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April 30, 2010
GREETINGS AND SAL-UTATIONS!
Dear NJGCA Member:
IT HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD WEEK IN TRENTON FOR US! MVC INSPECTION ROLLER COASTER………AND IT’s BACK…..…BELOW COST SELLING RETURNS!
For over a year I have been meeting with legislators to plant the seeds for change to the Motor Vehicle Inspection System that would both save the State of NJ money and put more vehicles into your shops.
Knowledge of the budget crisis that was beginning to emerge, and the need for the state to begin searching for ways to save money, gave me hope that the next budget cycle would be an opportunity to persuade the Governor whether it would be Jon Corzine or Chris Christie to transition away from the hybrid CIF/PIF system currently used in NJ.
Last December I made a presentation to Governor Christie’s transition team with my proposal to require ALL RE-INSPECTIONS to be performed at PIFs ONLY, and to begin a transition over 2 years to an ALL PIF System and close the Parsons lanes forever.
Assemblyman Cryan agreed to sponsor the necessary legislation and asked the Office of Legislative Services to draft a bill two months ago.
Since then I have had numerous meetings with high level officials in Governor Christie’s administration including the Director of Policy, Budget Director, and Assistant Treasurer. I also met with the new Chief at the Motor Vehicle Commission. All agreed my proposal would save the state $13 million and was being seriously considered by the Governor.
Last week, I was informed that Governor Christie decided to eliminate safety inspections to save money rather than accept my proposal to send ALL RE-INSPECTIONS to PIFs.
Now we must step up meetings with legislators and convince them that eliminating safety inspections is just NUTS. My proposal to have ALL RE-INSPECTIONS performed at PIFs will save more money and STILL KEEP CARS SAFE ON THE ROADS.
The Governor has been under tremendous pressure as a result of his proposal to cut aid to schools and municipalities. The Governor understands that the general public will love the idea of eliminating safety inspections. Governor Christie has chosen a course on this issue that will be more pleasing to the public.
It is now up to us to call and write Governor Christie and tell him that we think his plan is harmful to the motoring public, and is harmful to small business. Please find contact information for Governor Christie below:
GOVERNOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION:
Telephone: 609-292-6000
Alternate Telephone: 609-777-2500
Alternate Telephone: 609-777-2459
Fax: 609-292-3454
Alternate Fax: 609-777-0357
Stay tuned for more instructions.
As if that is not enough bad news, I also learned last week that Senator Lesniak has introduced legislation that once again will attempt to eliminate the law that prevents BELOW COST SELLING of gasoline. Although in Trenton, all attention is focused on matters that pertain to the budget, I do have a concern that this legislation can sneak through during the budget process when no one is paying attention.
Since we were successful blocking BELOW COST SELLING in 2008, I have been fearful of its return. Several times I have written you to warn of my expectation that this issue would pop up again. The recent spike in gas prices will certainly work against us.
I will keep you posted on this problem too.
Once again we have to be vigilant in order to fight against legislation that will be harmful to your business. This week is a perfect example of how being pro-active to lobby for a policy that will help your business, can swiftly be reversed into fighting against policies that are bad for your business.
Today’s Road Warrior was completely re-written at the last minute in order to keep you up to date on these matters. Over the past few weeks I have written almost exclusively on inspection issues and I myself was beginning to grow weary of writing about them. I thought certainly you all needed a break and I had an entirely different message prepared for today. I would have been remiss had I not scrapped that message for the one you are reading now. I have to deliver the news bad-good- and timely.
I hope my upcoming messages will contain good news as we pursue these issues and explain our position to lawmakers.
Thanks for reading and see you next week!
Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
IN THIS WEEK’S NJGCA ROAD WARRIOR
UPDATE: NEW PIF CLASSES ADDED!!
•Added All PIF and Diesel classes below!!
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
•Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!
NEWS AROUND THE STATE
•WSJ: Franchisors create lending arms to help Franchisees secure credit
•Gas Tax hike a hot topic at Budget Hearings
•Education Chief says thousands of jobs could be saved with wage freeze
•School choice measure advancing in NJ
ON THE NJGCA HOMEPAGE
MEMBER SAVINGS PAGE
Check out all of our MBPs and Programs designed to SAVE YOU MONEY!
HELPFUL LINKS
Looking for something? Take a look at our list of useful links!
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Find all our communications and search for old e-newsletters. Take a look!
NEWS AROUND THE STATE ARCHIVE
Need to catch up on events? Want to see what's going on? Find out here!
KNOW YOUR TERRITORY MANAGER!
Henry Darden: Territory Manager for Middlesex, Union, Part of Essex (Southern Half)
Cell: 973-477-0057
Email: henry@njgca.org
Jack Leli: Territory Manager for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem
Cell: 732-995-1637
Email: jack@njgca.org
Bob Quirk: Territory Manager for Bergen, Hudson, Part of Essex (Northern Half)
Cell: 201-214-8836
E-mail: bob@njgca.org
Frank Stewart: Territory Manager for Morris, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic
Cell: 973-234-7403
Email: frank@njgca.org
Don Stohrer: Territory Manager for Monmouth, Mercer, Somerset
Cell: 732-539-2955
Email: don@njgca.org
UPDATE: NEW PIF CLASSES ADDED!!
CALL FOR FUTURE CLASS SCHEDULE INFORMATION
SPECIAL NOTICE: All PIF & DIESEL INSPECTORS
NJGCA is offering 4 SPECIAL ONE DAY DEIC – PIF CLASSES
ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
May 11th, May 18th, and May 25th
Location for all Classes: NJGCA Springfield Office (Boardroom)
Time: 7: 30 am to 3:00pm
Tuition: Member: $299.00 – Non-member: $349.00
ETEP Re-Certification Classes
NJGCA is offering the ETEP course that your ERT’s need in order to re-certify their license.
Our Course includes:
•New Jersey State Specific Information Course
•ETEP Section 6 “OBDII Monitoring Failures”
•Section 7 “Light-Duty Diesel Vehicle Technologies and Testing”.
Everything your technician needs to Re-Certify his ERT license!!!
Two classes will be offered on the following dates:
May 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th, & 25th
June 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th & 22nd
Location: for each Class: NJGCA Springfield Office (Boardroom)
Time: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm each night
Tuition: Member: $489.00 – Non-member: $629.00
PLEASE NOTE: We are always in the process of putting together additional classes. If you are interested in taking classes in this time period, please call NJGCA and let us know so we can add you to the list.
Call Debbie Hill to enroll in the classes at debbie@njgca.org or call 973-376-0066.
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
Ensuring our friends in the legislature are re-elected and advocating for our agenda in Trenton are of utmost importance to the agenda of NJGCA.
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 the shoulders of a few. This is not fair to them, and it is not fair to many of you who are relying on the benefits of good legislation being passed in Trenton.
To truly understand the importance of fundraising for our allies, let’s look back upon the overwhelming successes of the last year:
NJGCA successfully lobbied against BELOW COST SELLING. If approved, BELOW COST SELLING would have cost each of you thousands of dollars and put many of you out of businesses. NJGCA leaned on some of our friends in the Assembly and literally had the bill pulled off the floor on the day it was scheduled to be voted on. Our friends in the Legislature helped us get this accomplished.
NJGCA made history and led the charge to pass the most comprehensive protection of franchisees in decades with FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL legislation. FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL passed only because NJGCA and dealers throughout the state were able to lean on several friends in the Assembly and the Senate.
NJGCA has been rallying support for RIGHT TO REPAIR over the last two years among key legislators. This would end the practice of car manufacturers denying you the codes necessary to complete the repairs you make on your customers cars. Every state has tried to pass RIGHT TO REPAIR and no state has even been able to get the legislation out of committee. Because of our friends in the Legislature, NJGCA has been successful in getting this bill passed by the Assembly and now awaits a vote in the Senate.
I am asking some of you as individuals to make a contribution and attend a fundraising event sponsored by one of our friends in the Assembly.
However, we will not be able to host events for all of our friends, so the NJGCA PAC will have to make contributions. You will be receiving letters soon from the NJGCA PAC asking you to make contributions.
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.
NEWS AROUND THE STATE
4/29/2010:
WSJ: Franchisors create lending arms to help Franchisees secure credit
A recent Wall Street Journal reports that many corporate franchises are establishing lending units to help potential franchisees gain access to funding. Some are even utilizing “lease-to-buy” programs to help small business owners get established. While stricter terms may apply, a number of entrepreneurs are permitted to reduce royalty payments to prove better profitability to lenders. Click above for the full story.
4/26/2010:
Gas Tax hike a hot topic at Budget Hearings
During a recent budget hearing, Department of Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson and members of the Senate Budget Committee engaged in a heated discussion over raising the Gas Tax and finding future funding for the state’s nearly-bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund. Simpson, who says the Governor will not support a hike in the Gas Tax, has stated that there are still savings to be realized through cost cutting measures and utilizing public-private partnerships. The Commissioner also criticized the State’s habit of spending money on expenditures it simply could not afford, describing the phenomenon as “The window is broken, the roof leaks, but we’re going to build an extension on the house because the family might grow.”
4/26/2010:
Education Chief says thousands of jobs could be saved with wage freeze
Speaking before the Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee, Education Commissioner Bret Shundler stated that if teachers accepted a wage freeze throughout the state, $765 million would be saved and 12,541 positions saved. A wage freeze has been rejected by the state’s largest teacher’s union. Shundler also stated that a took kit envisioned by the Governor would allow local school boards more leverage in negotiating and cutting salaries.
4/25/2010:
School choice measure advancing in NJ
A measure to create a permanent public school choice program in the state continues to advance in the Legislature after passing the Assembly 75-0. The bill, a bi-partisan measure, would allow parents to move their children across district lines. The plan follows a successful pilot program that expired in 2005.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES IN OUR “NEWS AROUND THE STATE” ARCHIVE
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