We are committed to keeping New Jersey's gun safety legislation in place and in looking for opportunities to assist law enforcement and the people of New Jersey take steps to make gun ownership safer, and less likely to result in tragic accident or misuse of firearms. In the first instance we are proud that New Jersey already has strong gun safety laws in place and functioning day to day. We encourage and support enhanced gun safety programs around the issue of storing and handling guns in the home. These are the cases, along with domestic violence, where momentary lapses of judgment can lead to tragic results. The benefits to New Jersey must be preserved by turning back proposals to weaken individual state laws by mandating "reciprocity" in gun regulations across states. If this were to pass, visitors to the state of New Jersey would be subject to permit and carry regulation equal to that of the state they come from.
Fiscal Responsibility and the State Budget
Many State Senators, Assemblymen and Assemblywomen like to portray themselves as fiscal conservatives and strong guardians of the public purse. However, their actions do not support those claims. In 2010 when Chris Christie was only a month or two in office, he canceled the ARC Tunnel a new rail tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan. The ARC Tunnel would have more than doubled the capacity of New Jersey Transit and Amtrak to send trains into Manhattan. Both New Jersey Transit and Amtrak were using their full capacity, and New Jersey Transit was using a number of stop gap measures to keep close to satisfying its ridership demands.
In canceling the project Chris Christie took on an obligation to pay the Federal Government back $600 million for work already done. However, he was able to redirect part of the Port Authority's contribution to the tunnel to other bridge and tunnel projects in Hudson County, thereby avoiding bankrupting the Transportation Trust Fund for another 6 years. The New Jersey legislature went along with him in thereby trading the region's future for a quick fix.
These examples are emblematic of how, under the guise of fiscal responsibility, the future of the state is being squandered. The current legislature barely raises a hand to question the budget process and what constitutes sound planning.
Women's Rights
A long time has passed since Lisa Bhimani canvased in the Denver area for the Equal Rights Amendment with her mom. The ERA was not adopted but the struggle for equal rights and access seems more like it began there, rather than ended there. Since then tremendous progress has been made. Many have read in the chronicles of Gail Collins (When Everything Changed) and others of the discrimination women faced in the workplace, in the market place (no credit cards or mortgages without a cosigning husband or father), in the doctor's office and in their churches, among many others places and settings. Much has changed. A woman can in large measure make her way in the world, have and raise children, and live her life according to her own lights and preferences.
There remain areas in which women continue to struggle against discrimination. There are "glass ceilings" in many domains. A number of professional and academic disciplines remain largely male enclaves. Most flagrant perhaps is the continued resistance to equal pay for equal work.
Healthcare
Of concern in this political climate is access to family planning at clinics like Planned Parenthood. These clinics offer women wellness exams, cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and access to birth control. In 2010, Governor Christie cut funding to family planning service providers like Planned Parenthood by $7.45 million, causing 6 centers to close, and others to decrease their hours of operation. The Republicans in Washington have consistently threatened to cut all federal funding to Planned Parenthood. Centers like Planned Parenthood rely on federal funding for half of their budget.
As pro-choice candidates, Lisa, Tom and Richard support all the services that Planned Parenthood offers, but wish to point out that federal and state funding go only to the 97% of non-abortion related care that Planned Parenthood provides (see graph below.) This is essential care for low-wage earners and the underserved population.
