Term Limits: Corruption Prevention

With two State Senators under indictment and a third a target of the US Attorney's office, corruption is front in center in the media. The Asbury Park Press's 15 part series on the history of Operation Bid Rig is sure to keep corruption as the issue on the forefront of Monmouth County voters' minds going into the campaign season.

More than likely the Bid Rig series is a prelude to an all out assault on the Monmouth GOP and the "good old boys club." The Press will argue that culture of corrpuption and cronyism still exists and that it is time to clean house. They will point to the Barham/Harvey relationship and the Hall of Records. The Tobia appointment, Malcolm Carton, pay to play will be used to bolster the assault. Freeholder Anna Little's unceremonious dumping from the ticket and the candidate selection process will be used to argue for the defeat of Rob Clifton and Jeff Cantor. The Democrats will not have to make these arguments. The Press will do it for them.

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lord Acton's words are still true, almost two hundred years after he wrote them.

The genius of our forefathers was in their understanding of human nature. The system of checks and balances that our various governments, federal and state, are founded on have prevented tyranny and "absolute power" throughout our nation's history. In New Jersey, it is apparent that we need more checks and balances.

Term limits for our office holders, all of them on every level, will prevent the accumulation of absolute power.

Freeholder Anna Little has been talking about term limits and a rotational directorship since she took office. In May of this year, she proposed a resolution that would have implemented term limits and a rotational directorship on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders. None of the other Freeholders would second her motion, though candidate Jeff Cantor was quoted as favoring term limits.

Little should propose her resolution again and Rob Clifton should second it. Clifton and Cantor should run on the issue. It's good policy, and this year in particular it will be good politics.

This just in...a plot is Hatching

Despite serving on Anne Estabrook's US Senate exploratory committee, and promising her the county line in the 2008 primary in exchange for large donations to the county party, Adam Puharic has been telling other Senate candidates that he is not endorsing Estabrook and offering them the opportunity to speak at the finance gala tomorrow night in exchange for significant contributions.

Red Jersey

There are two outstanding post on Red Jersey this morning. Check them out:

Corruption is no laughing matter

The Institutional Party and How We Must Challenge It

Estabrook to the rescue!

US Senate candidate Anne Estabrook will be among the speakers at the Monmouth County Republican Finance Gala, Weds August 1.

Rumour has it that Estabrook has already been promised the Monmouth County party line in the 2008 primary, in exchange for major contributions to the county party, and/or PACS thereof. So much for a convention.

According to CampaignMoney.com, Estabrook has a long track record as a generous political donor. While most of her donations have been to Republicans, she has contributed to the NJ Democratic State Committee and to PACS that have donated to notable Democrats such as Robert Menendez (who also got a direct contribution from Estabrook in 2000), Frank Pallone, Jerry Nadler and others.

According to the Monmouth GOP June 30, 2007 ELEC report, the party really needs the money. The report is very hard to read, literally and figuratively. The Monmouth GOP has about $4500 cash on hand, and debt of about $30K, including almost $19K to Pitney Bowes Credit Corp for "equipment settlement." Most contributions for the quarter came from candidates' campaign accounts.

Tell'm Tara!

Open Letter to NJDOT Commissioner Kolluri

Wednesday, 25 July 2007

Commissioner Kolluri:

Today was a picture-perfect day at the Jersey Shore. I sat on my deck in Highlands observing the vista before me: Sandy Hook, Rt. 36 in Highlands and Sea Bright, and the historic Twin Lights Bridge. At 1:25 p.m. the traffic in the right lane south is backed up as far as the eye can see. Yet, the bridge has been down for 15 minutes; the cars waiting to cross quickly did so in less than two minutes when the roadway was lowered. The reason for the back-up? Sandy Hook parking lots are full, no more vehicles may enter, and there is NO SIGNAGE informing motorists of this fact until they actually get to the park entrance at the end of the bridge. Motorists are confused, and must cut over to the left lane to continue to Sea Bright. This scenario is repeated for several hours.

Your Dept. has advised the public that a new bridge is needed in Highlands to ease the traffic back-ups. This is not the case. What is needed is signage with information about the beaches placed all along Rt. 36 from Keyport on down into Highlands.

This is a simple, in-expensive and obvious solution to the problem.

You also state that The Twin Lights Bridge is dangerous and in dire need of repair. If this is the case, why is it not weight posted?. If your Dept. has been examining it every six months, as stated, why has not anyone noted the decay and started repairs?

I have lived in Highlands since 1995; each summer I observe the parade of cars into Sandy Hook. Each summer I see the same problem: Lack of Signage. Would someone in your Dept. please wake up and take care of this problem?

The National Park Service should also be charged with taking care of the traffic problems on the Twin Lights Bridge in the summer. A Park Ranger could surely be posted on the Highlands side of the bridge to help alleviate the problem.

Your traffic studies have delivered inaccurate information. I invite you and your staff to my home any summer week-end to observe what is REALLY going on.

Sincerely,

Tara K. Ryan
Highlands, NJ

Will Corzine be fired again?

The reviews keep coming in. "Asset Monetization" is a flop, and Jon Corzine's star is fading.

A new Monmouth University/Gannet poll shows that Corzine's scheme is DOA with New Jersey voters.

Corzine is still determined to sell the scheme. As he's done many times before, he's attempting to buy support from special interests. He's threatening tax increases if he doesn't get his way. His problem is that voters and the special interests have figured out that if we go for his scheme, we'll still have tax increases and we'll have uncontrollable toll increases.

Democratic bloggers at BlueJersey have turned on the plan. David P. Rebovich, a Rider University political science professor said, "It may be that the governor cannot convince people."

Republicans are enthused with their prospects of taking back the Senate and gaining in the Assembly.

Corzine has a track record of forcing his way against powerful opposition. His pushing through the sale of Goldman Sachs in the face of his partners' opposition got him fired at Goldman, but only after the damage was done.

Will the NJ Democratic party let Corzine do the damage before they show him the door? Probably. But if they know what's good for them, Dick Codey and Joe Roberts will announce that there will be no "Asset Monetization" and that they will not let Corzine and his ex-girlfriend do any further damage to New Jersey.

It was just over a year ago that Corzine forced a shut down of the state and then paid the union workers for their extra time off. It's time someone stand up to this bull headed megalomaniac.

Instead of speculating who the Democratic candidate for US Senate will be in 2008 if Frank Lautenberg retires again, Democrats should focus on who they will run for Governor in 2009.

Dick Codey has to be the front runner.

Don't forget: Cocktails with the Governor tonight.

The plot thickens...

...as the noose tightens.

Disclaimer: "the noose tightens" is a figure of speech. MoreMonmouthMusings does not advocate any lynchings or executions of libelous bloggers, or of their families. Exposure, and ruined political careers will do.

Bridge fight far from over

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 07/24/07

Fierce opposition turned out at the Department of Transportation meetings in Sea Bright and Highlands on June 21 concerning the Route 36 bridge replacement fiasco as reported by the Asbury Park Press. Hopefully it put to rest any unfounded speculation that it is just a "small vocal minority" opposed to this DOT boondoggle.

Amazingly, the DOT representatives seemed ill-prepared to defend their position and stave off concerns, or to answer questions convincingly. Power-point images shown were obviously framed and tweaked to show the proposed new bridge from the least offensive angles.

The DOT gave residents opposed to this project even more ammunition by stating on the record that the new bridge would look like the NJ Turnpike-style monstrosities that are the Victory Bridge over the Raritan River or the Route 35 bridge over the Shark River. It is that exact concern that no serious thought has been given to maintaining the character and sense of place of the surrounding area in the design of this project that has everyone so fired up.

Sure we'd like to save the historic bridge and see it restored to last another 75 years. We blame the DOT for allowing the bridge to deteriorate by not maintaining it. But if the DOT had given thoughtful consideration to the surroundings and character of the communities affected, they wouldn't find themselves in nearly as tough a predicament as they now face if in fact the bridge is beyond repair, which has still not been adequately proved. They did not present alternate design solutions to the affected municipalities as required. They have a total disregard for those of us who will have to live with this nightmare of a bridge while both our quality of life and property values erode.

The fight is not over. I urge anyone who has an interest in seeing the history and character of our corner of the Jersey Shore respected to join the cause of Citizens for Rational Coastal Development.

Nick Evangelista

HIGHLANDS

Will the real Mike Panter please stand up.

Assemblyman Michael Panter (D-12) apparently did not receive State Treasurer Bradley Abelow's "support Corzine's monetization program or else" memo.

In an OpEd piece in today's Asbury Park Press, Panter points out what doesn't work about the Indiana and Chicago toll road deals, and paints a bleak picture of the benefits any possible monetization scenario. He accurately debunks any monetization scheme as an increase in debt, which he says he would oppose.

Panter ends his article in a curious fashion, saying:

"The public deserves answers on the governor's plan but should also be wary of candidates whose knee-jerk reactions are to spread false information for political gain."

All any candidate opposing the Corzine's scheme needs to do is point to Panter's article. No knee jerk reactions or falsehoods are necessary. Panter nailed it.

The public does deserve answers on Corzine's plans. The problem is Corzine resents the questions and doesn't have any good answers...because there aren't any. Yet the Governor keeps spending money that we don't have on his scheme and threatens those who dare to oppose it.

Democrats and Republicans don't need to worry that Panter has suddenly become fiscally conservative, or even fiscally responsible. His OpEd piece was obviously written for political gain. While he may oppose the monetization schemes, at least until after the election, he still favors borrowing $450 million for stem cell research, and the unions who are bleeding New Jersey dry are solidly in his corner.

What happened to the other $29 billion?

Senator Ray Lesniak says cutting spending won't solve our state fiscal problems because the "the operating budget of the state is less than $4 billion."

In a post on the Star Ledger's NJ Voices blog, Lesniak acknowledges that he has been part of the problem in Trenton, but says, "No more. I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem." Yet he offers no solutions. He says he wants to reduce the $100 million in debt piled up by Whitman, DiFranceso and McGreevey, but doesn't say how.

Of course he wants to be part of the solution. He still has a state pension to pad.

Letting Lesniak, and his ilk, "be part of the solution" is akin to a junkie going to his crack dealer for rehab advice.

Lesniak chides "All those geniuses" who say the solution is to cut spending. He has a point. Cutting spending alone won't do it. We also need to cut taxes, reduce regulation and cut the waste from the $29 billion that Lesniak implies is off limits.

Lesniak's post is a lame attempt to build support for and reduce the overwhelming resistance to "monetizing" the toll roads and the lottery. He says his Democratic colleagues don't want to talk about this because it is "unpopular and difficult to explain."

It's not difficult to explain. "Monetizing" means borrowing more money! It really is that simple. It is unpopular because it is a stupid idea! It's just another gimmick and more of the same crap that got us into this mess.

Here's an idea that will generate even more money than selling, I mean monetizing, I mean borrowing against the future revenues of the toll roads and the lottery. This idea will also solve the property tax problem, urban blight in Camden and Newark, and improve education:

Sell the schools. All of them. Make every school a private school and have the state issue tuition vouchers for every school age child in New Jersey. Every child gets the same amount.

How's that for genius Senator? I know, you don't like it. It makes too much sense. It's not difficult to explain. And, the unions you are beholden too would never go for it.

Administration Threatens Mayors If They Oppose Monetizascam

Please read this outstanding post by Hank Butehorn on CWA

More on Pay to Play and Wheeling

Money is like water and air. It will always find its way through the cracks. If there aren't any cracks, it will make some.

All the noise about pay to play, wheeling and campaign finance reform is nonsense. It will never keep money that wants to be spent on a campaign from being spent. From McCain-Feingold on the federal level, to the various laws and proposed laws throughout New Jersey, it's all b.s. that creates more bureaucracy and unproductive work for lawyers and bean counters.

Proposed laws are not about reform. They are about the party in power trying to hamstring their opponents while protecting their own flow of funds, all the while patting themselves on the back as reformers to voters to don't buy it and don't care.

In addition to violating the rights of free expression for those who do contribute, these laws create a massive amount of work and additional expense for the campaigns and contributors. They actually make it more difficult to track who is giving to who, because of all the committees, PACS, 527's, etc that the parties and contributors have to create in order to fund their campaigns and comply with the laws.

I say scrap all attempts to limit free speech and the free flow of money. Let whoever wants to give do so. But do require full disclosure of all contributions. That way you can at least track who's buying off who.

It will never happen. It makes too much sense, and there's too much money in controlling the money.

"Barry Goldwater" has some interesting things to say..

...about wheeling, pensions and the Karcher, Panter, Mallet team.

Pay to Play and Wheeling

Pay to play and wheeling continue to be hot topics in Monmouth County through the dog days of summer. As usual both parties will seek to look like reformers, while at the same time protecting their cash flow and limiting their opponents cash flow. That's the game, and it has little to do with reform.

Middletown Township introduced a pay to play and wheeling ordinance this week that was modeled on many other ordinances throughout New Jersey, with an unusual twist. In addition to limiting the contributions of "Professional business entities" which do business with the municipality and county, Middletown's ordinance seeks to limit the contributions, cash and in kind, of liquor license applicants.

Have descendants of Al Capone been trying to buy Middletown's government? Having lived in and/or operated my business in Middletown for 10 years, I never noticed this problem.

More likely, this is the latest gambit in the ongoing battle of wills between the Azzolina family and the Carton family. Once partners in making Middletown the great place it is today, these factions have been at war since they split over the Towne Center development.

Former State Senator Joe Azzolina's family owns supermarkets and liquor stores in Middletown. They also own the land they want to develope as the Towne Center. They also own The Courier

Peter Carton, is the long time chairman of the Middletown GOP, and is the bond counsel for Middletown, Monmouth County, and many other municipalities.

Since the Middletown GOP, and thereby its governing body and boards,withdrew support for the Towne Center, Azzolina has been trying to get Democrats to take over Middletown in order to deny Carton his lucrative contracts.

Its all rather unseemly, on both sides, and the battle continues to be played out on the Township Committee and in the Azzolina owned Courier. I, and many others in the communtiy, have friends of both sides of this tiresome battle.

So, the way I see it, including liquor licensees as pay to players in the proposed ordinance is the Middletown GOP's way to jerk the Courier's chain, if not change their editorial content and advertising policies.

It won't work, it will just lead to silly litigation and campaign rhetoric that has nothing to do with good government.

A Message from Freeholder Rob Clifton

07/19/2007

Dear Fellow Republicans,

Many of you have been reading in the local newspapers over the past few weeks about pay-to-play (campaign finance reform) at the county level. I would like to give you a brief update of the current progress on this important resolution.

We are making great progress on passing strong pay-to-play reform in Monmouth County and I am optimistic that the end is in sight. I have been meeting with the bi-partisan pay-to-play reform committee to discuss a resolution currently being crafted to put an end to the practices of pay-to-play, wheeling, and out of county special interest money in Monmouth County. After many drafts of resolutions changing hands between both sides I am confident that we will reach an agreement shortly.

I will not understate the importance that this resolution covers all aspects of pay-to-play, wheeling, and out of county special interest money. We have an historic opportunity to set a bi-partisan example by passing a strong comprehensive resolution. It is my hope that with this resolution Monmouth County will be leading the way on all of these important campaign finance reforms which will spur other counties to act. It is also my hope that this will apply pressure on the state to pass a comprehensive statewide ban on pay-to-play, wheeling, and finally end the toxic effect large sums of special interest money have on campaigns.

I will continue to update you on the progress I am making on this important resolution and the results of my ongoing discussions with the bi-partisan pay-to-play reform committee. I am optimistic that we will reach an agreement on a strong comprehensive resolution giving Monmouth County the strongest most comprehensive pay-to-play, anti wheeling ban at the county level in New Jersey.

Sincerely,

Freeholder Rob Clifton

WAS GOLDMAN SACHS THE FIRM THAT WANTED TO TRIPLE OUR TOLLS?

“Using state assets to put money in the pockets of your friends is wrong,” said Donohue. “Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James just got indicted by federal authorities for using Newark assets to enrich his friends. It’s time for the Governor to step up and tell us – is he or anyone in his Administration seeking or receiving counsel from Goldman Sachs on this hare-brained scheme? Haven’t we had enough surprises from our Governors in recent years?”
~Michael Donohue, 1st District Assembly Candidate

The Highway Men. MUST READ

Don't forget to vote

The Rasta poll is still open.

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

What if Pallone runs for US Senate?

Politicsnj has an poll asking who the Democrats should run for Congress in the 6th district if Frank Pallone runs for Frank Lautenbergs US Senate seat next year.

Pallone has the largest campaign war chest of any member of congress, with $2.9 million. He has long coveted a Senate seat. It was reported that he was offered the nomination to replace Robert Torricelli in 2002 before Lautenberg came out of retirement. He lobbied hard to get Jon Corzine to appoint him to the seat that Bob Menendez got.

The 6th Congressional District covers almost all of Middlesex County, a large portion of coastal and northern Monmouth, and small parts of Somerset and Union counties. It will be that way at least until the next census, when it is likely that NJ will give up one of its congressional seats to former NJ residents in North Carolina or Florida. Here's a map and list of the towns in the district.

Unless Joe DiBella moves back to Sayreville, the Republican candidates will likely come from Monmouth County.

Who would the Republican contenders be for an open congressional seat in the 6th? Would Steve Corodemus get back in the game? Joe Kryillos? Adam Puharic has been known to whisper that he wants to be a Congressman. Rob Clifton and Bill Barham live in the district, as does Jennifer Beck and John Curley. Sean Kean and Tommy DeSeno do not live in the district. Would either of them move? Would Anna Little run?

This would be a fun race, and it would give the R's a chance to pick up a Congressional seat and a Senate seat.

RUN FRANK RUN!

Sea Bright Petitions Governor to re-open Bridge Hearings

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Sea Bright has consistently supported, protected and preserved the historic sites and environmental distinctiveness of the Borough's community and surroundings; and,

WHEREAS, all proposals to develop and/or change the use of lands and structures should respect the procedures and ordinances of the municipality that they are located within; and,

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Transportation has virtually ignored the concerns of and has been unresponsive to requests by the citizens and governing body of Sea Bright to consider alternatives to the DOT's plan to demolish the historic route 36 drawbridge that connects the Borough of Sea Bright to the Borough of Highlands; and,

WHEREAS, the Borough of Sea Bright will suffer undue hardship and irreparable injury to public and personal property located within the Borough if the proposed new fixed span bridge is approved for construction by jurisdictional state agencies and authorities:



NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Council of Borough of Sea Bright hereby petitions New Jersey State Governor Jon Corzine to issue an executive / administrative order to stay all decisions to build a new Route 36 fixed span bridge over the Shrewsbury River, to re-open the public hearing and to provide an extended public comment period to review, explore and discuss many issues regarding the bridge, including but not limited to:

- The NDOT plan does not minimally comply with NEPA rules and regulations for "categorical exclusion" because the $14 million in design fees for the new bridge was inappropriate and premature.

- "Agencies shall not commit resources prejudicing selection of alternatives before making a final decision (Sec. 1506.1)."

- Environmental impact statements in the coastal area and in endangered species nesting areas were not conducted in violation of the Endangered Species and the Coastal Zone Management Acts. Environmental Impact Statements shall serve as the means of assessing the environmental impact of proposed agency actions, rather than justifying decisions already made (Sec. 1502.2 Implementation (g)).
- An environmental impact statement is to serve as an action-forcing device to insure that the policies and goals defined in the Act are infused into the ongoing programs and actions..... It shall provide full and fair discussion of significant environmental impacts and shall inform decision makers and the public of the reasonable alternatives which would avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance the quality of the human environment. Agencies shall focus on significant environmental issues and alternatives.... shall be supported by evidence that the agency has made the necessary environmental analyses. An environmental impact statement is more than a disclosure document. It shall be used in conjunction with other relevant material to plan actions and make decisions. (Sec. 1502.1 Purpose). The public has been unfairly denied the opportunity to review and comment on an Environmental Impact Statements that "shall state how alternatives considered in an EIS and decisions based on it will or will not achieve the requirements of sections 101 and 102(1) of the Act and other environmental laws and policies (Sec. 1502.2 Implementation(d))
- The NDOT categorical exclusion for an EIS on the Route 36 drawbridge does not minimally comply with the conditions defined in 44 CFR 10.8(d). "Categorical exclusion" means a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and which have been found to have no such effect in procedures (Sec. 1507.3) and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required ... 40CFR 1508.4. Categorical exclusions include minor improvements or minor hazard mitigation measures at existing facilities, such as placing riprap at a culvert outlet to control erosion. The unresolved extraordinary circumstances are the presence of protected natural or cultural resources, the proposed action cannot be categorically excluded, and an Environmental Assessment would be required.
- The Endangered Species Act states that if a project involves the known habitat of a threatened or endangered species, the USFWS or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), or both shall be consulted. A comprehensive EIS is requisite in complying with the Endangered Species Act. Topograhicals, to scale maps, areas of disturbance and encroachment in environmentally sensitive and endangered/threatened nesting and breeding areas have not been addressed, reviewed and commented on by the public in the absence of an EIS.
- The September 30, October 1, and October 2, 2002 "informal public information meetings did not provide comprehensive documentation on any of the aforementioned requisite data and issues.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in the interest of fairness, to best serve the public interest, to preserve the rights of municipalities and it's citizens to be consulted and participate in public hearing process, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Sea Bright petition New Jersey's Governor Jon Corzine to issue an executive /administrative order to stay all proceedings and approvals until complete information including an EIS be made available for public review and a new public hearing with an extended comment period be provided for and noticed to all interested parties.





BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this Resolution be sent to the Office of Administrative Law, The New jersey State Attorney General and the Office of the New Jersey State Public Advocate

$50 for drinks with the Governor. Open Bar.

A road trip to Hoboken might be in order.

Since the Governor is not doing email any longer, and his staff doesn't record who you are when you call, this might just be the opportunity we've been waiting for to make sure he knows what we think about "monetizing" state assets, replacing the "Twin Lights Bridge" with a turnpike exit ramp, borrowing a 1/2 billion dollars for stem cell research, etc, etc.

A Rejected Toll Road Monetization Plan Surfaces

NJBIZdaily 7/17/2007

A proposal from an unnamed financial group offering to raise a lump sum of around $30 billion by leveraging future revenue from the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway appeared today on a Web site called Tollroadsnews.com. Gov. Jon Corzine’s office says it was an unsolicited offer that was rejected.


The Corzine administration has been studying ways to “monetize” toll roads and is expected to release a plan in November. Republicans, who have made a monetization plan an election campaign issue, are pressing the governor to release his plan before the November elections.


The rejected proposal, reportedly sent to the state in February, called for New Jersey to retain ownership of the toll roads and install a private-sector management company to run their operations, according to the Web site, which published excerpts and images of the documents with the name of the financial group blacked out. It would have raised $30 billion for the state in an upfront fee from investors who would be paid back, in part, by the future toll revenues, according to the proposal. The plan called for raising tolls—a prospect the Corzine administration has suggested is likely. - Scott Goldstein

DeSeno: Pallone lost Fort Monmouth

But, can he get it back?

If Rasta comes clean, will he (they) get to keep his (their) crown?

Update on Honest Abe and Monmouth Rastaman Cases

New Court Date for "Monmouth Rastaman" and "Honest Abe" Hearing

Please be advised:

Due to the conflict of interest declared by Judge Mullaney,

In the case of

Purcell v Monmouth Rastaman Docket No: MON-L-2355-07,

as well as the case of

Migliaccio v Honest Abe, Docket No: MON-L-1752-06,

The Court has assigned a new date, time and Judge to hear both the

Motion to Approve Letters Rogatory to request the California Court approve the Subpoena issued to Google, Inc. for identifying information for “Monmouth Rastaman”

as well as the

Motion to Approve Letters Rogatory to request the California Court approve the Subpoena issued to Google, Inc. for identifying information for “Honest Abe”

as follows.:

Friday, July 20, 2007 at 9:00 am, before-

The Honorable Jamie S. Perri, PJSC at -

Superior Court of New Jersey

71 Monument Park

Freehold, New Jersey 07728

Please be guided accordingly.

Thomas De Seno, Esq.

De Seno & Kunz, LLP

601 Bangs Avenue

PO Box 500

Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712-0500

732-869-1500

From "In the Lobby"

Daily Muse: THE MONETIZATION SHUFFLE

July 16, 2007


No one ever said that Gov. Corzine was not a clever man.

You don’t rise to the top of Goldman Sachs without having some smarts. And you don’t win a U.S. Senate seat without strategizing what it is that you’ll have to do – or how much money you’ll have to spend -- to get there.


We see the strategizer is at work again.

We started noticing a few months ago, how Corzine was withholding support for a popular open space referendum but promising to fund it, if only his monetization program would pass.


Then the governor announced that he would swap $1 billion in federal road repair money and instead use that to help finance the proposed Trans-Hudson Tunnel, which would add a second rail tunnel from New Jersey to New York. He would fund necessary road repairs, he said, from the Transportation Trust Fund.

But wait – wasn’t the lack of money for road and infrastructure repairs one of the first things Corzine mentions when it comes to what he would do with funds that were freed up with asset monetization?


Why, yes he does.

Interesting, we thought.


Then, a few weeks ago, Treasurer Bradley Abelow gave an interview where he said that the state would really like to cut business taxes if it could. Freeing up funds, via asset monetization, would go a long way toward doing that he said.

And then we started seeing a checklist at work.


Environmentalists and open space advocates. Check.

Construction workers and road advocates. Check.


Business groups and company leaders. Check.

We became even more curious when we learned that Abelow is setting up private meetings with key constituency groups to discuss asset monetization, and how the money could help those groups.


Could the governor possibly be trying to line up support for his asset monetization plan, before he even unveils it, by promising “goodies” to key constituent groups who would then be inclined to support it?

Could that be why he’s been so slow to release any information about what his plan would look like, or why his administration keeps delaying on Republican requests to release information on what money the state has spent, and to whom, and what work has been produced?


After all, it’s a lot easier to get a controversial proposal, like a plan that would all but guarantee toll hikes for commuters – possibly even annual toll hikes for commuters – if you already have some of the state’s key constituency groups lined up behind you.

We already know that the governor is planning to put some of his own money into an ad campaign to try and sell his asset monetization proposal. He all but admitted that they’ve already begun talking to advertising agencies.


Now, it appears, they may also be talking to campaign strategists. Or maybe the governor is just widening his target audience.

According to the Auditor in the Star Ledger on Sunday, more than 26,000 people were e-mailed a transcript of the governor's remarks -- in which he pledged not to sell or lease the New Jersey Turnpike – and his eight core principles of asset monetization. The e-mail was reportedly sent to the mayors, council members and clerks of every one of the state's boroughs, towns and cities; every county elected official and all state lawmakers; “virtually every political constituency,” including African- American clergy, organized labor, environmental activists, women business leaders, members of the NJ Business & Industry Association, veterans and seniors; every lobbyist; 6,000 members signed up on the Democratic State Committee list, and 11,000 affiliated with the Alliance for Action and the Utility Transportation Contractors Association. There’s even a link to it on the state’s home page. In addition, the Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Education and School Construction Corporation sent the transcript to their respective global e-mail lists.

Check.

Check.

And check.

We have a question: If the governor’s office was so concerned about blurring the line between political and governmental that it had to keep a campaign e-mail account, that it used to send e-mails to, say, Carla Katz, then why didn’t it use the campaign e-mail accounts to send out this e-mail as well.

Sure seems political to us – especially if the governor’s going to be spending money on an advertising campaign.

After all, he sent the list to Democratic legislators, hoping they would use it as a shield against Republicans, so they could say they were against what the governor has already said he wouldn’t do – without having to explain what they would do.

And, by the way, where did the governor’s office compile this massive e-mail list? Do they just so happen to have a database on hand with the e-mail addresses of “every political constituency,” lobbyists, and elected local officials? That requires some research – and sounds a whole lot more like campaign research, than governmental research, to us.

We believe the governor’s time would be far better spent if he told us what his asset monetization plan was, rather than what it was not.

But based on what he’s doing, we can already see what the governor has in mind. He’ll take whatever money he gets from asset monetization, and spend it on whatever program he has to in order to secure support from whatever constituency group he needs.

It’s not unlike the strategy he employed when running for office.

But here’s the difference: then, he was spending his own money. Now, he’s spending ours.

The governor might have the biggest heart in the world. He might want to solve all the world’s problems, be they universal health care, child care, or education.

But the citizens he represents can’t afford to keep paying more in taxes. And what he’s creating, with his asset monetization plan, is a shell game, where he pays off yesterday’s debt, but then he creates new debt, by spending more money that he doesn’t really have.

Which is exactly what got New Jersey in trouble in the first place.

Monday Morning Musings

"By today’s political standards, Truman (a real "true man") and Jack Kennedy would be viewed as conservative Republicans."

~ Conservative columnist Gordon Bishop, writing about Monmouth Democratic Chair Victor Scudiery

Bishops's article is a good read.

****************************************

Carl Golden and Dan Gallic weighed in yesterday on the impact that the NJ GOP's suit seeking to make the Governor's emails subject to OPRA will have on state government.

In this era when there is much lip service given to the concept of government transparency, I wonder who would benefit and who would suffer if all government officials' communications where subject to OPRA. How would government be different if all the phones calls, face to face conversations, and emails were recorded?

Maybe Nixon was on to something.

**********************************************

Bill Bowman and Keith Brown at the Asbury Park Press are doing a great job keeping the heat up on BRAC and making it possible that Fort Monmouth's operations will stay put. Let's hope our congressional delegation can put a halt to the Fort's demise.

It always amuses me that both Republicans and Democrats think the Asbury Park Press favors the other party. The Asbury Park Press favors selling newspapers and getting hits on their website.

**********************************************

Once again MoreMonmouthMusings made the Top 10 in BlognetNews/NJ's weekly rankings. I don't know who those blognetnews people are, but they sure do know how to get their website linked to blogs!

Also of note, BlueJersey returned the favor and linked MoreMonmouthMusings on their blog roll. As far as I know I am the only Republican over there. That will probably keep me off the blogrolls of some Republican sites. Oh well. I like Blue Jersey. While I don't agree with much of what they stand for, we do agree on some issues, like that "asset monetization" is a bad idea. I respect that the folks at Blue Jersey don't tow their party's line. Honest debate, not partisanship, will lead to more participation by the electorate and better government.

By Sean Delonas, NY Post

I hope everyone had a good Nude Recreation Week

Why did Judge recuse himself?

Judge Mullaney's refusal to explain his conflict of interest in both the Honest Abe and MonmouthRastaman cases raises some serious and troubling questions.

Maybe his honor's conflict is as simple as owning Google stock. That would be understandable and not at all controversial. Why not say so?

By not explaining his conflict in unchallenged motions involving anonymous defendants, Mullaney opens a legal and political can of worms.

Does he know who both Rastaman and Abe are? If so, does that make him a potential witness the the cases? If he knows, how does he know?

Maybe the judge is Rasta or Abe! Wouldn't that be something. If that were so, I imagine he would have recused himself a long time ago and responded to the suit.

Mullaney is a Middletown Republican. Did someone with influence ask the judge to delay the cases and make it more difficult for Attorney Tommy DeSeno? Who would have the juice to do that successfully? Why would someone with that kind of influence do so, and put their own integrity and the judge's integrity at risk? If this happened, it is very likely that these civil matters will become criminal cases.

While I made light of it earlier in the week, DeSeno confirmed that he has been threatened by MonmouthRastaman. It is very likely that a crime has been committed. Was the judge also threatened?

If the speculation over MonmouthRastaman's identity proves to be true, careers will be ruined and the Monmouth GOP will suffer deep embarrassment. There will probably electoral losses that will spill over to good candidates who had nothing to do with Rasta's offenses, but who are complicit by their silence.

In my opinion, only one of those suspected would have the juice to get to the judge. The others suspected have mentors with the juice. While I doubt DeSeno's client, Jim Purcell, would settle his complaint at this point, it would be a good idea for the Monmouth GOP, and for the individuals involved to settle this case, legally and without any further threats or crimes.

As much as it would give me personal satisfaction to see Rasta exposed and embarrassed, a settlement would be an expedient result, so long as it had enforceable constraints that would prevent the individuals involved from engaging in future defamatory and criminal activities.

Judge recuses himself in Rasta, Honest Abe Cases

Citing a conflict of interest, Judge John T. Mullaney, Jr recused himself in the cases of Purcell v Monmouth Rastaman and Migliaccio v Honest Abe and would not consider the Motions to Approve Letters Rogatory to request the California Court approve the Subpoena issued to Google, Inc. for identifying information for “Monmouth Rastaman” and "Honest Abe."

According to notices posted on Attorney Tommy DeSeno's Jersey Shore blog, neither Rastaman or Honest Abe filed responses to DeSeno's motions. One would expect that given no opposition, DeSeno's motion would be granted.

DeSeno confirmed that Judge Mullaney recused himself but would not comment as to the nature of the conflict. The motions have been rescheduled for July 20 before Judge Jamie Perry.

The obvious questions is, "How can a judge have a conflict with two anonymous defendants?"

Dan Gallic joins Conservatives with Attitude

The Tipping Point - Time for New GOP Leadership

Conservatives with Attitude announces new contributor

Party Line

Saying, "We'll go back to the 1920s and have direct conversations with people", Governor Jon Corzine announced today that he is no longer using email.

Democrats throughout New Jersey were teased with glee, and then quickly disappointed when word spread that Corzine was concerned about a party line.

DeSeno and Polumbo: Both from Howell. Both Italian. Both threatened by anonymous internet trolls

Like fellow Howell Township Italian Amy Polumbo, attorney Tommy DeSeno (pictured on the right) has been threatened by anonymous internet trollers to be personally embarassed unless he resigns.

DeSeno, who often writes about the plight of Italians in the Tri-City News, denies there are any incriminating pictures of him with Polumbo, and states that he has not been photographed nude since he was a baby. Following in Polumbo's footsteps, DeSeno declined to release those photos.

Tommy does hope to follow Polumbo onto FoxNews, if not to be interviewed by O'Reilly, then as a fill in for Sean Hannity.

Check back often for more news on this breaking story. There are unconfirmed reports that an Irish guy may also have received threats.

UPDATE:

Amy Polumbo has released her photos. Tommy DeSeno will not release his baby pictures, but he still wants to be on FoxNews.

Please take a minute to vote....

in Concerned Monmouth Republican's poll

Out of the box road to ruin

Jon Corzine says he's not going to sell or lease the Turnpike. He's going to do something "outside the box" that he can't tell us about yet. He wants those of us who are critical of his scheme to shut up until its too late to stop him.

Even though I know what "monetize" means I figured I do some checking into any other "out of the box" creations that Jon Corzine had anything to do with. It didn't take long to find this post, Jon Corzine's Atrocities on Enlighten New Jersey. Here's the best part:

In 1993, Goldman Sachs “invented” a security that offered Enron Corp. and other companies an irresistible combination. It was designed in such a way that it could be called debt or equity, as needed. For the accountant, it resembled a loan, so that interest payments could be deducted from taxable income. For shareholders and rating agencies, who look askance at overleveraged companies, it resembled equity.

To top officials at the Clinton Treasury Department, the so-called Monthly Income Preferred Shares, or MIPS, looked like a charade - a way for companies to mask the size of their debt while cutting their federal tax bill. And guess who was CEO at the time? When Treasury resisted, a letter, signed by Jon Corzine, then chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, portrayed the Treasury as attempting to draw “completely arbitrary” lines between debt and equity. Of course, MIPS would make failing companies look better on the books and Goldman Sachs more money. Eventually, the federal government acquiesced to the arrangement.

Of course the Clinton Treasury Department acquiesced to the arrangement. Corzine's former partner, Robert Rubin was the Secretary of the Treasury. Corzine and Goldman Sachs were major donors to the Clinton coffers.

Bankers and politicians thrive on confusing the public and fleecing them in the process.

Syms, the clothing retailer has a great slogan, "An educated consumer is our best customer." Corzine's slogan should be, "I'll take everybody else.", or "There's a sucker born every minute, and most of them live in New Jersey."

Put the brakes on BRAC

APP Editoral:

State and federal officials who have called for investigations into the rigged base closing process should be bombarding the Pentagon and other appropriate federal offices daily with renewed requests to put the brakes on the BRAC plans. The costs are wrong, the perceived ability of Maryland to handle the influx is wrong, and it's the wrong time in history — with our country at war — to uproot and compromise Fort Monmouth's vital role in protecting our servicemen and women.

On the lighter side....Happy Nude Recreation Week!

Palm Springs, CA, July 08, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Shortly after Americans finish observing our nation's independence on July 4th, another major holiday period needs to be celebrated.

It is the 32nd Anniversary of Nude Recreation Week, held from July 9-15th, 2007. The American Association of Nude Recreation (AANR) is a major sponsor of this holiday.

Nude Recreation Week informs first timers all about the fun they are missing out on by not vacationing at topless or nude resorts and beaches.

Nude sunbathing, swimming, and skinny dipping has had a long history in America. Presidents John Quincy Adams and Teddy Roosevelt used to go nude swimming in the Potomac river. And Benjamin Franklin greatly enjoyed his daily outdoor "air baths" while wearing just his birthday suit.

Nude Recreation Week lets everyone know that by vacationing at nudist and clothing optional resorts, you can finally find a fun way to shed all of life's daily stresses along with your clothes.

Nude recreation is the fastest growing trend in the travel and leisure industries. In a recent national survey conducted by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown, & Russell/Yankelovich Partners, 12% of adults responded to the survey that they consider a resort that offered a nude recreation experience extremely desirable. Compared to only 10% of adults saying the same about a golf vacation, and only 6% saying the same about a tennis vacation, it is easy to see that vacationing at nudist resorts is definitely on the rise in popularity.

Live Earth Scam

Given the Al Gore/Jon Corzine global warning scam at the Meadowlands last week, I thought I repost Bret Schundlers message from May 10.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Email from Bret Schundler. Thanks Bret.

"The ice is melting...the sea is rising...hurricanes are blowing...and it's all your fault. Scared? Don't be. It isn't true."

Thus begins a fantastic documentary, "The Great Global Warming Swindle," that you can view by copying the following link into your internet browser:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2332531355859226455

(that link no longer works, out takes here:http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1009035127227286104&q=%22The+Great+Global+Warming+Swindle%2C%22&total=109&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0)

The documentary argues that global warming is taking place, but is not man-made, and will not have catastrophic cirmcumstances. The film also examines how it is that political left-wingers have managed to con the world about the threat (although not scientific specialists in the field), so they can advance an ideological agenda that is a very grave danger to people everywhere.

I strongly encourage you to view this film, and then to email the link to your friends, encouraging them to view it, as well.

Sincerely,

Bret Schundler

Maryland can't handle Ft. Monmouth. Needs $16B from Feds

Pallone: Not surprised, but his Maryland colleague has more clout than he does.

Corzine and Kolluri can't be trusted

Daily Muse: THE FORK IN THE ROAD from In The Lobby

Last week, Gov. Jon Corzine was huffing and puffing in indignation about how people were playing politics with his precious plan to “monetize” the toll roads, and jumping to conclusions before they knew what the plan was.


Yesterday, a British engineering firm was out surveying the New Jersey Turnpike, from Interchange 1 by the Delaware Memorial Bridge, through Interchange 4 in Mount Laurel.


Now, why would you need to survey the roads if you aren’t going to lease them, or give control of them to someone else?


"We are in the midst of conducting a study, pursuant to the governor's direction, to examine state assets and the monetization of state assets," said Treasury spokesman Tom Vincz told Gannett, adding later that the study is for "a potential transaction that could involve one of our toll roads."


In the gobbledygook language of Corzine, let us translate: “Yes, we plan to turn control of the Turnpike over to a new entity, but we’re not ready to tell you about it yet.”


Corzine angrily said last week that he had no plans to sell the roads, or lease the toll roads to a private corporation or a foreign firm.


But he conveniently left out a ban on leasing the roads to a nonprofit company.

And don’t think that is an accident.


Although Team Corzine is said to still be finalizing its product, here is their current thinking regarding how they plan to make money off the toll roads, as described by Gannett: A new public, nonprofit entity would take control of one or more of the toll roads. The new agency would sell bonds, which would be used to pay down existing state debt, and then repay investors with the cash collected from increased tolls.


Warning bells should go off in the heads of taxpayers on two points:
1) Yes, the bonds would be used to pay down the debt. But it won’t be used to reduce the tax burden on average citizens. Corzine plans to immediately spend that money on his pet causes. In other words, our children will be paying tomorrow for whatever increased spending Corzine wants to do today.
2) Investors would be repaid with increased tolls. And, what’s worse, according to Gannett, while this new public entity would have “some public oversight,” it could be “insulated from the public and political pressures that come with toll increases.


We all know what that means. Higher tolls, and no way for the commuter to do anything about it.


What is so ludicrous is that for each of these “benefits” Corzine gives us, we wind up paying for them. For example, we get to pay one penny more on our sales tax in order to get back more money in increased property tax rebates. Here, Corzine is going to reduce New Jersey’s $30 billion debt burden by turning control of the roads over to a new entity, that will sell those bonds to investors, who will make money by raising tolls on those of us who have to commute on the toll roads.


And what’s worse, Corzine isn’t talking about reducing our tax burden once he frees up the debt. No, he has projects and plans he wants to enact that will cost money, and he can’t do those projects and plans unless he frees up the debt burden. Which means turning over control of the toll roads, and asking commuters to pay more.


Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, put it best: "It really comes down to borrowing against future money. It all involves spending and pledging money that my children have not seen yet so we can have it today. We spend tomorrow's dollars today."


Meanwhile, that London-based surveyor, Halcrow Group Limited, was awarded a bid back in January. The firm, according to Treasury officials, are doing “detailed studies on the life cycles of our roadways, maintenance costs, looking at the roads, looking at facilities associated with the roads."


Do you remember Corzine announcing that back then? We don’t either.

What is so hypocritical about the way that Corzine has been conducting his asset monetization campaign is that he's been hiding it from the taxpayers and legislators. This is the same governor who railed about the need for an open and transparent form of government, and who has to date, spent more than $4 million of tax dollars on his asset monetization plans, without any public oversight at all.

Was there language in the FY2007 budget that allowed him to hire a London firm to study the toll roads? Shouldn't the Legislature have had to have signed on to spending this money? Otherwise, where are the checks and balances? Not to mention, where is their duty to the public?


It seems to us that when they get around to giving Republicans on July 12 those documents they’re seeking on asset monetization, Team Corzine ought to hold a press conference and let us know exactly what they have been doing, what they’ve learned, and what their proposal looks like, and quit hiding behind waiting until the “recipe” is perfected.

The Legislatue, and the public, ought to have a chance to weigh in on this plan, before it becomes a fait accompli . Burying a sentence in the FY2008 budget language doesn't count as accountability or oversight in our book.


Pollsters say the public may not understand terms like asset monetization.



But they sure do understand terms like turning over control of the toll roads. Borrowing money against the future. And higher tolls.

And so far, they haven’t much liked what they’ve heard.

Partisanship

par·ti·san /ˈpɑrtəzən, -sən; Brit. ˌpɑrtəˈzæn/
–noun
1. an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, esp. a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.
2. Military. a member of a party of light or irregular troops engaged in harassing an enemy, esp. a member of a guerrilla band engaged in fighting or sabotage against an occupying army. –adjective
3. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.: partisan politics.
4. of, pertaining to, or carried on by military partisans or guerrillas.


Honest Abe has a great post that highlights the current wacky state of political affairs in Monmouth County politics and blogdom. He starts with the disclaimer that he was prepared to be a good partisan and not address our party leaders' weird behavior and concludes that we must work to prevent the Democrats from taking control of Freehold.

I share in Abe's dilemma, but I'm not ready to share in his conclusions.

As much as party leaders would scoff at this, I believe this blog has been a Republican partisan blog. Does anyone doubt that the Monmouth County GOP would have better chances of success in this coming election if Anna Little and Joe Oxley were on the ticket?

I've harshly criticized the chairman's actions, and his actions have taken two of Monmouth County's most popular Republicans off the ballot this year. Now, most of the smart money is betting on the Democrats taking over Freehold and taking a few legislative seats, if not sweeping the 11th and the 12th. Indeed, only the 13th is considered safe for Republicans, and even one seat is considered vulnerable there. Welcome to Bergen County with beaches.

My biased, emotional allegiance, is against excessive government spending, waste and cronyism. This leads my knee to jerk for Republicans for state office and Democrats for county office, which is what I think the results would be in Monmouth County if the election was today.

When I check my emotions with critical thinking, I get depressed.

While Democrats have been a disaster in Trenton and Governor Corzine's plans for our toll roads are frightening, I am very aware of the fact that the seeds of our state's fiscal problems were planted during the Whitman administration when Republicans had control. Yes, Republicans rolled back Florio's taxes, but they kept growing the government payroll and programs. They spent like drunken Democrats and balanced the budget with gimmicks and the pension fund.

Freehold is a disaster. "Club Monmouth" has kept control, ironically because of the Asbury Park Press's endorsement and call for a bullet vote for Brian Unger in 2005. Last year two non-club members were elected in Anna Little and Barbara McMorrow. "The club" got Little off the ballot and has been trying to co-opt McMorrow. Abe's post suggests that Democratic candidate John D'Amico is a card carrying member of "the club."

I like Rob Clifton, a lot, but he has not distinguished himself during his first term. He has attempted to keep his support with "the club" while keeping his appeal to the non-club members of the party and the electorate. Only Joe Oxley has been able to do that. Oxley's office gave him a platform which enabled him to do that. Clifton couldn't do that as a Freeholder and thus, his support is unenthusiastic throughout the party.

Jeff Cantor has a strong resume, but he remains an unknown. What is also unknown is if he will be the candidate come September.

The Bradley Beach Mayor is also an unknown. So much so that I had to go to the Dem's website to get his name. Stephen Schueler.

This sorry state of affairs leads me to understand why so many people don't bother to vote.

Fortunately, the last year and a half of blogging has given me an opportunity I've wished I had in the past. I can interview candidates as if I was considering hiring them to work for me. That is how I am going to work my way out of this dilemma.

There are candidates from both parties that have all ready agreed to be interviewed. Some have sought me out specifically for interviews. Others have sought me out for other reasons and agreed to be interviewed at my request. All candidates for state and county office will be invited to be interviewed and I will decide how I vote and who I will support this November based in large part on those interviews.

Naturally, I will share my interviews and impressions with you, my readers.

Let Freedom Ring

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Hooked on Development

NPS Takes Backdoor Approach to Approve Developer

Written by Patricia A. Stilwell
Monday, 02 July 2007

The entire scenario surrounding the proposed plan for Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit is totally suspicious to me. I believe that the ultimate goal of the National Park Service is to divest itself of this property at a huge profit to private developers. This is a tiny National Park that just happens to have magnificent oceanfront & riverfront land that overlooks New York City, which is just 22 miles across the water. Can you imagine what the value would be to the elite, monied Wall Streeters (or any other super rich clientele) to own this real estate? Why can't it be left for its intended purpose-the recreational use of the public? Why should the public allow the NPS to lose our incredibly soul pleasing National Park to a corporate/business park???

I think that once lost to the public it will become an extremely exclusive enclave for the extremely wealthy. The ordinary citizen will be excluded from this oasis of peace & serenity in New Jersey. This land was set aside for the public because of its unique situation and the desire for it to be in the public (not private) domain.

An Act of Congress set this land aside as a National Park. The National Park Service has neglected it rather than act as its steward. The NPS does not own the park, the public does. Perhaps the public needs to fire the steward.

Tied to this scenario is the proposed replacement of the Highlands/Sea Bright Bridge with a 65-70ft. high bridge that, in my estimation, is a very dangerous height in this environment-especially in the winter. The approaches and related road building would enhance development on Sandy Hook. Gee, isn't that convenient. This would seem to fly in the face of the endangered species and environmental issues. The bridge forms a part of the scenic view of the Twin Lights light house. If the bridge is not repairable why not replace it with a copy of the original? If some folks are dismayed with having to wait for a sail boat to go through the drawbridge in the summer, perhaps the ire should be directed to the sailboat owners rather than the bridge. Make the sailboats conform to the height of the bridge, or moor at another marina where they are not the cause of such friction. I, personally, find waiting for a sail boat to regally glide by a thing of beauty. The few minutes of wait are a pleasant opportunity to enjoy the scenery.

There is, in Federal District Court in Trenton, a lawsuit involving the proposed developer. It appears to me that the National Park Service is trying an unconscionable, backdoor approach to forcing the developer on the public. The questions that come to mind are: what is really going on; why is this being allowed to proceed; who has what on whom; who plans to make the really big money from Sandy Hook being commercially developed?

This is a serious inroad to the National Park system. If this NPS plan is successful it will be the trendsetter for other National Parks. We, the public, stand to lose a tremendous asset here to greed. Where will it go next?

Is this a case of damn the public, full speed ahead for the developers?

Patricia A. Stilwell
Fair Haven

Letter to the Editor, Atlantic Highlands Herald

"Poison Pill" is good medicine

Freeholder Rob Clifton's campaign reform proposal has a "No Severablity" clause, or "poison pill" which means if a court invalidates any part of the resolution, the whole thing is void.

Democrats are opposing this clause, and Clifton may go along with removing it, because they expect that a court will invalidate the parts of the resolution that restricts labor unions campaign contributions, a major source of the Dem's mula. Democrats want to continue the practice of restricting the way Republicans can raise money, without endangering their own flow of funds.

If anyone's First Amendment right to contribute to political campaigns is to be restricted, everyone's should be . If a vendor is going to lose the ability to get government contracts by virtue of its political contributions, unions should be forbidden from contributing to any race that would impact a branch of government where its members work. Fair is fair, except in New Jersey.

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery was quoted in the Asbury Park Press as saying, "(Adam) Puharic and the Monmouth County Republicans are now doing what they have always done: attempting to sabotage any reform efforts with a sham substitute resolution so that they can perpetuate their Club Monmouth."

Scudiery is right. However, it is also true that Democrats throughout New Jersey have proposed and passed "reforms" that don't impact their ability to raise money from unions. If Scudiery is serious about reform, he should call Puharic's bluff and propose a plan that restricts the flow of money from all sources into Monmouth County campaigns. Otherwise, all this noise about pay to pay and wheeling is nothing more than campaign rhetoric. Same old same old from both sides.

Steve Lonegan on Asset Monetization

From Shaptalk

Sunday, July 1, 2007

The Left Marches On Part III: Governor Jon Corzine’s Core Principles on Asset Monetization. As interpreted by Steven Lonegan

by Steve Lonegan

WARNING: TRANSLATION of Governor Jon Corzine’s complex statement of June 28 from Governmentaleeze to English. This document could cause taxpayer’s nausea and vomiting. Consult your physician if side effects continue.

CORZINE STATEMENT: “In countless ways, New Jersey is the best state in America. But we need to invest in our future if we’re going to stay on top. As a result of decisions made across administrations and across party lines over the past 20 years, New Jersey has amassed over $30 billion in debt and staggering unfunded pension and healthcare liabilities.

TRANSLATION: The strength of this state has been drawn from its people, not the government. This was once a bastion of free market capitalism. Not any more. New Jersey leads the nation with the most destructive progressive income tax and advanced social engineering schemes. We have the highest sales tax, highest property tax, and third highest debt in the nation. Rather than reduce the size of government and make it affordable to taxpayers, we will raise taxes to fund lucrative employee salaries and benefits handed out to political cronies. Wake up, New Jersey taxpayers - you work for the government, it doesn’t work for you.

CORZINE: “I have a vision for a brighter New Jersey, but today we cannot afford the investments to make that vision a reality. I fundamentally believe we need new resources and renewed political courage to make those investments.”

TRANSLATION: Grab on to your wallets. “New resources” means higher taxes and more massive debt. “Courage to invest?” Liberal buzz phrase for more spending on expanded government entitlement programs funded by job destroying taxes and massive debt issued without voter approval. The “vision” is that of a Utopian society where the government provides cradle to grave service, rendering the self sufficient American spirit a waste.

CORZINE: “My administration has been developing a new vehicle to achieve that goal.”

TRANSLATION: To reach that Utopian Society and fulfill my childhood hero Dag Hammarksjold’s vision of Socialism, the administration has been plotting and scheming the biggest and most convoluted borrowing plan in state history, the pawning off of our toll road revenue to fund a massive expansion of state government never before seen in U.S. history.

CORZINE: “Any asset monetization proposal put forth by my administration will adhere to the following core principles:”

TRANSLATION: Here comes the double talk.

CORZINE: “New Jersey’s roadways will not be sold; and they will not be leased to a for-profit or foreign operator.“

TRANSLATION: The New Jersey Pension system will buy the Toll Road Bonds and lock in a risk free return funded by constantly increasing tolls. This makes tolls a tax for the purpose of shoring up the failing pension system.

CORZINE: Allowable uses of proceeds (reducing State debt and capital investments) will be identified upfront and subject to public and/or legislative approval with safeguards against diversions to other uses.

TRANSLATION: The debt reduced is the payoff of the existing Turnpike debt (less than $5 billion) and cashing out on about $15 to $20 billion of new debt secured by the next 75 years of toll revenue. The investor’s return will be guaranteed, at taxpayer expense by annual toll increases. “Investments” means expanding Universal Pre-K, Universal Health Care, and Low Income Housing with a few billion thrown in for a new version of the corrupt School Construction Corporation. Public/legislative approval means shoving these social engineering schemes through the legislature during the lame duck session.

CORZINE: New Jersey citizens will retain ownership and the benefits from both initial proceeds and ongoing operations.

TRANSLATION: The unions will keep every job and any vendor working on these toll roads will be required to pay Prevailing Wage to all employees. This guarantees the highest possible cost of operation before funding the massive new debt. All future improvements, such as rebuilding bridges or widening congested areas, will be funded by the Transportation Trust, which gets almost all its revenue from the gas tax. This will require a 20 cent per gallon gasoline tax hike.

CORZINE: Safety, maintenance and operating standards will be provided at current or improved levels.

TRANSLATION: Toll road conditions will deteriorate as revenue is squeezed by the loss of cash flow from tolls to debt payments. High cost repairs and improvements caused by costly prevailing wage rules and increasing difficulty borrowing new debt to fund improvements will accelerate over the next few years.

CORZINE: Sufficient funding to meet the long-term capital needs required to improve our roadways and reduce congestion will be provided

TRANSLATION: Last year, the Governor signed an $8 billion Transportation Trust Fund bond issue without voter approval. This new debt provided funding for necessary road maintenance/improvements so toll revenue can all be diverted to new debt payments. This shell game is commonly called “Robbing Peter to pay Paul.” In this case, Peter is the taxpayer and Paul is the bond consultants who stand to make billions on the back of over worked taxpayers.

CORZINE: Terms and conditions of employment for current employees and contractors will remain unchanged with prevailing wage and competitive contracting procedures retained.

TRANSLATION: Lavish union contracts providing outrageous salaries and the best pension and benefit packages available anywhere in the country will remain in place while motorists pick up an even bigger tab.

CORZINE: Toll schedules will be open, predictable and available to the public

TRANSLATION: Predictably, tolls will increase like never before, hurting businesses that rely on trucking and tourism. Toll increases will be open to the public when you roll up to the toll booth and need a second mortgage to make the payment. And without a doubt, investors will have a right to raise tolls beyond scheduled increases if (and when) revenues don’t match expenses.

CORZINE: There will be a substantial, open and public discussion in advance of any transaction. I will hold 21 town hall meetings in 21 counties.”

TRANSLATION: Corzine inserted an open ended line item in the budget to fund this scheme. These meetings will be stacked with political operatives organized by union bosses and advocates of the left wing social engineering experiments this scam will finance. It’s up to taxpayers to show up in force at these meetings to outnumber those political hacks who will be lining their pockets if this scheme passes.

Steve Lonegan is the Mayor of Bogota, NJ, and Executive Director of Americans for Prosperity - New Jersey. Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP Foundation) are committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process. He is a prolific writer, having been published in newspapers and blogs. He currently has a book in pre-publication on the impact of New Jersey state government on the well being of the taxpayers of the state, where he offers solid and workable solutions.