For Release:  March 28, 2002    Contact: Assembly Republican Office

Yet another McGreevey appointee fills a high-salary job with an imaginary job title and no job duties

HOW MANY GOLAN CIPELS ARE THERE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION?

Just two days after Governor McGreevey unveiled a budget including no additional state aid for school districts and a massive increase in New Jersey’s Corporate Business Tax, Assembly Republican leaders were shocked to learn from the Star Ledger that yet another political supporter of the Governor is receiving a hefty salary for a job with no defined duties.

Previously it was Golan Cipel, who is earning $110,000 per year to perform unspecified duties for the Governor. Now it is Roger Chugh, who is earning $84,000 per year to serve as ‘First Assistant Secretary of State.’ Problem is, there is no such job title according to the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services.

Additionally, according to the Star Ledger, when asked what Chugh’s job responsibilities are, a Department of State spokesman said, ‘There are no set responsibilities.’ McGreevey had already given the Assistant Secretary of State title and its $90,000 salary to another campaign supporter Lizette Delgado. So apparently he created this new job title to take care of another supporter, Mr. Chugh.

Chugh’s background is also somewhat suspect, as he claims to be the "Chairman of the National Conference of Asian Americans for Political Awareness." According to the Ledger the group has no phone number, and according to the India-Abroad newspaper, no such group exists.

Additionally, the Department of State was unable to produce a resume’ for Chugh. Therefore all we do seem to know for sure about Chugh’s background is what is on his personal website, www.rogerchugh.com.  But we don’t know that having brown eyes, enjoying candle lit dinners, being a die-hard Democrat and having a poodle named Timothy is sufficient information to judge a person’s qualifications for an $84,000 state job.

Governor McGreevey has said that before criticizing his budget, Republicans should present alternative examples of how he can save. Here is one. Perhaps it isn’t necessary to pay people, $80,000, $90,000, or $110,000 to do jobs that never before existed, and currently seem to serve no purpose. Then again we should be careful offering this suggestion. The Governor might decide to pay someone another $100,000 to study this idea.

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For Release:  March 27, 2002    Contact: Assembly Republican Office

WOLFE AND HOLZAPFEL DEMAND ANSWERS FROM SANTIAGO AND McGREEVEY ON FAUX POLICE ACADEMY COURSE

Assemblymen David Wolfe and James Holzapfel today said that troopers with the New Jersey State Police and all New Jersey residents deserve answers regarding the specially created Police Academy class that State Police Superintendent Joseph Santiago reportedly created for himself allowing him to wear the State Police uniform and carry a badge.

According to reports Tuesday on New Jersey 101.5 FM, Santiago was the only member of this specially created course, and never actually attended any classes at the State Police Academy.

AIt is an insult to members of the New Jersey State Police, all of whom went through rigorous training and have met the highest standards of personal conduct and professional qualifications, that Mr. Santiago would participate in a sham class in order to justify his wearing the uniform of the State Police,@ Wolfe, R-Ocean, Monmouth, said. AThis makes a mockery of the hard work that all troopers go through when seeking to become members of the State Police.@

Wolfe said that he was further outraged when Governor McGreevey suggested on his New Jersey 101.5 call-in show Tuesday night, that Santiago was asked to issue a report, with recommendations, to the Governor on his own actions.

AThere are a lot of questions to be answered here, and it is not appropriate for Mr. Santiago to issue a report on his own actions,@ Wolfe said. AI don=t think it is too much to ask that someone other than Mr. Santiago, perhaps someone in the Attorney General=s office, be authorized to look into this matter.@

Holzapfel, R-Ocean, Monmouth, said that someone other than Santiago must be empowered to answer the many questions raised by this situation.

AWe need to know whose idea it was to create this course, what the course entailed, why it was deemed necessary, and whether the Governor himself played a role in this ridiculous episode,@ Holzapfel said.

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For Release:  March 26, 2002    Contact: Assembly Republican Office

MALONE: McGREEVEY BUDGET PROPOSAL LEAVES MANYSERIOUS QUESTIONS
TO BE ANSWERED

Assemblyman Joseph Malone, the Assembly Republican Budget Officer, issued the following statement in response to Governor McGreevey=s FY2003 budget proposal:

AThe Governor proposes capping the New Jersey SAVER program which will totally eliminate property tax relief for some homeowners. He also will delay the implementation of the final phase of the NJSAVER program, at a time he has frozen state aid to school districts. Freezing aid is not holding districts harmless, particularly for those districts that will experience enrollment increases and contractual budget increases. We need to take a look at the very real possibility that these steps will lead to a dramatic property tax increase throughout New Jersey.

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For Release:  March 19, 2002    Contact: Assembly Republican Office

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS STIFLE QUESTIONS ABOUT McGREEVEY PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Assemblyman Sam Thompson said that he was surprised and disappointed that he was not permitted Monday to thoroughly question new Health and Senior Services Commissioner Clifton Lacy regarding the McGreevey administration’s proposal to implement a needle exchange program in New Jersey.

Lacy was brought before the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee yesterday to answer questions on health related issues from legislators, but when Thompson began to question him about McGreevey’s proposal to provide free needles to drug addicts, Committee Chairwoman Loretta Weinberg cut him off after only one question.

"I believe that providing addicts with the tools necessary to facilitate their dependence on illegal substances is a bad idea," Thompson said. "I was surprised and disappointed that the Chairwoman did not allow me the time to thoroughly question Commissioner Lacy on this important issue."

Thompson said he believes that there is widespread public opposition to the needle exchange plan, but that he fears the administration will implement the plan in spite of that opposition.

"Instituting this type of program will only encourage continued drug use among users, it will send a mixed message to our children about the dangers of drug use, and it will not stamp out the spread of disease among needle users," Thompson said. "At the same time, we will be spending money on needles for addicts at a time when we are laying off state workers because of a budget crunch. This makes no sense."

"I think on an issue of this importance, Chairwoman Weinberg should have permitted more than one question of our new Health Commissioner," Thompson said. "The public has a right to know what the administration is planning, and why they are pursuing such a controversial policy initiative over the objections of so many."

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For Release:  March 8, 2002    Contact: Assemblyman Sam Thompson

NURSES NAME THOMPSON >LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR=

The New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) has chosen Assemblyman Samuel D. Thompson, Ph.D., as its 2002 Legislator of the Year.

A member of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee, Thompson will be honored during the organization=s March 18 awards banquet at the Tropicana Casino & Resort Hotel in Atlantic City.

AI=ve spent most of my professional career working in the health field, so I understand the importance of supporting the NJSNA,@ said Thompson, former vice chairman of the Assembly Health Committee. AI=m honored the association selected me for this award and look forward to helping enact more health-related legislation that benefits the citizens of New Jersey.@

In selecting Thompson (R-Monmouth, Middlesex) for the honor, the association lauded the assemblyman=s efforts throughout the years in helping pass improved-patient-care legislation.

Among Thompson=s contributions, the NJSNA noted his sponsorship of and assistance in ushering the Nurse Multistate Licensure Compact Bill through the legislative process. The measure, which was signed into law in January, qualifies licensed nurses from states participating in the compact to practice nursing in any of the other compact states. Previously, nurses were required to obtain individual licenses for each state.

The association also noted Thompson=s Atremendous assistance@ during negotiations between the NJSNA and the New Jersey Medical Society on the issue of allowing nurse practitioners to prescribe certain controlled dangerous substances.

For 22 years, Thompson directed a variety of programs in the New Jersey State Department of Health, last serving as Director of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Service. He also served for 10 years as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, an organization responsible for reviewing and making recommendations relative to health, safety and occupational risks faced by our servicemen and servicewomen stationed throughout the world.

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For Release:  March 8, 2002    Contact: Assembly Republican Office

GREGG SAYS HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUE IS RESOLVED,BUT NOT CONCERNS ABOUT CIPEL SALARY

Assemblman Guy Gregg said Friday that he is pleased that the concerns about the appointment of Golan Cipel to be the Governor=s Special Counsel on Homeland Security have been settled, but that he still has questions about Governor McGreevey=s decision to continue paying Cipel=s $110,000 per year salary.

AI am glad the concerns that we have raised have been addressed and that we now know without any doubt that Kathryn Flicker, a very capable appointee, is in charge of Homeland Security,@ Gregg, R-Sussex, Morris, and Hunterdon said. AIt is critical that we have someone in charge of keeping our citizens safe who will have access to all the information they need to do their job, and whose qualifications are beyond question. We have that in Ms. Flicker.@

AI also want to applaud Golan Cipel for having the foresight to know that he could not adequately perform his duties without a security clearance, and also for convincing the Governor that stepping down from the post was the right thing to do. This has never been a personal issue about Mr. Cipel. I do not know much about him, and it is possible that there are many posts within the state government in which he could do a good job for the Governor.@

AMy concern has always been about whether he had the qualifications, and the necessary security clearance to be the Governor=s top adviser on Homeland Security issues. We now know that those concerns were valid and that this was not the right post for Mr. Cipel.@

AThat said, I am still concerned about the Governor=s decision to keep Mr. Cipel in a $110,000 per year job with unspecified duties. Governor McGreevey does this at a time when he has declared a budget crisis, sent out over 600 layoff notices and is offering to buy out the contracts of other state employees.

AIf Mr.Cipel is qualified for a specific job, in which he can help the Governor, I have no problem with that position being offered to him. But to pay him $110,000 per year, with no defined role, at a time when other workers are being laid off, sounds like an effort to find a patronage job for a close friend and former campaign aide. I don=t think that is appropriate.@

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For Release:  March 5, 2002    Contact: Assembly Republican Office

DiGAETANO SENDS LETTER TO SIRES REQUESTING THAT GOV’S HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER BE INVITED TO TESTIFY

Assembly Republican Leader Paul DiGaetano sent a letter Tuesday to Assembly Speaker Albio Sires requesting that he use his authority as Speaker to invite Governor McGreevey’s new Chief Counsel for Homeland Security to testify before the Assembly Homeland Security & State Preparedness Committee.

DiGaetano had previously sent a letter to the Committee Chair requesting that Golan Cipel be invited to testify at last Thursday’s committee meeting, but the request was not granted. Numerous questions have been raised about Cipel’s background, his qualifications, and his apparent ineligibility to receive federal intelligence information.

In the letter to Sires, DiGaetano writes, "I know that you understand the importance of keeping our citizens safe from terrorism, and you have demonstrated this concern by creating a committee specifically charged to deal with homeland security issues. I also know that as the leader of the General Assembly you respect the authority of the Legislature to exercise oversight over the laws we enact, particularly those related to public safety, such as the Domestic Security Preparedness Act."

"That is why I am writing to you today to ask that as the Speaker, you exercise your authority to have the Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee extend an invitation for Mr. Cipel to appear at its next meeting. Mr. Cipel said in last week’s Star Ledger that he would "love to speak," about his qualifications, but that he "can’t." Let us in the Legislature provide him with the opportunity to speak, and if the administration chooses to forbid him from testifying, let them explain their reasons."

The letter was sent to Sires Tuesday afternoon. The Assembly Homeland Security & State Preparedness Committee is next scheduled to meet on Monday, March 11.

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For Release:  March 1, 2002    Contact: Assembly Republican Office

$110,000 HOMELAND SECURITY JOB NOT >A BIG DEAL= ACCORDING TO CIPEL
ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER DiGAETANO SAYS
>LET GOLAN SPEAK=

Assembly Republican Leader Paul DiGaetano said Friday that he was stunned by comments from the new Special Counsel to the Governor for Homeland Security in today=s press accounts, in which he described the questions surrounding his $110,000 a year job keeping New Jersey citizens safe as not >a big deal.=

AWith all due respect to the man who has been selected to give the Governor personal advice on how to deal with Homeland Security issues, $110,000 is >a big deal=,@ DiGaetano, R-Essex, Passaic, and Bergen, said. AAnd protecting the citizens of this state is a very big deal. In fact it is the highest responsibility of our state government.@

DiGaetano said concerns that Cipel will not have access to federal intelligence information because he has not undergone a background check are very serious and must be addressed.

AThe fact that the Governor=s top adviser on state security issues is someone with whom our intelligence agencies won=t share information because he is a foreign national who has not had a background check, is a serious problem,@ DiGaetano said. AIf he doesn=t have access to this federal intelligence information on threats to our state, how can he provide sound advice to the Governor?@

The Assembly Republican Leader said that in addition to concerns about Cipel=s security clearance, the administration also must clear up the issue of who is our state=s federal contact on homeland security issues. By law it is Kathryn Flicker, but according to a federal website it is Cipel. In an emergency, exactly who does Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge contact?

DiGaetano praised Senator William Gormley=s decision to ask Mr. Cipel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. DiGaetano and Assemblyman Fran Bodine, R-Burlington, had last week requested that the Assembly Democrats invite Cipel to testify at yesterday=s Homeland Security & State Preparedness

Committee Meeting -- a request that was denied.

ASenator Gormley is doing his job in trying to get some answers -- something the Assembly Democrat majority was not willing to do,@ DiGaetano said.

DiGaetano said that in fairness Cipel deserves a chance to speak for himself and that McGreevey should not muzzle his own adviser. In today=s Star Ledger Cipel is quoted as saying, AI would love to speak, but I can=t.@

ALet Golan speak,@ DiGaetano said.

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For Release:  March 1, 2002    Contact: Assembly Republican Office

O’TOOLE SAYS McGREEVEY MAKES POOR CHOICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME COMPENSATION BOARD

Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole said Friday that Governor McGreevey’s selection last month of Jacob Toporek to head the Victims of Crimes Compensation Board was another example of poor judgment from the new administration.

“To appoint someone with a clearly tarnished past to chair this board, replacing someone who is universally respected by victims’ rights advocates, is just one more example of this Governor’s poor judgment when it comes to executive appointments,” O’Toole, R-Essex, Bergen, and Passaic, said.

McGreevey appointed Toporek to be chairman of the board, replacing Richard Pompelio -- the only crime victim who serves on the board. This move has reportedly angered many crime victims’ advocates.

A story in today’s Record of Hackensack details how Toporek had to apologize to the board’s staff at his first meeting for past mistakes, which apparently include a federal sexual harassment lawsuit in which he was accused of taking no action the last time he was the board’s chairman to restrain repeated incidences of sexual harassment in the office.

“I worked with Richard Pompelio on the Domestic Violence Task Force, and I know that he is a class act who is devoted to looking out for the interests of crime victims,” O’Toole said. “To replace him as chairman with someone who sat by and did little if anything to stop abuse in his own office is unacceptable.”

O’Toole said that the Governor should reconsider this decision.

“Crime victims need to know that there is someone who they can trust looking out for their interests,” O’Toole said. “They had that with Richard Pompelio. I don’t think they will have that feeling with Mr. Toporek.”

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April 25, 2002

McGREEVEY: GOT MILK? GOT NEW TAXES!
GOVERNOR KEEPS ON MILKING 
NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS
Governor McGreevey continues to leave no stone unturned in his effort to find new sources of revenue to bolster his $23.6 billion spending proposal – the largest in state history. In this case he is even seeking mooore money from milk drinkers.

The Department of Agriculture budget for Fiscal Year 2003, which is being discussed by the Assembly Budget Committee today, includes a plan to increase fees on New Jersey stores that are licensed to sell milk. This fee increase is mentioned on page D-15 of the Governor’s budget proposal.

In that section of the budget proposal it states that McGreevey is seeking to enact the first milk sale licensing fee increase in almost two decades.

This is udder nonsense. A simple rule of economics is that the more it costs for a business to do business, the more consumers will pay for the product. Thus any increase in the cost of selling milk or dairy products will likely lead to higher costs for consumers.

One can only wonder where Governor McGreevey will stop when it comes to milking New Jersey’s taxpayers.

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April 23, 2002

McCORMAC’S BUDGET TESTIMONY CONTRADICTS McGREEVEY’S HARSH POLITICAL RHETORIC

Assemblyman Kevin J. O’Toole today said he was pleased to hear State Treasurer John McCormac admit New Jersey’s revenue shortfall was the result of a national economic downturn rather than "irresponsible spending" by the previous Legislature -- a charge which has been levied often by Governor McGreevey.

"We have said all along that a downturn in the nation’s economic climate, and the aftershock of September 11th, played a significant role in creating New Jersey’s revenue shortfall," said O’Toole, R-Bergen, Passaic, Essex. " "It was refreshing to hear Treasurer McCormac make these points during his testimony. I also commend Treasurer McCormac for candidly admitting this is the largest budget in state history. Perhaps that is why the Governor has tried to muzzle Mr. McCormac and prevent him from speaking with the media "

O’Toole said McCormac’s testimony, while reiterating the administration’s misguided assessment of the state’s budget problems, did not invoke the same harsh political rhetoric used by the Governor.

"The Governor has repeatedly blamed Republicans for all of the state’s budget problems without ever making reference to uncontrollable events that can impact the state’s revenue stream," O’Toole added. "Treasurer McCormac’s testimony was in some respects a breath of fresh air from the mean-spirited rhetoric and incessant finger-pointing which has become a McGreevey trademark."

In his testimony, McCormac stated: "This is a crisis that extends far beyond New Jersey’s borders. In statehouses across the country, the executive and legislative branches of government are grappling with the common challenge of matching up incoming revenues with outgoing appropriations in the midst of an economic downturn."

"I’m sure Governor McGreevey would stop short of blaming the previous state legislature for causing the national economic downturn and the budget problems in other states," O’Toole said. "Then again, if his pollsters and political advisors tell him it’s a good idea, he might just try to levy those charges too."

O’Toole also pointed out that McCormac failed to identify any of the "irresponsible and wasteful spending" the Governor often referred to in the previous budget.

In referring to projected spending growth in the budget, McCormac said: "This is primarily the result of increased costs of the Saver program and other direct property tax relief, annual increases in state aid to schools and municipalities, increased health benefit costs, contractually mandated salary increases, and increased costs for essential services in state institutions and child protective services."

"So much for wasteful and irresponsible spending by the Republican legislature," O’Toole stated. "The programs we enacted were meant to provide tax relief to residents and essential services to our state’s most vulnerable citizens.

"Once again, if there was so much waste in the previous budget -- a claim repeatedly made by the Governor -- then why is this spending plan $2 billion more than the previous budget? " O’Toole asked. "The Governor’s budget simply does not live up to his rhetoric about cutting spending and making state government live within its means. The numbers just don’t add up."

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April 18, 2002

CHATZIDAKIS CALLS ON McGREEVEY TO PROVIDE FULL ACCOUNTING OF EDUCATION AID SLUSH FUND

Burlington County Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis today said he was shocked to hear the Assembly Budget Committee Chairman announce yesterday that additional state education aid would be made available to a small number of South Jersey school districts hit hardest by property tax hikes.

Chatzidakis said if a special "education aid slush fund" exists, Governor McGreevey should give a full accounting of the fund to the Legislature and make any list of school districts slated to receive additional aid available to the Legislature.

Democrat Assembly Budget Chairman Louis Greenwald made the announcement about additional state education aid to a reporter from a South Jersey newspaper.

"The Legislature has a right to know if a special fund exists and exactly which school districts are on this secret list to receive additional state aid," Chatzidakis said. "The Governor has been complaining about a budget crisis and raising taxes to close a revenue shortfall, but it seems he can find some pots of money laying around when he needs to find some extra cash to calm political anxieties.

"Will all school districts be eligible for this additional aid? Or will the money only be targeted for schools in legislative districts represented by Democrats?" Chatzidakis asked. "The administration’s decision not to use updated enrollment figures in determining state aid is causing financial hardship in many school districts across the state.

"The Governor should let us know the amount of money that will be available and what criteria will be used in awarding additional state aid," Chatzidakis said. "The Governor continues to craft this budget in a cloak of secrecy. It’s time for him to step up and come clean with the Legislature and the taxpayers."

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April 18, 2002

MALONE URGES McGREEVEY AND DEMS TO SING SAME TUNE ON ALLEGED DEMISE OF SOUTH JERSEY TAX PLAN

Assembly Republican Budget Officer Joseph R. Malone today accused Governor McGreevey and Democrat legislators of engaging in a deliberate game of political double speak regarding the administration’s proposal to hike income taxes on South Jersey commuters.

Malone said during yesterday’s budget hearing in Camden Democrats were telling South Jersey residents that the Governor’s plan to end a reciprocal tax agreement with Pennsylvania was a dead issue. The Governor’s proposal to end the agreement would result in significantly higher income tax rates for South Jersey residents working in Pennsylvania.

"Democrat legislators are crowing that the plan is dead while the Governor is on the radio indicating that the proposed South Jersey tax plan is still very much on the table," said Malone, R-Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, Mercer. "Perhaps the line of communication between the McGreevey Administration and Democrat legislators has garbled the message, but it is clear not everyone is on the same page.

"If the plan is indeed dead as my Democrat colleagues claim, then they should hand a mallet and a stake to the Governor so he can officially kill the plan once and for all before it rises again during the budget process," Malone added. "The Governor’s budget proposal continues to remain a mystery. Nobody seems to know what is in the budget and what is not. We need to start getting some solid answers."

Malone said McGreevey should immediately shelve the South Jersey income tax proposal to put taxpayers’ minds at rest.

"This proposal will hit working-class families the hardest," Malone stated. "It was a bad idea from the very beginning, but I won’t believe it is actually dead until Governor McGreevey and the Democrats stand together and kill it once and for all."

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April 16, 2002

MALONE TELLS McGREEVEY TO COME CLEAN ON STATE BUDGET PROPOSAL

--Urges Governor to Provide Legislature with Details on Spending Plan --

Assembly Republican Budget Officer Joseph R. Malone today called on Governor McGreevey to start providing the Legislature and the public with more details about his proposed state budget, especially on some of the new tax initiatives included in the spending plan.

"It seems every other day the media is reporting about possible changes to the Corporate Business tax proposal, or the reciprocal income tax agreement with Pennsylvania," said Malone, R-Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, Mercer. "It’s nice that the administration officials are sharing information with the media, but isn’t it time they started sharing information with the legislative budget committees and the taxpayers?

"I understand members of the administration can’t speak publicly, or on the record with the media, so I am asking the disseminator of all information, the Governor himself, to provide the Legislature with some details," Malone added. "The Senate and Assembly budget committees are holding a third public hearing tomorrow on the proposed budget, yet we keep hearing it is still a ‘work in progress’. This budget is like an airplane being built in flight. We need to start seeing some concrete budget proposals coming from the Governor.

"I hope the Governor starts sharing information about the budget with both Democrat and Republican members of the Assembly budget committee," Malone continued. "The entire process has been cloak and dagger up until this point. I’m hoping we see a more open process in the near future."

Malone said he believes the administration’s efforts to increase revenues to satisfy a proposed $2 billion spending increase in the budget have been stymied by opposition from the public.

"It’s clear the Governor is trying to grab revenues from every source possible in an attempt to pay for the additional $2 billion of spending in his budget," Malone said. "But whenever the Governor reaches out his hand to take more money from New Jersey citizens and businesses, they are fighting back.

"As a result, the Governor finds himself backpedaling on most of his tax proposals," Malone stated. "The bottom line is that the Governor is trying to find the right proposal that will grab the most money from the general public and receive the least opposition. I suspect he will keep trying until his political advisers tell him he found the right one."

Malone also criticized McGreevey for "crying wolf’" on the severity of the state’s revenue shortfall.

"If the state was indeed in dire financial condition, how does the Governor justify a $2 billion spending increase in his budget?" Malone asked. "Either the state’s revenue problem was far less severe than the Governor led us to believe, or his administration has manipulated the budget numbers. Only time will tell what is fact and what is fiction in this budget."

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April 15, 2002

AH, TAX DAY IN NEW JERSEY: NO BETTER TIME TO RECONSIDER BLOSSOMING NEW FRIENDSHIPS

As many New Jersey residents file their 2001 income taxes today, they should be aware that, thanks to a new best friend, when they repeat this annual ritual next year, the state tax picture may be dramatically changed – for the worse.

As he campaigned for Governor last year, with a stated commitment to providing tax relief to New Jersey residents, Jim McGreevey told taxpayers he would be their ‘new best friend.’ Well, just as a reminder, here is a list of ways that New Jerseyans will be paying more taxes in future years thanks to their new best friend, Governor McGreevey:

Because our new best friend thinks recent state budgets have become bloated by the large increase in state aid, he has decided to freeze school and municipal aid. This means municipal and school district officials across the entire state have been forced to present local budgets containing significant property tax increases and service cuts.

Because our new best friend believes everyone should pay their fair share, he has decided to charge rural towns that receive State Police protection for that service. This means residents in those towns – who often utilize fewer state services than people living in more populated towns and cities – will likely have to pay millions more in local property taxes.

Because our new best friend thinks those big, unfriendly businesses aren’t paying enough in taxes, he has decided to increase state business taxes by close to $1 billion. Unfortunately it appears this new tax may hit small businesses just as hard as larger corporations. The most likely result of this massive business tax increase is that many businesses may choose to either leave the state – taking the jobs of many of our family and friends with them – or to stay here, while cutting their workforce and passing on higher costs to consumers.

And because our new best friend thinks Pennsylvanians who work here aren’t contributing their fair share, he has proposed a plan to end the reciprocal tax pact with Pennsylvania. This means that more than 100,000 New Jersey residents, most – but not all – of whom live in South Jersey, will have to pay higher income taxes next year.

So while we appreciate our new best friend’s statement on March 26 that he was balancing the budget without increasing sales or income taxes, forgive us if we are starting to have some second thoughts about this new friendship.

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April 2, 2002

QUESTIONS ABOUT CHUGH DAMAGING
ADMINISTRATION’S CREDIBILITY

JUNGLE BRINGS HIM HARMONY, NEWLY CREATED POST BRINGS HIM $84,000

With new questions this morning as to whether Roger Chugh put out a fake press release on the Governor’s letterhead, containing misleading information about his job duties – or lack thereof – Assembly Republican leaders expressed concerns about the latest high-salary/no-specified duties post within the McGreevey administration.

A story running this morning on www.rediff.com, claims that on January 17 members of the Indian media received a press release on Governor’s Office stationary announcing Chugh’s appointment as ‘Assistant Secretary of State.’ Chugh does not hold that title, and apparently McGreevey administration officials were attempting Monday to obtain a copy of that release – which is not posted on Governor McGreevey’s own press release web page.

Chugh’s own website, www.rogerchugh.com, claimed he was the First Assistant Secretary of State – a position that does not exist. That website, which also pointed out interesting facts about Chugh, such as that ‘the jungle brings (him) harmony,’ has since been taken down.

There are also reports that Chugh told members of the Indian press that he would be able to offer Indian states the use of New Jersey’s "technology transfer, pollution control expertise and garbage management."

"It is disturbing enough that Mr. Chugh is getting paid $84,000 per year for a job that a State Department spokesman has said has no set responsibilities," Assembly Republican Leader Paul DiGaetano said. "Now we find out that he may be sending out misleading information, on the Governor’s letterhead, without the Governor’s knowledge."

"Even if the Governor was aware, we would have to question why he didn’t send this press release to members of the New Jersey press corps – unless he was concerned about raising questions about the creation of another high-paying position for a political supporter.

"I also would like to know exactly what technology transfer information Mr. Chugh is offering to Indian states, whether he has the authority to do this, and whether this was done at the Governor’s direction. Certainly this is a policy about which the Legislature and the public should be informed."

"If Governor McGreevey has authorized such a policy, we would like to question Mr. Chugh about it at the April budget hearings on the Office of the Secretary of State. If not, Governor McGreevey needs to take a hard look at what is going on in his administration."

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March 28, 2002

YET ANOTHER McGREEVEY APPOINTEE FILLS A HIGH-SALARY JOB WITH AN IMAGINARY JOB TITLE AND NO JOB DUTIES

HOW MANY GOLAN CIPELS ARE THERE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION?

Just two days after Governor McGreevey unveiled a budget including no additional state aid for school districts and a massive increase in New Jersey’s Corporate Business Tax, Assembly Republican leaders were shocked to learn from the Star Ledger that yet another political supporter of the Governor is receiving a hefty salary for a job with no defined duties.

Previously it was Golan Cipel, who is earning $110,000 per year to perform unspecified duties for the Governor. Now it is Roger Chugh, who is earning $84,000 per year to serve as ‘First Assistant Secretary of State.’ Problem is, there is no such job title according to the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services.

Additionally, according to the Star Ledger, when asked what Chugh’s job responsibilities are, a Department of State spokesman said, ‘There are no set responsibilities.’ McGreevey had already given the Assistant Secretary of State title and its $90,000 salary to another campaign supporter Lizette Delgado. So apparently he created this new job title to take care of another supporter, Mr. Chugh.

Chugh’s background is also somewhat suspect, as he claims to be the "Chairman of the National Conference of Asian Americans for Political Awareness." According to the Ledger the group has no phone number, and according to the India-Abroad newspaper, no such group exists.

Additionally, the Department of State was unable to produce a resume’ for Chugh. Therefore all we do seem to know for sure about Chugh’s background is what is on his personal website, www.rogerchugh.com.  But we don’t know that having brown eyes, enjoying candle lit dinners, being a die-hard Democrat and having a poodle named Timothy is sufficient information to judge a person’s qualifications for an $84,000 state job.

Governor McGreevey has said that before criticizing his budget, Republicans should present alternative examples of how he can save. Here is one. Perhaps it isn’t necessary to pay people, $80,000, $90,000, or $110,000 to do jobs that never before existed, and currently seem to serve no purpose. Then again we should be careful offering this suggestion. The Governor might decide to pay someone another $100,000 to study this idea.

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March 27, 2002

WOLFE AND HOLZAPFEL DEMAND ANSWERS FROM SANTIAGO AND McGREEVEY ON FAUX POLICE ACADEMY COURSE

Assemblymen David Wolfe and James Holzapfel today said that troopers with the New Jersey State Police and all New Jersey residents deserve answers regarding the specially created Police Academy class that State Police Superintendent Joseph Santiago reportedly created for himself allowing him to wear the State Police uniform and carry a badge.

According to reports Tuesday on New Jersey 101.5 FM, Santiago was the only member of this specially created course, and never actually attended any classes at the State Police Academy.

"It is an insult to members of the New Jersey State Police, all of whom went through rigorous training and have met the highest standards of personal conduct and professional qualifications, that Mr. Santiago would participate in a sham class in order to justify his wearing the uniform of the State Police," Wolfe, R-Ocean, Monmouth, said. "This makes a mockery of the hard work that all troopers go through when seeking to become members of the State Police."

Wolfe said that he was further outraged when Governor McGreevey suggested on his New Jersey 101.5 call-in show Tuesday night, that Santiago was asked to issue a report, with recommendations, to the Governor on his own actions.

"There are a lot of questions to be answered here, and it is not appropriate for Mr. Santiago to issue a report on his own actions," Wolfe said. "I don't think it is too much to ask that someone other than Mr. Santiago, perhaps someone in the Attorney General=s office, be authorized to look into this matter."

Holzapfel, R-Ocean, Monmouth, said that someone other than Santiago must be empowered to answer the many questions raised by this situation.

"We need to know whose idea it was to create this course, what the course entailed, why it was deemed necessary, and whether the Governor himself played a role in this ridiculous episode," Holzapfel said.

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