Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
The Press of Atlantic City gets it. So does freshman state Assemblyman Vincent Polistina.
Consider this scene from the Assembly floor, reported by The Associated Press: “As the state Assembly Thursday blitzed through dozens of bills, Assemblyman Vincent J. Polistina refused to sit still.
Over and over again, the freshman Republican from Atlantic County, participating in his first voting session, stood to question how much each initiative would cost the state, even on the most innocuous sounding bills, such as giving certificates to New Jerseyans who served in the military during the Cold War.
It’s not that Polistina opposed honoring veterans.
He said he favored doing that.
But the bill, Polistina said, would cost the state an estimated $350,000. …
‘This bill will cost money,’ Polistina said. ‘I do not believe this is the right time to be introducing anything that could cost upwards of $350,000.’”
The Press editorial nails the issue precisely:
In addition to his controversial toll hike, Corzine has also vowed to hold next year’s spending at this year’s level, which could require $2.5 billion in spending cuts. Still, the Assembly wants to hand out certificates to veterans of the Cold War.
The culture in Trenton has to change. Polistina deserves praise for recognizing that - and acting on it. Not many rookie assemblymen make so much noise at their first voting session.
But the question remains: What will it take for the rest of them to get it?
Locally, Nelson Albano and Matt Milam voted in favor of this expenditure. How does that cut spending? Cuts need to occur. Adding spending is wrong.
These guys just do not get it.
Who is going to cut spending? When will it happen?
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Friday, January 11th, 2008
. . . and no, we’re not discussing his oft-rumored skirt chasing.
In November, New Jersey held its state senatorial election. In the First District, where I live, Republican incumbent Nick Asselta lost to Democrat state assemblyman Jeff Van Drew. I refused to endorse either candidate and voted for neither.
Asselta is unfit to work for the public. Long ago he tried to circumvent the process to acquire drugs using his political position to do so.
So, what does a defeated career politician do in New Jersey? He sells himself.
Right at the end of the lame duck session, Republican Asselta crossed party lines to join Governor Corzine to add a half billion dollars to state spending next year. Why would Asselta do this?
Asselta was appointed to the state Board of Public Utilities. That position will raise Asselta’s taxpayer-funded salary from $49,000 as an ineffective state senator to $125,000 to sit on this board.
Asselta represented a district that included 10% of the special needs districts in New Jersey. He sold them out for his own personal gain. Even Jeff “I Sponsor Every Bill” Van Drew and Nelson “Little Buddy” Albano voted No on this.
Asselta is the poster boy of New Jersey politics.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | 3 Comments »
Saturday, December 15th, 2007
This coming week Governor Corzine will sign the bill the New Jersey legislature passed to abolish the death penalty during its lame duck session.
How will Nelson Albano and Governor Corzine address Adrienne DeGregorio? What about her twins Carmen and Virginia?
What does it say that as soon as retired police officer Carmen DeGregorio was run down while saving the life of a young woman that the “leaders” of this state decided that his murderer should not have to suffer the ultimate punishment?
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
I do not usually make blanket statements. Partisan rhetoric is useless. Little you read here will sound like Red Generation or Blue Jersey. I do not particularly care to listen to Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, or Keith Olbermann. No “side” is correct. A specific policy is correct or not, not a specific party. I have been a Republican and a Democrat. Neither party satisfied me.
Now as an independent, I am very much a targeted citizen. Today I received a flyer that my wife deemed trash. I looked at it and was absolutely appalled at what I read. It was an attack piece on Michael Donohue who is a Republican running for the state assembly in the First District. It was sent by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. Note that Governor Corzine is the first person one sees on that site.
The flyer attacked Donohue for his multiple jobs. According to this, Donohue has four government jobs. It doesn’t really document what those jobs are. The best I can tell, he is a solicitor for several towns. Perhaps that’s it. Then New Jersey Democrats decry:
On top of that, he maintains a lucrative private law practice.
So what? Is it now somehow bad to have a successful private job? Why is that in there?
In addition to half a million dollars in salaries and payments, taxpayers are also footing the bill for Donohue’s pension.
Huh? I do not think Donohue is collecting $500,000 on the public payroll. This is a poorly constructed sentence and designed to provide a negative opinion of the successful lawyer. I’ll accept that Donohue has a public pension . . . as does every member of the New Jersey Democratic Committee.
Then there a swipe at Donohue’s running mate Nick Asselta. While I am no fan of Asselta’s, this is just uncalled for:
In addition to his taxpayer-funded salary and pension, Nick Asselta received more lobbyist gifts than any other legislator in 2005 . . .
Lobbyist gifts are fair game. But why are Democrats lamenting Asselta’s taxpayer-funded salary and pension? Is Jeff Van Drew, who is running against Asselta, not earning a taxpayer-funded salary? Is Van Drew not in the public pension?
Furthermore, Nelson Albano, who is running against Donohue, is on the public payroll too.
Do Democrats really think I am this stupid to buy this line of crap and not challenge it?
The flyer ends with:
Our property taxes are high enough.
We can’t afford Donohue and Clark in the Assembly.
(We can’t afford Asselta in the Senate either!)
Of course, if Democrats are elected, taxpayers will pay the same amount in salary and pension benefits to the politicians. It is just astounding how skewed this is.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
Nelson Albano is one of the state assemblymen from the First District. He was elected to the legislature in 2006. I documented two years ago how Jeff Van Drew selected him as a running mate.
And what would that inside stuff be, Mr. Albano? I am confused as to why Van Drew thought Albano would be a good representative of the citizens of the 1st district. Albano’s claim to fame , as it were, is pressing for Michael’s Law. Michael’s Law increased penalties for third offenses (and beyond) of DWI. While that is a luadable mission, does it indicate a platform on which to run for state office?
Nevertheless, the First District elected him. Now two years later I wonder what Albano has done as an assemblyman. Apparently, not much. Not even Van Drew, Albano, Milam for the 1st District can come up with anything. That is why the commercial running touts Michael’s Law.
No disrespect to Albano, but isn’t this using your dead son again for politics? Two years ago the ticket used this issue, which was already signed legislation to tout the candidate. That there is nothing else in two years as a legislator to speak of is telling. Michael’s Law is old news. It may be good legislation, but it does not represent what you have done for New Jersey as an assemblyman.
As I have explained to the numerous pollsters this past week, I will vote for Norris Clark and Mike Donohue for state assembly and I will vote for no one for state senate. Neither Nick Asselta or Jeff Van Drew meet my criteria of a leader.
I want my legislators to work, not pass proclamations and other feelgood legislation.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
