Welle to hold town hall in community he considers racist

Josh Welle, the Democrat running against Congressman Chris Smith is holding a town hall meeting in Jackson tonight at the Sons of American Vets Post at 1290 Toms River Road in Jackson.

During a gathering of the Monmouth and Ocean County Democrats last February when Welle was competing for the Democrat nomination to challenge Congressman Smith, Welle said that he wants to end discrimination and racism in the district, but that residents of Howell, Jackson, Allentown, Millstone and people who voted for Smith for 37 years, “are not there yet.”

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Congressman Chris Smith “more determined now than ever” in face of death threat

Congressman Chris Smith told MMM that he is more determined than ever to serve the people of New Jersey’s 4th congressional district, following an online death threat he received last weekend.  The congressman said the threat is not the first and will not be the last. “We can’t let that kind of tactic win,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »

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House Defense Bill Will Boost Joint Base MDL, Congressman Smith announces

Congressmen Chris Smith and Tom MacArthur cut the ribbon for a new hanger at JB-MDL in 2015

The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by the House of Representatives today, provides for a 2.6% pay increase for all military personnel, the largest increase in nine years, and provides $10.2 million for projects at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst , Congressman Chris Smith announced this afternoon.  Additionally, there will be no Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process through fiscal 2019, under the terms of the bill.

“It is critical that this legislation authorizes a pay raise and new equipment for the men and women serving in our nation’s armed forces,” Congressman Smith said.  “For too long their needs have been ignored, and now is the time to ensure they have all the resources and equipment they require to  get the job done.”

The $10.2 million for JB-MDL will fund infrastructure improvements needed in preparation for the highly-anticipated arrival of 15 KC-46A refueling tankers, which are expected to begin arriving in FY 2021.

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57 Countries Endorse Tools To Combat Human Trafficking Proposed By Congressman Chris Smith

The  Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCEPA), an assembly of over 300 lawmakers from 57 countries in Europe and North American adopted “Implementing Trafficking-Free Communities,” a comprehensive resolution to combat human trafficking sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith, during their 27th annual session yesterday in Berlin.

Based upon best practices developed in the United States under Smith’s Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the resolution encourages governments to implement multiple best practices simultaneously to significantly reduce trafficking in a community over the course of a year.

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Congressman Smith Leads Dialogue With Russian Lawmakers In Prelude To Trump-Putin Summit

Congressman Chris Smith addresses the the 27th Annual Session of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Parliamentary Assembly, Saturday July 7. Photo courtesy of Congressman Smith’s office

Congressman Chris Smith had a candid, firm and respectful exchange with Russian lawmakers on Saturday in Berlin wherein he confronted his counterparts, led by Pyotr Tolstoy, Deputy Chairman of the Russian legislature, on an array of human rights violations and geopolitical issues, he told MMM in an phone interview following the meeting which the 27th Annual Session of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Parliamentary Assembly.

Smith heads the 13 member U.S. delegation to OSCE-PA. Tolstoy leads the Russian delegation.

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Congressman Smith To Lead Dialogue With Russian Lawmakers

Congressman Chris Smith (R,NJ-4) is leading a congressional delegation in a bilateral meeting with Russian lawmakers, including  Pyotr Tolstoi, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma (parliament) during a four day conference which starts on Saturday, July 7, in Berlin.

The meeting is part of the 27th Annual Session of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Parliamentary Assembly.

The bilateral meeting with Russian lawmakers comes nine days before President Donald J. Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland.

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A Very Special High School Graduation: Sean Goldman Graduates From Holmdel High School

By Art Gallagher

David and Sean Goldman celebrate Sean’s graduation from Holmdel High School

This time of year thousands of New Jersey families, millions throughout the nation, are celebrating a major milestone in the lives of their teen aged children as they graduate from high school.

Twice this week, Sean Goldman’s graduation from Holmdel High School was described to me as a miracle.

It’s not that Sean overcame a disability or extreme hardship–miracles that should be celebrated.  Sean was abducted by his mother, Bruna Bianchi, 14 years ago and taken to Brazil. Bianchi took Sean on what she said was a two week vacation to visit her family in Brazil, but once there, she divorced Sean’s father, David Goldman, and kept the four year old boy from his father.  A Brazilian Court granted Bianchi a divorce. A New Jersey Court granted David custody of his son.

When Bianchi died during childbirth four years later, the international child custody case should have been over, under the terms of the Hague Convention which grants custody to a surviving biological parent.  But Sean’s maternal grandparents and step-father used their wealth and political influence to thwart—temporarily as it turned out–David’s unrelenting commitment to raise his son.

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NJ AFL-CIO Endorses Congressman Chris Smith For Reelection

Congressman Chris Smith was endorsed for reelection by the New Jersey AFL-CIO at the union’s convention in Atlantic City this week.

Over 600 delegates from 1,000 NJ unions—representing more than one million members and their families— voted to endorse Smith.

New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech said of the slate that includes Smith, “This year’s endorsed candidates… have the experience and dedication necessary to grow our communities prioritizing education, health care, jobs, infrastructure and investment in our future.”

Smith, the only Republican from New Jersey’s congressional delegation to win the endorsement, addressed the convention delegates on Tuesday morning. Read the rest of this entry »

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Welle Assuming Victory Over Keady In CD-4 Dem Primary, Schedules Event For Night of Dem Convention

Josh Welle, address none of your business, seems to think he has the Democrat nomination in the 4th Congressional District locked up before any of the votes have been counted.

The primary election between Welle and former Asbury Park councilman Jim Keady is tomorrow, June 5.

The Welle campaign has a meet and greet scheduled for Tuesday evening, June 12 in Ocean Grove.

Someone should tell Welle that the Monmouth County Democrats are having a convention that night.

Actually, someone should tell the Monmouth County Democrats that they need to have a convention that night.  I guess I just did. Read the rest of this entry »

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Congressman Chris Smith Endorsed By NJ Building Trades Unions

Congressman Chris Smith chats with members of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9 after receiving the endorsement of the NJ Building and Trades Council

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-4) received the endorsement of the NJ State Building & Construction Trades Council during a ceremony at the Local Plumbers and Pipefitters #9 training facility in Manalapan this morning before approximately 100 union members and managers.

During his remarks, William T. Mullen, President of the 150,000 statewide council, said that all 15 local unions that comprise the council voted to endorse Congressman Smith for reelection. “It’s unanimous,” Mullen declared. Read the rest of this entry »

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