A note from John Kerry sent on behalf of the DSCC

Newt Gingrich’s economic plan: Make inner city kids go to work, and, as he boasted Monday night, make sure that Mitt Romney pays no taxes. The middle class can fight over the crumbs.

Contrast that with President Obama’s vision: Invest in American jobs. Strengthen our middle class. Pursue policies that work for everyone, not just the very top.

We know all too well what’s coming. Republicans will attack, assail and lie to destroy President Obama and usher in one-party rule. If the thought of President Gingrich leading a GOP Congress scares you beyond belief, then I’m asking for your urgent help.

The DSCC needs $405,000 in grassroots donations by its crucial Jan. 31 FEC deadline. Fall short, and the GOP can make President Obama a one-term president, and the GOP controls the entire Congress.


Don’t wait! Please give $5, $10 or more to the DSCC. We can’t win in November without first hitting this goal on Jan. 31!

Republicans have plenty of cash to do it. Karl Rove is working overtime, collecting checks from every powerful interest in the book to fund his shady attack ads and smear campaigns.

If we come close to matching their money, we will win. If we don’t, we can’t. It’s that simple.

More than 90% of donations to the DSCC come from grassroots supporters – and they have millions of them. Maybe you think your contribution of $5 or $10 isn’t enough to make a difference. You’re wrong. Your donation could be the last little bit needed to push back against attacks on Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin, or get out a few more votes for Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Every dollar matters. Every day matters. We’ve got 5 days to raise $405,000, and I need your help to do it.

Click here to give $5, $10 or more to the DSCC. Winning in November requires hitting this goal on Jan. 31!
https://dscc.org/give2?donate_page_KEY=13331&amount=x

We have a choice. We can fight for a nation where fundamental fairness guides us, or we can let Republicans continue Robin Hood in reverse – taking from the many to give to the very few.

I know whose side I’m on, and that’s why I’m supporting the DSCC. Please join me. Let’s win one for fairness.

John Kerry

My thoughts on moving the school board election to November

After reading the blogs over the last couple of days, I was hoping that the school district would take it upon itself to move the school board election to the November elections allowing an opportunity for more people to get involved. Not only will more people get in involved this move will save the district money. In case you aren’t aware, I was one of the key sponsors of this bill. I have been pushing this for the last couple of years and I finally gained enough support in both houses to get it done.


Based upon this last election when each candidate received less than 1,000 votes, it became obvious that we have to get more people involved in the process. It is evident that moving the election to November will make that happen. The local school board is not moving on this issue. Therefore, I have spoken to some of the council members here in the city of Plainfield because they have the ability to move on the issue. I am asking that the council take the appropriate steps to move the election to November.

I don’t always agree with Dan Damon and Maria Pellum but I must say that lately their blogs have been 150% right. We can no longer close our eyes to a failing school district. Upon review of Dan Damon and Maria Pellum’s research, I believe that some of the things that they are talking about are true. One day we are all going to wake up here in the city of Plainfield and realize that the Plainfield district is going to be in total chaos.

For the record, I stay away from the Board of Education issues, so I am not blamed. However, I am speaking out because I know that when the public realizes the total chaos going on with the Board of Education the blame is not going to roll this way.

It is interesting that some of the current board members were very involved in bringing former Superintendent Steve Gallon to Plainfield. When these members saw the red flag go up in that situation they walked away like they knew nothing.

You can take it to the bank that this is going to happen again when the public realizes that our school district has been mismanaged, there will be members that are going to walk away and point the finger at someone else. This can be avoided because the council has the opportunity to do the right thing. I hope they put our children first.

WAGNER, COUGHLIN & EVANS BILL TO HELP OUT-OF-WORK POLICE OFFICERS SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON)- Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Connie Wagner, Craig J. Coughlin and Elease Evans allowing police officers who have been fired due to economic reasons to avoid retaking the police training course if they are rehired within a certain timeframe is now law.

“This law makes the job hunting process easier for these police officers,” said Wagner (D-Bergen). “Given the current economic times, our police officers should not have to worry about taking a course they have already gone through, in addition to finding a job.”

The new law (formerly A-3876) would exempt police officers who were laid-off for economic or efficiency reasons from retaking the basic training course, if they are rehired by their former agency or find a job with a new agency within five years from the date their employment was terminated.

Previously under the Police training Commission policy, a police officer who has a break in service of more than three years was required to retake the basic training course.

“We all know how tough it can bee to secure a job in the current economic climate,” said Coughlin (D-Middlesex). ‘This will help police officers focus on the job search, without a timeline hanging over their heads.”

“Many of our police officers have lost their jobs as towns struggle to cut down costs,” said Evans (D-Bergen/Passaic). “This measure will allow our officers to get back to the important job of public safety, without worry of having to retake a course they already took.”

Sen. Menendez's Position on Payroll Tax Cut

“CAYLEE’S LAW” BILL SPONSORED BY WISNIEWSKI, CAPUTO, WAGNER, MAINOR, MCKEON, PRIETO, EVANS & FUENTES TO BOLSTER SEARCH FOR MISSING CHILDREN SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON)- Legislation sponsored by Assembly members John S. Wisniewski, Ralph R. Caputo, Connie Wagner, Charles Mainor, John F. McKeon, Vincent Prieto, Elease Evans and Angel Fuentes that would aid in the search for missing children by making it a crime to not report a missing child within 24 hours, was signed into law.

The law is called “Caylee’s Law” in honor of Caylee Anthony, the two-year girl from Orlando, Florida who was missing for 31 days before her grandmother reported her missing. She was found dead months later. Her mother, Casey Anthony, was found not guilty of her murder.

The law (A-4297/S-3010) criminalizes the failure to report the disappearance of a child within 24 hours, and upgrades the failure to report a death in New Jersey to a fourth degree crime.

Under current law, failing to report a death is a disorderly person offense, and there is no set time frame for reporting a child missing. A disorderly person’s offense is punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Fourth degree crimes are punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

“The entire country has mourned the loss of Caylee Anthony, whose little body laid in the woods for months before police were notified she was missing. Had they been notified sooner, they could have determined the cause of her death and justice may have been served for this little girl, “said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). “We know the first hours are crucial in finding a missing child. Prompt notification would help police with their search, and in the awful case that tragedy strikes help them determine the cause of death, get a guilty conviction and bring justice to the victim.”

“Any law enforcement authority will tell you that the first few hours after a child goes missing are the most critical in determining whether that child is found and unharmed,” said Caputo (D-Essex). “Sometimes parents, whether god or ill intentioned, might wait longer than that to contact authorities, increasing the chances of a tragic ending.”

“The sooner police are notified about a child who is missing, the greater the chance the child will be found safe,” said Wagner (D-Bergen). “There have been too many cases of children who have disappeared never to be seen again. Sadly, it is too late for little Caylee, but if her tragic death can help save the lives of other children who have gone missing, at least it will not be in vain.”

“It’s hard to imagine why an parent would wait so long to report their child missing, when the immediate hours after abduction are the most crucial in finding a child,” said Mainor (D-Hudson). “This time frame gives our law enforcement officials the time needed to do their jobs effectively, and children who have been abducted the hope that they will be found safe.”

“Making it a crime to not report a child missing within 24 hours gives that child a better chance at being found, or at the very least, the chance to get justice,” said McKeon (D-Essex). “We’ll never know whether this time frame would have made a difference in Caylee’s death, but it could have helped authorities locate her body sooner and determine what or who killed her.”

“We might never know how little Caylee died, but we do know that, had her disappearance been reported sooner, police would have had a better chance of finding what killed her,” said Prieto (D-Bergen/Hudson). “If conscience is not enough to push someone to report a death or a child missing, then maybe the possibility of harsher punishment will make them do the right thing.”

“It’s hard to conceive how an entire month could go by before a two-year old would be reported missing to police,” said Evans (D-Bergen/Passaic). “Whether her death was intentional or accidental, there is no justification for not reporting it to police. Justice may have eluded Caylee, but at least she can help bring justice to other children who disappeared never to be seen alive again.”

“Sadly, Caylee’s story is just one of many. Thousands of children are reported missing every year. The first few hours are crucial in not only finding a child who is missing, but finding them safe.” said Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester). “This measure will not bring Caylee back, but it can help give new meaning to her short life by aiding the search for missing children.”

The law will make it a fourth degree crime for a responsible parent, guardian or other person with legal custody of a child to fail to report the disappearance of a child to police within 24 hours, after becoming aware of such a disappearance.

Under the statutes governing the State Police Missing Persons Unit, a missing child is defined as “a person 13 years of age or younger whose whereabouts are not currently known.”

The law also amends current law (N.J.S.A. 52:17B-89) by making it a fourth degree crime to fail to report a death by criminal violence, accident, suicide or any suspicious manner to the county medical examiner, the State Medical Examiner, or the municipal police department where the death occurred; or willfully touch, remove or disturb a body or the clothing on the body.

GREENWALD: CHRISTIE PLAN MEANS MORE TAX BREAKS FOR MILLIONAIRES, MORE STRUGGLE FOR MIDDLE-CLASS

(VOORHEES)-Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Camden) released the following statement Wednesday on the governor’s visit to Voorhees:

“It’s a bit early for the Governor to essentially be donning a flight suit and declaring ‘Mission Accomplished.’ The battle to survive goes on for New Jersey’s middle class.

“Unfortunately, the Governor’s appearance today is just more sound bites, slogans and massive tax breaks for millionaires- all while New Jersey suffers from an unemployment rate higher than the national average and the highest property taxes in the nation.

“Under the Christie plan, middle-class families don’t save enough even for a week’s worth of groceries, while millionaires will save enough to go on an exotic vacation. It’s clear that he continues to miss the fact that it’s our middle-class families who are struggling, not millionaires and billionaires.

“The Governor’s idea of shared sacrifice seems to be that the wealthiest few should share in even greater riches, while the rest of us make all the sacrifices.

“But the truth is, middle-class families are struggling. They worry when New Jersey’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average and our neighboring states, while the Governor vetoes job creation bills. They worry when they see the Governor slash aid to their school districts. And they worry when their tax bills rise while the Governor cuts their property tax relief.

“The Governor must come clean and explain how he plans to fund these massive tax cuts for millionaires. Does he plan to slash more money from schools or middle-class property tax relief? We need to see a real plan, not just speeches.

“Democrats will focus on creating jobs and middle-class property tax relief. I hope the Governor will join us in this effort.”

GUSCIORA: “NEW JERSEY AND ME (MARRIAGE EQUALITY), PERFECT TOGETHER”

(TRENTON)- Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, one of the legislature’s leading advocates for marriage equality, released the following statement regarding the announcement by democratic leaders that marriage equality in New Jersey would be a major priority for the new legislative session:

“In recent months, Governor Christie has been to four out of the six states that recognize same-sex marriage: Iowa, New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts. Moreover, when he visits Washington, DC he is in a city that also recognizes such relationships. And in none of these places has he seen any diminishment of the institution of marriage other than perhaps when he is in the presence of Newt Gingrich.

“The fact remains, marriage in this country is a secular right that is afforded persons who abide by state laws when they take a blood test to get married and then venture to city hall to acquire a marriage license. Government involvement in the institution of marriage dates back to when Governor William Bradford performed the first civil wedding at Plymouth Colony. The point being, when government is involved in the marriage business, it should be done on an equitable basis. New Jersey should not discriminate as long as it governs marriage laws in this state. That’s why bill A-1, which I intend to introduce in the new legislative session, is so important to correct this inequity in the law.

“I also want to commend Speaker Oliver and Senate President Sweeney for making this equitable right such a priority and allowing me to be here. They recognize that when a committed gay couple, who can be duly married in another state, and then comes here to live, becomes “Civil Unionized.” Or that committed gay couples who are already in this state, and that are here to work or raise families of their own, can never cross the threshold of marriage. This is a discriminatory practice that should be corrected by A-1.

“We also must recognize that society is changing for the better, making A-1 timely. Opinion polls show that the majority of Americans, and the majority of New Jerseyans, favor marriage equality for same sex couples.

“I teach at the College of New Jersey. I see students in my American Government class who don’t ask why, but say ‘Why, not?’ It is the young persons and next generation of persons who see no problem in recognizing that marriage is an institution that should be afforded all persons who remain committed to a partnership, whether they are gay or straight. In this however, there is a challenge. I do realize we have to work with the people (and legislators) who are of my generation and above, and maybe don’t understand the value of marriage equality for all persons. I remain committed to working on this bill in a positive way- that through this legislative process there be a respectful dialogue and that we allay anyone’s fears that we are somehow devaluing the institution of marriage.

“I also believe that the gay community needs to recognize that if we want this to become law, we need to all work together and even reach across the political aisle. I hope in the coming weeks, we can work in the legislative process and ensure that all legislators ‘do the right thing’ to end the inherent inequities in our marriage laws.

“I also do not count the Governor out. He has already stated that gay couples should be afforded the same dignity and equal respect under the laws. He just needs to ask, as my students do, ‘why, not’ and live up to the promise that we are all endowed with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“And while the sky hasn’t fallen in Iowa, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington DC, I am here to declare that New Jersey and ME- with ME standing for Marriage Equality- is Perfect Together,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer).