Contract With N.J. - 10 Ways To Make N.J. # 1

---

NEW JERSEY / CONTRACT WITH NEW JERSEY -- 10 WAYS TO MAKE N.J. # 1

---

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD
New Jersey's 1st Official Electronic Newspaper

In 1994, Congressman Newt Gingrich created the now historic “Contract With America.” It contained 10 points to strengthen America’s economy, culture and our sacred Constitution -- the “Rule of Law.”

Now there is the “Contract with New Jersey.” The author is Paul Mulshine of Bay Head, Ocean County. Mulshine writes a politically independent column for The Star-Ledger.

Next time you vote in New Jersey, vote for the candidate who adopts the “Contract with New Jersey.”

GORDON BISHOP
ON THE ISSUES

10 WAYS TO MAKE NEW JERSEY NUMBER 1

~ By Gordon Bishop
Syndicated Columnist
June 13, 2002

America’s Republican Revolution of the 1990s was led by Congressman Newt Gingrich.

Remember Newt? He was the powerful Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives after the 1994 congressional elections.

Newt created the now historic “Contract With America.” It contained 10 points to strengthen America’s economy, culture and our sacred Constitution -- the “Rule of Law.”

The “Contract” worked. President Clinton adopted most of the 10 points of the “Contract With America” to get re-elected in 1996.

Yes, Newt Gingrich was a political genius, right up there with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Ben Franklin, the bright stars of the American Revolution -- the birth of our nation.

Now, 226 years later, there is the “Contract with New Jersey.” The author is Paul Mulshine of Bay Head, Ocean County. Mulshine writes a politically independent column for The Star-Ledger, where I worked for more than 26 years as a columnist/investigative reporter. Mulshine is the only reason to read the liberal-socialist Star-Ledger these days.

I fully support Paul Mulshines 10 points in his “Contract with New Jersey.” Here they are:

• 1. The State will keep the original promise to use the income tax to offset local property taxes. Every town will have at least 50 percent of its school costs paid by the State.

• 2. The 30 Abbott (Supreme Court) school districts (mostly cities) will be required to file plans to wean themselves off State welfare within 10 years. Those that wish to keep pre-school will have to fund it themselves.

• 3. The roads will be improved to meet the volume of traffic. Any increase in the gas tax will be dedicated entirely to highway improvements.

• 4. The State will stop imposing its will on the towns. The Mount Laurel ruling on affordable housing will be repealed by referendum, and zoning power will be restored to municipalities.

• 5. State legislators will vote their consciences. Any order by the State Supreme Court that requires a legislator to vote for a certain measure will be ignored.

• 6. Any State Supreme Court justice who infringes on the legislative power will be impeached.

• 7. The State government will serve the people who pay for it, not the people who work for it. Republicans will refuse contributions from public employee unions. All services will be paid for at the lowest price possible in a free market.

• 8. No lawyer in the Legislature can work for a law firm that does legal work for any other level of government.

• 9. The right to referendum will be expanded. Citizens will be able to petition for a referendum on any matter. No long-term bonds will be sold without a referendum.

• 10. No person living in any one municipality should be forced to subsidize through the income tax any other municipality that has more elaborate services or higher salaries for municipal officials.

As in Newt Gingrich’s famous Contract with America, there is no social component in the “Contract with New Jersey.” It is all pro-taxpayer and pro-voter.

Socially, New Jersey has become so politicized by one issue -- abortion -- that it now defines today’s elections, whether you’re a “liberal” or “conservative.” (Mulshine is conservative.)

Abortion is not in the “Contract with New Jersey” because abortion is an issue which State officials can do little or nothing about. Abortion is a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Next time you vote in New Jersey, vote for the candidate who adopts the “Contract with New Jersey.”

Gordon Bishop
Eatontown, NJ

Gordon Bishop, a national award-winning author, historian and syndicated columnist, is New Jersey’s first “Journalist-of-the-Year” - 1986 / New Jersey Press Association.

Copyright © 1996- 2004 - Allan Dean - All Rights Reserved
Atlantic Highlands Herald - 25 Second Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 - (732) 872-1957

Send A Link For This Article To A Friend Send an e-mail message with a link to this article to anyone/everyone in your address book. Click on e-mail [envelope] icon, below

---