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Development Bill is Fatally Flawed

May. 20 Big Government, Big Labor, Prevailing Wage, State Assembly no comments

Don’t Be Fooled, Folks: Expanding the Prevailing Wage is Always a Bad Idea for New Jerseyans

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Organized Labor

The so-called “New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013″ is supposed to receive a General Assembly floor vote on Monday, Save Jerseyans.

A3680 was originally designed with the stated goal of streamlining New Jersey’s numerous business incentive programs, specifically, by having the Economic Development Authority (EDA) administer both the “Grow New Jersey Assistance Program” and the “Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program.”

Expanding business incentives. Eliminating red tape. Making government more efficient. What’s not to like for a conservative, right? The bill has attracted a number of Republican sponsors/co-sponsors. But as is often the case with Trenton, the devil is truly in the details. Check out this excerpt from the reprint:

CONTINUE READING….

Byrne to Buono: Consider Dropping

May. 19 Barbara Buono, Election 2013, Uncategorized 4 comments

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Brendan ByrneFormer Governors Tom Kean (R) and   Brendan Byrne (D) held a teleconference with The Star-Ledger on Wednesday, Save Jerseyans, and the Democrat offered unsolicited advice to Barbara Buono that’s sure to send shockwaves through his party’s ranks:

Q: Sen. Barbara Buono is having trouble raising enough money to qualify for matching funds. Could this bode ill for other Democrats, as well?

GOV. BYRNE: Buono is way behind. I was way behind in 1977 and I was thinking, if it gets worse, I’m going to withdraw. It didn’t get worse. As a matter fact, it got better. But at one point I thought of dropping out in favor of a better-positioned candidate. I don’t know whether that consideration would appeal to Buono, but I would advise she make that evaluation.

They’re all thinking it! Governor Byrne’s just in a position to say it, although to be fair, Byrne  has been claiming for months that Christie is unbeatable.

Governor Kean, for his part, responded by noting that Byrne was “a good candidate and “she’s not,” but also how Buono “stepped forward and now the party is living with the consequences of that.”

He’s 100% right of course. An early departure by Buono wouldn’t help her party because a top tier candidate like Cory Booker won’t get in the race barring a massive Christie slip up or scandal. Still, it’s amazing to see how panicked Democrats have become, almost half-a-year from Election 2013, thanks to Buono’s inability to inspire confidence in (or even basic affection for) her nearly-lost cause.

It’s some real wild and wacky stuff as the great Johnny Carson used to say!

Save Jersey’s Point Pleasant Stroll

May. 18 Jersey Shore, Ocean County 3 comments

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Point Pleasant Beach BoardwalkWell, Save Jerseyans, we had a great time at the NJYRF Convention today at beautiful Point Pleasant Beach. You missed out if you slept in! The skies were gray but spirits were high as enthused 20- and 30-something New Jersey Republicans looked forward to a productive general campaign season over the coming months.

We couldn’t leave town before checking out the Jersey Shore resort’s new $2 million boardwalk (a low estimate, as it turned out), so Brian McGovern, Kristen Luciani, Nicole Sanders and I took a stroll on the boards and ordered up some satisfactorily greasy Shore food.

All in all the progress since October ’12 is pretty remarkable, though there are naturally still many visible signs of Sandy damage everywhere you turn. Small public works and contractor crews can be seen busily tinkering up and down the boardwalk in an attempt to complete ramps, repair storefronts and wire lights before Memorial Day Weekend arrives.

It’s a damn shame the Trenton Dems are playing politics with it! Nothing is sacred to those people, but from what we could tell, the Jersey Shore is definitely “open for business” in spite of the partisan ridiculousness and our beach communities seem ready to accomodate an influx of visitors (and their tourist dollars) in six days’ time. Hallelujah! Just don’t expect the exact same Jersey Shore that your knew growing up; for example, the new Point Pleasant boardwalk utilizes different, stronger materials. Think of it as a metaphor for the entire post-Sandy experience.

Fear and Loathing in Dem Land

May. 18 Chris Christie, Election 2013 3 comments

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

I said it the other day, Save Jerseyans: 2013 is shaping up to be a weird cycle.

In some ways it’s been unbelievably satisfying in the early going. If you had told me in early 2009 that Democrat mayors would be tripping over themselves to endorse a pro-life, pro-business, pro-tax cut Republican governor only four short years later, I might’ve accused you of harboring admirably but unrealistic expectations. Go figure.

The latest Dem to abandon ship is Mayor Jim Fazzone (D-Burlington City); he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Chris Christie on Friday in a municipality of just under 10,000 where President Obama garnered 72.49% of the vote in 2012 and Jon Corzine managed 60.43% just three years prior:

Down-ballot Democrat nerves are a bit frayed for good reason. Barbara Buono is heading into Memorial Day Weekend with a severely fractured party despite having had no significant primary competition. Meanwhile, we found out this week that Governor Christie raised more money in California than Barbara Buono has raised everywhere combined. The last major public poll showed Governor Christie winning 30% of N.J. Democrats and 64% of N.J. independents.

It might already be too late unless she has some incredible, game-changing opposition research up her sleeve (e.g. we discover that Governor Christie’s lap band was born in Kenya, or that his fleece has a felony record). Not because it isn’t possible to catch up in six months. It is. I just don’t see any signs that her campaign is capable of doing anything that could reverse Chris Christie’s fearsome momentum or get key Democrat local leaders to change their minds, fall in line and risk angering the likely victor.

NJGOP, Luna Part Ways

May. 17 Election 2013, Republican Party 18 comments

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Luna Gov & RooneySave Jersey has learned that Frank Luna, veteran NJ Republican operative is no longer on staff at the New Jersey Republican State Committee.

More than one source, speaking on a condition of anonymity  cited a number of reasons behind the apparent shake up including personality conflicts, strategic differences and a push to bring in out-of-state staff. But this isn’t a gossip column, Save Jerseyans, so here’s hoping you’ll indulge me for a moment as I simply endeavor honor this guy’s extensive service to our cause. He deserves it.

Luna (who is pictured on the right  of this post with Governor Christie and yours truly on Election Night in 2009) was a key member of the Governor’s first gubernatorial campaign. Years before, Frank was credited with revitalizing the College Republicans in 2006 before cutting his teeth in New Jersey politics as the Political Director for Ocean County GOP. I personally spent many October nights eating cold pizza in beat-up motels, rented cabs and assorted campaign headquarters with Frank over the past several years when the state party had reached its nadir and statewide victories were a distant memory.

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A Job is “Greatest Social Program”

May. 17 Chris Christie, Economics, Unemployment 4 comments

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

I’m sometimes critical of the Trenton GOP because I want them to succeed, Save Jerseyans. So when its members and affiliates do a lousy job of articulating a winning contrast for one reason or another, you can count on Save Jersey bloggers to speak up.

The worst part is that I know they’re capable of it! Obviously there are few better communicators in modern American politics than Chris Christie, and when he’s disposed to fighting for a particular conservative principle, he reaches a level of impressive yet easily digestible eloquence that few other GOP’ers are able to replicate.

One such example transpired at yesterday’s Sayreville town hall:

By way of background, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Thursday that New Jersey’s unemployment rate fell by 0.3% to 8.7% in April driven by the addition of 4,100 private sector jobs.

A transcript of this video is below the fold…

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Update: Guadagno and Discount!

May. 17 Jersey Shore, Kim Guadagno, Ocean County, Republican Party, Save Jersey, Social Media, Young Republican 4 comments

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Kim Guadagno in WildwoodHere’s some more good news for you ahead of this Saturday’s NJYRF convention in Point Pleasant, Save Jerseyans:

(1) Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno has been confirmed as the keynote speaker!

(2) Save Jersey readers can save $20 on admission by using the code “save” when registering online!

What are you still waiting for? Don’t miss the Lt. Governor, our Save Jersey social media panel, and all of the other great convention activities.

Click here for convention registration and agenda information; you can also click here to RSVP via Facebook and find out who else is going, too.

We’ll see you tomorrow morning!

How Real Leaders React

May. 17 American History, Barack Obama, Corruption 3 comments

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

There’s been a lot of finger pointing, feigned outrage and umbrella delegating at the White House this week, Save Jerseyans. What we haven’t heard? Someone stepping up and taking responsibility. Truman said “the buck stops here.” 1600 Pennsylvania’s current occupant doesn’t seem to agree.

In case you’ve forgotten, Save Jerseyans, here’s what real leadership looks like: