Governor Christie and Lt. Governor Guadagno Announce Statewide Hurricane Irene Business Recovery Assistance

Trenton, NJ – To support the recovery of New Jersey’s businesses and protect the overall economic interests of our state in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Governor Chris Christie and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno have announced a series of business assistance services for those affected by the storm.  Among these vital services are those related to financial support, information on temporary space, and technical assistance for impacted businesses.   Information for all services may be easily accessed through New Jersey’s Business Action Center (BAC), by calling 1-866-534-7789 or through the state’s business portal at www. nj.gov/njbusiness/, the “one-stop” shop for business resources.  

“In response to this natural disaster, New Jersey has coordinated a range of multi-agency resources to assist impacted businesses and ensure they are operational quickly,” said Governor Christie.  “We have worked hard to grow our state’s economy by working to meet the needs of our business community.  Providing a thorough and inter-departmental business recovery assistance program is another demonstration of our support for our business community and their workers.”

“Through the collective efforts of the Partnership for Action, which includes the Business Action Center, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Choose New Jersey,  in addition to the Departments of Banking and Insurance, Community Affairs and Labor and Workforce Development, we will work to protect the assets of our state’s businesses, provide the necessary temporary support to our workforce and sustain our economic vibrancy,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. 

The business recovery assistance services are designed to support businesses and workers who may be temporarily unable to perform their jobs due to the storm.  These services include:

·         Access to lines of credit of up to $500,000 for businesses that need access to cash to improve their damaged property while awaiting insurance proceeds;

·         Grant awards for businesses to assist with on-the-job training costs for new workers hired specifically to assist in disaster-related activities, such as landscaping and tree removal, construction, insurance claims, building supplies sales, materials transport, utility work, call and claims centers staffing, and infrastructure clearing and repair.

·         Availability of the Business Resource Centers at any of the 17 local One-Stop Career Centers across the state as temporary hubs for businesses to access telephone and internet services  as well as for job seekers and displaced workers seeking workforce development and unemployment assistance.

·         The availability of Disaster Unemployment Benefits to provide income security for those displaced workers suffering temporary storm-related job loss.

·         Dispatch of Rapid Response team members to identified Disaster Recovery Centers to assist displaced workers

·         Availability of services through New Jersey Youth Corps to assist non-profit, public and governmental entities in a variety of ways for disaster relief and clean-up. 

In addition, BAC’s Business Call Center is also the one-stop resource for more information on how to get businesses back up and running.  The Call Center staff can assist with the following services:  

·         Arranging business facility inspections for buildings suffering major flood damage, as such conditions require structural integrity inspections before utility service can be restored.  These inspections are handled in local code enforcement offices and by local code enforcement officials.   Anticipating an enormous increase in such work, the Department of Community Affairs has mobilized all qualified personnel to assist local governments in this effort.

·         Advocate for businesses seeking assistance from local utilities to restore electric, phone, gas and water services.

·         Advocate with insurance carriers to file and expedite claims.

·         Provide information on how to qualify for federal recovery assistance, and 

·         Connect businesses to the other county and local business services and to the services offered by the Small Business Administration and Small Business Development Centers that include assistance with insurance claims, as well as loans and business plan revisions.

For further information about best practices in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, please visit www.ready.nj.gov for continual updates.

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Beck, O’Scanlon and Casagrande Voice Opposition To Toll Hikes

12th District Legislators Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande today announced their opposition to the massive toll hikes proposed by the Port Authority.

“With so many of our own residents here in New Jersey unemployed, adding another undue burden, a 150% toll hike on working families is not the right course of action,” Beck said. “This is another battle in the fight for our State to remain an affordable place for our families. New Jersey has already lost residents who’ve left the State for more affordable places to live and another toll increase is counter-productive to New Jersey’s economic recovery.”

“Senator Beck, Assemblywoman Casagrande and I completely oppose these massive toll hikes, and we support Governors Christie and Cuomo in their efforts to derail them,” said O’Scanlon. “To nearly double the tolls and PATH fares in a time of economic difficulty makes no sense. This will be one more barrier to economic activity in the tri-state area, and a tax increase on people who already having a hard time making ends meet.”

The Port Authority is holding several hearings today at 8am and 6pm, often in difficult to reach places. Casagrande said that was not a coincidence.

“We saw the same thing for the Corzine toll hikes on the Parkway and Turnpike. They hold the hearings at a time when the very people who would be affected by this – commuters – are on their way to or from work so they can’t attend. They’re not interested in hearing or considering the public’s opinion, because if they did, their ears would be burning. This is an outrageous burden to put on people who have to drive into the city or to visit loved ones in the New York area.”

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Governor Chris Christie Launches Expanded Promise Communities Initiative to Maximize Resources and Results for Children

Trenton, NJ – Continuing his commitment to pursuing innovative approaches to ensure every New Jersey child is receiving a quality education, Governor Chris Christie today joined with Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) Executive Director Geoffrey Canada to announce an expanded Promise Communities initiative and partnership between HCZ and the Christie Administration. This broader initiative builds on and expands to other New Jersey communities the pilot program being developed between New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC), a nonprofit community organization in the City of Paterson, and HCZ to empower community-based organizations, to help schools advance and operate more efficiently, and to break down the “silos of government,” ensuring a more efficient and coordinated use of resources toward a common goal of positive outcomes for children. Governor Christie and Mr. Canada made their announcement at NJCDC’s Paterson facility today.

“The Harlem Children’s Zone has shown consistently the potential that can be unleashed in our children and communities when we move beyond the confines of government. In doing so, Geoffrey Canada has led HCZ to become a national model of all that can be accomplished when we put the needs of students before the old ways of doing things,” said Governor Christie. “In partnership with HCZ and the Paterson community, we are moving aggressively to recreate the success of HCZ right here in New Jersey by restructuring and organizing programs that reach across the community under a common goal – improving the lives of children and revitalizing the community.”

Through this expanded partnership, the State, through the Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, will provide assistance to community-based nonprofit organizations in additional cities as part of a Promise Communities initiative. Currently, Harlem Children’s Zone partners with nonprofit community organizations in Newark and Camden to provide technical assistance and guidance in coordinating existing resources among programs inside, outside and across government. The Department of Education is actively working with HCZ to identify opportunities to expand this program to other communities in New Jersey.

“Fundamentally changing the results we are getting in our country’s most distressed communities means taking a completely different approach to how we are educating and providing services to children and their families,” said Geoffrey Canada. “In New Jersey, Governor Christie has shown a serious commitment to transforming urban education in innovative ways that focus on results, not conventions or past practice. I’m pleased to expand our partnership with the Governor and his Administration, work together to identify other communities in New Jersey where transformation can take hold, and help find ways state government can use its resources to get better results for children across the state.”

Building upon core principles of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Promise Communities are designed to create a comprehensive continuum of solutions including educational programs and family and community support systems, with great schools at their center. Utilizing the participation of community partners and stakeholders, including state and local governments, local businesses, higher education institutions, among others, Promise Communities are designed to significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth, from birth through college and onto a career. The Promise Community model emphasizes the need for learning opportunities throughout each day, year, and over the course of a child’s life span, as part of a broader neighborhood revitalization strategy.

In addition, Governor Christie announced that the Administration, via the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, will further its partnership with the Harlem Children’s Zone at the state government level. Geoffrey Canada and HCZ leadership will convene an Advisory Group, led by Acting Secretary for Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks, to interface directly with the Administration and provide critical analysis, guidance and recommendations to further the goals of improving inter-agency coordination, “breaking down silos” at the state government level, and increasing efficiency and accountability in policies and programs benefiting at-risk children.

Acting Secretary for Higher Education Hendricks will assume leadership for these expanded initiatives with the HCZ initiative on behalf of Governor Christie and will work closely with the Commissioners of other key agencies, including the Departments of Education, Children & Families, Labor & Workforce Development, Community Affairs and the Office of Attorney General.

Currently, New Jersey is the only state that has forged a formal partnership with Harlem Children’s Zone. An initiative is already underway in Paterson using the Harlem Children Zone’s successful model to form extensive partnerships with community organizations to rebuild communities and its schools.

Harlem Children’s Zone’s core mission is positive education outcomes for every child through effective schools and community programs, with the final result of graduation from college. The U.S. Department of Education’s highly-touted Promise Neighborhoods initiative is premised upon the HCZ model and designed to ensure that school reform and neighborhood revitalization are interconnected. HCZ utilizes an integrated approach to community renewal that focuses on comprehensive support for children from birth all the way through college.

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Governor Christie’s Record of Protecting and Supporting Children

Governor Christie’s FY2012 Budget reaffirms his commitment to children and families, building upon a proven record of helping the most vulnerable.

Despite Democrats’ political rhetoric to the contrary, Governor Christie’s FY2012 Budget builds on a record of funding critical budget priorities while protecting the most vulnerable New Jerseyans. Legislative Democrats may find it more convenient to distort the facts for election year political gain, but the numbers are clear – Governor Christie has consistently provided resources to fund services supporting the neediest New Jerseyans. 

Early Childhood Intervention Program

Funding for the Early Childhood Intervention Program increased $9.7 million over FY2011, for a total budget of $92.593 million.
o The program supports families with children from birth to age three with developmental delays and disabilities. Services include developmental intervention, speech, physical and occupational therapy and other services necessary to achieve their full potential.

21,292 children received services in FY2010.

Federally Qualified Health Centers

Funding increased $6.4 million to $46.4 million to New Jersey’s network of community health centers, which provide health care to the uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid and Medicare recipients at 100 sites across the state.
Department of Health and Senior Services funding reimburses Federally Qualified Health Centers for the care they provide to the uninsured.
Protected Reimbursement rate at $101 per uninsured visit.

Aid to Hospitals

Funding to hospitals increased by $20 million to $675 million and will be distributed under a new formula to all 72 New Jersey hospitals for the care they provide to the uninsured.
The funding formula was revised to make it more transparent, predictable and equitable for the benefit of New Jersey’s 72 hospitals.
For the first time, the formula was made available to hospitals and the Legislature in February, rather than in June or July. This increased transparency in hospital funding allows hospitals to plan more effectively.

Special Child Health Services Case Management

State and federal funding for Special Child Health Services was protected at $3.3 million.
Counties provide case management services to 12,000 medically fragile children birth through age 21 in need assistance to access comprehensive health services.
Eligible children without insurance get assistance with hearing aids, orthotics, prosthesis and pharmaceuticals to treat asthma and/or cystic fibrosis.

Autism Registry

$500,000 was preserved for the Autism Registry, which makes it easier for families to be connected to the appropriate diagnostic, treatment and support services in their communities.
More than 6,000 children have been registered and it is expected that approximately 1,200 children will be registered each year.
Once registered, families are referred to a county case manager who works with the family and helps them to access available services.

Department of Children and Families

· The FY2012 budget for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is $1.5 billion, with state resources accounting for $1.058 billion with 70% of state dollars or $743 million allocated for adoption subsidy, foster care board payments and therapeutic and support service for children and families.

· Governor Christie yesterday announced that DCF is providing Wynona Lipman House with $537,000 in federal funds in place of the legislative line item providing state funding in the same amount, thus ensuring no interruption in services. This funding from DCF will preserve the important work of Wynona Lipman House as part of a transition plan for its ongoing operations, as DCF will work closely with the House’s Board of Directors and staff, Essex County government, and other stakeholders to develop a long-term funding model.

· $419 million in funding for the Division of Youth and Services which provides for:

o Over 13,000 youth in permanent adoptive homes;

o Approximately 7,200 youth in out-of-home placement;

o Support services for children in their own homes and in out of home placements;

o Coordinated health care planning for children in out of home placement.

· The FY2012 Budget provides continuation funding for a $100,000 increase for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) approved by this administration in FY2011.

· The budget also allowed for the re-programming of existing resources for the following initiatives:

o Expanded a summer housing internship program for 30 aging out youth;

o Expanded supervised therapeutic visitation to promote better permanency outcomes.

· $265 million allocated for Division of Child Behavioral Health Services programs which provides for:

o Approximately 40,000 children in our behavioral health system of care;

o Mobile Response and Stabilization Services;

o Community Based Outpatient/Partial Care/Partial Hospitalization services;

o Behavioral Assistance and Intensive In-Home Community services;

o Community Based Residential Services;

o Re-programmed existing resources for the following initiatives:

§ Expanded residential services to support youth with co-occurring needs (Developmentally Disabled Mentally Ill);

§ Support for Youth Suicide Prevention Hotline.

· $58.8 million for Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships:

o Including funding for 37 neighborhood-based Family Success Centers that are serving more than 45,000 families;

o Early Childhood Services with home visiting programs serving approximately 4,000 families;

o Domestic Violence Prevention Services;

o School Linked Services.

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Governor Christie Affirms Commitment to Strengthening Cities With Proper Oversight and Accountability

Trenton, NJ – Continuing his commitment to strengthening New Jersey’s urban cities and distressed municipalities through oversight, guidance and accountability, Governor Christie today committed himself to signing legislation proposed by his Administration that restores Transitional Aid funding and provides permanent, necessary accountability and oversight of the program. Under the Governor’s proposal, changes would be codified in statute to provide the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) with the resources and staff needed to properly oversee the Transitional Aid program.

“When I took office, I pledged to change the culture of Trenton and end the practice of unchecked waste of taxpayer dollars. Legislative Democrats’ efforts to eliminate oversight and accountability for Transitional Aid through the Department of Community Affairs was a misguided effort that would have returned us to the days of Trenton as a free-flowing spigot for taxpayer dollars where no one asked questions,” said Governor Christie. “I stand ready to work with the leadership in the Legislature on Transitional Aid funds, but only under the oversight of a properly resourced DCA. I will sign into law the bill I am proposing today that restores funding in the Transitional Aid program and that provides the resources for DCA to continue its vital work overseeing and enforcing accountability in the program, and serving as a partner with urban cities and distressed municipalities.”

Governor Christie is calling on the Legislature to codify oversight language in statute to ensure it is a permanent, foundational aspect of the Transitional Aid to Localities program, while also restoring funding in the program. Proper levels of oversight and accountability are critical to ensuring that Transitional Aid is indeed temporary as the State government works with recipient municipalities to implement needed reforms and efficiencies. The expenditure of state taxpayer dollars in the program must go hand in hand with proper accountability of those funds. By putting this oversight in statute, oversight and accountability of the aid program will be ongoing and no longer dependent on the whims and product of the annual budget debate and appropriations act.

For twenty-five years, the State’s distressed municipalities have received ever-increasing levels of state taxpayer support, above and beyond that provided by State municipal aid. These programs were provided with little to no State oversight, accountability or guidance. The general result was that distressed municipalities came to rely on these funds in their budgets as an annual appropriation and had no incentive to improve their fiscal management or regain their financial footing.

Upon taking office, Governor Christie has acted on a commitment to aggressively work as a partner with distressed municipalities and to implement responsible management practices, increase accountability and transition toward self-reliance and away from the need for additional state taxpayer funds.

The Christie Administration has aggressively overseen the Transitional Aid to Localities Program through efforts such as:

• Setting and enforcing conditions for the receipt of aid through Memorandums of Understanding;

• Implementing a meaningful, rigorous application process for aid awards where none existed before;

• Requiring regular oversight meetings with DCA and municipal officials to monitor the use of funds and efforts to control costs;

• Utilizing staff to consult with municipalities and assist with professional reviews of municipal operations;

• Advising and consulting with municipal cost-saving initiatives, including police and fire department restructuring to reduce overhead and ensure public safety programs are both efficient and effective;

• Requiring DCA approval for employee hiring;

• Denying non-essential hires, raises, contracts and expenditures and unnecessary travel.

In order for the Transitional Aid program to remain successful, the State must continue to maintain oversight of these transitional funds, and work cooperatively with municipalities in order to guide municipalities in their transition off of state taxpayer subsidies.

A copy of the Governor’s proposed legislation to restore oversight to Transitional Aid can be found here.

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Kyrillos: “Is it Ever Enough for Trenton Democrats?”

Majority’s Rhetoric Ignores Increased Funding for Vulnerable New Jerseyans

Trenton– At the close of Day Two of the Senate Majority’s attempt to hoodwink New Jersey taxpayers ahead of the November elections, Senator Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth/Middlesex) said that only to a Trenton Democrat could funding increases in key programs for vulnerable and needy New Jerseyans constitute “cruel” funding reductions:

Democrats still have not given us a source of funding for all of the added spending they’ve voted on in the last two days that doesn’t require taxpayers to close their eyes and make believe.

After all, it’s far more effective on the campaign trail for the Democrats to make outlandish promises the taxpayers cannot possibly keep, pass a budget that is nearly $1 billion in the red, and then all anyone who dare be responsible and support balancing that budget cruel and mean-spirited.

Despite having to clean up the Democrats’ mess, Governor Christie increased funding over Governor Corzine’s last budget for schools by $804 million, Medicaid by $982 million, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families by $47 million, hospitals by $31 million, senior property tax relief by $58 million, adoption subsidies by $16 million, and the list goes on and on.

The only people who put funding for those in need in jeopardy were the members of the Majority by supporting a budget that spent hundreds of millions of dollars more than the state takes in. A fantasy budget that promises the world but cannot deliver is the cruelest act of all.

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Governor Chris Christie Announces Education Allocation Plan Which Increases School Funding for Every District in New Jersey

Trenton, NJ – Furthering Governor Christie’s commitment to providing the resources and reform to improve education for every New Jersey child, the Christie Administration announced today the allocation plan for $850 million in new aid authorized for New Jersey schools in the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. This commitment to education includes the Governor’s initial $250 million increase for all school districts, as well as an additional $450 million for the Abbott districts, and an additional $150 million for non-Abbott districts. With this new funding, total state aid to education will be higher in Fiscal Year 2012 than it was when Governor Christie took office.

“This year, New Jersey increased state aid to school districts by $850 million over last year, restoring every dollar of the cuts we were forced to make last year and increasing aid by an additional $30 million. We are keeping faith with our commitment to New Jersey’s children and families, spending more money per pupil on New Jersey’s students than almost any other state in the country,” said Governor Christie. “Now is the time to complement the dollars spent with real education reform to bring a focus on student learning, accountability and results.”

Today’s funding includes an additional $450 million for the 31 Abbott districts, which fully funds them under the School Funding Reform Act formula, and an additional $150 million for non-Abbott districts, doubling the increase that the Governor had already approved in February as part of his Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. This increase in education aid will provide important property tax relief to New Jerseyans as the state increases its support for local schools.

“Being able to provide additional education funding to districts this year further affirms this Administration’s commitment to ensuring each and every child in New Jersey receives a quality education,” said Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf. “It is now time to focus on aggressive education reform, concentrating on improving standards, assessments, and curriculum; strengthening the use of performance and accountability data; improving educator effectiveness; and investing in innovative models of educational delivery.”

Governor Christie is committed to making 2011 the year of education reform. He has put forward a Reform Agenda that brings necessary and long overdue changes to the public education system that focuses on accountability, makes teacher effectiveness and student achievement the driving forces behind public policies and practices, empowers parents with greater school choice, and expands high quality public charter schools in New Jersey to ensure that every child in our state has access to a quality education and achieves the results they deserve.

The county and school district allocation lists can be viewed at: http://www.state.nj.us/education/stateaid/1112/

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WHAT IS SO POLITICAL ABOUT VOTERS ACTUALLY GETTING TO VOTE FOR MAYOR?

Nothing, says Neptune Government 4 All.   It is our core belief that having a vote in who your elected officials are, is basic to democracy.   Right now, the mayor is a one year (virtually) rotating post!   That’s not democracy at its best!  And, that’s why NG4A, a non-partisan group, decided to get together and initiate this effort to put a change of government question on the ballot this November.

Right now, the executive and legislative functions are combined and secretive.  Who is watching the store?  The politicians are in on the deal and the taxpayers are left out.  As it stands now, the Mayor is selected behind closed doors.  Direct voter election of the Mayor should be the right of the people. 

Yet recently, NG4A has seen some disturbing, albeit expected, push back from those same elected officials via comments in the media, in an attempt to keep their system of patronage in place. These elected officials are suggesting this grass roots movement is nothing more than politics,

It’s simply about a change to a better system,” said NG4A’s Luke Tirell. “We’re working to get the question on the ballot and give the voters the right to choose their mayor. We’re already seeing that when Neptune voters learn about the benefits of this change, they overwhelmingly support it.”.

NG4A is also hearing from residents that they would like to have their own neighborhood council members. They would be better able to address the important issues all across Neptune: crime in Midtown, parking in Ocean Grove, speeding in Shark River Hills, as well as development along the Route 66 corridor in West Neptune.  To have only five minutes in front of a podium twice a month at a council meeting does not allow residents the opportunity to fully address those needs.  Instead, having a Council person from their own neighborhood and accountable to those voters allows for more effective attention to local issues, in addition to the big picture issues.

“Is Neptune Township not right for the same style of government that Old Bridge, Piscataway Township, and many other municipalities use?” asked NG4A’s Charlie Demaria, “Neptune, much like Piscataway, is a very diverse community made up of a number of very different neighborhoods, each with its own unique needs.”

On the NG4A website, www.ng4a.net there is a list of nearly all of those municipalities, both small and large, that use the Mayor-Council form of government.

DeMaria continued, “Neighborhood representation in our local government and direct voter election of the Mayor will result in a more accountable and cost effective government for Neptune taxpayers. Change like this will benefit the taxpayers. It’s not about politics, it’s about empowerment.”

The suggestion that the people’s right to vote for a mayor is outweighed by some small financial cost to place it on the ballot is not right. There actually is no great cost in placing this on the ballot.

Most importantly, over the next few weeks, Neptune Government 4 All will be talking about the benefits of this plan, especially how it will benefit the taxpayers. All you have to do is go to our website, www.ng4a.net to find the fact sheets.

No sound bites, just facts.

Visit www.ng4a.net for more information and let us know that you want to sign the petition. Send a message that you support full democracy and the voter’s right to choose on the November ballot.

This Neptune citizens’ plan for a change to neighborhood representation will put taxpayers first.  We can’t afford not to change.

If you are interested in helping this grass roots, non-partisan, initiative, email us at: [email protected].  You’ll see how non partisan we are!

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NJEA’s tax lien troubles: State teachers union owes nearly $57,000 in back taxes

Union wants higher taxes, but doesn’t pay its own

Hat tip to Mark Kalinowski at dukeoveramerica.com

An investigation into the state’s largest teachers union finds that the Internal Revenue Service has an outstanding lien against the New Jersey Education Association for $56,730.31 in back taxes.

The lien involves unpaid taxes from as far back as 2005, though most of the teacher union’s unpaid taxes are from 2009 and 2010.

The federal tax lien was issued against the NJEA on December 7, 2010, and has been on file with the Passaic County Clerk’s office since December 21, 2010.

The investigation was conducted by Education Action Group with the assistance of Mark Kalinowski, founder of North New Jersey Tea Party Group which is based in Passaic County.

The NJEA recently settled two other IRS tax liens totaling $16,581. One of those tax liens involved $13,885.76 in unpaid taxes, going back to 2005 and 2006. That lien was released by the Passaic County Clerk’s office on January 6, 2011.

The other lien, totaling $2,696, was filed on October 13, 2010 and was released by the Union County Clerk’s office on May 3, 2011.

All told, the NJEA has been dragged its feet in paying $73,311 in federal taxes, even as union leaders never misses an opportunity to call for higher taxes on their fellow citizens. The NJEA recently aired a TV ad excoriating Gov. Chris Christie for giving “a tax break to millionaires” while cutting school funding.

The teachers union also opposed efforts to limit annual property tax increases to 2.9 percent.

But this investigation has revealed the NJEA’s hypocrisy on taxation.

“For years, the NJEA has championed higher taxes for most New Jersey residents,” said Kyle Olson, CEO of Education Action Group. “And for years, the NJEA hasn’t paid some of its obligations.

“The NJEA has a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ approach to paying taxes. That’s something for New Jersey taxpayers to keep in mind the next time they hear the NJEA call for a tax hike. The NJEA doesn’t miss an opportunity to lecture taxpayers about the need to pay more, but has the gall to carry tax liens.

“The hypocritical union has no place demanding taxpayers cough up more when it doesn’t even have its own financial house in order.”

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BECK FLIPS POSITION ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY DUE TO POLITICS

The ultimate hypocrisy – voters in the 11th District are tired of professional politicians who play the public

The following is a statement issued by 11th District Democratic Senate Candidate Ray Santiago in response to a July 3rd Courier Post news report that incumbent Senator Jennifer Beck will flip her position on marriage equality:

“News this weekend that Senator Beck will now support marriage equality after voting against it when all of New Jersey was watching is not shocking to anyone who has followed Beck’s career as a professional politician. She now faces a district which includes Asbury Park, Ocean Grove & other LGBT friendly areas – a new district which has 10,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans – therefore, it should come as no surprise that Senator Beck is flipping her position only due to politics.

The reality is that New Jersey taxpayers are tired of hypocritical, professional politicians who change their positions based on the political climate. Republicans, Democrats and all New Jerseyians should be tired of politicians who play the public. It is not like the Senator opposed marriage equality because it is in her belief system, it was simply due to the politics of a new district.This is an issue of human rights and Senator Beck plays politics – She voted against marriage equality not once, but twice – once in the judiciary committee and a second time on the floor of the senate and now because of a new district, she claims she supports it.

When it mattered most and the world was watching, Senator Beck decided to appease Chris Christie and her Tea Party base. All New Jerseyians who support human rights and full marriage equality for all of our brothers and sisters in the LGBT community will see through Beck’s incredible hypocrisy.

I have and always will support full marriage equality for all New Jerseyians and 11th district residents can be assured that I will not change my position based on politics. Marriage equality is a human rights issue which I will fight day and night for until it becomes law. It is a sad day to see a New Jersey state senator play politics on an issue of human rights.”

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