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November 5, 2010
In January 2009, only three days after President Obama was sworn into office, a meeting was organized with Congressional leaders who expressed their ideas on how to stimulate the economy, create new jobs, and bring stability to the market. Among those offering his advice was Congressman Eric Cantor who, after advocating for small business tax-cuts over stimulus spending, was told by the President: "Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I won." Nearly two years into the Obama Administration and after one of the most historical mid-term elections in recent history, the President’s words ring just as true – but with a very different tenor and tone. As unemployment has skyrocketed past 9.6% and the economy is still very fragile, the average citizen is understandably upset. Does any of this make Tuesday’s election results all that surprising? In case you haven’t been paying attention, Tuesday night saw Republicans take control of the Congress for the first time in four years by winning 60 seats, with an additional 11 seats still being contested. In the Senate, Democrats are holding onto their slim majority after Republicans won 6 additional seats, with 2 seats still contested. On the Governor front, Republicans headed into Election Day with 24 Governors and picked up 11 Governorships, with a handful of others still being contested. From a purely political perspective, this can only be characterized as a landslide victory. Tuesday’s results are comparable to Democrats winning overwhelming control of Congress after the resignation of Richard Nixon in wake of the Watergate scandal or the Republicans winning Congress in 1994 for the first time in over 40 years after President Clinton tried to push government healthcare through Congress. Here in New Jersey there was plenty of electoral action. Republicans picked up a Congressional seat in the 3rd Congressional District, when former Philadelphia Eagle Jon Runyan unseated incumbent Democratic Congressman (and former State Senator) John Adler. All other current Congressmen retained their seats. In the New Jersey 14th Legislative District, Democrat Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein beat sitting Republican Senator Tom Goodwin in special election. And finally, in a sign of fiscal discipline, voters have approved a constitutional amendment on the ballot designed to prevent Legislators from raiding state workers' benefit funds. The measure was in response to Governors and Legislators from both parties stealing $5.4 billion from the Unemployment Compensation Fund, State Disability Benefits Fund and others sources to fund other projects between 1992 and 2007. This was this practice that nearly bankrupted the UI fund and triggered the mandatory payroll tax increase that we saw earlier this year. So what do we take from this? First, the spark of transformation that ignited the current bevy of reforms here in New Jersey when Governor Christie was elected has swept across America. Just as the Governor is trying to cut out unneeded regulations and promote a pro-business agenda to put people back to work, the rest of the nation has caught on and has elected likeminded officials to represent them in Washington. Secondly, the power of small business owners was very much a part of what led to Tuesday’s historic election. A recent article by NBC correspondent Brian Thompson took a deeper look at the Tea Party movement and the kinds of individuals who fill out their ranks. Not surprisingly, many members are small business owners like YOU, who have had to shoulder more than your fair share of this burden, while fighting to keep your doors open and your employees working. You can read Brian Thompson's article by clicking HERE Thirdly, the minute polls closed on Tuesday’s night and the vote tallying was complete, everyone’s attention began to shift to NEXT YEAR’S ELECTION. That’s just the way the process works as everyone prepares for the next election cycle. Unlike this year’s race – which focused primarily on federal races for Congress – next year’s election will hit a little closer to home. That’s because all 80 seats in the General Assembly and all 40 seats in the State Senate will be up for election. That means 120 Legislators will be asking us to contribute to their campaigns, seeking our support, and looking for volunteers. As always we will put together the best in depth coverage on issues that matter to you in our Voter Guide, outlining who has supported our agenda and who has not. However, in supporting our friends and opposing our adversaries in the Legislature, it is important that YOU and ALL NJGCA MEMBERS actively support the NJGCA PAC. For anyone unfamiliar with the term, a Political Action Committee (or PAC), is the arm of the Association responsible for political donations. Raising money for our PAC will ensure our friends in the legislature are re-elected and help us in advancing the NJGCA agenda in Trenton.
You will hear more from our PAC in the near future, so please be on the look out. Then please consider donating to help US defend YOU in the State House. This week, however, we’re being assaulted from an all-new direction: Lottery Ticket Sales. Yesterday we sent out a Wildfire Alert to fill you in on the details, but essentially a new bill seeks to permit the sale of lottery tickets online, without any regard to how it will affect small business owners like you! That means that our convenience store and station owners who depend on lottery ticket sales to draw people into their shops and front offices will have one less tool to entice customers to patronize their establishments. You can read this Wildfire Alert by clicking HERE – then be ready to head to Trenton on Monday to help us prevent it from being passed in the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee. Thanks for reading and see you next week!
Regards,
Contact us and use our easy contact form to request the complete
1-800-440-8265
NJGCA WANT AD CLASSIFIEDS If you have at least 2 bays available, please contact Jerry at 973-252-5151 or email him at Sweetmotors@optonline.net
NEW TRAINING CLASSES ADDED!!
CALL FOR FUTURE CLASS SCHEDULE INFORMATION
ERT Re-Certification Class In order to re-certify, ERTs must complete Section 6 “OBD II Monitoring Failures”, Section 7 “Light-Duty Diesel Vehicle Technologies and Testing” and New Jersey State Specific Informational Course. NJGCA will be scheduling day and evening courses to address the needs of the ERT community. NJGCA Members will receive a reduced class price for attending, but we must hear from you to guage interest and set up a class schedule. Take advantage of this great opportunity to save money and re-certify for ERT License TODAY!
**To Register call Debbie Hill 973-376-0066 x 203 or debbie@njgca.org**
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members. 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: 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.
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