELP DELIVER EVEN MORE SAVINGS FOR TAXPAYERS

CASAGRANDE BILL WOULD PROVIDE WORK FOR PRIVATE ACCOUNTANTS,

CURB GOVERNMENT WASTE AND GENERATE SAVINGS FOR TAXPAYERS

            The State Comptroller’s recent report that state government wastes millions of dollars on uniforms for state workers who don’t wear them, is another outrage that proves the capacity for waste in New Jersey government is endless, said Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, the sponsor of a measure that would pay private accountants to audit wasteful government spending – at no cost to taxpayers.

            “This bogus clothing stipend is one of many outrageous examples of waste hidden deep within New Jersey’s many layers of government,” Casagrande, R-Monmouth and Mercer, said. “Matt Boxer and his office consistently do an excellent job unearthing these abuses, but New Jersey governments’ capacity for waste is bottomless and we could always use more diggers.”

            Casagrande sponsors, A-1828, which would allow the State Comptroller to hire private certified accountants on a contingency basis. Their pay would be a percentage of the savings they uncover and deliver for taxpayers.

            “We often talk about running government like a private business, so let’s see what happens when we deputize private accountants,” Casagrande said. “This will help the State Comptroller conduct more investigations with greater impact. It will also create jobs for enterprising accountants in a way that saves money, unlike some recent proposals that would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions without guarantee of one new job.

            “Governor Christie will make sure Governor Corzine’s clothing allowance is hung out to dry in the next public employee contract, but this example proves that special interests and a complicit government will sink to any depth, so let’s even the score with vigilante accountants working for taxpayers against waste,” Casagrande added.

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OCEANPORT TASK FORCE COMMENTS ON DECISION BY THE NJSEA TO NEGOTIATE WITH DEVELOPER AND ENTREPRENEUR MORRIS BAILEY ON THE LEASE OF MONMOUTH PARK RACETRACK

The Monmouth Park Task Force is pleased with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority‟s choice to begin negotiations with developer and entrepreneur Morris Bailey for a five-year private lease to run Monmouth Park Racetrack. The NJSEA expects to turn over track operations by June 1, 2011 to the successful lease operator.

“Oceanport is pleased the Authority is taking the next step toward for a self-sustaining industry in New Jersey and returning Monmouth Park Racetrack to its place as the premier location for thoroughbred horse racing. We look forward to his plans for revitalizing the facility and capitalizing on the OTW‟s. I look forward to seeing Monmouth Park under his management.” „ Said Mayor Michael J. Mahon, Task Force Chairman “We‟re hopeful Mr. Bailey will bring a fresh excitement to the 2011 season and quickly build on the success of the Elite Summer Meet held last year. Monmouth will be an exciting place again for horse racing. Oceanport and Monmouth Park Racetrack will continue our long standing partnership and we look forward to working with Mr. Bailey as he takes the reins.” Stated Councilman and Task Force member Joseph Irace

“The Oceanport Task Force on Monmouth Park has been hoping a lessee would step forward who would be committed to maintain Monmouth Park as a racetrack. This is critical for the Borough as we look to preserve jobs, protect the environment, maintain open space and preserve this historic centerpiece of horse racing in Monmouth County and the Jersey Shore.” Said Mayor Michael J. Mahon

The Oceanport Task Force on Monmouth Park has continued to maintain the position that

VLT‟s, slot machines, or an all out gaming casino in the Meadowlands is the only way to protect horse racing in New Jersey. All the surrounding states of New York, Pennsylvania,

Delaware and Maryland now have some form of gaming at their race tracks. This uneven

Playing field enables our competitors to lure New Jersey horseman out of State with larger purses and better quality horse racing. This will continue to challenge the industry as new operators take the reins at both the Meadowlands and here at Monmouth Park Racetrack.

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State Unfunded Pension Liabilities Exceed $1 Trillion

Analysis marks pension liabilities as root of state budget crisis

WASHINGTON, DC- The nation’s top state budget watchdog, State Budget Solutions, released a report on this week demonstrating the dramatic extent of unfunded liabilities facing the state government public employee pension funds- ranging from $1 trillion to $2.8 trillion dollars depending on the study used in the analysis. “This report shows that states have been fooling the public and the federal government for years,” said Bryan Leonard, author of the study. “The breadth and depth of the public pension crisis is finally coming to light and the numbers clearly speak for themselves.”

The analysis provides comprehensive data from three studies to demonstrate a consensus about the scale of the unfunded pension crisis spreading across the nation, just as public employees rally against proposed reforms in wages and benefits in states like Wisconsin and Ohio. “It’s clear that this study reveals that the increasing costs of supporting the unfunded liability that is needed to pay government employee pensions is the real driver of the budget crises in the states,” said Bob Williams, President of State Budget Solutions. “Our report demonstrates that legislators and governors need to come to grips with the pension funding crisis or it will put their states in fiscal peril for decades.”

According to the study, states with the largest pension liabilities are California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Ohio. State governments use a special accounting method, known as GASB, which differs from that of the private sector. “Under GASB, government pension funds have not accurately portrayed the real value the pension funds. If states were required to use private sector accounting rules, like those used in the Novy-Marx & Rauh studies, the liabilities are much more dramatic,” said Williams.

A full state-by-state analysis of the public employee pension unfunded liability can be found at statebudgetsolutions.org.

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Kyrillos To Seek Vote on Unused Sick Leave Reform

Will Attempt to Force Senate Consideration of Governor’s Conditional Veto

Trenton— In an effort to offer relief to property tax payers and prevent public safety layoffs, Senator Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth/Middlesex) will attempt to force consideration of the Governor’s conditional veto of S-2220, which eliminates payouts of unused sick time for public employees, at tomorrow’s Senate session.

“Rather than trying to override the Governor on bills the Majority cannot find the funds to support, the Senate should be passing unfinished toolkit legislation that will help avert public safety layoffs and property tax increases,” Kyrillos said. “Sick leave cash outs present an enormous strain on local government budgets that must be stopped. The Governor is absolutely right in requiring that these cash outs be phased out for all employees, current and future, in his veto message. Sick leave should be used when you are sick, not as a cash gift upon retirement.”

Kyrillos will motion that the conditional veto be taken up as the Senate’s “Order of the Day”. It is up to the Senate President to decide whether or not the motion is in order.

“I hope that the Senate President will hear, as I have, the call of police and firemen who are concerned about the impact of layoffs on our communities,” said Kyrillos. “We need to make tax dollars go farther by giving towns and counties the tools they need to reign in unnecessary costs and fund priorities that matter. Unused sick leave is a perfect example of a cost to local government that no longer needs to exist.”

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Beck, Oroho Submit Legislation to Stop Simultaneous Collection of Pensions, Public Paychecks

Trenton— Senators Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth/Mercer) and Steve Oroho (R- Sussex/Hunterdon/Morris) have submitted legislation aimed at ending abuse of the state’s pension system. The bill, S-2716, would prohibit retired public employees that return to government service from collecting pension payments while on payroll.

“Pension payments should only be collected by those who have left the government payroll,” said Senator Beck. “Public employees who game the system by collecting a paycheck and a pension check simultaneously commit the worst kind of double dipping. New Jersey’s taxpayers are tapped out, our pension system woefully underfunded, and neither can tolerate this sort of abuse. Nobody should be able to line their pockets in this manner at public expense.”

The bill prohibits any public employee in the state retirement system from collecting a pension if he or she resumes public employment and is compensated more than $15, 000 annually. Those returning to service after retirement would not accumulate additional pension credits. The bill applies to all state pension plans.

“We must protect New Jersey’s pension systems and it is critically important that we protect the qualified status of those pensions, as well as end any unnecessary strains on the funds,” Oroho added. “There are a variety of good reasons retirees may wish to return to the workforce. However, for the purposes of collecting a pension, and to protect the qualified status of the plans, retired means retired.”

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