March 21, 2014

Dear NJGCA Member:

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

DANGEROUS PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THE GAS TAX AND THE E-CIGARETTE TAX IN NEW JERSEY

This week, NJGCA was quite busy dealing with two legislative proposals that are critical to our members: increases to both the Gas Tax and the E-Cig Tax. I'd like to dedicate this Road Warrior to discussing those proposals with you, explaining what NJGCA has done, and outlining how you can help.

GAS TAX: Senator Lesniak's proposal would increase the gas tax by 5cents per gallon each year for three years, for a total of a $0.15 increase over three years. This will double the gas tax, from the current 14.5 cents per gallon, to 29.5 cents per gallon. In a press release shared with the media on Tuesday, NJGCA voiced our opposition to this proposal. To read the NJGCA Press Release, click here. My statement was included in the News 12 New Jersey segment on the gas tax that aired during the 5:00PM hour, and can be viewed by clicking here. Parts of the press release were also quoted in two news articles on the gas tax, published by CSPnet, and by OPIS in the Oil Express. They can be seen in the "News You Should Know" section.

A lot of noise will be made about this issue, but unless Governor Christie plans to back off his pledge of "no new taxes," then we should be safe, at least while he is Governor. However, this does not mean that Governor Christie cannot, or will not, change his mind, as the issue moves forward. We will continue to keep you informed about how you can voice your opinion on this matter.

E-CIG TAX: This issue was first brought up for discussion by Governor Christie in his Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2015. As details emerged, our concerns grew. One outspoken critic has been Grover Norquist, of the group Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). Norquist is a well-respected advocate and primary promoter of the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," which, prior to the November 2012 election, was signed by 95% of all Republican members of Congress, and all but one of the candidates running for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Norquist has been a key voice in opposing all tax increases for almost 30 years, since he founded Americans for Tax Reform in 1985, at President Reagan's request.

Recently, Norquist came out against certain provisions in Christie's budget proposal, pointing out that it, "contains a number of tax law changes that would result in higher taxes on small businesses and consumers." Norquist specifically mentioned, "the first misguided budget recommendation is to tax vapor products like e-cigarettes and e-liquid on the same basis as traditional cigarettes, which are currently taxed at $2.70 per pack... businesses like convenience stores and especially brick and mortar vape shops will be hardest hit by this $35 million tax increase." To read Norquist's letter to NJ State legislators, click here.

Last week, NJGCA also wrote a letter to all of the State Legislators to express our concern about the tax. To read the letter, please click here. Earlier this week, NJGCA distributed a press release to make sure that, in addition to the media, the public also understood our position. To read the statement, please click here. NJGCA received more information about the specific details of the e-cigarette tax a few days ago. The proposal would tax e-cigarettes at 75%!! As a result, NJGCA penned another press release. To read that press release, please click here.

We anticipate that this issue will also receive growing attention in the coming weeks and months, and we will keep you informed about how you can participate in the conversation.

Do you have a business for sale? Are you looking for a new location or opportunity?

NJGCA also assists members in selling equipment through the placement of advertisements in the Road Warrior!

If you'd like to list your business for sale, publish a location you're selling, or are seeking a business partner for your establishment, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066!

03/19/2014:
Judge Stays Enforcement of NYC Tobacco Regulations
As a result of a recent federal district court hearing, a federal judge ordered NYC not to enforce Section 6 of the recently-enacted NYC tobacco ordinance until either May 23, 2014, or the adoption of final regulations implementing the ordinance provisions. Section 6 of the NYC ordinance (1.) prohibits the honoring or redeeming of coupons and other price reduction instruments on cigarettes and tobacco products, (2.) outlaws the offering for sale or selling cigarette and tobacco products through any multi-package discount or for less than the listed price in exchange for purchasing other cigarettes or tobacco products, (3.) prohibits offering tobacco products for sale at less than the listed price, and (4.) mandates a minimum price of $10.50 for cigarettes and little cigars sold in packages of 20 or more.

03/19/2014:
NJGCA in the News: NJ's Gasoline Tax Hike Plan May Hurt Cross-State Business
NJ is considering a proposal to increase its gasoline tax by 5cts/gal each year over the next three years. The current gasoline tax is at 14.5cts/gal, the 2nd lowest in the country behind Alaska. NJ has not raised its gasoline tax in 22 years, since 1992. OPIS reported on January 6 that Pennsylvania hiked its retail regular gasoline prices significantly by 9.7cts/gal, almost matching the 9.5-ct/gal gasoline tax hike from January 1. In the Northeast, drivers near State borders have the option to seek out the cheapest fuel in neighboring states. NY has the highest price, followed by Pennsylvania. NY retail prices are 14cts/gal higher than Pennsylvania and 40cts/gal higher than New Jersey, according to daily retail price data issued by GasBuddy.

03/18/2014:
NJGCA in the News: New Jersey Democrat Proposes Gas Tax Increase
State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D) has introduced legislation Monday that would raise the gas tax in NJ five cents a gallon a year for the next three years to pay for repairs to the state's crumbling roads and bridges. Lesniak told The Star-Ledger the tax increase would generate $240 million a year in new revenue. "If we don't do it, it will be a disaster in the state of NJ for sure," Lesniak said. NJ currently has the second-lowest gas tax in the nation. At 14.5 cents per gallon, it hasn't been raised since 1992. Lesniak's proposal has support from other Democrats, but is likely to hit a roadblock from Governor Christie, who has voiced opposition to the idea in the past. Two recent polls show a large majority of NJ residents also are against it.

03/17/2014:
Half Of All Cars Banned From Paris Roads Over Smog; Electric Cars Exempt
Hazardous levels of pollution have caused authorities in Paris to enact its first car ban since 1997. The French capital will ban vehicles on alternate odd and even license plates an effort to reduce the output of polluting particles in the air, following a run of warm, windless days that have trapped pollution in the city. However, drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles will be exempt from the restrictions, as are taxis, buses, emergency vehicles and cars carrying three or more people. Pollution problems are being blamed on the high number of diesel vehicles in France.

TRAINING CLASSES!!
-ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT NJGCA HEADQUARTERS-
66 Morris Avenue - Springfield, NJ 07081 (Union County)

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 973-376-0066 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!!

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 973-376-0066 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
66 Morris Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
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.

THE MEMBER TOOL BOX

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