Chief Political Writer
of the
The Trentonian
A PULITZER PRIZE WINNING NEWSPAPER
SHERRY
SYLVESTER
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WHAT DID SHERRY SAY TODAY? Fri, Nov 12, 1999SNEEZE FACTOR: Torricelli proves not allergic to donations Most politicians, including New Jersey Sen. Bob Torricelli, routinely insist that campaign contributions play no role in the laws that are made on Capitol Hill. Once charged, they sanctimoniously retort that their votes cannot be bought. But Torricelli was nailed red-handed on the NBC Nightly News Wednesday night when Lisa Myers reported that one day after the makers of Claritin donated $50,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which Torricelli heads, he sponsored a bill that could make the company $7 billion. Torricelli's staff told the Associated Press that the timing was "a coincidence." Claritin is a popular allergy drug that costs patients about $2.66 a day. It is so expensive that many health insurance companies have stopped paying for it. But for many allergy sufferers it is the only thing that works, so the company is raking in billions. Other companies have plans to sell a cheaper version of the drug in 2002 after the patent on Claritin runs out. But Schering-Plough, the Madison, New Jersey-based company that makes Claritin, is in no hurry to let that happen. They asked Torricelli to put in a bill that would give them three more years of a monopoly on the patent of the high-priced drug. New York Sen. Chuck Schumer is outraged that a fellow Democrat like Torricelli would push a bill so obviously designed to force consumers to pay more money for a drug than they need to. Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont is mad too. Torricelli refused to talk to Myers at NBC News, but he told the Associated Press on Wednesday that he has the votes in the Judiciary Committee to get the bill passed and he expects it to move smoothly. Torricelli has the votes in the Judiciary Committee because he controls a big chunk of the campaign funds for the Democrats there. As for Republicans, presidential contender Orrin Hatch has been using a Schering-Plough corporate jet to go to and from campaign stops. We don't know if that was Torricelli's idea or not, but you can bet it will work to help Schering-Plough's cause on the GOP side. Myers reports that Schering-Plough expects to spend about $11 million lobbying for Torricelli's bill. A $7 billion return on an $11 million investment is nothing to, well, sneeze at. This is not the first time New Jersey's huge drug companies have demanded a big lift from a local politician. The otherwise environmentally squeaky-clean former Sen. Bill Bradley was forced to go to bat a few years ago to make sure Jersey pharmaceuticals could continue to dispose of waste products legally off the coast of Puerto Rico despite complaints from the clean-and-green crowd there. It is certainly not news that all the major drug firms that are headquartered in Jersey hand over big wads of cash to local politicians to make sure their interests are taken care of in Washington. Usually that exchange is relatively quiet and goes unnoticed. But once again Torricelli has pushed the envelope on what is acceptable, thumbing his nose at the spirit of campaign finance laws. He is creating an obvious appearance of conflict even as he insists that none exists. If he runs true to form, he will pound his shoe on the table and imply that he is being unjustly attacked. He believes voters like politicians who are victims. Torricelli's people told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Claritin deserves a patent extension because it took the drug so long to get approval from the FDA. They seem to think that they should not have to lose $7 billion just because of some silly law designed to keep drug prices down. And Torricelli is their champion. His attitude seems to be: "Let them eat ragweed." For allergy sufferers and others who are cynical about money and politics, no relief is in sight. Thursday, November 4th For starters, Hamiltonians can expect weekly sightings of gubernatorial wanna-be Jim But the big news is that Hamilton has become enough of a Democratic big star town that Which is not to say that Hamilton has become a Democratic stronghold. Democratic
Executive candidates Freeholder Jim McManimon and the Assembly Democrats lost there on
Tuesday. Victory for Linda Greenstein and Gary Guear was assured by the Middlesex County votes they got from Monroe Twp. But Whitman spokesman, Jayne O'Connor, points out that Whitman did lots of campaigning in Mercer County over the last several weeks. Taking a swipe at the local press corp, O'Connor said, "just because you guys don't cover it doesn't mean she wasn't there." Schroeder's Campaign Chairman, Sen. Peter Inverso said on Wednesday that he had no blame for anyone. "The "time for a change" attitude starts to take on a life of its own," Inverso said. "More than anything else, that's what made the results what they were." State GOP Chairman Chuck Haytaian also said that Whitman did more than her share of campaigning for Republicans in the elections. Still, no one remembers seeing Whitman stand up But then, nobody remembers Whitman standing up with Richard Zimmer and telling voters that he's be a better senator that Torricelli, who trounced Zimmer in 1996. Whitman is the best fundraiser (by far) in the New Jersey GOP, but she doesn't use her success to try to pull up other candidates. Perhaps that's because she knows it doesn't work. In 1997, Sen. Peter Inverso, R-Hamilton, got 11 percent more votes than Whitman in the 14 District, so perhaps it was just as well that she wasn't there. Turner's unique problem is the third candidate in the race, Tom Byrne, a former state party chairman and son of the former governor. Byrne lives in Princeton and expects that Turner will give him the home court advantage. Unlike Florio and Corzine, Byrne has not been endorsed by any county chairmen and Turner's nod could put him in the game. Turner is officially neutral and said Wednesday that she was ready for candidates to "come "a courtin," but she admitted that Corzine has been hanging around in Mercer already, campaigning for all the Democrats on the ticket. Corzine paid for the Mercer Democrats entire "Get Out the Vote Effort" on Tuesday. "Florio came in once recently and he and Lucinda were here for Sam [Plumeri's] picnic," Turner said, "but Corzine was a regular visitor." WHAT HE HAD TO DO: Prosecutors stick up for Gilmore The state's highest-profile prosecutors, Michael Murphy and Sharon Ransavage, came to Hamilton Thursday to protest campaign ads claiming that Glen Gilmore, the Democratic candidate for mayor, should have refused involvement in a legal appeal of a convicted sexual offender. "It would be despicable for a lawyer to turn down a case because it might have negative political implications later," saidRansavage, former Hunterdon County prosecutor and head of the New Jersey Prosecutors Association. Ransavage said Gilmore's firm, Stark and Stark, had been assigned by a judge to represent the sexual offender for free and called the Republican charges "dangerous" to the judicial system. "If I said I am so offended by someone's crime that I don't want to represent this offender, our judicial system would break down," Ransavage said. "Judges and juries decide who is guilty and who is innocent. Our job as lawyers is to argue as advocates." Murphy, the former Morris County prosecutor who is a probable candidate for governor in 2001, said Gilmore was "ethically obligated" to take the case. "The oath attorneys take is to swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the state of New Jersey, which compels them to serve as officers of the court," Murphy said. Both Murphy and Ransavage are Democrats. Republicans began running ads last weekend chargingGilmore represented "the worst criminals." Republican mayoral candidate Pete Schroeder says Gilmore's firm didn't have to take the case and that the Democrat should have refused to take the assignment. "This was a value judgment and reflects his core values," Schroeder said. Defense attorney Jack Furlong told The Trentonian earlier this week that Stark and Stark was part of a pool of local attorneys assigned to do Megan's Law cases in 1996. According to Furlong, because the law was new, firms with expertise in the area were used. Furlong said he was asked by Stark and Stark to help on the case, but they declined to turn it over to him to argue the appeal. "I don't know Pete Schroeder," Furlong said, "but I couldn't understand why Gilmore was saying in his campaign ads that he had strengthened Megan's Law. That's just not the case." Murphy, however, insisted that the appeal argued by Stark and Stark "helped to define Megan's Law and protect it from constitutional attacks." Gilmore acknowledges he did the legal research for a case involving the re-classification of a sexual offender who had served his time and was about to be released.The offender was trying to change his classification from a "third tier" offender to a "second tier" offender. The entire community must be notified when "third-tier" offenders are released.Only the police and relevant professionals are notified when a "second-tier" offender is released. The case went to the state Supreme Court and Stark and Stark was successful in making the argument that the offender should be granted an additional hearing to determine if his classification should be changed. Both Murphy and Ransavage have been strong advocates of Megan's Law. Murphy has appeared on "60 Minutes" and a number of other national television shows speaking in support of the law which requires that communities be notified when convicted sex offenders move into their neighborhoods. Murphy said Thursday that he had debated Furlong, who has "made a cottage industry" out of Megan's Law." Murphy, who grew up in the Trenton area, said the attacks on Gilmore were "grossly unfair and have nothing to do with being mayor of Hamilton." Richard Zimmer, the former Republican Congressman who authored Megan's Law, was not available for comment. The election is Tuesday. Thursday, October 28, 1999 This big bill comes as no surprise to the folks at the State House who negotiated the contract. They knew Parsons was going to cost more, but they signed them up anyway for $400 million dollars, to take over the state's vehicle emissions testing system. And don't say we didn't warn you. During the long hot summer of 1998, the Trentonian reported that Parsons had been blasted with lawsuits for cost overruns and possible over billing in several other states. The City of Los Angeles, the State of California and the feds were all mad enough to sue. But that didn't worry Gov. Christie Whitman's team at the State House, including then Treasurer, Jim DiEleuterio, who said we were over-reacting. DiEleuterio's spokesman said back then that "many large companies are being sued all the time." They said it was no big deal. Whitman's team also dismissed charges of conflict of interest even though several Republican power players, including Whitman's former press secretary, Carl Golden and GOP fundraiser, Anthony Sartor, were in line to make a fair amount of money on the deal. Golden's firm got $6.2 million to get the word out about the new inspections. Sartor got a sub-contract to help build the new inspection stations which was worth a couple of million. Not big money for Sartor, we were told. No big deal. Parsons had also retained GOP Party boss Fred Holman, for $5,000 a month to help them get through the approval process. The state workers who were doing the inspections before Parsons put up a great fight. Senate President Don DiFrancesco, R-Scotch Plains, convened a hearing where he let the state worker unions say their piece. DiFrancesco also chewed out DiEleuterio for not keeping the Legislature informed about the status of the contract. That was August, 1998. News reports on Wednesday indicated that Parsons has collected about $50 million already for inspecting 2.1 million cars. State workers used to inspect twice that many cars for $50 million. Parsons was also hired to set up the enhanced emissions testing system that is required by the feds to help clean up the air, but so far, Parsons has only done about a 100 cars, though they're supposed to be completely up and running by mid-December. When Parsons first opened their inspection stations, many drivers noted that the new Parsons employees were friendlier than the old DMV workers...as if that was a hard standard to beat. Jersey's DMV workers had been famous nationwide for their unparalleled surliness to the taxpaying drivers they were supposed to be serving. But Assemblyman Neil Cohen, D-Roselle Park, who led the charge against the Parsons deal noted that for what Parsons was getting paid, drivers should be getting more than just courtesy. "By charging more than twice the price to inspect a car, Parsons should be...giving drivers free coffee, warm croissants and valet service," Cohen said. That's the same kind of service that the Republicans connected to the Parsons contract probably take for granted. Golden is still the Parsons spokesman. He reportedly said earlier this week that his cash- flush client is trying really hard to get those enhanced inspections working. DiEleuterio has moved on to become the top guy at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, a six figure job that is one of the biggest political payoff positions you can get in New Jersey. Republican in the Assembly who supported the privatization deal are all up for election next Tuesday, but they're not worried. If you ask them about Parsons, they'll tell you it was no big deal. Monday, October 25 New Jersey lawmakers hardly ever show up in Trenton just before an election. But flood relief politics and urban sprawlm will be causing lots of fireworks in the State House today. Because polls show that virtually everybody in New Jersey is opposed to over development, its not hard to understand why State Senate President Don DiFrancesco, R-Scotch Plains, put Sen. Bill Schluter's "Impact Fee" proposal on the Senate schedule eight days before the election. DiFrancesco's move could provide a little counter-fire for Mercer County's Republican Executive, Bob Prunetti who is being attacked by his Democratic opponent, Democrat Jim McManimon, for failing to stop development. DiFrancesco's gubernatorial aspirations are undoubtedly involved too. His success as a political deal maker has always rested on his ability to take the long view. If Schluter's "impact fee bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Trenton, became law it would require developers who build large sub-divisions to pay the costs of schools, libraries, fire trucks and any other facilities that the town may need to accommodate the population increase brought on by the new housing. Impact fees could add real muscle to Gov. Christie Whitman's Open Space efforts because they put big financial obstacles in the way of new development...they would increase the cost of building. But nobody thinks "impact fees" will become law, at least not the "impact fees" Schluter and Turner have proposed. New Jersey builders don't like them and they always put their money where their mouth is. The NJ Builder's Association contributed thousands of dollars to the leadership political action committees of both political parties last year, including DiFrancesco. The builders lobby alone gave almost $150,000. Construction unions don't like impact fees either and they write their own checks. The people who most strongly support "impact fees" are New Jersey's towns and DiFrancesco promised the New Jersey League of Municipalities last year that he would support "impact fee" legislation. But until last week, Schluter's legislation was stuck. DiFrancesco had referred Schluter to Sen. John Mattheussen, R-Mantua, who had written some "impact fee" legislation which the builders approved. Mattheussen's bill would which put a statewide board in place to set "impact fees." But folks who understand New Jersey politics could see that the builders would make sure that everyone appointed to the board would see things their way and the towns wouldn't get any money. No compromise emerged or was expected. In Mercer County, the hottest political battleground in the state, sprawl and congestion are the big issues that Prunetti and McManimon are fighting about. Republicans believe they have to win Mercer County next week in order to keep a broad enough base to win statewide campaigns next year. Democrats also think winning Mercer is key to their keeping Frank Lautenberg's Senate seat and winning the governor's race in 2001. Prunetti wrote a letter to Schluter in September saying he preferred county-wide impact fee standards and the principals in Mattheussen's bill. But last week, Prunetti signed off on Schluter's bill, saying it was what he wanted all along. DiFrancesco, who has been known to avoid giving Schluter the time of day, praised him last week for "building a consensus" on "impact fees." DiFrancesco also says he thinks he's got enough votes to pass the bill and next month he'll undoubtedly return to the New Jersey League of Municipalities and tell them that he passed the "impact fee" legislation. But impact fees are unlikely to become law. Assembly Speaker Jack Collins is not expected to act and sources close to Whitman, who also supports "impact fees" rate their chances at "slim to none." And the chance that DiFrancesco doesn't know those odds? Slim to none. Columbine shootings create radical shift The horrible shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado has created a radical shift in public support for gun control. In New Jersey, some polls show that almost 90 percent of registered voters favor the strictest gun control regulations available. Consequently, as Election Day approaches, candidates running for everything from city council to the State Assembly are coming up with all kinds of anti-gun positions which they insist will help stop gun violence. City council candidates in Hamilton, who have nothing to do with firearms regulation, have taken a firm stand in support of trigger locks. Assemblyman Paul Kramer and Assemblywoman Barbara Wright have proposed a bill to extend jail sentences for crimes committed while in possession of a gun while their Democratic opponents, Linda Greenstein and Gary Guear charge that the lawmakers are just trying "to keep the National Rifle Association happy." Democrat Jim McManimon pledged to file a lawsuit against gun manufacturers if he is elected. His opponent Mercer County Executive Bob Prunetti countered that he is working with the County Prosecutor on a plan that would eliminate the right to plea for any defendant charged with committing a crime with a gun. The New Jersey State Democratic Committee calls gun control "a huge" issue which they hope they can use to oust Republicans from the Assembly and take back control. But Republicans have managed to cloud the campaign debate with their own anti-gun initiatives. This spring, in an effort motivated either by concern over gun violence or the need to provide New Jersey Republicans with some cover,Senate President Don DiFrancesco passed "childproof gun" legislation through the State Senate which pushes for thedevelopment of technology that will prevent guns being fired by anyone but their owners. Rich Miller, head of the New Jersey Sportsman Association, acknowledges that pro-gun forces are under attack, but he says that most of the laws the public supports regarding gun control are already on the books in New Jersey which has some of thetoughest anti-gun regulations in the country. Background checks, age requirements and the assault weapons ban are in place and Whitman recently signed trigger lock legislation. Still, politicians eager to ride the wave of anti-gun concern are coming up with some anti-gun proposals that are hardly sure-fire methods to eliminate gun violence. Ceasefire New Jersey has made a great deal of noise denouncing DiFrancesco's "childproof gun" legislation as watered down and hypocritical because it does not impose a deadline on gun manufacturers for developing a weapon that can only be fired after the owner has keyed in some kind of identification code. They recently endorsed every Assembly candidate who opposed DiFrancesco's bill. But some anti-violence advocates are questioning why Ceasefire and other anti-gun groups are pushing for the development of yet another gun, even if its supposed to be safer. Some charge that gun makers secretly financing the "smart gun" movement in order to create a more mainstream market for guns. Ceasefire's head, Bryan Miller says Assembly Speaker Jack Collins recently appropriated million dollars to the New Jersey Institute of Technology to study "smart gun" technology is a delaying tactic that duplicates work that has already been done to develop smart guns. But Dr. Don Sebastian, who heads up the "smart gun" research project at NJIT says that "smart guns" are a long way from reality. The research literature seems to support Sebastian's claim. Many questions about the feasibility of smart guns are still unanswered. McManimon has pledged to make Mercer County one of the 30 or so places in the country to sue gun manufacturers for selling a deadly product, but so far, almost all of those cases have been thrown out of court and even liberal, anti-gun advocates don't hold out much hope for their success. Prunetti's proposal to eliminate plea bargains might reduce gun violence in the long run, but if it withstood a constitutional challenge it would surely require more courtrooms and jail space than is currently available here. State GOP Chairman Chuck Haytaian says the gun issue has never played well in New Jersey Assembly elections and is an attempt by Democrats to paint Garden State Republicans with the national conservative GOP brush. "New Jersey Republicans have a good record on gun control," Haytaian said. "The Republicans put together trigger locks and gun free school zones." But each horrific shooting makes it appear that politicians are not doing enough. In the countdown before Election Day, gun politics has taken center stage. The campaign strategy for both parties seems to be ready, fire, aim. Fri,
Oct 22, 1999 Hamilton Democratic mayoral candidate Glen Gilmore joined two Democratic State Assembly candidates Thursday in the charge that Republicans in Hamilton have tried to pass off "election-year gimmicks" as property tax relief. Republicans responded by calling Gilmore a liar. By providing the recent 11-percent tax cut to Hamilton, Gilmore said Republicans are "giving back money they stole from the taxpayers last year." Democratic Assembly candidates Gary Guear and Linda Greenstein said Republicans have tried to place blame for Hamilton's high property taxes on reductions in state aid. They also discounted Gov. Christie Whitman's property tax relief program, which was backed by Republicans. "These $120 checks are nice, but for families in Hamilton Township and across the state who can't afford their property taxes, they're not going to cut it," Guear said. But Republican Municipal Chairman Mike Angarone said Gilmore and the Democrats "have lied and exaggerated about taxes in Hamilton and we've let them get away with it." Angarone specifically pointedto Gilmore's claims that Republican Assemblyman Paul Kramer, R-Hamilton, "arrogantly thumbed his nose at taxpayers who suffer through his re-evaluations." Kramer, who also serves as Hamilton's Finance Director, has written legislation which would extend the time that citizens have to file and argue appeals to their property tax bills, according to Angarone. The race for mayor in Hamilton and the campaign for the two Assembly seats are considered two of the hottest political contests in New Jersey. Angarone said Thursday that Republicans were planning an aggressive response to charges by Democrats that Republican leadership had resulted in tax increases. Both sides insist that their opponents have caused tax rates to increase in Hamilton.Democrats said Thursday that under Republican Mayor Jack Rafferty's 24-year administration, taxes had increased 3,800 percent in comparison to only a 300-percent increase statewide. Fri,
Oct 22, 1999 Former congressman Richard Zimmer announced Thursday that he will not
run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated next year by Frank Lautenberg.
Instead, Zimmer said he will continue his campaign to unseat Rep.
Rush Holt, D-Hopewell. Zimmer is hoping to regain the 12th Congressional
seat he left in 1996 when he ran for former Sen. Bill Bradley's U.S.
Senate seat. Zimmer lost that race to Bob Torricelli.
"I look forward to returning to the House to resume my fight for
lower taxes, less spending, better schools and a better quality of life
for all Americans," Zimmer declared in a written statement.
Zimmer said that he had seriously considered a run for the U.S.
Senate because he had been urged to run and "because every poll
indicates that I have more statewide support than any other Republican
except governors Whitman and Kean."
Both Christie Whitman and Tom Kean have previously announced that
they will not run for Lautenberg's seat either.
Zimmer's announcement came as "no surprise" according to
Nick Acocella, Publisher of Politifax, a New Jersey political
newsletter.
"Zimmer may have more statewide name recognition than many of
the other Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, but that is not the
same as political support," Acocella said.
State Sen. Bill Gormley, R-Mays Landing, Rep. Bob Franks, R-Union and
Essex Executive Jim Treffinger have announced their intention to run for
Lautenberg's seat. So has former Libertarian Murray Sabrin.
Lewis Eisenberg, a political fund-raiser for Whitman, has also
expressed interest in the seat.
Among the Democrats, former governor Jim Florio and former Democratic
state party chairman Tom Byrne have announced candidacies along with
former Goldman Sachs CEO Jon Corzine.
Thurs, Oct 21, 1999 "Mr. Prunetti had two opportunities just this week to take a stand on gun violence prevention and he chose not to," McManimon said in a prepared statement. "This is no surprise, though. After all, the head of the Mercer County Republican Party is a gun extremist and spokesman for the National Rifle Association." Prunetti responded that McManimon was playing politics with the gun issue. "Jim McManimon hasn't done anything about guns in the entire time he's been a freeholder, but now he's presenting himself an anti-gun," Prunetti said. "He is trying to pick an issue with some statewide impact to see if it can stick." McManimon's campaign manager Jaimee Gilmartin said that Prunetti should "distance himself" from Joe Constance, the chair of the Mercer GOP, because of his reported links to the NRA. But Prunetti said that was not necessary. McManimon has pledged to sign on to a nationwide lawsuit against the gun industry if he is elected county executive. He has also expressed support for childproof guns, gunlocks and gun buy back programs. Prunetti said that he supports those anti-gun efforts as well as a new program being studied by Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel Giaquinto which would eliminate pleas for any offender who is brought up on a crime with a gun. "We think that approach would be more effecting in reducing gun violence than the lawsuit," Prunetti said, Prunetti said he supports Assemblyman Paul Kramer, R-Hamilton's proposal to provide local funding for free trigger locks for residents but noted that previous gun buy back programs in Mercer County have not been successful. "According to the prosecutor, gun buy backs have very little affect on actual guns on the street, particularly with young people," Prunetti said although he did not rule out trying them again. McManimon's attack on Prunetti's position mirrors a similar strategy currently being used by Democratic challengers throughout New Jersey in an effort to capitalize on the public concern about gun violence and their beliefs that Democrats are stronger advocates of gun control. A recent poll conducted by the 91 (ninety-one) percent of New Jerseyans favor registration of all guns. Yesterday, the New Jersey Institute of Technology profiled a recent million dollar backed by Republicans for research on smart guns can only be fired by the owner. Dr. Daniel Sebastian, "We are simply responding to requests for information," Sebastian said. McManimon will appear Thursday with Senator Frank Lautenberg, who has lead the Democratic anti-gun forces in Congress for the past several years. But Prunetti says that he has been a long-time anti-gun advocate. "I believe, as most people do, that reasonable restrictions and restraints are advisable," Prunetti said. "Waiting periods like we have in New Jersey should be put in place nationally. You have to get a permit to drive so you should also have a permit to get a gun." Bryan Miller, head of Ceasefire New Jersey, said yesterday that his group advocates that local governments sign on to lawsuits against the gun industry as well as providing trigger locks and instituting gun buy back programs. "About 35 municipalities are involved in the lawsuits as well as Camden County and Cook County in Illinois," Miller said. "If Prunetti doesn't know there's a concern about gun violence, then he's missing the boat." Prunetti noted that Mercer County crime rate has declined for the past three years. Constance did not return calls for comment. October 19,
1999 The AP apparently hadn't followed the "alternative mea culpa speech" flap last summer immediately after Clinton's lukewarm apology to the nation in which he finally admitted that his relationship with Monica Lewinsky was "not appropriate" but never actually said he was sorry. NBC News reporter Tim Russert reported at the time that sources inside the White House said several advisors were disavowing any connection to the president's speech. It is likely that Clinton and Harry Thomasson, the television writer that Clinton moved into the White House to help him construct the story line that got him through the Lewinsky scandal, were responsible for the speech. Nobody else would admit to having anything to do with it. The so-called "Begala speech" alternative that Torricelli presented in his book of American speeches was first published in the August 31, 1998 issue of The Weekly Standard, a Washington news magazine. Paul Begala, one of Clinton's presidential advisors, was credited with writing the speech. Earlier this week both the White House and Begala denied that Clinton had ever seen the speech. Because the president and Begala, have both been caught lying on the record, there's no way to know if we can believe their denial. Their word is worth absolutely nothing. In addition to some famous speeches by Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy, Torricelli includes the full texts of many speeches that were only reported partially. J. Edgar Hoover's explanation of why only clean cut men, and not beatniks, could serve in the FBI is particularly fascinating. Torricelli also includes Johnnie Cochran's remarks to the jury regarding O.J. Simpson and Frank Zappa's protest of the movement to put anti-violence labels on music. Torricelli has collected these American treasures with the obvious conviction that words matter. That's why its ironic that the Clinton "mea culpa alternative" has drawn attention to the book's release. No American president has done more damage to the faith we have always put in the words of our leaders. From his "I want you to listen to me, I never had sex with that woman, Monica Lewinsky," to the inaccurate characterization of receiving oral sex in one's office as "inappropriate" Clinton has changed the assumption of American speech from trust and honesty to the terms usually found in a used car sale. Like a shady car dealer, Clinton insists that he is not actually responsible for anything he has said and when confronted with his own lies, he refers his fellow Americans to the small print. "It depends on what the meaning of 'is' is." The result is massive bored cynicism. Long before Vice President Al Gore experienced the side affects of "Clinton fatigue" the public had demonstrated "rape fatigue" when Clinton denied he'd raped Juanita Broderick despite fairly strong evidence. And surely Democrats have noticed "cocaine fatigue" on the Republican side. Democrats want reporters to press Texas Governor George W. Bush to answer the cocaine question, but Americans don't care because they know it doesn't matter if he tells the truth or lies. Clinton has made the country safe for liars. FLOOD OF CONCERN: Vote scheduled for disaster relief bill Buckling under pressure from flood victims throughout New Jersey, state legislators are racing to develop a coherent lawmaking strategy addressing victims' needs by mid-November. On Thursday, State Assembly Speaker Jack Collins, R-Elmer, told the Assembly Appropriations Committee that he would schedule a special assembly session, before the Nov. 2 elections, in order to vote on state flood-relief appropriation. Assembly Appropriations Chairman Richard Bagger, R-Westfield, said that his committee would "craft a bill that would aid those who were hit the hardest" in the floods last month. However, a spokesman for Senate President Don DiFrancesco, R-Scotch Plains, said that it was likely that the assembly will sign on to the "Emergency Disaster Relief Act," which DiFrancesco introduced last week. A Senate vote on his disaster relief bill is now scheduled for Oct. 25, and it is likely that the Assembly will vote the same day. "Don's bill is up and is most likely to move quickest," said Senate Majority spokeswoman, Rae Hutton. "The Assembly may have some additional items that they want to include." DiFrancesco's plan would offer $50 million in grants, loans and property tax deferrals for flood victims from Floyd. It also would provide $20 million in aid to help farmers stricken by the summer drought. Another $10 million would assist towns and cover operating costs. The measure is designed as a last-resort aid package for those whose losses are not covered by private insurance or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. DiFrancesco said the bill, which will be co-sponsored by Sen. John Lynch, D-Middlesex. The bill would leave implementation details up to the Whitman administration. Meanwhile, the Appropriations Committee also heard testimony from FEMA, state and local emergency coordinators and local flood victims. Assemblyman Peter Biondi, R-Hillsborough, who represents the Somerset County communitiesdevastated by the floods, confirmed that the Assembly would be working with DiFrancesco's proposed legislation. However, Biondi added that he and Assemblyman Kip Bateman, R-Somerset, had proposed two additional items: a sales tax exemption for flood victims who must purchase new furniture and appliances, and matching funds for towns to pay FEMA costs. "FEMA requires that local municipalities pay 25 percent of costs for their services," Biondi said. "For the communities that have been devastated by the flood, that could be difficult. We hope to appropriate state funds to cover those costs." Last week, Collins and DiFrancesco were heavily criticized by Somerset County flood victims for refusing to appropriate help for devastated communities when they hosted a fund-raiser for Texas Gov. George Bush inside the flood-damaged zone. DiFrancesco had said originally that he didn't think he would be able to pass flood relief legislation until mid-November. Hutton said the revised time line will "allow checks to get into people's hands two or three weeks sooner." However, she denied that the legislature was responding to public pressure. "From the time the Senate President went to Bound Brook, he recognized the people there needed help as soon as possible," Hutton said. "The various agencies involved have a good idea where the losses are now and we think we can move forward." Thursday, Biondi, who had urged the Speaker to call a special session, said that Collins had "listened to a lot of information and had obviously seen a need to bring the legislature back." Gov. Christie Whitman has said she supports DiFrancesco's bill. Her spokesman, Pete McDonough, said Thursday that the governor is working to assure that state flood relief can be used to "fill the gap" for flood victims. Currently, FEMA reduces the amount of assistance a flood victim is eligible for by subtracting the amount of state assistance he or she has received. October 13, 1999 Fitzpatrick is polling for Mercer County Executive Bob Prunetti and says that her data shows that Prunetti is "way ahead," pulling "tri-partisan support." "About seventy percent of Mercer County voters think things are moving in the right direction," Fitzpatrick said. "Bob's got backing from Republicans, Democrats and Independents." But Prunetti's opponent, Democratic Freeholder Jim McManimon, has some big guns on his side who are no slouches at "buzz building" either. Brad Lawrence and Steve DiMicco of Message and Media in New Brunswick are the consultants who almost pushed Democrat Jim McGreevey into the winners circle in 1997. Democrats who want to win in New Jersey know it pays to have Message and Media in their corner. Lawrence dismissed Fitzpatrick's numbers and said that Prunetti "is obsessed with polls." "We think he is protesting too much," Lawrence said. "He's not in as good a place as he wants to be or he wouldn't be pushing his polls." Lawrence says their research indicates that Mercer County residents are fed up with the side affects of development including traffic congestion and dwindling open space. Fitzpatrick agrees that "quality of life" is the primary issue in the campaign but says that voters understand that voters understand that there are a wide range of factors that are involved in balancing development. "When it comes to protecting "quality of life" in Mercer County, 46 percent of the voters believe that Bob Prunetti will do the best job," Fitzpatrick said. "Only 18 percent think McManimon will do the best job." Lawrence obviously did not agree. The first round of advertising he made for McManimon repeatedly criticized Prunetti's handling of Mercer County development, saying "Bigger is not necessarily better." Fitzpatrick says Lawrence's advertising strategy has backfired, causing almost half the likely voters to believe that McManimon is "spending too much time criticizing Prunetti." But Lawrence says that Prunetti has tried to create an atmosphere of negative campaigning when they were simply raising policy questions. "We've just begun a totally positive advertising blitz with new radio, new mail, new T.V.," Lawrence said. "It will be interesting to see their response to that. Both campaigns say the outcome hinges on voter turnout and are busy "buzz building" their ability to get their voters to the polls. "Let's see what New Jersey shooters want to do," said Miller on Tuesday. He said a boycott may be the only way that gun advocates can protest Colt's decision. According to published reports, Colt has decided to withdraw from the handgun market in order to avoid a series of lawsuits that are being directed at them by big cities around the country hoping to hold them financially liable for gun deaths. A Colt executive told "Newsweek" that Colt was dropping most of its consumer handgun products and would only produce handguns for police and military uses. The change will result in about 300 layoffs at Colt's plant in Connecticut which the executive admitted was "painful" and "irrational." But Miller believes that Colt's plan to develop the so-called "smart-gun" is really a secret marketing plan. "Smart-guns" are hoped to have a computer generated device that will only allow the gun to be fired by the owner. Colt has formed a separate company called iColt to develop "Smart guns" and is reportedly close to releasing that model. Earlier this summer, Senate President Don DiFrancesco, R-Scotch Plains, pushed the "Childproof Gun Act" through the New Jersey Senate. If his legislation passes the State Assembly it would require that all handguns sold in New Jersey be "smart guns" soon as the technology is available. Senate Minority Leader Dick Codey, D-West Orange, had proposed an even tougher "smart gun" bill which would have forced gun manufacturers to develop a "smart gun" in three years. If "smart gun" legislation is passed, "smart guns" are the only guns that will be sold," Miller said. "That's why "smart guns" are a gun ban. Miller said that he was afraid someone at Colt was negotiating with lawmakers to get "smart gun" legislation passed so that they could monopolize the smart gun market. Laws similar to DiFrancesco's have been proposed in dozens of states. Miller called on the National Rifle Association to stop displaying Colt Collectable guns in their gift shop and urged New Jersey gun owners to stop doing business with gun stores that sell Colt products. So far 28 cities have filed lawsuits against gun manufacturers including Newark and Camden. October 12, 1999 It is hard to figure why someone who made his living as a professional wrestler before becoming governor would complain about the "weak-minded." Professional wrestling is surely
the saddest demonstration of the intellectual emptiness of vast numbers of the public as almost anything Americans do. Does Ventura think that smart,
"strong-minded" people have any interest Ventura's staffers quickly tried to soften the blow of Ventura's attack on organized religion by saying that the Minnesota governor only meant to attack those awful conservative Christians who are trying to impose their views on everyone. Ventura's part in the counter-spin was to clarify that he wasn't attacking God. In fact, Ventura says he believes in God. The Minnesota governor puts himself in the category of those brave individuals who say they commune with the spirit by going for walks in the country on Sunday mornings instead of going to worship services. That way they say they avoid the hypocrites. Ventura is pushing forward with his political career because he knows he'll get by with his attack on religious people, particularly if he makes people think that he was only attacking Christians. Attacking Christians has become fair game in America. For some, including Arnold Lehman, who organized the current "Sensation" exhibit at the Brooklyn Art Museum, it has become a favorite sport. His role in defaming the Nobel prize winner did not seem to hurt his ability to land the job heading up the Brooklyn Art Museum, which has provided him with this current opportunity to bash Christians. The "Sensation" exhibit has also given the First Lady and Senate candidate, Hillary Clinton, an opportunity to make it clear that she's not bothered much by attacking Christians either. Her official response to the "Sensation" art show in Brooklyn was that it reflected "a grand tradition of freedom of expression." The small problem with the Brooklyn Museum exhibit is that it is being paid for with tax dollars. That separation of church and state thing means that public money can't be used to belittle or demean organized religion. The bigger problem with that exhibit and Ventura's Christian bashing is that they demonstrate that too many hip and anti-religious folks are unaware that they tolerate attacks on Christians that they wouldn't stand for against any other religious or ethnic group. If "Sensation" at the Brooklyn Museum had featured Mohammed or Budda covered with elephant dung or pornographic images, there would be no debate. The show would be closed and Sarandon and Hillary would be marching in streets with Muslims and Buddhists, screaming in outrage. If Ventura had said that atheists are weak-minded people who lack the intellectual discipline to focus on the difficult questions people of faith are asked to tackle, the American Civil Liberties Union would have filed charges against him. But because its only Christians who are being attacked here, no lawsuits are being considered. Reports from Harvard said many students called Ventura's remarks "candid and refreshing." Guess the old "freedom of religion" thing has gotten stale in the Ivy League. October 7, 1999 Bush emphasized the same themes in New Jersey that he has hammered throughout his three day swing through the Northeast— that Republicans must take a kinder and gentler approach. "We should never quit on any single child who lives in any state in America," Bush drawled to a crowd of about 700 Republicans gathered on the infield of the Somerset Patriots stadium. "We should make sure people never get hooked on a government check and lose the sense of what it feels like to be an American." Following up on his criticism of the Republican congressional budget last week and his educational reform initiatives issued on Monday, Bush said that he believed Republicans had to set high standards but he denied that he had challenged Republican leaders. "Should I be fortunate enough to be elected president, I expect to be working closely with Congress," Bush told reporters who questioned him from home plate. Grinning, Bush added, "It's a beautiful night for a ball game." Bush was joined at home plate by Gov. Christie Whitman, but the Texas governor quickly dismissed questions about Whitman's vice presidential potential, saying it was too early to speculate. But Bush praised Whitman for "doing what she said she was going to do." "Christie Whitman has a national reputation," Bush said. "She has cut taxes, cut crime. I am proud to call her friend." Whitman was equally coy about Bush, saying that she would make an endorsement in the presidential race "at the right time."
"Timing is everything," laughed Bush. The Somerset County Democratic Chairman, Elia A. Pelios, issued a statement saying, "we find it in to be in very poor taste for Assembly Speaker Jack Collins to hold a fundraiser to pad his war chest less than half a mile away from the complete devastation which he refuses to acknowledge." Bush came to New Jersey at Collins' invitation to raise campaign funds for Republicans who will be on the ballot for State Assembly seats next month. Collins is being criticized for failing to call a special Assembly session to appropriate state funds for flood victims.
Collins introduced Bush predicting that he would be elected president next year.
Bush peppered his remarks with warm references to his mother, his wife and his family. But he made himself at home with the Jersey GOP when he addressed Collins as "the silver fox"
and Senate President Don DiFrancesco as "Donny Di." Collins and DiFrancesco both led pilgrimages of Jersey lawmakers to Austin earlier this year so that legislators could meet Bush. Almost 80 percent of the State Senate and the Assembly has endorse the Texas governor. KEAN OUT!: Ex-Gov. Kean will not run for Senate If former Gov. Tom Kean was the best chance the Republicans had to win Frank Lautenberg's Senate seat next year, then they didn't have much to bet on. Kean's announcement Monday that he will not run for the U.S. Senate hardly qualified as a political bombshell, particularly when compared toGov. Christie Whitman's political show-stopper last month. Kean said he "agonized" over the decision. But since he experienced similar agony in1990 and 1996 when he also concluded that he didn't want to run for the U.S. Senate, it's hard to feel his pain. Other Republicans in the race including Rep. Bob Franks, R-Union, and State Sen. Bill Gormley, R-Mays Landing, have been waiting for Kean, indicating they would step aside if he stepped in. That's because there's a myth that Kean is New Jersey's most popular politician. But the former governor has been out of politics for more than 10 years. His time has past. The shelf life of even really big political icons is short. Witness what happened to Geraldine Ferraro last year in New York. Ferraro, the first woman ever to run for vice president on a major party ticket, was a hero to feminists, Italian-Americans and many old New York liberals. Like Kean, her name familiarity is astronomical and some Democrats thought she was unbeatable. Her old financial troubles were never an issue in the 1998 Senate race.Still, she lost by a much bigger margin than she had in 1992 when she first tried to make a comeback. Like Ferraro, Kean is a patron saint for many, but thereis an entire demographic segment of young voters who don'tremember "the Kean years" or relate to his"politics of inclusion" theory. Last year Kean used his famous New England "perfect together" drawl on $2 million dollars worth of commercials challenging Rep. Frank Pallone, D-Middlesex. But Pallone won big and Kean's support seemed to have no impact. A gaggle of Republicans who partied with Kean at Giant's Stadium Sunday said they were surprised that Kean was stepping down. Senate President Don DiFrancesco, R-Scotch Plains, said Kean seemed like he was going to run. "I didn't encourage him," DiFrancesco said. "I'm not encouraging anybody." DiFrancesco and State GOP Chairman Chuck Haytaian both want a winner. However, Haytaian was not surprised. "I was ready to bet people on this," Haytaian said. "I knew he wasn't going to run. This is just another demonstration of how gullible the media can be." Haytaian called rumors of Kean's run, "pure speculation" but he admitted that Kean himself did nothing to stop the rumors. Some Democrats joked that Kean wouldn't run because he'd already endorsed a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, Jon Corzine. Kean recently wrote a column in the Bergen Record praising Corzine for refusing to shave his beard or be controlled by his campaign advisors. The irony of Kean's glowing comments about Corzine is that he was dead wrong. In fact, Corzine is paying meticulous attention to his campaign advisors. He's spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours with the best media people in the business learning how to effectively present himself and his ideas. Corzine even changed his glasses. By contrast, Kean pays so little attention to his rumpled appearance that he is frequently seen in public apparently having forgotten to comb his hair. And it's hard to figure how Kean's 10-year-old moderate Republicanideas could compete against the platform of whoever the Democrats put up. From gun control to education, they'll bemore moderate than he is, no matter what. Granted, Kean could have beaten Jim Florio, because so many people dislike Florio. But if it had come down to Kean and Corzine, the odds would shift to the newcomer Corzine. Voters like newcomers. And Corzine's got new glasses. Republicans have got some newcomers too. Like Haytaian, they need to be ready to place their bet on somebody who can win.
Mon,
Oct 04, 1999 Since Hurricane Floyd flooded New Jersey on Sept. 16, the ravaged
communities have learned two things. One, neighbors and friends can
accomplish miracles when they pull together to help each other out. Two,
government and their elected officials, including lawmakers and everyone
from the mayors to the governor, don't seem to be able to do very much.
After the flood, New Jersey was quickly declared a disaster area and
the Federal Emergency Management Administration came into help. Last
week FEMA announced they had given out $1.4 million in emergency grants
to 573 families.
That may seem like quick action unless you are one of the10,040
households that have applied for emergency assistance from FEMA and are
still waiting for a response.
And emergency assistance grants are only available to homeowners.
Business owners must apply for federal disaster loans.
In the days immediately following the flood, that "no grants for
businesses Catch-22" made some business people in Bound Brook so
angry that they shouted down Rep. Bob Frank, R-Union, when he tried to
explain the loan application process to them. Franks had to be escorted
out of the building by a police officer.
Senate President Don DiFrancesco, R-Scotch Plains, went to Bound
Brook last week and announced that he would tap the state's "Rainy
Day Fund" for $80 million to provide grants for both businesses and
homeowners who had suffered losses from Hurricane Floyd.
But DiFrancesco now says he can't get the legislation passed until
early November and at least some Bound Brook businessmen told reporters
over the weekend that a month would be too late.
"They need to help us now or we're dead," said George
Athanasopoulos, who owns a diner in Bound Brook.
But according to the Gov. Christie Whitman's office, even if
DiFrancesco got his legislation passed this week, the state probably
wouldn't be able to process it any faster because all the need
assessments are done by FEMA.
Whitman has said from the day of the flood that she would use state
funds to provide grants and loans to citizens, but her staff said that
they still have to wait on FEMA because citizens who receive state aid
for disaster relief could be disqualified for federal disaster relief or
have grants or loan eligibility dramatically reduced. That's another
Catch-22.
Whitman wrote President Bill Clinton on Thursday and suggested that
instead of moving forward with his plan to forgive $5.7 billion in debts
to poor countries, he forgive the disaster loans of flood victims.
The White House hardly bothered to respond.
Rep. Marge Roukema, R-Ridgewood, promised to propose legislation that
would allow disaster relief grants of up to $20,000 to go to businesses
as well as homeowners.
But even if Roukema succeeds, there is no way that legislative change
can come in time to help the businesses who need relief now.
Some businesses in the flood epicenter, including Bergen, Somerset,
Mercer, Middlesex and Union counties have posted signs that say,
"no grants, no vote in November."
Predictably, frustrated politicians are pointing fingers.
Assemblymen Peter Biondi, R-Hillsborough and Rep. Bob Smith,
D-Piscataway, say that Assembly Speaker Jack Collins, R-Elmer, should
call a special session to work on disaster relief.
Collins' staffers say he's willing to do that, but insist DiFrancesco
and his co-sponsor, Sen. John Lynch, D-New Brunswick, must pull together
the legislation.
Biondi wants to exempt flood disaster victims from having to pay
sales tax on replacement furniture and appliances that they have to buy,
but the locals also see that as too little and too late.
DiFrancesco's spokeswoman, Rae Hutton, said last week that the
Legislature is not in a position to stand in the back of a truck and
hand out $100 bills.
Unfortunately, that's exactly what many of the flood victims need.
Hurricane Floyd did an estimated $300 million dollars in damage. No
relief is in sight. Friday,
Oct 1, 1999 That's probably not fair. Texas Gov. George W. Bush might not be able to spell potato either if he was put in a high-stress situation. But fairness doesn't matter in politics and Quayle seems finally to have accepted that. What is amazing is that it took him so long to realize what most every American who watches Jay Leno has known for years. Granted, its tough for politicians to get an honest view of how the world sees them. Quayle has been trucking around the country for the past eight years giving speeches to people who wanted to hear him. Hundreds of folks stood in line to shake his hand and told him they would support him. Since everybody Quayle saw seemed to be on his team, he assumed that lots of folks in the country felt the same way. His high name recognition seemed like a real political asset. But name recognition is not a good thing, if people don't like you. Florio is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, despite pleas from folks within his own party that he can't win and should back down. "Where do I send my check?" the woman said. When she walked away, Florio beamed and told me that similar interruptions happened to him all the time. There's no reason to believe that isn't true. Like Quayle, Florio's name recognition is high. But people don't have good memories of the former governor. In some polls, data indicates that New Jerseyans think Gov. Christie Whitman is a better governor than Florio was by an almost two to one margin. And the more New Jersey sees of the new Jim Florio, the more they don't like him. When Florio first announced he was running for the U.S. Senate, most polls showed that he would get about 45 percent of the general election vote. Still, Florio seems to be winning the early Democratic heats because almost 80 percent of New Jerseyans recognize the former governor's name. But ultimately, Florio faces a much tougher challenge than Corzine. It is much easier to tell people who you are than to persuade people that you are something they think you're not. Changing public perception is the hardest challenge politicians are ever faced with and most of the good ones know better than to try. For every success story, like Bill Clinton's return to the State House after being defeated in first re-election as Arkansas' governor, there are a dozen losers who simply can't believe that the public doesn't care about them anymore. Unfortunately, for New Jersey Democrats, Florio failure to face the fact that he is unelectable could do enormous damage to their party. New Jersey voters has almost twice as many Democrats as Republicans and all the momentum on the issues is currently on the Democratic side. Last week's Star Ledger-Eagleton Poll found that almost any Democrat can beat almost any of the Republican candidates being discussed for the U.S. Senate race. But Florio isn't just any Democrat. Rightly or wrongly, he's become a symbol for high taxes and bad political times. His image couldn't be any worse if he'd been the guy who came to Trenton and misspelled potato. It took lots of blows before Quayle realized that it was time to get out of the game. It may take a loss in the U.S. Senate race before Florio faces the fact that, like Quayle, he has become unelectable. |
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WINNERS
AND LOSERS
Copyright©1998 Sherry
Sylvester