November 19, 2015

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

NEW OPPORTUNITY TO STOP MANDATORY TIRE REGISTRATION!
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE GAS TAX RESUME
NO NEWS REGARDING STATE INSPECTION PROGRAM
NJGCA RECOGNIZED FOR STOPPING TOBACCO SALE AGE INCREASE
GOVERNOR CHRISTIE SIGNS COUNTERFEIT AIRBAG LAW
NJGCA DINER TOUR COMING TO LEBANON TOWNSHIP

This week, again, starts with a familiar topic -- mandatory tire registration. I know the updates seem constant, and that's because things are changing everyday in Washington DC. The negotiations are unfolding like a chess game, and while NJGCA is helping to move the pieces, YOU are the most important participants. We can't do it alone, we need your help! It may seem like I'm asking a lot... and I am. I realize that many of you have done what I asked by signing the petition and using our VoterVoice system to send letters to your representatives. I am super proud and super happy with the response I have seen, so thank you!! Now, to those of you that haven't yet -- please do it! You should've received an update call to action this afternoon, but I've copied the link HERE to make it as easy as possible for you.

Here's the latest development: NJ will now have a second voice on the tire registration conference committee -- Congressman Frank Pallone. This means that everyone got another email from us this afternoon. If you are in Congressman Pallone's district, your message will explain the issue and ask the Congressman directly to have mandatory tire registration taken out of the Highway Transportation Funding Bill. People in Congressman Sires' district will get a similar message. Everyone else will receive a message that asks their representative to speak to both Congressman Sires and Congressman Pallone and ask them to make sure that mandatory tire registration is taken out of the bill when it is discussed in conference. We will fight this policy to the bitter end, and it's just very simple -- we need your help!

Next, there have been a couple of articles recently, discussing the fact that the stage is set for the gas tax to go up. It is going to be unpopular but it has to be done. I've been saying it all year, an increase of some kind that brings in revenue from motor fuels is inevitable. My current priority is to reinforce the position we took earlier this year that it would be bad public policy to add sales tax to gasoline and diesel sales. The best way to raise the revenue, as distasteful as it might be, is simply to raise the gas tax. Be prepared for the drum beat to get louder in the upcoming weeks, as it is possible that an agreement could be reached before Christmas.

On the state inspection front, I had expected to hear an announcement this past week, and to my dismay, I have not. Something is up, because phone calls to public officials in very high places have not been taken or returned, which is extremely unusual. I still feel that the announcement will come in the next two weeks, as was promised to me by the Governor's chief of staff back in September.

Quickly, I wanted to provide this link to an article from the Bergen Record which explains a little bit of what happened when NJGCA went to Hillsdale last week and successfully got the Town Council to vote NO on the proposed ordinance to increase the tobacco sale age to 21. Take a look at it if you have a moment.

You may recall seeing brief mentions about a piece of legislation in Trenton which would protect consumers from counterfeit airbags. Well, this is just an FYI that this legislation, which NJGCA supported, has been signed into law by Governor Christie.

Finally, I need to take this opportunity to put the word out about our upcoming breakfast meeting in Lebanon Township. We will be at the Spinning Wheel Diner on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 9:30 AM. Members in the area will receive emails and phone calls from us as the date gets closer, but this is just your first heads-up to put it on your calendar. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Jacy at 732-256-9646 or respond directly to this email.

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

In order to be licensed as a Motor Vehicle Emission Inspector, you must complete this course and pass a "Written Exam" given by the State of New Jersey. NJGCA offers this training in a ONE DAY State approved training program that will provide an understanding of inspection related issues including EPA Regulations, Safety, Diesel, Customer Service and the New Jersey State Specific Curriculum. This specially tailored NJGCA course fulfills all requirements.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLASS DETAILS:
Class Date: Tuesday, December 08, 2015
Class Location: NJGCA Headquarters -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Twp, NJ 07753
Arrival Time: 7:00am
Lunch Break: 12:00pm (Pizza and soda will be served)
NJMVC Test: 1:00pm

CLASS FEES:
NJGCA Members: $250.00
Non-members: $300.00

Manuals are included and payment is due upon registration. All credit cards are accepted.

License Fee: Bring a $50.00 check made payable to NJMVC to satisfy the State's licensing fee.

PLEASE NOTE: If you live out of state, you must bring 6 points of ID with you, such as a license, passport, healthcare card, utility bill, etc.

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

NJGCA MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER GILL ENERGY LOOKING TO HIRE FOR (3) DIFFERENT POSITIONS!

For more information about these positions, and to submit a resume for consideration, please contact: ravigill@gillenergy.com.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

11/19/2015:
Hillsdale council says no to tobacco sales change
Hillsdale will not join the 11 other Bergen municipalities that have banned the sale of tobacco products to anyone under age 21. An ordinance that proposed raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 19 to 21 failed to pass at the Nov. 10 meeting in a 2 - 4 vote. After hearing comments from Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store and Automotive Association (NJGCA), and a local convenience store owner, several council members and the mayor said that they felt passing the ordinance would negatively affect businesses and ultimately not deter young adults from smoking. Risalvato cited a loss of revenue for convenience stores, not necessarily from the purchase of cigarettes, but from items that are often bought with cigarettes such as snacks and coffee. He called the measure "feel good legislation" that would only force consumers to purchase their cigarettes in a neighboring town. Council members who initially supported the ordinance cited concerns for small businesses when they voted against it on Tuesday.

11/18/2015:
Hundreds voice opposition to proposed Bridgewater QuickChek
A public hearing on a proposed QuickChek convenience store and gas station on Route 22 became contentious Monday night as some 400 residents turned out at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, many voicing their opposition. Those in attendance at the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting peppered QuickChek site engineer Keith Cahill with pointed questions and often became angry upon hearing his responses. QuickChek wants to build a 24-hour, 5,700-square-foot gas station and convenience store on a triangular 5.47-acre site that formerly housed Tectonic, an architectural and engineering firm, on the eastbound side of Route 22 east of the Route 28 intersection. The site also houses the Melick's Town Farm. It would have 16 fueling stations. If approved, it would be the only c-store on eastbound Route 22 west of Route 202-206. Because the area isn't zoned for gas stations and food stores, QuickChek is seeking 22 use variances from the township's zoning board.

11/17/2015:
N.J. lawmakers to hear from officials on lottery’s performance
Lawmakers are scheduled next week to hear from lottery officials on the long-term contract with a private operator that has so far fallen short of its contractual income goals for the state. After two initial years of falling short of its targets, the operator of the lottery’s sales and marketing, Northstar New Jersey, appears on track to meet its $1 billion mark for the current 2016 fiscal year. But the struggles of last year seem to persist, despite changes to the game Powerball intended to grow jackpots to unprecedented levels and stoke sales. Lottery officials said Tuesday that even though overall ticket sales were up by 5.1 percent over the same period last year, sales of Powerball, as well as Mega Millions, have been weak. Those two are the major “draw” games played across the country. “The jackpot games are still not measuring up,” said Carole Hedinger, the lottery commission’s executive director.

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available.

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require 12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs. Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund.

Contact GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC

DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.

We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.

*NEW*Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three (3) weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are for reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.