Legislation For The Good Of The People (not special interests)

This month Governor Christie signed a bill that allows a person to call 911, if they or someone else is sick from a drug overdose, without the fear of being arrested for drug use. The 'Good Samaritan' bill was lauded by both Democrats and Republicans as a life saving measure that would help prevent many senseless drug related deaths every year.

When the the bill was voted on in the Senate on August 20th of 2012, Senator Singer voted no. Yet in June of 2012 when a Democratic sponsored bill came before the Senate for a needle exchange program for IV drug users, our staunch 'Republican' Senator voted YES!Why would an anti drug Republican vote for a needle exchange program? The Bill (S2001)  Appropriates $95,000 from the general state fund to the Department of Health and Senior Services for the implementation of the sterile syringe access program. Now it all makes sense. Senator Singer sits on the Ocean County Board of Health which operates Ocean Health Initiatives. He can always use an extra $95,00 dollars.

This is just one small example of a Legislative history influenced by special , or self, interests. A 20 year career based on the needs of a few people at the expense of the real needs of everyone.

Here are but a few greatest legislative hits of Bob Singer and the reasons behind them.

A bill to authorize registered voters to automatically receive mail in ballots- Singer voted no since his longevity in office is assured by the busy working class family that never finds the time to vote him out of office. He relies on the senior communities that he is able to convince to go out and vote for him by telling them whatever they want to hear.

Reduce Property tax levy cap-Senator Singer voted NO to reduce the tax levy cap from 4% to 2% against the proposal of Governor Christie. He revealed that he was not willing to do everything possible to put an end to a regressive tax that is hurting homeowners, as long as he needs funds for his pet projects.

Legislation co-sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-30) that would allow two facilities that provide long-term care to individuals with Huntington’s Disease to expand to forty beds each. While this bill may be a benefit for people going through a debilitating disease, the fact that the owner of the facility in question is a major donor to Singer's campaign, puts the entire bill into question.

In 2009 New Jersey passed a law to allow Towns to lift the restriction on Age-Restricted developmnents. Bob Singer was integral in getting the bill passed to allow a large senior development in Lakewood to be redeveloped as regular housing. The fact that the owner of the development donates the maximum allowed by law to Singer's didn't help make a development that should have been a tax benefit, into a loss,  any easier to swallow.

Of course these are only examples of his legislative duties being influenced by his business dealings. We haven't yet discussed the  numerous giveaways he is responsible for that have guaranteed him votes to stay in office the last twenty years.

We need a Senator whose sole focus is to improve his district. Whether it is through a fair tax system to provide our children a good education while helping struggling homeowners, or sensible plans to bring jobs and growth to our region without our government intruding on our personal freedoms. We can no longer afford a Senator whose main focus is his own personal gain.

Tuesday June 4th, help me accomplish OUR goals by voting Column C

Harold Herskowitz

Republican Primary Candidate