The NJDSC Week In Review for March 1, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review. 

Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

Governor Christie Introduces 2014 Budget

• Governor Christie gave his 2014 Budget Address to the Legislature on February 26.
• Senator Buono responded with criticism regarding Governor Christie's budget failures over the last three years.  She also appeared on NJTV to discuss the speech.
• The governor's speech failed to address the $473 million gap New Jersey is facing for the current fiscal year's budget, a gap caused by Governor Christie's overly optimistic revenue estimates.
• Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski pointed out that Christie also failed to acknowledge that his budget relies upon federal funding, including funds for Sandy recovery, that will be cut if Congress does not act to overturn sequestration.
• The Senate and Assembly budget committees will hold a series of public hearings next week on the budget.

Communications Workers of America Endorse Barbara Buono!

• The state's largest union, which represents 35,000 state employees, endorsed Buono's campaign for governor on Friday.
• CWA State Director Hetty Rosenstein said, "With one in 10 residents out of a job, now more than ever New Jersey needs leaders who will look out for working families and the middle class.  Our Locals overwhelmingly voted to support Barbara Buono for governor because she understands and is on the side of middle-class families."
• Blue Jersey has video of the endorsement event.

Emily's List Endorses Barbara Buono!

• Emily's List, a national group that supports the election of pro-choice Democratic women, called out Governor Christie saying,"He's anti-choice, anti-equal pay, and doles out billions of dollars in tax breaks to corporations while hammering working families with massive cuts to education and healthcare."
• The following day, Emily's List endorsed Senator Barbara Buono in her campaign for New Jersey governor.
• Emily's List's President Stephanie Schriock wrote an editorial for Politico laying out "The Case Against Chris Christie."

Sequestration- Another Crisis Caused By Republican Intransigence 

• House Republicans refused to work with President Obama and Democrats to avoid sequestration, which took effect March 1. 
• The devastating cuts will include $2.5 billion in Sandy aid, according to Senator Menendez.
• The cuts to defense and security spending will also mean longer waits at the airport, up to 25% fewer flights, and furloughs for civilian employees at military bases.
• Congressman Pascrell called out Governor Christie for throwing partisan punches instead of "talking sense into his allies in Congress.”
  

Democrats Want Stricter Gun Laws in New Jersey

• After the Assembly passed a package of bills designed to strengthen New Jersey's gun laws, former Governor Jim Florio spoke out in support tougher gun laws.
• The New Jersey Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, came out in support of the three measures that specifically deal with gun safety and schools: One bill would prohibit the state from investing pension or annuity funds in companies that make or sell firearms for civilian use. The other two would authorizie municipalities to establish weapons-free zones around schools and create a 15-member task force to study issues of school security.

March is Women's History Month!

• Chairman Wisniewski released the following statement regarding the celebration: 
  “March marks the celebration of Women’s History Month.  100 years ago, New Jersey’s Alice Paul was leading women from across the country to fight for their right to vote.  Her fight, for women to be treated equally under the law, is unfortunately a fight women still must wage today.
  
  Governor Chris Christie’s tenure has been harmful for women in the state of New Jersey.  He has vetoed millions of dollars in women’s health funding.  Women in New Jersey still make just 79 cents for every dollar men make, yet Christie rejected legislation to ensure that women get equal pay for equal work.  He does not believe women have the right to choose.  Lesbian couples have no right to marry in New Jersey because Christie vetoed marriage equality.  The women of New Jersey deserve better.
  
  So, as we celebrate Women’s History Month and honor the women who contributed to our state and our country, we should also remember that we have the opportunity to make women’s history this year: by electing Senator Barbara Buono as the first Democratic woman to serve as New Jersey’s Governor.”
• Blue Jersey highlighted the historic 1913 Women's Suffrage Procession, led by Alice Paul.

Governor Ted Strickland Comes To New Jersey

The former Ohio Governor will serve as keynote speaker at the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's Annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner.  Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

The NJDSC Week In Review for February 22, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review. 

Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

Climate Report Says More Sandy-like Storms to Come...Christie Unconcerned With Cause...

• Climate change will make these storms both more frequent and more intense, says a National Climate Assement report.
• Yet Governor Christie doesn't think considering the cause of these storms is an important part of rebuilding after Sandy...  Guess he still wants to appeal to the right-wing science deniers.
• Speaking of Sandy, it appears that Christie's no-bid contract with Florida firm AshBritt (the company that acts as a middle-man to subcontract debris removal at near double the prices of most of its competitors) may cost New Jersey millions in federal funding.

Christie Should Accept Medicaid Funding

• While even the most far-right governors from around the country, like Florida's Rick Scott, are accepting the funding, Christie has still refused to declare whether New Jersey will accept federal Medicaid funding to expand coverage in New Jersey.
• The Star-Ledger editorial board says "We’re out of patience. New Jersey is being offered a lot of money to expand its Medicaid coverage as part of Obamacare, and Gov. Chris Christie still hasn’t said whether he’ll accept it.  It would be crazy not to..."

Buono Earns More Endorsements

• This week, Senator Barbara Buono received a couple more endorsements in her bid for New Jersey Governor.
• The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey endorsed her, saying, "Throughout her career, Senator Buono has stood by labor issues.  She has been a vocal advocate for fair wages. She has fought to protect health care benefits and pensions. New Jersey needs a governor who is focused on middle class priorities. As someone from working class roots, Senator Buono has always fought for the middle class.”
• She also recieved the endorsement of the Middlesex and Somerset Counties AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.  President Tom Tighe said  “For three years, Governor Christie has done nothing to reduce the highest property taxes in the country and led New Jersey to the 4th highest employment. Instead, his trickle-down economics look out for millionaires at the expense of the middle class. As I have known Senator Buono for a decade, I can confidently say that Senator Buono is the only gubernatorial candidate who will fight for New Jersey workers and their families. Senator Buono has championed fair tax rates and affordable higher education. She has worked hard to create and keep good paying jobs in our state. And she understands the struggle the middle class faces because she has lived it.”
   

Under the Dome

• Legislation from Assemblyman John Wisniewski to allow New Jersey voters to cast their votes at specially designated polling places starting up to five weeks before a primary or general election, and ending on the Sunday before Election Day is moving through the legislature.
• The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee approved a series of measures to have independent monitors oversee billions of dollars of federal aid flowing into the state for Hurricane Sandy recovery and to help show how the money is being spent.
• In an effort to support military families and ease their transition into New Jersey, Senators Linda Greenstein and Jim Beach have sponsored legislation that would allow qualified military spouses to teach in New Jersey while completing additional requirements for teacher certification. 
• Assemblyman Reed Gusciora says that Democratic leaders in both the Senate and the Assembly are committed to holding a gay marriage veto override vote before the end of the current legislative term.  
• Led by Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, the General Assembly passed 22 bills aimed at curbing gun violence.
• Senate President Steve Sweeney says that the Senate will take up gun control measures before the end of April.
• The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee considered legislation from Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg  that would allow witnesses of sexually violent crimes to be among those notified when the person responsible is released from custody.
• Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald wrote an editorial for the Star-Ledger calling for sensible ways to curb gun violence.

Congressional Corner

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• Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez announced that Little Egg Harbor, the City of Margate, the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority, and the New Jersey State Police will receive more than $15 million in federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The funds will reimburse these local and state entities for cleanup and emergency protective efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg is leading a group of 23 Senators in calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate whether flame retardant chemicals found in everyday household products put Americans’ health at risk.
• For the fourth consecutive year, Senator Bob Menendez received a 100% on the League of Conservations Voters’ (LCV) National Environmental Scorecard. 
• Congressman Rob Andrews announced that the Gloucester County and Camden City housing authorities will receive over $83,000 in federal funds to help put people in South Jersey back to work.  
• Congressman Frank Pallone announced $524,313 in new federal funding to Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) in New Brunswick, New Jersey. 
• Congressman Albio Sires was selected by his peers on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to serve as the Vice Chair of the Immigration Task Force for the 113th Congress. 
• Congressman Bill Pascrell was in Teterboro to promote the "Bring Jobs Home Act," which would a remove business expense tax deductions for companies moving overseas, replacing them with a tax credit that amounts to 20 percent of the costs of relocating production back to the United States. The House version of the measure was introduced during the last session of Congress but never came to a vote. He plans on reintroducing it to the floor on Monday.
• Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. praised the opening of Baxter Park, a nearly $32 million, 90-unit mixed income rental property in Newark – once a place to avoid, now a beacon of hope for the Broad Street Station District.
• Congressman Rush Holt announced an upcoming series of “Community Office Hours” in towns throughout Central New Jersey.

Events 

• February 26 
  Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver Annual Breakfast 
  9:00am-11:00am 
  Trenton Country Club ( 201 Sullivan Way, West Trenton)
• February 26
  Breakfast Reception for Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula
  9:00 AM-10:30 AM
  Mastoris (144 US Highway 130, Bordentown)
  $350
  RSVP: (732) 447-4329 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• February 27
  Annual Chairman's Club Fundraiser for the Union County Democratic Committee
  6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  Costa's Restaurant (120 Chestnut Street, Roselle Park)
  $250
  Contact: Joe Bodek, (908) 693-8056
• February 28
  Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski's Cocktail Dinner Reception
  The Grand Marquis (1550 Route 9 South Old Bridge)
  6 - 8 PM | $750
  RSVP by February 20, 2013 to 732-525-1400 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• February 28
  Campaign Kick Off of Assemblyman Reed Gusciora: Chinese New Year Celebration
  6:00-8:00 PM
  Hunan Chinese Restaurant (157 Witherspoon St., Princeton)
  Lai-See Club - $50, Plum Blossom Club- $100, Secret Snake Club - $250
  RSVP info, use .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and/or #609-661-0377 for any questions. 
  Checks payable to: Election Fund of Reed Gusciora, PO Box 688, Trenton, NJ 08604 
• March 1
  Women’s History Month Gala
  Hosted by: Chairman Philip Thigpen, Vice Chairwoman Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, Essex County Democratic Committee & Essex County Democratic Women
  Honoring: Michellene Davis, Esq., Yolanda Méndez, Kate Hartwyk, Linda Wickliffe-Farid 
  With Special Guest Senator Barbara Buono
  7PM
  Mayfair Farms (481 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange)
  Contribution: $100
  RSVP to Roslyn Smith 973. 622. 8300
• March 2
  Passaic County Sheriff’s Community Outreach Foundation’s Family Bowling Night
  5:00pm-9:00pm
  Parkway Lanes, (200 Route 46 East, Elmwood Park)
  Adults $25pp & Children $15pp
  Contact B. Tanis 973-715-1098
• March 7
  Fundraiser for Assemblywoman Linda Stender 
  8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
  Mastori's Restaurant (144 US Hwy 130, Bordentown)
  $300
  Contact: Ed Oatman, (732) 841-8540
• March 11
  Representative Rush Holt’s Dinner Reception
  6:00 – 8:00 PM
  71 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing, New Jersey 08628
  Individual Contribution Levels (per person): $250 Guest, $500 Friend, $1,000 Co-Host,$2,600 Benefactor
  For more information, please contact Annie O’Toole at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (609) 799-0800
• March 11
  Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.'s Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration
  6:30 to 8:30 pm
  $350 Shamrock Sponsorship Per Person, $500 Emerald Sponsorship Per Person, $1,000 Per PAC
  For directions call 973-595-8582
  RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 973-618-0600, Or contribute online at www.pascrellforcongress.com
• March 13
  Fundraiser for Assemblyman Craig Coughlin
  8:30 AM- 10:00 AM
  Shannon Rose Irish Pub (855 St. Georges Avenue, Woodbridge)
  Traditional Irish breakfast
  $350
  Contact: Judy Valdes at (732) 599-1213 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• March 22-23
  The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) presents Ready to Run™
  A bi-partisan program for women who want to run for office, work on a campaign, get appointed, or learn more about politics. 
  Featuring prominent elected and appointed leaders, campaign consultants, and party officials. 
  Two tracks: “I’m Ready to Run, Now What?” for women planning to run for office soon, and  “I’m Not Ready to Run Yet, But…” for those interested in learning about the ways to get involved. 
  Special preconference programs for women of color are on March 22nd. 
  For more details or to register, visit: www.cawp.rutgers.edu/ReadytoRun.
• April 4
  The New Jersey Democratic State Committee’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner
  * 6pm VIP Reception * 6pm Cocktail Reception * 7pm Plated Dinner
  The Heldrich (10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick)
  Jeffersonian Patron--Table of 10 with 10 VIP tickets and Gold Ad Journal Page
  Jacksonian Patron--Half Table (5) with 5 VIP tickets and Silver Ad Journal Page
  Benefactor--2 Dinner and VIP Tickets and Full Ad Journal Page
  VIP--one ticket to Dinner and VIP
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
• May 16- May 18
  The 17th New Jersey Democratic State Conference and Meeting
  This three day gathering is one of the highlights of the year for New Jersey Democrats, as we get together to plan for the coming election year and have a little bit of fun!
  Bally's Atlantic City  (Park Place and the Boardwalk, Atlantic City)
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
  You can also reserve your hotel room at our reduced room rates at $65 for May 16th and $119 for May 17th. 
  Questions? Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call Heather at (609) 392-3367

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

We will continue to have updates about news and events 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

The NJDSC Week In Review for February 15, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review. 

Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

Senator Frank Lautenberg Announced That He Will Retire at the End of His Term

• Senator Lautenberg has served New Jersey in the United States Senate for 5 terms.  He is the last remaining World War II veteran in the Senate and will leave the chamber at the end of 2014.
• The Senator's lengthy accomplishments throughout his Senate career can be found on his website.  Thank you, Senator Lautenberg!
• In his announcement in Paterson on Friday, Senator Lautenberg said, “I will be continuing on my mission to do the right things whenever I can.”
• The Senator was roundly praised by his colleagues and friends:
• New Jersey Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski said, "Senator Frank Lautenberg has been an extraordinary public servant, representing the people of New Jersey in the United States Senate for five terms.  New Jersey is better for having had Senator Lautenberg represent us in Washington and I thank him for his service."
• Senator Bob Menendez said, "Frank Lautenberg has always known what it means to pursue the American dream and to keep that dream alive for his fellow Americans. New Jerseyans have always known Frank for his straight talk and hard work. His legislative accomplishments are many and some – such as prohibiting domestic violence offenders from possessing guns, and stopping federal aid to terrorist nations - have been ground breaking. I look forward to working with him during the next two years to add to those accomplishments."
• Congressman Bill Pascrell said, "He’s a Patersonian. He’s been a good friend for many, many, many years... He’s helped a lot of people. Done a lot of charity. He’s going to be missed."
• Congressman Frank Pallone said, "He has had an indelible impact on some of the most important issues facing New Jersey and our nation throughout his tenure."
• Congressman Rush Holt said, "There is no one in New Jersey history quite like Frank R. Lautenberg," Holt said in a statement. "He is a true champion for New Jersey, an effective advocate and skillful politician, and someone who has never forgotten his roots or the valuable role that government can play in helping people."
• Senate President Steven Sweeney said the Senator is "someone who never backed down when it came to the issues that mattered most to our state. I look forward to working with him in the months ahead to continue to advance the priorities that will improve our state's economy and the lives of New Jersey's middle-class and working families."
• Senator Barbara Buono said Lautenberg "has always exemplified what it means to be a public servant. New Jerseyans have been lucky to have such a distinguished elected official represent our state's interests in Washington, and he will be sorely missed."
• Mayor Cory Booker said, "Senator Lautenberg has been a strong model of leadership and service to me since before I even considered entering elected office.  More recently, as mayor he has been an invaluable partner in so many of Newark's recent accomplishments and successes. I look forward to continuing to work with him for the remainder of his term in senate and for many years to come."
• President Barack Obama said, "Frank is a steadfast champion of the people of New Jersey," Obama said in a statement. "Throughout his time in the Senate, Frank has fought tirelessly for workers, veterans, members of our military and their families, and immigrants, and he continues to make extraordinary contributions to our nation's safety, and the health and welfare of our citizens."

President Obama Delivers His 5th State of the Union

• New Jersey 101.5 was among the news organizations to publish the full text of the speech.
• President Obama's top priority is to create lasting economic growth and prosperity in our country by strengthening our middle class.
• The President pushed to raise the federal minimum wage to $9/hr and tie future raises to the cost of living.  He said, "No one who works full time should have to live in poverty." Guess Governor Christie doesn't agree, as he rejected the legislature's attempt to raise New Jersey's minimum wage and tie it to the Consumer Price Index. New Jersey voters will have the opportunity to vote on whether to raise the state minimum wage in November.
•  President Obama closed with an impassioned plea to Congress to hold votes on gun legislation, saying that the victims of gun violence and their survivors (some of whom were in the House Chamber as the First Lady's guests) deserve a vote.

Assembly Committee Approves Gun Legislation

• Following the horrific shootings at Newtown, only one of the all too frequent mass shootings that have plagued our country, people of every political stripe have demanded that we get serious about protecting American lives and pass sensible gun legislation.
• While Governor Christie's only proposal was more talk (an ineffective "violence task force"), Democrats in the legislature are seeking action.
• On Wednesday, the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee approved a series of bills aimed at addressing high capacity magazines, assault rifles, so-called "cop-killer" ammunition, and the availability of weapons to the mentally ill.  That legislation will now be considered by the full General Assembly.
• The legislation also included a provision to ban individuals on the terror watch list from purchasing a gun.  Shockingly, some Assembly Republicans voted no.
• Senator Barbara Buono, Democratic candidate for Governor, praised the Assembly Committee's work and said, "When the Senate reconvenes next week, I will announce legislative proposals to lower the threat of gun violence in our communities. I look forward to working with the assembly to pass an all-inclusive package."  She also appeared in Morristown with hundreds of people rallying to support gun control.

Christie Continues to Side With the Far Right

• While other Republican Governors are acting to implement the provision to expand Medicaid of the Affordable Care Act, Christie continues to stand with governors in states like Alabama and South Carolina in refusing to take action.
• Gordon MacInnes, President of the New Jersey Policy Perspective, says Governor Christie should reverse his course because implementation of Medicaid expansion would mean "at least $10 million in estimated federal funds will be spent in every New Jersey county each year."

Presidents Weekend

• Given the destruction of Superstorm Sandy, many students, teachers, and other New Jersey workers will not celebrate Presidents Day with a day off.  Still, it is important to reflect upon the those who inspired the holiday.
• Chairman Wisniewski issued the following statement regarding Presidents Day:
  
  "Every year, we celebrate Presidents Day near the birthdays of two great Presidents: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  As our first President, Washington unified our fledgling republic and set an example for all those who serve as president after him.  Serving as president during one of the darkest times in our nation’s history, Lincoln fought to keep the country united and demanded that we live up to the promise that ‘all men are created equal.’
  
  Since his election in 2008, President Obama has sought to govern in the spirit of Washington and Lincoln, seeking unity and consensus to move our nation forward.  But Republicans in Congress have taken every opportunity to obstruct President Obama, instigating ideological divisions throughout our United States.   In honor of Presidents Day, I call upon New Jersey’s six Republicans in Congress to put aside partisanship and seek common ground with President Obama as we work to confront the challenges of the 21st century.”

Under the Dome

• Legislation Assembly Democrats Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski, Speaker Sheila Oliver, Patrick Diegnan Jr., Daniel Benson, Herb Conaway, and Craig Coughlin introduced to allow early voting in New Jersey in primary and general elections was advanced Monday by Assembly State Government Committee.
• The General Assembly voted to renew the subpoena power granted to the Assembly Transportation Committee, chaired by Assemblyman John Wisniewski, over the Port Authority for another year.
• Legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and Jim Whelan to fully restore the Earned Income Tax Credit was approved by the Assembly this week and sent to the Governor. 
• The General Assembly voted to implement integrity monitors to review the state’s spending of billions of dollars in federal aid for Hurricane Sandy recovery.
• Senate President Steve Sweeney made the case in The Star-Ledger for integrity monitors to protect against any fraud or abuse of the billions of dollars in Sandy relief aid that New Jersey will receive.
• Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and other Assembly Democrats released a video discussing gun violence prevention.
• Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg addressed a group of parents in Fort Lee to champion stricter gun laws and more resources for mental health in order to ensure safety in public schools.
• Legislation sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, and Assemblyman Daniel Benson to crack down on a double-dipping practice in local government was recently approved by the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee.

Congressional Corner

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• Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez announced that fire departments in Beach Haven, Winfield, and Burlington Township will receive federal grants totaling $263,523.  The funding, awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) programs, allows departments to avoid layoffs, hire and recruit new firefighters, and effectively protect the health and safety of first responders.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg announced his agenda for the next two years.
• Senator Bob Menendez announced, as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, that the committee has approved the North Korea Nonproliferation and Accountability Act of 2013.
• Congressman Frank Pallone introduced legislation to expand sports gaming to New Jersey.
• Congressman Albio Sires gave testimony on the project to raise the Bayonne Bridge.
• Congressman Bill Pascrell announced a $128,320,000 federal grant to the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the repair of roads and highways damaged by the historic storm.  The federal grant, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Relief (ER) Program, is awarded to a State after the President or the Governor issues a formal emergency declaration and the State files a request for ER for the cost of damages to its eligible highways.
• Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. introduced a resolution to designate March 2013 National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness about this highly preventable, yet deadly disease.  He also laid out his priorities for New Jersey’s Tenth Congressional District in an opinion piece, which can be read here.
• Congressman Rush Holt celebrated Charles Darwin's birthday (February 12), writing an article for the Huffington Post to promote scientific thinking. Some of Holt's Republican House colleagues don't even seem to believe in science- perhaps someone could slip them a copy!

Events

• February 21
  Mayor Dr. Alex Blanco’s Birthday Celebration- Honoring Congressman Bill Pascrell
  7:00pm – 11:00pm
  Sevilla Restaurant, (505 Main Avenue, Passaic)
  $100
  Contact Wilfredo Baez, 973-336-4047
• February 26 
  Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver Annual Breakfast 
  9:00am-11:00am 
  Trenton Country Club ( 201 Sullivan Way, West Trenton)
• February 27
  Annual Chairman's Club Fundraiser for the Union County Democratic Committee
  6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  Costa's Restaurant (120 Chestnut Street, Roselle Park)
  $250
  Contact: Joe Bodek, (908) 693-8056
• February 28
  Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski's Cocktail Dinner Reception
  The Grand Marquis (1550 Route 9 South Old Bridge)
  6 - 8 PM | $750
  RSVP by February 20, 2013 to 732-525-1400 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• February 28
  Campaign Kick Off of Assemblyman Reed Gusciora: Chinese New Year Celebration
  6:00-8:00 PM
  Hunan Chinese Restaurant (157 Witherspoon St., Princeton)
  Lai-See Club - $50, Plum Blossom Club- $100, Secret Snake Club - $250
  RSVP info, use .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and/or #609-661-0377 for any questions. 
  Checks payable to: Election Fund of Reed Gusciora, PO Box 688, Trenton, NJ 08604 
• March 1
  Women’s History Month Gala
  Hosted by: Chairman Philip Thigpen, Vice Chairwoman Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, Essex County Democratic Committee & Essex County Democratic Women
  Honoring: Michellene Davis, Esq., Yolanda Méndez, Kate Hartwyk, Linda Wickliffe-Farid
  With Special Guest Senator Barbara Buono
  7PM
  Mayfair Farms (481 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange)
  Contribution: $100
  RSVP to Roslyn Smith 973. 622. 8300
• March 2
  Passaic County Sheriff’s Community Outreach Foundation’s Family Bowling Night
  5:00pm-9:00pm
  Parkway Lanes, (200 Route 46 East, Elmwood Park)
  Adults $25pp & Children $15pp
  Contact B. Tanis 973-715-1098
• March 7
  Fundraiser for Assemblywoman Linda Stender
  8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
  Mastori's Restaurant (144 US Hwy 130, Bordentown)
  $300
  Contact: Ed Oatman, (732) 841-8540
• March 11
  Representative Rush Holt’s Dinner Reception
  6:00 – 8:00 PM
  71 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing, New Jersey 08628
  Individual Contribution Levels (per person): $250 Guest, $500 Friend, $1,000 Co-Host,$2,600 Benefactor
  For more information, please contact Annie O’Toole at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (609) 799-0800
• March 11
  Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.'s Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration
  6:30 to 8:30 pm
  $350 Shamrock Sponsorship Per Person, $500 Emerald Sponsorship Per Person, $1,000 Per PAC
  For directions call 973-595-8582
  RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 973-618-0600, Or contribute online at www.pascrellforcongress.com
• March 13
  Fundraiser for Assemblyman Craig Coughlin
  8:30 AM- 10:00 AM
  Shannon Rose Irish Pub (855 St. Georges Avenue, Woodbridge)
  Traditional Irish breakfast
  $350
  Contact: Judy Valdes at (732) 599-1213 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• March 22-23
  The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) presents Ready to Run™
  A bi-partisan program for women who want to run for office, work on a campaign, get appointed, or learn more about politics.
  Featuring prominent elected and appointed leaders, campaign consultants, and party officials.
  Two tracks: “I’m Ready to Run, Now What?” for women planning to run for office soon, and  “I’m Not Ready to Run Yet, But…” for those interested in learning about the ways to get involved.
  Special preconference programs for women of color are on March 22nd.
  For more details or to register, visit: www.cawp.rutgers.edu/ReadytoRun.
• April 4
  The New Jersey Democratic State Committee’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner
  * 6pm VIP Reception * 6pm Cocktail Reception * 7pm Plated Dinner
  The Heldrich (10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick)
  Jeffersonian Patron--Table of 10 with 10 VIP tickets and Gold Ad Journal Page
  Jacksonian Patron--Half Table (5) with 5 VIP tickets and Silver Ad Journal Page
  Benefactor--2 Dinner and VIP Tickets and Full Ad Journal Page
  VIP--one ticket to Dinner and VIP
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
• May 16- May 18
  The 17th New Jersey Democratic State Conference and Meeting
  This three day gathering is one of the highlights of the year for New Jersey Democrats, as we get together to plan for the coming election year and have a little bit of fun!
  Bally's Atlantic City  (Park Place and the Boardwalk, Atlantic City)
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
  You can also reserve your hotel room at our reduced room rates at $65 for May 16th and $119 for May 17th. 
  Questions? Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call Heather at (609) 392-3367

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

We will continue to have updates about news and events 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

The NJDSC Week In Review for February 8, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review. 

Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

With this winter storm bearing down on New Jersey, please stay inside with your friends and loved ones and stay safe!

Catch Chairman John Wisniewski on News12's Power and Politics This Weekend!

• Wisniewski squared off against Republican Assemblyman Jon Bramnick.

• The show airs on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 am, 12:30 pm, and 4:30 pm.

Senator Barbara Buono Kicks Off Campaign!

• On Saturday, Senator Barbara Buono officially kicked off her campaign for Governor at New Brunswick High School in front of a standing room only crowd.

• Before she spoke, Senator Bob Smith, Congressman Frank Pallone, New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Wisniewski, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, Reverend Ronald Owens all spoke about the Senator and why she's the perfect choice to challenge Chris Christie.
• Blue Jersey has some video highlights of the rally.
• She's hired staff who helped re-elect President Obama.
• She spoke about her run Monday with WCBS 880′s Steve Scott for the Eye on Politics.
• There are 38 weeks and 3 days until Election Day.  Let's make sure we work as hard as we can so that we can call Senator Buono "Governor-elect" that night.

Christie Has Some Explaining to Do About AshBritt

• Before Superstorm Sandy even hit New Jersey's coast, Christie had awarded AshBritt, a Florida-based company, a $100 million state contract to facilitate debris removal after the storm.  The contract was awarded without a competitive bidding process, excluding local New Jersey companies from access to a state contract while New Jersey's economy is still struggling.  
• The company's record isn't exactly sterling: After Katrina, AshBritt was sued by dozens of subcontractors for failure to pay for work performed.
• Yet in January, AshBritt was awarded a second contract, guaranteeing work on future natural disasters.  And on Monday, it was announced that AshBritt was awarded a third contract to clean boats, parts of homes, and other debris from New Jersey's waterways.  
• The state legislature is investigating the process that led to AshBritt's no-bid contract in the first place.  The Assembly Budget Committee held a hearing and invited the state treasurer to speak.  Christie's treasurer chose to blow off the hearing rather than offer an explanation.  Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto said that he may resort to a subpoena to obtain the necessary information from Treasury.
• Why did Ashbritt get these contracts?  Perhaps it is because one of its top lobbyists is former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, who was Chairman of the Republican Governors Association when Christie ran for office in 2009.  Christie says, "If it wasn’t for Haley Barbour, I wouldn’t be governor of New Jersey."
• Now the chairman of AshBritt's lobbying firm, Ed Rogers, will host a campaign fundraiser for Christie which is expected to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• So, a company gets 3 multi-million dollar contracts from the Christie administration, and then their lobbyist hosts a fundraiser for Christie? Chairman Wisniewski says, "If Governor Christie was still U.S. Attorney Christie, he’d be breaking out the podium to announce a pay-to-play investigation right about now.”    
  
  

AshBritt isn't the only Sandy-related sketchiness from Christie...

• Christie's administration hired CDM Smith to devise a plan to distribute the billions of dollars of relief aid headed to New Jersey.  The company was fired from its contract to perform similar work in Galveston, Texas following Hurricane Ike.  Is this the best we could do? 

Christie's "Not Focused" Upon the Causes of Sandy?

• Christie told reporters that he's not focused upon the causes of the storm and any questions about the role of climate change are "esoteric."
• Yet, experts say that understanding the root causes of the devastating storm is key to rebuilding New Jersey communities in a smart way that limits future storm damage.
• Christie's refusal to talk about climate change as a cause of the storm is clearly political and completely outrageous.  By not acknowledging the role of climate change, he's putting his ability to survive a GOP Presidential primary in 2016 ahead of New Jersey's ability to survive another storm.

Did a Republican Candidate for New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District Violate State Ethics Law?

• Democrats, including Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, are asking for an investigation into whether Niki Trunk began exploring a candidacy for New Jersey's General Assembly while working the State Comptroller's office.  State ethics law prohibits employees of that office from engaging in political activity.

Under the Dome

• A Senate resolution sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney that would call for a constitutional amendment to raise the state’s minimum wage and tie further increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) cleared the full Senate today. The initiative would be placed on the 2013 ballot for voter approval.
• A legislative package sponsored by Speaker Sheila Oliver and Assembly Democrats Lou Greenwald, John Wisniewski, Thomas Giblin, Vincent Prieto, Benjie Wimberly and Bonnie Watson Coleman to provide additional oversight to the administration of Hurricane Sandy recovery and rebuilding projects to ensure that the billions in federal funds expected to help finance these projects are used effectively and efficiently was approved by an Assembly panel.
• Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg's legislation to ban the use of commercial tanning beds for anyone under the age of 17 overwhelmingly passed the Senate.
• There's a new billboard in Trenton, highlighting the work of Senator Bob Smith and Assemblyman John McKeon to protect New Jersey's land, water, and air for future generations.  Blue Jersey interviewed the two legislators about their environmental advocacy.
• The Assembly Health Panel approved Assemblyman John Burzichelli 's legislation to allow terminally ill patients the ability to seek death with dignity.
• Legislation from Senators James Beach and Jim Whelan to help veterans transition from the battlefield into good-paying New Jersey jobs by easing duplicative licensing and credentialing requirements was unanimously approved by the full Senate.

Congressional Corner

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• New Jersey's entire Democratic delegation to Congress sent a letter to Governor Christie asking him to expand Medicaid to all New Jerseyans making less than 133 percent of the poverty line.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez are seeking federal aid to help New Jersey residents in flood zones elevate their homes in accordance with the new federal flood maps.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg questions whether moving to 5-day mail service will secure the Postal Service’s long-term viability and calls for "a comprehensive solution that thoughtfully examines every way we can strengthen the Postal Service so it can continue to serve all Americans far into the future.”
• Senator Bob Menendez reintroduced legislation with Senator Barbara Boxer to help millions of responsible homeowners refinance at lower rates and save thousands of dollars each year. 
• Congressman Rob Andrews marked the four-year anniversary of the Lily Ledbetter Act, which he co-authored.  It ensures that women have access to equal pay for equal work.
• Congressman Frank Pallone sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate voicing his concerns that the process for New Jersey residents placing claims to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for damages sustained from Superstorm Sandy is wrought with delays and unnecessarily complicated.
• Congressman Albio Sires presented the Congressional Award’s Bronze Medal to Margot Camino of Perth Amboy, NJ. The Congressional Award, established by the United States Congress in 1979, recognizes young Americans who set and achieve goals in four key areas:  personal development, physical fitness, expedition/exploration, and voluntary public service. 
• Congressman Bill Pascrell applauded the $1.82 million in Sandy relief aid headed to New Jersey and called for long-term mitigation funding for communities in the Meadowlands saying, "residents in Moonachie and Little Ferry shouldn't have to live in fear of the next storm wiping out their homes."
• Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. announced the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force released its comprehensive set of policy principles designed to reduce gun violence.  He also joined Twitter this week, so if you have an account, follow him here.
• Congressman Rush Holt reintroduced the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, legislation that for the first time would require colleges and universities to have in place anti-harassment policies and would provide funding for schools to establish or expand programs to prevent harassment of students.  Senator Frank Lautenberg reintroduced the same legislation in the United States Senate.

Events

• February 13
  Fundraiser for Assemblyman Jerry Green 
  6:00 PM- 8:00 PM 
  Spain Inn (1707 W. 7th Street, Piscataway) 
  $500/Guest 
  RSVP: Kathryn Oirnstein, (201) 457-9028, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• February 13 
  Senator Nellie Pou Annual Cocktail Reception 
  6:00pm 
  The Brownstone (351 W Broadway, Paterson)
  $500.00
• February 21
  Sussex County Democratic Committee Meeting
  7:30 pm
  Hampton Diner (36 Hampton House Rd, Newton)

• February 21

  Mayor Dr. Alex Blanco’s Birthday Celebration- Honoring Congressman Bill Pascrell

  7:00pm – 11:00pm

  Sevilla Restaurant, (505 Main Avenue, Passaic) 

  $100

  Contact Wilfredo Baez, 973-336-4047

• February 26 
  Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver Annual Breakfast 
  9:00am-11:00am 
  Trenton Country Club ( 201 Sullivan Way, West Trenton)
• February 28
  Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski's Cocktail Dinner Reception
  The Grand Marquis (1550 Route 9 South Old Bridge)
  6 - 8 PM | $750
  RSVP by February 20, 2013 to 732-525-1400 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• February 28
  Campaign Kick Off of Assemblyman Reed Gusciora: Chinese New Year Celebration
  6:00-8:00 PM
  Hunan Chinese Restaurant (157 Witherspoon St., Princeton)
  Lai-See Club - $50, Plum Blossom Club- $100, Secret Snake Club - $250
  RSVP info, use .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and/or #609-661-0377 for any questions.
  Checks payable to: Election Fund of Reed Gusciora, PO Box 688, Trenton, NJ 08604 
• March 2
  Passaic County Sheriff’s Community Outreach Foundation’s Family Bowling Night
  5:00pm-9:00pm
  Parkway Lanes, (200 Route 46 East, Elmwood Park)
  Adults $25pp & Children $15pp
  Contact B. Tanis 973-715-1098
• March 11
  Representative Rush Holt’s Dinner Reception
  6:00 – 8:00 PM
  71 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing, New Jersey 08628
  Individual Contribution Levels (per person): $250 Guest, $500 Friend, $1,000 Co-Host,$2,600 Benefactor
  For more information, please contact Annie O’Toole at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (609) 799-0800
• April 4
  The New Jersey Democratic State Committee’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner
  * 6pm VIP Reception * 6pm Cocktail Reception * 7pm Plated Dinner
  The Heldrich (10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick)
  Jeffersonian Patron--Table of 10 with 10 VIP tickets and Gold Ad Journal Page
  Jacksonian Patron--Half Table (5) with 5 VIP tickets and Silver Ad Journal Page
  Benefactor--2 Dinner and VIP Tickets and Full Ad Journal Page
  VIP--one ticket to Dinner and VIP
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
• May 16- May 18
  The 17th New Jersey Democratic State Conference and Meeting
  This three day gathering is one of the highlights of the year for New Jersey Democrats, as we get together to plan for the coming election year and have a little bit of fun!
  Bally's Atlantic City  (Park Place and the Boardwalk, Atlantic City)
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
  You can also reserve your hotel room at our reduced room rates at $65 for May 16th and $119 for May 17th. 
  Questions? Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call Heather at (609) 392-3367

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

We will continue to have updates about news and events 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

The NJDSC Week In Review for February 1, 2013

...

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review.  Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

Senator Buono Racks Up Endorsements in Campaign for Governor

• New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Wisniewski called upon Democrats to unite around Barbara Buono this week:

“As New Jersey Democratic State Party Chairman, I am proud to endorse Senator Barbara Buono for Governor.

I am calling upon all New Jersey Democrats to unite behind Senator Buono’s campaign and ensure that she will be our Democratic nominee.  Her work in the last month to build a strong organization, raise money, and garner support among both grassroots activists and leaders in the party has been impressive.  In the past two months, I have called upon Democratic leaders to engage in serious conversations about this race.  Many voices have weighed in, and Senator Barbara Buono has emerged as the Democratic candidate who is capable of drawing the sharpest contrast to Governor Chris Christie.

Senator Buono needs our full, committed support to ensure that she has the resources she needs to help Democrats take back the governor’s office, and I’m calling upon all New Jersey Democrats to support her candidacy.”

• Throughout the week, Senator Buono solidified support for her campaign to be New Jersey’s next Governor with the following endorsements:
  • Congressman Bill Pascrell
  • Congressman Frank Pallone
  • Former Governor Dick Codey
  • Democratic Governors Association Chairman and Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin
  • Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, and the entire South Jersey Democratic legislative delegation
  • Newark Mayor Cory Booker

Join Senator Barbara Buono for her Campaign Kickoff Rally Tomorrow!

• Monmouth County Chairman Vin Gopal wrote about the event on Blue Jersey:

“The Senator can only win this race if every Democrat in this state gives it their all - and it starts with this Saturday.

The Buono for Governor Campaign will have some high profile dignitaries this Saturday - Democratic Leaders who are committed to making sure Barbara Buono is the next Governor - such as Senate President Sweeney and State Chairman John Wisniewski. They will join hundreds of united Democrats on Saturday who are also committed 100% to making Barbara Buono the next Governor of New Jersey”

• The Rally for New Jersey’s Future will be held at noon at New Brunswick High School (1000 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901).  You can RSVP at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
• See you there!
  
  

• After an unnecessary and lengthy delay caused by Congressional Republicans, President Obama was finally sent legislation funding aid to Sandy-afflicted communities.  The President signed the legislation into law on Tuesday.
  
  

Christie Turns His Back on Struggling New Jerseyans

• Before leaving for an undisclosed vacation, Governor Christie vetoed legislation to raise New Jersey’s minimum wage and tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index.  The legislation would have allowed hourly wages to catch up with the rising cost of living, helping New Jersey’s working poor make ends meet.
• Chairman John Wisniewski decried the move:

“For those earning minimum wage, every penny counts, which is why Democrats in the legislature have been pursuing a sensible and timely minimum wage increase for months.  Christie's conditional veto is a shameful slap in the face to the people in our state who struggle every day to make ends meet.  This is another example of Christie and his administration weakening and undermining Democratic efforts to help the working people of this state.

Further, the decision to veto the language tying future increases to the CPI hurts those in New Jersey who rely upon minimum wage jobs to support themselves and their families. Struggling New Jerseyans, who sometimes work two or three minimum wage jobs to make ends meet, shouldn’t have to worry whether raising the minimum wage is politically viable each time that their paychecks fall behind the rising cost of living.  Republicans like Governor Christie love to decry “uncertainty” when it comes to raising taxes on the very wealthiest Americans.  But when it comes to whether the paychecks of New Jersey’s working poor will continue to cover their basic living expenses, Christie perpetuated unnecessary uncertainty with his administration's action today."

• Wisniewski wasn’t alone in opposing Christie’s action.  The Star-Ledger Editorial Board called it “another blow to the working poor.”  They further wrote:

“That fits a pattern. His first budget effectively raised income taxes on low-wage families by scaling back the earned-income tax credit. He has also ended health care coverage for thousands of low-wage families, closed down Planned Parenthood clinics that served them, and tried his best to raid huge sums of money from a trust fund set aside for affordable housing. In each case, the target is the working poor. It is revealing that even as he knocked down these supports, he was arguing that New Jersey could afford an income-tax cut that would skew heavily toward the wealthy. Make no mistake, this is tea party economics.”

• A study from the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy in Washington, a nonpartisan think tank, found that the poorest families in New Jersey pay more than 11 percent of their income toward state and local taxes, while the richest pay only about 7 percent.
• The Star-Ledger Editorial Board notes that Christie “has made the problem worse,” writing:  “New Jersey has long been a state of extremes, with enormous wealth and deep poverty — and a middle class trying to hold its ground. Gov. Chris Christie has chosen to deepen that divide by protecting the rich against any tax hikes, while scaling back crucial tax benefits for the poor.”
• It isn’t just wages and taxes- Christie’s agenda also includes opposition to programs that support Affordable Housing.  His administration is asking the New Jersey Supreme Court to give him permission to eliminate New Jersey’s independent agency overseeing fair-housing policy. The New York Times said of Christie’s action, “This would turn back to the clock to a time when communities could openly discriminate against poor and working-class residents.”
• Christie added insult to injury this week when he vetoed two bills that would have helped more people access affordable homes.  The first bill would have empowered New Jersey’s Housing Mortgage and Finance Agency to purchase foreclosed homes and transform them into affordable housing (legislation that could have been implemented without requiring state appropriations).  The second would have improved upon the federally funded mortgage assistance program.   The Christie administration poorly managed the program, which received a $300 million grant, distributing only 10% of the money after more than a year.  The bill would have mandated that the program respond to applicants and issue aid more quickly.

February is Black History Month

• Chairman John Wisniewski released the following statement:

“In a nation scarred by slavery and centuries of institutional racism, it is important that we honor the ways in which African Americans contributed to the United States.  We honor the work of New Jersey’s African American community throughout our nation’s history.
Leaders of New Jersey’s African churches fought for abolition and emancipation in the early1800s.  In Trenton in 1849, Dr. John Rock fought for right to vote and later became the first African American to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court.  In 1870, Perth Amboy’s Thomas Mundy Peterson became the first African American in the country to cast a vote under the15th Amendment.  Paul Robeson, born in Princeton in 1898, was a true Renaissance Man- a singer, actor, athlete, and activist. In 1919 in Atlantic City, Sara Spencer Washington founded one of the biggest black-owned manufacturing businesses in the country.
The work of countless African Americans helped build New Jersey and these United States, and this month we honor them.  They fought so that Donald Payne could become the first African American Congressman from New Jersey and Sheila Oliver could become the first African American woman to serve as Speaker of New Jersey’s General Assembly.
But it isn’t enough to just celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans during the month of February.  In every month throughout the year, we should strive to celebrate the diverse group of Americans who have made our country great.”

Under the Dome

• Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver released the following statements criticizing Governor Christie’s veto of legislation to raise New Jersey’s minimum wage:

Sweeney: "Everyone deserves a wage that helps support their family and improves their quality of life. For too long, working people in this state have been struggling with stagnant wages. We gave the governor a chance to do the right thing for working people in New Jersey.

His action shows that he believes politics and politicians need to remain part of the process on minimum wage. I think they need to be removed from it entirely. The well-being of working people in this state should not be left to the whims of politicians to decide on every couple of years.

This is just one in series of examples, whether it was vetoing the millionaire's tax or slashing funding for women's health, where the governor has failed to take the side of hard working low and middle income people in New Jersey."

Oliver: “Gov. Christie has again failed hard-working New Jerseyans.

Gov. Christie should have sided with Democrats and ensured an immediate livable wage for all residents, but he has failed miserably. This conditional veto is unacceptable. Any proposal that lacks annual adjustments to ensure wages keep pace with the economy is not a real solution.

Gov. Christie’s callous action leaves us no choice but to send this matter to the voters.

The optimal approach would have been for Gov. Christie to show some heart and approve this pro-worker measure as proposed. Because Gov. Christie would rather play politics, asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment this November is the only other choice.

We will now move as required to complete the legislative process on the constitutional amendment and get the question on the ballot this fall.”

• Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Senator Fred Madden, and Senator Paul Sarlo to provide a tax credit incentive for investment groups and individuals to provide capital to emerging technology businesses has been signed into law. Also known as the “New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act,” the law creates specific gross income and corporate business tax credits for start-up investments of up to $500,000 made in New Jersey-based high-tech and biotechnology companies.
• Legislation sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, and Assemblyman Daniel Benson to allow New Jersey residents to donate a portion of their state tax refund to the 2014 NJ Special Olympics "Home Team" Fund was signed into law.
• Legislation sponsored by Senators Bob Smith and Jim Beach that would help to combat the rampant homelessness within the veterans’ community and ensure New Jersey veterans access to affordable housing was signed into law.
• Fire safety legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Assemblyman Jerry Green, and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey to require the installation of a fire suppression system in new single and two-family homes was approved Monday by the General Assembly.
• Legislation sponsored by Senator Linda Greenstein that would strengthen New Jersey’s sex offender registry statute – Megan’s Law – was unanimously approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.  It will now be considered by the full Senate.
• A pair of bills proposed in the General Assembly would promote green infrastructure, which has been shown to help reduce the extent of flooding during heavy rains.  Legislation from Assemblywoman Connie Wagner and Assemblyman Ruben Ramos directs the state to develop construction code rules for green roofs. Legislation from sponsored by Assemblyman Timothy Eustace and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly would create tax incentives to install rainwater capture systems.

Congressional Corner

• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/US_Congress_02.jpg" width="276" height="207" align="right" alt="" />Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez sent a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan requesting substantial aid for recreational and commercial fisheries that were devastated by Superstorm Sandy. 
• Senator Frank Lautenberg has cosponsored the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill to provide support for victims of domestic violence.  The legislation was up for reauthorization last year, but House Republicans blocked its passage.
• Senator Bob Menendez joined Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) at a press conference to unveil a basic set of principles that are designed to guide legislation on comprehensive immigration reform. 
• Congressman Rob Andrews announced that fire departments in Merchantville and Audubon will receive a total of $485,820 from the federal government to hire more firefighters and purchase new life-saving equipment. 
• Congressman Frank Pallone announced that Marlboro Township was awarded $1.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse the town for debris removal following Superstorm Sandy.   Belmar will also receive $4 million from FEMA for debris removal.
• Congressman Albio Sires became an original cosponsor of H.Con.Res 10, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of No Name-Calling Week, introduced to bring attention to name-calling and encourage our schools to launch a dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling and bullying in our communities.
• Congressman Bill Pascrell was selected by his Democratic colleagues to serve on both the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means and House Budget Committee.  
• Congressman Rush Holt joined Milltown Mayor Eric Steeber and USPS officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Milltown Post Office to formally re-open the facility.

• February 7
  Fundraiser for Barbara Buono for Governor
  Hosted by Senator Joe Vitale and Essex County Freeholder Brendan Gill
  6:00 PM-8:00 PM
  Home of Patricia Bell (315 Montrose Avenue, South Orange)
  $250
  RSVP: Lisa Kaado .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• February 13
  Fundraiser for Assemblyman Jerry Green
  6:00 PM- 8:00 PM
  Spain Inn (1707 W. 7th Street, Piscataway)
  $500/Guest
  RSVP: Kathryn Oirnstein, (201) 457-9028, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• February 13
  Senator Nellie Pou Annual Cocktail Reception
  6:00pm
  The Brownstone (351 W Broadway, Paterson)
  $500.00
• February 26
  Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver Annual Breakfast
  9:00am-11:00am
  Trenton Country Club ( 201 Sullivan Way, West Trenton)
• February 28
  Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski's Cocktail Dinner Reception
  The Grand Marquis (1550 Route 9 South Old Bridge)
  6 - 8 PM | $750
  RSVP by February 20, 2013 to 732-525-1400 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• April 4
  The New Jersey Democratic State Committee’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner
  * 6pm VIP Reception * 6pm Cocktail Reception * 7pm Plated Dinner
  The Heldrich (10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick)
  Jeffersonian Patron--Table of 10 with 10 VIP tickets and Gold Ad Journal Page
  Jacksonian Patron--Half Table (5) with 5 VIP tickets and Silver Ad Journal Page
  Benefactor--2 Dinner and VIP Tickets and Full Ad Journal Page
  VIP--one ticket to Dinner and VIP
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
• May 16- May 18
  The 17th New Jersey Democratic State Conference and Meeting
  This three day gathering is one of the highlights of the year for New Jersey Democrats, as we get together to plan for the coming election year and have a little bit of fun!
  Bally's Atlantic City  (Park Place and the Boardwalk, Atlantic City)
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
  You can also reserve your hotel room at our reduced room rates at $65 for May 16th and $119 for May 17th. 
  Questions? Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call Heather at (609) 392-3367.

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

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We will continue to have updates about news and events from our elected officials and the many campaigns across the state. There will certainly be more to come next week.  Have a great weekend.

John Wisniewski, Chairman
New Jersey Democratic State Committee

The NJDSC Week In Review for January 25, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review. 

Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

President Obama's Second Term Begins

• Chairman John Wisniewski, Congressmen Frank Pallone and Bill Pascrell, other elected Democrats, and New Jerseyans celebrated the President's second inauguration with the Garden State Gala on Sunday evening.  The event raised money for Superstorm Sandy relief.
• Following a weekend of inauguration activities, President Barack Obama was sworn in for a second term.  His official swearing in occurred on Sunday, January 20, in accordance with the constitution, while his ceremonial swearing in on the steps of the United States Capitol occurred on the January 21.  The OFA Tumblr has a photo of the President's view.
• A DC official estimated that nearly one-million people attended the President's second inauguration.
• President Obama's stirring address included a committment to LGBT equality, with a mention of the Stonewall Riots among the list of seminal American civil rights moments including the Seneca Falls Declaration and the march in Selma. 
• PolitickerNJ posted the full-text of the President's speech.
• January 21 also marked the celebration of Martin Luther King Day.  President Obama honored the memory of the civil rights leader by taking his oath of office with his hand placed on two bibles: one owned by Martin Luther King, Jr. and the other by President Abraham Lincoln.  Chairman John Wisniewski released the following statement about Martin Luther King Day:

"Today, as we celebrate the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, we also reflect on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.  It was King’s dream and his life’s work that made the elections of 2008 and 2012 possible.  We recognize that electing and re-electing our nation’s first African American president is not the fulfillment King’s dream, but is another step in our long march toward equality for all.  On this day, we all must recommit ourselves to embodying the principles King held so dear.  The best way to honor King’s memory isn’t through word, but through deed.  We must continue to work to ensure that every person- black or white, woman or man, gay or straight- is treated with respect and dignity throughout our United States.”

• Following the ceremony, President Obama and his family marched down Pennsylvania Avenue for the Inaugural Parade.  Among those marching were members of the Jackson Memorial Marching Band.

Senator Barbara Buono Officially Kicks Off Campaign for Governor

• Buono will host a campaign kickoff on February 2 at noon, at New Brunswick High School (1000 Somerset St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901)
  Click to RSVP or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Mark Your Calendars and Get Your Tickets Early!

• The NJDSC's two big spring events are coming up.
• First, the Jefferson Jackson Dinner will be held at the Heldrich in New Brunswick on April 4.  Purchase your tickets here.
• In May, join us in Atlantic City, May 16-18, for the NJDSC state conference at Bally's.  Tickets and more information here.

Under the Dome

• Senate President Steve Sweeney launched a Small Business Listening Tour” to hear directly from business owners about New Jersey’s economy, which has been struggling under Governor Christie..
• Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, along with Senate President Steve Sweenery and other New Jersey Democrats, is proposing legislation to hire integrity monitors to oversee the distribution of the billions in Sandy aid coming to New Jersey.  These monitors would help prevent fraud, waste, and abuse of the money many New Jersey families and businesses desperately need.
• Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg wrote about her weekend celebrating President Obama's inauguration and Martin Luther King Day for Blue Jersey.
• Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald will join the national call for tougher gun safety laws this weekend when he speaks at the local One Million Moms for Gun Control Rally in Jersey City on Saturday, January 26.
• Since Governor Christie has merely proposed a general task force on violence, rather than specific action items to stem growing gun violence, Senator Barbara Buono is calling for a special legislative session to pass meaningful gun reform legislation.
• Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, Chairman of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, is concerned that New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities has only audited Jersey Central Power and Light once in the last six years, despite having the legal authority to do so every three years.  Given the utility issues experienced during Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy, it is imperative that the BPU hold New Jersey's utility companies accountable.
• Senator Raymond Lesniak called upon Governor Christie to enact Lesniak's legislation to allow internet gaming in Atlantic City, after Wells Fargo’s chief analyst for gaming identified the prospect of legal Internet gaming as the last best chance to revive Atlantic City’s economy.
• Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats John Wisniewski and John McKeon prohibiting New Jersey Transit from denying access to individuals accompanied by guide or service dogs on public transportation services was approved last week by an Assembly panel.

Congressional Corner

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• On Monday, the Senate will consider the House-passed Sandy aid legislation.  The Senate already passed a Sandy aid package in 2012, but Republican House Speaker John Boehner refused to allow the House to vote upon it before the end of the 112th Congress.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez announced that the New Jersey Department of Family Development will receive more than $11 million to match Sandy victims with individual case managers to help residents identify and receive available aid.  The funding is provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Case Management Program.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg is fighting to close the gun show loophole and ban high capacity magazines. Both are proposals that Lautenberg has been fighting for for years, and were among the President's recommendations to combat gun violence. A poll this week found that a majority of New Jerseyans support stricter gun regulations.
• Senator Bob Menendez, who is expected to be named Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, served as Chairman for the committee's hearing with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday, as well as the Thursday confirmation hearing for Senator John Kerry to serve as Clinton's replacement.
• Congressman Frank Pallone was again named Ranking Member (the highest ranked Democrat) on the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health.  Pallone served as Chairman of the Subcommittee from 2007-2011 and helped author the Affordable Care Act.
• Congressman Albio Sires reintroduced legislation to provide for the expansion, intensification and coordination of the programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with respect to Tourette Syndrome – a misunderstood, misdiagnosed, inherited neurological disorder that affects 1 in 100 children and adults, and is characterized by vocal sounds and/or motor movements known as tics.
• Congressman Bill Pascrell criticized House Republicans for continuing to play politics with the U.S.'s economic stability by only raising the debt ceiling for three months.
• Congressman Rush Holt is warning that the House Sandy aid bill's cuts to the Regional Ocean Partnerships may harm New Jersey's coast.  “These grants help scientists understand where and how the shoreline has changed, evaluate the long-term effects of storm damage, and prepare mitigation plans for future severe weather events," says Holt.

Events

• January 28
  Passaic County Democratic Committee Annual Victory Celebration
  Hosted by Chairman John Currie
  Tides (North Haledon)
  Call or email Rita Pascrell 973-279-4647 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• January 31
  Annual NJDSC Reception in Washington
  5:00 PM
  Marriott Wardman Park (2660 Woodley Road Northwest, Washington, DC)
  For details and RSVP, call (609) 392-3367
  
• February 28
  Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski's Cocktail Dinner Reception
  The Grand Marquis (1550 Route 9 South Old Bridge)
  6 - 8 PM | $750
  RSVP by February 20, 2013 to 732-525-1400 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• April 4
  The New Jersey Democratic State Committee’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner
  * 6pm VIP Reception * 6pm Cocktail Reception * 7pm Plated Dinner
  The Heldrich (10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick)
  Jeffersonian Patron--Table of 10 with 10 VIP tickets and Gold Ad Journal Page
  Jacksonian Patron--Half Table (5) with 5 VIP tickets and Silver Ad Journal Page
  Benefactor--2 Dinner and VIP Tickets and Full Ad Journal Page
  VIP--one ticket to Dinner and VIP
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
• May 16- May 18
  17th NJDSC Conference
  Bally's Atlantic City  (Park Place and the Boardwalk, Atlantic City)
  RSVP by ordering your tickets here.
  You can also reserve your hotel room at our reduced room rates at $65 for May 16th and $119 for May 17th.
  Questions? Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call Heather at (609) 392-3367.

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

We will continue to have updates about news and events 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

The NJDSC Week In Review for January 18, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review. 

Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

The House Finally Passes Sandy Aid

• Legislation to help Sandy victims finally passed the House of Representatives, about 80 days after Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey.
• A report from Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy found that federal funding is absolutely necessary to New Jersey’s recovery from Superstorm Sandy, predicting dire economic consequences if Congress failed to send $25 billion in needed aid to our state.  Yet members of Congress from New Jersey and New York had to passionately make the case for the legislation… and 179 Republicans STILL voted against it!  What a disgrace!
  
• Congressman Frank Pallone praised its passage, saying that the legislation could not come soon enough.
• Chairman Wisniewski wrote in the Star-Ledger that the unprecedented delay and the shameful Republican opposition is another clear sign of the extremism that has taken over the Republican Party.
• Governor Christie spent a lot of time campaigning out of state for Republicans in 2010 and 2012... and many of them voted against helping the people Christie represents.  One would think he could have leveraged his relationships to help out his home state.  What a waste of time.
• Senator Bob Menendez says that he expects the Senate will vote to pass the House Sandy bill without amendments, so that it can move quickly to the President for signature.  The Democratically-led Senate had already passed a full Sandy relief package in December, but Republican House Speaker John Boehner refused to allow a vote on the legislation before the 112th Congress was over, so the entire process had to begin again.

The 2013 Campaign

• Chairman Wisniewski spoke to NJTV this week about the 2013 election.
• Senator Barbara Buono, the only announced Democratic candidate for governor, was endorsed by the New Jersey Women's Political Caucus and Monmouth County Democrats this week.
• Governor Christie continues to host tax-payer funded campaign rallies, which he calls town halls.  Record columnist Charles Stile notes that the videos promoting these events blur the lines between official and political. 
• Governor Christie is probably hoping voters don't notice that New Jersey faces a $2 billion budget shortfall, due to anemic economic growth.  Governor Christie predicted 7% revenue growth for this fiscal year.  Instead, revenues grew at 0.2% for the first 5 months of the fiscal year.  Revenues would need to grow by 11.9% for remaining 7 months to make up the budget gap. 
• Three years ago, Christie took office with New Jersey at 9.7% unemployment.  Today we're at 9.6% unemployment.  Where is the Jersey Comeback he spent 2012 touting?

President Obama Will Take On Gun Violence

• Making good on his promise in the wake of the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, President Barack Obama announced his support for a group of proposals aimed at curbing the gun violence that plagues our country.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg's legislation to limit high capacity magazines is among the proposals President Obama is supporting.  The President is also supporting universal background checks and an assault weapon ban.

Under the Dome

• Senate President Steve Sweeney criticized the Christie administration for awarding a no-bid contract for Sandy debris removal to a Florida firm, rather than finding New Jersey companies.  The deal “is not good for New Jersey. . . It brings people to New Jersey. We have plenty of people out of work and we should put them to work first,” said Sweeney. 
• Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver called for strong action in New Jersey on gun violence, saying that the "Assembly will soon be advancing a wide-ranging and responsible package touching upon gun and ammunition safety, mental health care, school security, gun trafficking and other concerns."
• A package of four bills sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg to protect grieving families from outrageous burial fees or unfair business practices which drive up the cost of burial in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee.
• Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald criticized Governor Christie's claim that "New Jersey is doing quite well," economically.  Greenwald said, "If Governor Christie thinks that New Jersey's unemployment rate continuing to hover near 10 percent is 'doing quite well,' then he isn't living in the state of New Jersey, he's living in a state of denial."
  
• Legislation filed last month by Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman Nelson Albano would require schools to conduct early screenings for dyslexia and other reading disabilities, train teachers in serving these students, and specifically define dyslexia as a reading disability in school regulations.
• The Senate Labor Committee approved legislation to encourage small businesses to hire those who have been out of work for 30 or more days by providing them with a credit on their payroll taxes.
• Assembly Democrats criticized the Christie administration for its lack of transparency regarding the governor's plan to privatize the state lottery.
• Legislation sponsored by Senators Raymond Lesniak and Shirley Turner to declare violence as a “public health crisis,” empanel a commission to look at ways to mitigate violence, and recommend the federal adoption of stricter gun control standards is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on January 28.
• Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Troy Singleton, John Burzichelli and Reed Gisciora to prevent the misuse of disability identification cards and placards has been signed into law.

Congressional Corner

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• Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez announced that Lavallette will receive $1.1 million in federal funds for expenditures during storm recovery including compensation for first responders who worked to remove downed electrical wires, perform water rescues, and clear blocked roadways.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg hailed a new report, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showing a significant decline in toxic chemical releases in New Jersey.
  
• Senator Bob Menendez was profiled by Time magazine as the likely chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if John Kerry is confirmed as the next Secretary of State.
• Congressman Rob Andrews called upon House Republicans to allow a vote of the President's gun violence proposals as soon as possible.
• Congressman Frank Pallone praised the President's gun proposals saying, "I applaud the common sense reforms outlined by the President, including universal background checks and banning military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that have no place on our streets."
• Congressman Albio Sires was named the Ranking Member (the highest ranking Democrat) on the House Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Subcommittee.
• Congressman Bill Pascrell called out hypocritical Congressman Mick Mulvaney for opposing Sandy aid after Mulvaney received a federal loan for his small business for storm damage in South Carolina.
• Congressman Rush Holt, as a scientist, explained that a Republican amendment to the Sandy aid legislation (to slice $13 million in funding for the National Weather Service) was "completely nonsensical.”

Events

• January 20
  Garden State Equality Inauguration Brunch
  11:00 AM
  McLoone's Boathouse (West Orange)
• January 20
  New Jersey Inaugural Ball
  5:00-9:00 PM
  Renaissance Hotel, 1000 Spring Street, Elizabeth
  Please join Senator Raymond Lesniak and Obama "Friends" honoring President Barack Obama, First Lady Michele Obama, Vice President Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Biden
  Honored Guest: Author Terry McMillan
  Black Tie Attire
  Cocktail Hour begins at 5:00 pm.
  For tickets and information: Mrs. Kim Nesbitt Good: 908-352-7078, Mrs. Bonita Stevens: 908-209-5434, Mrs. Selena Newton: 908-558-1049, Rev. Dr. Iola E. Williams: 732-887-4789, Ms. Barbara Hayes: 908-245-2664, Ms. Jacquelyn Gates: 908-358-9294, Mrs. Yvonne Davis: 908-289-4291

• January 22
  

  Women’s Political Caucus of NJ's Passion Power Progress 2012 Awards

  6:00pm

  New Brunswick Hyatt Regency (2 Albany St., New Brunswick)

  Member, $150pp nonmember $175pp

• January 24

  A Reception honoring Sen. Raymond Lesniak
  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Benito Restaurant (222 Galloping Hill Road, Union)
  VIP Reception: 5:30 - 6:00 pm, VIP Ticket: $2,500
  General Reception: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, General Ticket: $500
  Payable: Election Fund of Raymond J. Lesniak (c/o S. Wohlrab, 770 North Drive, Brick, NJ 08724)
  RSVP by January 20th to: Stephanie Wohlrab, (732) 674-4199
• January 25
  Fundraiser for Barbara Buono
  6:00 PM-8:00 PM
  The McEvoy's Home (32 Canterbury Road, East Brunswick)
  $50/Guest
• January 28
  Irish New Year Celebration honoring Assemblyman Joseph Cryan hosted by S.E.I.U.
  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Tir Na Nog (1324 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton)
  Tickets: $250
  Payable: EFO Joseph Cryan, 722 Glenwood Road, Union, NJ 07083
  RSVP: Scott Snyder, (732) 245-1287
• January 28

  Passaic County Democratic Committee Annual Victory Celebration
  Hosted by Chairman John Currie
  Tides (North Haledon)

  Call or email Rita Pascrell 973-279-4647 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• January 31
  Annual NJDSC Reception in Washington
  5:00 PM
  Marriott Wardman Park (2660 Woodley Road Northwest, Washington, DC)
  For details and RSVP, call (609) 392-3367

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

We will continue to have updates about news and events 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

The NJDSC Week In Review for January 11, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review. 

Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

Christie's State of the State Address:  Noun+Verb+Sandy=Speech.

• Governor Christie's "State of the State" address focused almost exclusively on Superstorm Sandy recovery.  While we all agree that helping our fellow residents and businesses recover from a devastating disaster is important, Christie's speech failed to elaborate on how he plans to help them.
• Furthermore, rebuilding after Sandy is not the only challenge facing New Jerseyans in the coming year and beyond, issues the Governor doesn't seem interested in talking about...
• He failed to address the fact that New Jersey ended the 2012 fiscal year with a $123 million budget shortfall. Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo is concerned that the fiscal picture for 2013 will be even worse, and called upon Christie to make sensible budget cuts now to shore up New Jersey's financial future. 
• Senate President Steve Sweeney called the speech "long on rhetoric, but short on ideas."
• The Courier Post Editorial Board was disappointed that Christie failed to address New Jersey's highest in the nation property taxes, and called the address "a campaign stump speech."
• The Record said Christie didn't cover New Jersey's budget, economy, environment, property taxes, and other issues.
• Many Democrats expressed concern about New Jersey's high unemployment rate, which rose in 2012 to a record high of 9.9% in August and remains well above the national average.  

Democrats Push for Stronger Gun Laws

• Senator Barbara Buono, who is running for the Democratic nominee for Governor, challenged Christie to take action after he spouted platitudes rather than specifics on the Today Show when asked how to deal with the frequent acts of gun violence that plague our country. 
• Senator Dick Codey, who previously served as New Jersey Governor, criticized Christie's characterization of the issue as "complicated."  Codey said, "Respectfully, it’s not. I urge you to join the president, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Cuomo and get on board with this issue. We’ve been a leader on gun control in this state for a very long time. Step up, do the right thing.  Join us.”
  
• Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez has introduced legislation that would require individuals applying for a firearms purchaser identification card or a handgun purchase permit in New Jersey to submit the results of a psychological evaluation before they can buy a gun or a firearm.
  

"He executed very well on leadership during the storm.  That doesn't in any way change my view of his failure to lead in the first three years of his administration on a whole wide variety of issues."

• This is a quote from Christie, regarding President Barack Obama.  Yet, apparently he expects New Jerseyans to ignore Christie's failing record over 3 years in Trenton.  Property taxes are up 20%, unemployment is the highest it has been in decades, our credit rating is down, we are looking at multi-year budget shortfalls... sorry Governor, Sandy didn't wipe the slate clean for you either.
• For the record, we're proud of President Obama's leadership these past four years and find Christie's view to be out of sync with the millions of New Jersey's who helped re-elect the President by a larger margin than he won in 2008.

Under the Dome

• Al Doblin of The Record called Senate President Steve Sweeney "the Democrats' Rocky Balboa."
• Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald issued a multimedia package responding to Christie's 2013 State-of-the-State address.
• Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg said (of Christie's speech), "His emphasis on Hurricane Sandy ignores a record of failure that includes the highest unemployment rate in 35 years, the second highest rate of mortgage foreclosures, the fifth worst rate of growth in personal income, a poverty rate that has grown every year he’s been in office and a shrinking middle class."
• On Friday, people rallied in front of the State House in support of legislation from Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Senator Nellie Pou to toughen penalties on those who engage in human trafficking and offer new protections to its victims.
• Assembly members Daniel R. Benson and Connie Wagner issued a multimedia package Monday in which they discuss Assembly Democrats’ ongoing efforts to improve and expand job growth in New Jersey.
• Senator Jim Whelan wants to eliminate tolls for buses that travel to Atlantic City at least once a week, hoping this would bring increased tourism to the region.

Congressional Corner

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• Senator Frank Lautenberg, Senator Bob Menendez, and Congressman Bill Pascrell announced $9.8 million in federal grants for hiring and retaining firefighters fire departments in Paterson, Bayonne and Atlantic City.
  
• Senator Frank Lautenberg applauded New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed gun safety initiative for New York state.
  
• Senator Bob Menendez joined local and state officials for a ribbon-cutting at Bazzarelli's Restaurant and Pizzeria in Moonachie and called upon Congress to fully fund the request for $60 billion in aid to those affected by Sandy.
  
• Congressman Rob Andrews kicked off a yearlong weekly tour of towns in his district with a visit to Collingswood to meet with students, families, businesses, and community leaders.
• Congressman Frank Pallone says it was deplorable for Speaker Boehner to delay the Sandy aid package.
• Congressman Albio Sires's legislation to combat international adoption fraud was signed into law by President Barack Obama.
• Congressman Rush Holt announced a $14.9 million grant for Trenton's Fire Department.

Events

• January 18
  Middlesex County Young Democrats' Edison-Metuchen Happy Hour
  
  5:30-7:30 PM
  Hailey's Harp and Pub, 400 Main Street (Metuchen)

  Free Appetizers - Cash Bar
  Sponsorships Available
  RSVP: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• January 20
  Garden State Equality Inauguration Brunch
  11:00 AM
  McLoone's Boathouse (West Orange)
• January 20
  New Jersey Inaugural Ball
  5:00-9:00 PM
  Renaissance Hotel, 1000 Spring Street, Elizabeth
  Please join Senator Raymond Lesniak and Obama "Friends" honoring President Barack Obama, First Lady Michele Obama, Vice President Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Biden
  Honored Guest: Author Terry McMillan
  Black Tie Attire
  Cocktail Hour begins at 5:00 pm.
  For tickets and information: Mrs. Kim Nesbitt Good: 908-352-7078, Mrs. Bonita Stevens: 908-209-5434, Mrs. Selena Newton: 908-558-1049, Rev. Dr. Iola E. Williams: 732-887-4789, Ms. Barbara Hayes: 908-245-2664, Ms. Jacquelyn Gates: 908-358-9294, Mrs. Yvonne Davis: 908-289-4291
• January 24
  A Reception honoring Sen. Raymond Lesniak
  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Benito Restaurant (222 Galloping Hill Road, Union)
  VIP Reception: 5:30 - 6:00 pm, VIP Ticket: $2,500
  General Reception: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, General Ticket: $500
  Payable: Election Fund of Raymond J. Lesniak (c/o S. Wohlrab, 770 North Drive, Brick, NJ 08724)
  RSVP by January 20th to: Stephanie Wohlrab, (732) 674-4199
• January 25
  Fundraiser for Barbara Buono
  6:00 PM-8:00 PM
  The McEvoy's Home (32 Canterbury Road, East Brunswick)
  $50/Guest
• January 28
  Irish New Year Celebration honoring Assemblyman Joseph Cryan hosted by S.E.I.U.
  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Tir Na Nog (1324 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton)
  Tickets: $250
  Payable: EFO Joseph Cryan, 722 Glenwood Road, Union, NJ 07083
  RSVP: Scott Snyder, (732) 245-1287

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

We will continue to have updates about news and events 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

The NJDSC Week In Review for January 4, 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's week in review. 

Now, here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and some of the upcoming events around the state next week and beyond.  Please share stories that interest you with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

House Republicans Play Politics With Disaster Relief

• Chairman John Wisniewski writes that Speaker Boehner's inability to summon leadership and help Sandy victims make it clear that he isn't up to the challenges of serving as Speaker.
• After assuring elected officials from New Jersey and New York that the families, businesses, and communities devastated by Superstorm Sandy would receive needed support, Republican House Speaker John Boehner refused to bring the aid package to the floor of the House before the close of the 112th Congress.
• Democrats and Republicans alike called out the Speaker for his failure to even allow a vote to help struggling storm victims. 
• While some complained that this is unprecedented, in reality, Congressional Republicans have a history of blocking disaster aid. Our outrage is still justified, but perhaps we shouldn't be surprised.
• Governor Christie even directed his temper at his own party for once... But, let's not forget that Christie spent a good part of last year campaigning for Republican candidates, including House leadership and extremists like Congressman Steve King.  King called his vote against aid to Katrina victims one of his proudest moments in Congress and has said he was concerned Sandy victims would spend aid on "Gucci bags and massage parlors."  Christie played a role in supporting the most extreme and dysfunctional wing of his extremely dysfunctional party, and now New Jersey reaps what he helped sow.
• Members of New Jersey's House Republican delegation couldn't have been too outraged with the actions of Speaker Boehner, as they all chose to vote for him as Speaker two days after he refused to bring the Sandy relief package to the floor of the House.
• Finally, after the nonsense of Tuesday evening, the House approved a small portion of the Sandy aid package on Friday, to provide for more FEMA flood insurance.  That legislation was also passed on Friday by the Senate.  The $9.7 billion bill is significantly less than the $60.4 billion in aid that had been pending on Tuesday (which the Senate had already passed).  The delay on the larger portion of relief is completely unnecessary at a time when families in New Jersey and the surrounding states are still really hurting.

A Bipartisan Effort in New Jersey Raises 100K+ for Sandy Relief

• On December 30, The Monmouth County Democratic Organization, the Monmouth County Republican Committee, the New Leaders Council NJ, the New Jersey Young Democrats and the New Jersey Young Republicans sponsored a concert at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park for Sandy relief.  The concert raised more than $100,000.

The 113th Congress is Sworn In

• Watch the video of Senator Bob Menendez being sworn in for his second full term in the United States Senate.
• In the U.S. House of Representatives, New Jersey's Democratic delegation (Congressman Rob Andrews, Congressman Frank Pallone, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Congressman Albio Sires, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. and Congressman Rush Holt) was sworn in to represent New Jersey.

• Congressman Bill Pascrell is sworn in:

  

• Congressman Rush Holt is sworn in:

• Congressman Albio Sires poses with Pascrell after being sworn in:

• Meanwhile, due to the Census and Congressional redistricting, New Jersey lost one Congressional seat.  After losing to Congressman Pascrell in the primary for the 9th Congressional District, Congressman Steve Rothman returns to life as a private citizen in New Jersey.  He summed up his 16 years in Congress (and 25 years in elected office) in an editorial for The Record.  Thank you, Congressman Rothman.

State Revenue Continues to Fall Below Christie's Estimates 

• The New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee held a hearing to determine the current budget issues New Jersey faces, inviting both David Rosen of the Office of Legislative Services and State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff.  The state treasurer declined due to "scheduling conflict."
• Over the past 7 months, since New Jersey's fiscal year began, the state has collected $700 million less in revenue than projected by Governor Christie.
• Christie estimated revenues would grow 8.4% by June 30, 2013.  Actual growth thus far has been less than 1%.

Congressional Corner

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• Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez applauded the announcement of a $1,679,580 U.S. Department of Commerce grant awarded to the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg said "denying emergency aid to Superstorm Sandy victims is a new low for House Republicans."
• Senator Bob Menendez said, "Never before has this country walked away from its obligation to help Americans in the wake of a natural disaster, but today, the House Republican Leadership told New Jersey and New York to drop dead."
  
• Congressman Rob Andrews said, "The House Republican leadership has failed the people of our state and region," in reference to the refusal to consider Sandy aid.
• Congressman Frank Pallone expressed outrage over Speaker Boehner's decision to withhold the Sandy relief legislation, saying, "What I don’t understand, Mr. Speaker, is how is it possible that this has become a political issue?"
• Congressman Bill Pascrell said it is time to take the gloves off when it comes to fighting for Sandy aid.
• Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. announced at the end of December that Rutgers University-Newark will be awarded $498,722 in grant funds as one of the winners of the 2012 Promise Neighborhood Grant competition.
  
• Congressman Rush Holt reminded House Republicans what was at stake with their refusal to consider Sandy aid, "There are thousands of people who are not going back to their homes. They deserve our help."
• Congressman Albio Sires expressed his disgust for the House Republicans political manuevering, saying, "The victims of Sandy have already waited over two months to receive the necessary aid from the government to help them rebuild and recover.  This lack of sensitivity to our region and victims of the storm shown by the Republican leadership is unprecedented."

• Republican Congressman Scott Garrett voted against averting the fiscal cliff (and against tax cuts for most Americans).  President Obama released a video detailing what the fiscal cliff agreement specifically does for the American people.  Meanwhile, Garrett has also implied that he would vote against the remaining portion of Sandy aid, calling it "wasteful spending."  Congressman Garrett has chosen to maintain his Tea Party allegiance rather than support tax cuts for the middle class and aid for New Jersey disaster victims. 

Under the Dome

• Senate President Steve Sweeney wrote an editorial opposing so-called "right-to-work" laws, which he called "tea party slang for destroying the rights of people to earn a decent wage and make a solid living."
• Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said, "It seems as if the House Republicans understanding of how to govern can be summed up into two basic concepts: delaying until a cliff is in sight and short-changing Americans who are most deserving of relief.  I invite them to take a tour of our nearly non-existent shoreline while they adjourn this week. They will see what I saw in the last few months: houses stacked like kids' playing blocks, only signage marking ruins of businesses, shattered lives and livelihoods buried in the water along with our boardwalk. They simply do not get it. Sandy aid relief is urgent. These citizens lost their homes, their businesses, and their way of life. To delay the vote on Sandy aid is inhumane."
  
• Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg wrote a bipartisan editorial (with a Republican state Senator) in The Record calling for more transparency in governing.
• Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald said, "Speaker Boehner's failure to post the Sandy relief bill is an absolute disgrace and an abandonment of the commitment he holds to put all of America first."
  
• Senator Shirley Turner wrote a guest column in the Times of Trenton calling for America to address both gun violence and mental health care in the wake of the horrific Newtown shootings.  Turner has sponsored legislation in the New Jersey Senate to address both.
• Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt railed against the Republican House for failing to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which protects women and families who are victims of domestic violence.
• The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved legislation from Senate President Sweeney to allow communities the option of using project labor agreements and union workers on Sandy rebuilding projects.
• Assemblyman Peter Barnes is proposing the establishment of a state agency to oversee the rebuilding efforts in storm-battered towns along the Jersey Shore. 

Events

• January 10
  Fundraiser for Barbara Buono for Governor
  6:00 PM-8:00 PM
  Home of Diane & Eric Weinberg (81 Harrison Ave, Highland Park)
  Contact for Host Committee Opportunities: Rafi Jafri, (917) 975-8565 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
  $250/Ticket

• January 11
  19th Legislative District Holiday Party
  Hosted by Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Assemblyman Craig Coughlin, and Senator Joe Vitale

  6:00 PM-9:00 PM
  The Forge Inn (1002 US Highway 9, Woodbridge Twp)
  RSVP: (732) 855-7441

• January 20
  Garden State Equality Inauguration Brunch
  11:00 AM
  McLoone's Boathouse (West Orange)

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

We will continue to have updates about news and events 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

The NJDSC Year In Review for 2012

2012 was an eventful year for New Jersey Democrats and politics here in the Garden State.  Join us as we take a look back:

January

• President Obama gave his State of the Union Address, calling income inequality one of the defining issues of our time.
• Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver called upon the legislature to raise New Jersey's minimum wage.
• Assemblyman John Wisniewski was re-elected Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, with Camden Mayor Dana Redd serving as Vice Chair.
• Shelley Adler, widow of Congressman John Adler, announced that she would run to represent New Jersey's 3rd Congressional district.

• The New Jersey Attorney General attempted to nullify the votes of New Jersey's 4th legislative district by challenging Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera's November 2011 election to the legislature.

• New Jersey Spotlight pointed out that under Christie, New Jersey's property taxes are up an average 20%.
• Governor Christie gave a "State of the State" address.  Democrats including Chairman Wisniewski, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, and Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo spoke about the difference between the governor's speech and New Jersey's reality.
• The Governor released a silly YouTube video proclaiming the "Jersey Comeback," a slogan that had no basis in reality then or now.  The Star-Ledger was among the first to point out that the governor's video was hyperbole.

• Governor Christie was made a rude comment to a female protester at a New Hampshire event for Mitt Romney, prompting the Star-Ledger to call upon Christie to stop the condescending attitude when he speaks to women.

• Governor Christie tried to make the case for putting marriage equality on the ballot, claiming, "The fact of the matter is, I think people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South." With this statement, Christie illustrated that his understanding of civil rights history is about as good as his grasp on the reality of New Jersey's economic situation.
• Christie's words were so offensive that Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights hero who was nearly beaten to death on the bridge in Selma, traveled to New Jersey to speak out against the governor.
• When criticized by openly gay Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, the governor reverted to a favorite page in his political playbook: childish name-calling.  Christie called Gusciora "numbnuts."

• The Record found that dozens of appointees to the Port Authority had ties to Governor Christie.  Princeton Professor Emeritus Jameson Doig noted that these patronage jobs were excessive, given that "other governors might have four or five."

February

• Senator Frank Lautenberg wrote an editorial criticizing the governor's stance on marriage equality.
  
• The General Assembly and Senate passed marriage equality, which Governor Christie promptly vetoed.  New Jersey Democrats criticized the governor for his choice to deny a fundamental civil right to LGBT New Jerseyans.

• The Star-Ledger editorial board called out the governor for pushing an income tax cut benefiting the wealthy rather than property tax relief for the middle class. 
• Governor Christie's gave a budget proposal address that the Star-Ledger said included "dubious claims."  Christie's proposal was pure political theater, using revenue estimates that one might generously call unrealistic.
• Democrats rightly called Christie out for proposing a budget that had little relation to reality.
• Wall Street experts cast doubts about the governor's budget, which contained overly optimistic revenue estimates.

• New Jersey's Supreme Court invalidated the election of Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera.  Chief Justice Stuart Rabner dissented: saying that the decision "not only changes the rules after the fact, it also silences 19,907 voters and strips away respondent’s victory.”
• Following an audit that revealed significant mismanagement at the Port Authority, Transportation Chairman John Wisniewski introduced legislation to give the legislature greater oversight of the agency.

March

• The New Jersey Democratic State Committee launched a political resume bank.  You can share your resume with the NJDSC at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
• While the New Jersey Supreme Court attempted to invalidate the will of New Jersey's 4th Legislative District voters, Gloucester and Camden County Democrats voted to appoint Gabriela Mosquera to represent the voters in the Assembly until a special election in November 2012.

• Congressman Donald Payne announced that he had colon cancer and sadly passed away only a few days later.
• Chairman John Wisniewski, Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver paid tribute to the congressman.
• Congressman Payne, the first African American elected to Congress from New Jersey, served New Jersey in Congress for 23 years.  Hundreds, including President Bill Clinton, paid honor to a man who fought for his constituents in Newark and those struggling around the world.
• Payne's son, Donald Payne, Jr.announced that he would seek to serve the 10th Congressional District in Congress.

• Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula announced that he would seek to represent New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.

• Governor Christie once again displayed his inability to control his temper or his mouth when he called a Navy Seal an "idiot" when they disagreed over policy at a taxpayer-funded town hall.
• A poll released in March had 87% of New Jersey voters wanting politicians like Christie to cool it on the name-calling.
• Christie traveled to Illinois to stump for Mitt Romney, and the NJDSC highlighted their similarly terrible records on women's health.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee rejected Christie's transparent attempt to pack New Jersey's Supreme Court with Republicans, declining to approve Christie's nominees.
• Congressman Paul Ryan introduced the Republican 2013 budget plan, proposing additional tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires while cutting programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps.  In a preview of his eventual running mate selection, Mitt Romney offered a full-throated endorsement of Ryan's plan.
• New Jersey's entire Republican delegation to Congress voted to support Paul Ryan's budget.

April

• The United States Senate held a vote on the "Buffett Rule," which would ensure the very wealthy cannot use loopholes to pay a lower tax rate than middle and working class Americans.  Both Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Bob Menendez voted for the legislation.  Unsurprisingly (given their party's 2012 Presidential nominee), Senate Republicans blocked the legislation.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg held a hearing to investiate the Port Authority's decision to raise toll rates significantly. At the hearing, Christie friend and Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni was rude and uncooperative throughout his testimony.

• The NJDSC hosted the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.  The dinner, attended by 300 New Jersey Democrats, featured a keynote address from Senator Bob Menendez and tributes to Congressmen John Adler and Donald Payne.

• Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, a Republican who represents Mendham (making him Christie's own Assemblyman), revealed himself to be a birther.  Bucco told The Huffington Post that he did not believe that President Obama's birth certificate had been fully examined.

• The Star-Ledger revealed alarming similarities between legislation proposed by Governor Christie and his allies and the legislative agenda of right-wing advocacy group ALEC.
• Further digging revealed ties between Christie, New Jersey Republicans, and ALEC, including donations to Christie and his allies.

• Christie gave a pandering, partisan speech at a forum sponsored by the George W. Bush Presidential Center.  In a speech that sounds similiar to the comments made by Romney about 47% of Americans, Christie said, "We are turning into a paternalistic, entitlement society.  That will not only bankrupt us financially, it will bankrupt us morally. Because when the American people believe this is no longer a place where only their willingness to work hard, to act with honor, integrity and ingenuity determines their success in life, then we'll have a bunch of people sitting on a couch waiting for a government check."

• Mitt Romney traveled to New Jersey to fundraise for himself and Joe Kyrillos.  At the Romney fundraiser, officials removed Star-Ledger reporter Matt Friedman.  Perhaps they didn't want Matt to catch a version Romney's 47% remarks?

• A GAO report found that Governor Christie exaggerated worst-case scenario cost estimates to justify cancelling the ARC tunnel project, leading Paul Krugman to say that Christie may be the least responsible governor New Jersey has ever had.

May

• President Barack Obama became the first sitting President of the United States to state his support for marriage equality.
• New Jersey Democrats praised the President for his support for extending a basic civil right to LGBT Americans.  Statements from:
• Assemblyman John Wisniewski, New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman,    Senate President Steve Sweeney,  Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Senator Bob Menendez, Congressman Frank Pallone, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Congressman Steve Rothman, and Congressman Rush Holt
• Meanwhile, Governor Christie took the opportunity to reiterate his opposition to marriage equality.

• Senator Frank Lautenberg, along with Congressman Steve Rothman, State Senators Loretta Weinberg and Robert Gordon and Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Connie Wagner, spoke at the George Washington Bridge to call upon the Port Authority to hold off on toll hikes while an independent audit is under way.

• Christie headed to Wisconsin to campaign for anti-worker, anti-women Governor Scott Walker.
• Christie also campaigned in Virginia and Kentucy for Republicans, and headed to New York for a Romney fundraiser.
• The Star-Ledger reported on the the extensive travel schedule of Governor Christie, who had been out of state 54 times since the previous September.
  
• ABC News did the math and showed that his travel averaged to more than 1.5 days per week.  If you didn't show up for your full time job 1.5 days a week, would you still have a job?

• The New Jersey Environmental Federation, which endorsed Christie in 2009, gave him a D on environmental issues, for his poor record on climate change andgreen energy, and his decision to remove New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

• Christie vetoed legislation that would set up New Jersey's health insurance exchange in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.  Christie's justification for the veto: "Because it is not known whether the Affordable Care Act will remain, in whole or in part, it would be imprudent for New Jersey now to create an exchange before these critical threshold issues are decided with finality by the Court."
• Another day, another insult from the governor.  This time, Christie belittled David Rosen, the nonpartisan budget officer at the Office of Legislative Services, calling Rosen the "Dr. Kevorkian of numbers."  Why? Rosen's office  found that New Jersey revenues would be $1.3 billion short of what the governor's office had predicted.
• Democrats in the state legislature defended Rosen as a principled, non-partisan professional who did nothing to warrant the attack by the governor.

June

• The United States Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act (also known in right-wing circles as Obamacare) as constitutional.
• Congressman Frank Pallone, who helped craft the law, and other New Jersey Democrats praised the decision.

• Vice President Joe Biden articulated his vision for America's middle class on the Obama-Biden campaign Tumblr: "To me, being middle class is not a number, it's a way of life, it's a value set.  It's about a minimum standard of living.  It's about being able to own your own home and not just rent it.  It's being able to live in a safe neighborhood where your kids can walk the streets, where there's a playground that's not polluted, where you can send your kid to a decent school, knowing if they do well they've got a chance to go to college- and if they have that chance, knowing you have a chance to get them there.  That's what being a middle-class person is.  That's not asking too much.  That's who we are."

• Mitt Romney traveled to New Jersey to fundraise and New Jersey Democrats held a press conference outside of his event to highlight the dangerous Romney-Christie education agenda.

• New Jersey held primary elections to determine the party nominees for the November elections. Congressman Bill Pascrell defeated fellow incumbent Steve Rothman to run in New Jersey's 9th Congressional District, while Donald Payne, Jr. won his primary to seek the seat previously held by his father.

• Senate Republicans filibustered legislation to help women fight for paycheck fairness (equal pay for equal work).  New Jersey's Senators Lautenberg and Menendez voted to support women's economic equality in the workplace.

• Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, asked that the Port Authority turn over any documents from 2010 forward related to the toll increases, the tunnel, hiring practices, overtime and property leases.
• The U.S. District Court of New Jersey found that the one-year residency requirement for legislative candidates cannot be applied in the elections immediately following legislative redistricting, as those districts will have only existed for seven months at the time of the November elections.  The ruling made it clear that future candidates like Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera would not have their elections invalidated by an overzealous court.
• Chairman Wisniewski commented on the ruling: “This is a great win for common sense democracy in New Jersey and a loss for Governor Chris Christie and anyone who would seek to use our judiciary system to disenfranchise New Jerseyans.  The effort to prevent Assemblywoman Mosquera from representing the constituents who duly elected her has always been about sour grapes:  Republicans didn’t like the results of the 2011 legislative election and found a loophole they believed they could exploit, even if they had to ignore judicial precedent to have it applied.   This ruling means that no future candidate will be forced to run twice in the span of two years following redistricting.”
• Mosquera continued to work on behalf of her constituents, as she called upon the governor to help New Jersey's working poor and raise the state's minimum wage.  The Star-Ledger said Christie's "stubborn refusal to sign [legislation raising the minimum wage] once again short-shrifts hardworking people."

• After recognizing that Governor Christie's revenue estimates were more than $1 billion lower than he'd projected, Democrats worked out a budget deal that would address the shortfall responsibily.  The Democratic budget agreement provided for property tax relief (rather than the governor's income tax cut to disproportionately reward the wealthy) if the revenue projections proved true at the end of the year.  The Record called Democrats the "fiscally responsible ones," for the wait-and-see approach on taxes and revenues.

• The Record reported that New Jersey ranks 47th out of 50 among states in terms of economic performance.  Wisniewski pointed out that 4th from last doesn't seem like a comeback, despite Governor Christie's continued sloganeering.
• Christie kept company with the far-right at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Chicago, where he gave the keynote address in a speaker's lineup that included Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain, and Rick Santorum.

• More Reporters noticed Christie's penchant for insults when things don't go his way: The New York Times and The Record both wrote stories in June titled, "As His Optimistic Budget Falters, Christie Comes Out Swinging" and "Tactical purpose to Christie's jibes?"

July

• Christie kicked off the month by line item vetoing key sections of the Democratic budget.  Among his targets? The Earned Income Tax Credit, which helps the working poor make ends meet, and women's health funding (for the 4th time in 3 years).
• Christie enjoyed the 4th of July holiday by engaging in one of his favorite ways to pass the time: bellowing at people he disagrees with.  This time his targets were a reporter and a heckler on the Seaside Boardwalk (who the governor chased, ice cream cone in hand).  Is it any surprise that the most common way poll respondents described Christie was "bully?"

• Christie had a busy travel month, swinging by DC to fundraise for Mitt Romney, as well as leaving the state to attend events in Idaho, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Illinois, and Minnesota. 
• Governor Christie's staff apparently didn't think he was spending quite enough time out of town, so they asked the Brookings Institute if he could come to Washington and speak.  While there, Christie continued to speak about his imaginary Jersey Comeback (The Star-Ledger it "fictitious.").  The Washington Post pointed out that Christie's rosy speech didn't match New Jersey's reality.
• CNBC ranked New Jersey 41st in its rankings of "Best States for Business."  We dropped 11 from #30 last year.    The response from Team Christie?  There must be something wrong with CNBC's metrics.
• New Jersey's unemployment rate rose to 9.6%
• The State Budget Crisis Task Force reported that New Jersey was a long way from economic recovery, with high unemployment, lagging revenue, unmet pension obligations, crumbling infrastructure, and debt.

August

• Three New Jersey teens pushed to have a female debate moderator for one of the fall presidential debates. The presidential debates have not had a female moderator since 1992. Their push was successful, as CNN's Candy Crowley moderated the town hall debate.
  

• Mitt Romney selected Paul Ryan as his running mate, dashing Governor Christie's hopes of being #2 on the Republican ticket. 
• Christie's consolation prize, of course, was the keynote address at the Republican National Convention.  Chairman John Wisniewski laid out clearly why Christie was a poor pick for the big speech.
• While Christie was busy running around the country in July for Republicans, New Jersey's unemployment rate rose to 9.8%.  Christie's response to the rising unemployment numbers was to complain about the press reporting them.
• So it's no surprise that after months of proof that the governor's "Jersey Comeback" slogan was a fiction, Christie decided to drop his slogan from the biggest speech of his life.
• Still, Christie did make the speech all about Christie- speaking for 16 minutes about himself before even mentioning Mitt Romney.  The speech was widely panned:
• The Record noticed that Christie "strayed from the truth several times to inflate an accomplishment or exaggerate its impact."
• The Washington Post called him "phony, phony, phony,"
• Forbes said "there wasn’t a whole lot of truth to be found in the content of his twenty-minute address."
• MSNBC's Rachel Maddow called it "one of the most remarkable acts of political selfishness I have ever seen."
• New York Magazine's Frank Rich said, "it’s clear that Christie regards Mitt as merely a passing sideshow in his own glorious narrative."
• New York Magazine's Jonathan Chait remarked, "why Romney would give Christie the best speaking slot of the convention to lay out such a self-serving argument, I cannot fathom."
• The Tampa Bay Times named Christie among its losers of the 2012 RNC, writing, "Me. Me. Me. The keynote speech did nothing to elevate his political stature."

• Congressman Todd Akin, the Missouri Republican candidate for Senate competing with Senator Claire McCaskill, told a reporter that women do not get pregnant from rape, in response to a question about his opposition to abortion for victims or rape: “It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare.  If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”
• The GOP platform committee approved the party's official position on abortion: supporting a full ban, on abortion, with no exceptions for rape or incest. 

September

• New Jersey Democrats headed down to Charlotte, North Carolina for the Democratic National Convention.  Several New Jersey delegates were featured in articles about the convention, including: Ed O'Brien, New Jersey's youngest delegate; Babs Siperstein, the first transgender member of the Democratic National Committee; Jeremy Feigenbaum, outgoing Vice President of the College Democrats of America; Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, a delegate from south Jersey.
• A group of New Jersey Democrats including Chairman Wisniewski and his family lent a hand to the Craftman "House United" project, which had teams from state delegations at the DNC and the RNC build and paint a house that will go to a military family in need.
• New Jersey's delegation was joined by 300 guests from New Jersey who came to Charlotte to celebrate.  The week was packed with events.  DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz started the week off right when she spoke at our Convention Kickoff Party.  Each day began with breakfast featuring New Jersey Democrats and other speakers who included David Simas (Director of Opinion Research from the Obama Campaign), Donna Brazile, Lisa Jackson, New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and President Obama's sister Maya Ng.
• Following the first breakfast, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg gathered women delegates and attendees together to hold the first meeting of the "Jersey Girl Caucus."
• Each evening, in the Time Warner Arena, our delegation was wowed by the energy of the crowd and the stirring speeches.  On Tuesday, Newark Mayor Cory Booker introduced the Democratic platform, and was followed by the Keynote Address from San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. First Lady Michelle Obama closed the evening with one of the best speeches of the week.  On Wednesday, delegates heard Sandra Fluke speak about the critical choice young women had in this election, Elizabeth Warren rebutted Mitt Romney's claim that "corporations are people," and President Bill Clinton proved to be the "explainer-in-chief" while nominating President Obama for a second term.  That same night, following President Clinton's nominating speech, the roll call, in which each state casts its votes for the nomination, began.  New Jersey's roll call was given by New Jersey Democratic Chairman John Wisniewski and Senator Bob Menendez.  Thursday was the main event:speeches from Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama accepting the Democratic nomination!

• Mother Jones released the infamous 47% video that showed Mitt Romney's true colors.  Among Romney's comments: There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax.  My job is is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”
• Joking that he'd have a better shot at winning the White House if he was actually Latino, rather than having a father born in Mexico to white parents.

• Meanwhile, Standard and Poors downgraded its outlook on New Jersey from stable to negative.  The financial ratings agency cited continuing budget imbalance and revenue projections for the fiscal year. Ratings agency Fitch warned of notable downside risk in New Jersey’s revenue budget for fiscal 2013 as well.
• For the second month in a row, the governor's office was late in delivering revenue numbers, a violation of Christie's own executive order.  Maybe they were embarrassed that Governor Christie overestimated revenue projections for the fiscal year by $100 million?
• In May 2011, the Christie administration was awarded $300 million in federal funding to help New Jersey homeowners avoid foreclosure, but by the end of September 2012 had only distributed $47 million. 
• Moody's Investor Service said that New Jersey's high rate of foreclosures, second in the nation behind only Florida, could result in downgrades for local municipalities' credit ratings.  The Star-Ledger said, "Christie, while running around the country brushing up his political credentials and talking up his imaginary 'New Jersey comeback,' wasn’t paying attention."
• New Jersey's unemployment rate went up to a record 9.9%. 
• While New Jersey's economic numbers continued to get worse and worse, Christie's busy campaign schedule showed no sign of slowing.  He campaigned for Congressman Steve King in Iowa.  King is an extremist in the same vein as Todd Akin, who Christie publicly called upon to resign.  He also had trips to North Carolina, Utah, DC, New Hampshire, and Missouri.  Christie also got himself booked on the three Sunday shows to chat about Mitt Romney's chances in November.  The story of much of this year for Governor Christie seems to be: lots of time for Republican campaigning, little time for job growth in New Jersey.

October

• President Obama had an off-night in the first Presidential Debate, but followed it up with back-to-back debates where he didn't just win, he wiped the floor with Mitt Romney.
• Vice President Biden called out Paul Ryan on his malarkey and scored a win in the Vice Presidential Debate.

• Senator Bob Menendez handily beat state Senator Joe Kyrillos in their three debates.  Menendez was clear on both his record and Kyrillos's, while the Republican had trouble keeping up.

• The Star-Ledger said "no sane person would want to clean up the mess Christie has created. That’s right, this governor, the guy who keeps telling the world that he’s straightened up Jersey’s budget, has made it worse."
• Maybe that's why Governor Christie spent more time out of state in October, campaigning in Washington state, Montana, North Dakota, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Virginia.
• His campaign stop in Indiana was for Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock.  Right after Christie's visit, Mourdock said this in his final Senate debate: “I’ve struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”  Chairman Wisniewski called upon Christie to denounced Mourdock. The entire 72-member Democratic legislative caucus wrote to Governor Christie demanding that he repudiate Mourdock.  New Jersey voters should take a hard look at the extreme candidates Christie has campaigned for throughout his time in office.  Their views do not represent New Jersey values.
  
• Of course, the biggest story in New Jersey in October was the devastating blow we were dealt by Superstorm Sandy.  President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden each visited New Jersey in the aftermath of the storm, meeting with Governor Christie, members of the Congressional delegation, and local leaders, to determine how government could help our communities recover.  As we move into 2013, know that the families and businesses affected by Sandy are still in our thoughts and prayers.  We will be with you next year and beyond to help rebuild New Jersey even stronger!

November

• President Barack Obama won re-election handily.  In New Jersey, the President won with a bigger margin than he did in 2008.
• Since many of you spent time helping re-elect the President, check out this video of the President thanking some of the people who worked so hard.
• Chairman Wisniewski released a statement congratulating Democrats in New Jersey on the many wins we have to celebrate!  We will re-elected Senator Bob Menendez, Congressmen Rob Andrews, Frank Pallone, Albio Sires, Bill Pascrell, and Rush Holt, and elected Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.  Gabriela Mosquera was elected to continue to serve the 4th legislative district in  the New Jersey General Assembly. Democrats in Bergen County took majority control over the Board of Freeholders. In Passaic County, every Freeholder is now a Democrat. In Burlington and Cumberland Counties, Democrats won two seats each on the Board of Freeholders.  In Atlantic County, we won one Freeholder seat. 
• Donald Payne, Jr. was sworn in on November 15, because he was elected to fulfill the remainder of his father's unexpired term in 2012 (before beginning a full two-year term in 2013).
• Following the confusing and disorganized voting process in New Jersey (caused by Superstorm Sandy), Democrats in the legislature introduced bills to bring early voting to New Jersey.

December

• New Jersey's 14 Democratic electors met to cast their votes for President at the State House in Trenton.
• Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, Senator Frank Lautenberg renewed his push to ban high-capacity ammunition clips.

• The New Jersey Attorney General’s office announced that it would no longer pursue its appeal of the U.S. District Court’s ruling that found it unconstitutional to apply the one-year eligibility requirement in election years immediately following redistricting.
  
• New Jersey Democratic Chairman John Wisniewski released the following statement about the AG's decision: “It does not seem to be a coincidence that the Attorney General’s office has finally dropped its meritless appeal after Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera won her election so decisively. It is shameful that the Attorney General’s office wasted time and taxpayer dollars in an attempt to invalidate the will of the voters.  From the beginning, this was a partisan effort by Republicans to litigate an election result that they didn’t like. The constituents of New Jersey’s 4th legislative district have now spoken twice in two years: they want Gabriela Mosquera to serve as their representative in the General Assembly.”

• Legislation to raise New Jersey's minimum wage was sent to Governor Christie, who hasn't yet acted on the bill.  Senate President Steve Sweeney said, "We are just giving the governor a chance to do the right thing for working people.  If the governor fails to sign this bill, then we will put the decision directly into the hands of the people."
• Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, along with Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski, Majority Conference Leader Gordon M. Johnson, and Assembly Budget Committee Chair Vincent Prieto, released a multimedia package highlighting the Assembly's final approval of the minimum wage legislation.

• Governor Christie announced that he would seek re-election.  Senator Barbara Buono announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Governor.

This year seemed to speed by, and next year we'll be just as busy working hard to rebuild New Jersey and elect a Democratic Governor.  Thank you for your continued support.  We look forward to working hard with you and for you in the coming year!

Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee:

Sincerely, 

John Wisniewski, Chairman
New Jersey Democratic State Committee