WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) joined on Tuesday a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the “Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 200 8,” legislation that would provide for equity in the coverage of mental health and substance use disorders compared to medical and surgical disorders.

The bill would affect the 1 87 million Americans who curren tly have insurance coverage under non-self-insured plans. The bill would help prevent the lack of treatment by bringing down the two primary reasons Americans did not seek mental health services.

According to a 2004 survey by the American Psychological As sociation, Americans say that lack of insurance and cost are the leading factors for not seeking mental health services. The bill will no w go to the Senate for its approval and then to the President for his signature.

“ This is a landmark day. Today , the millions of Americans who suffer from mental illness finally are about to receive full access to the treatment they need and deserve with out higher co-pays or treatment limits,” Holt said. “Millions of Americans suffer from mental illness of some form, conditions that disrupt a person ’ s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Mental illnesses strain families and can contribute to lost productivity, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, or suicide. Few Americans are untouched by it. No one is immune.”

According to the World Hea lth Organization (WHO) , mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals ages 15-44. One in every five Americans will experience a mental illness. Yet of the million s of Americans who suffer from a mental health diso rder, only one-third receive treatment.

The WHO estimates that costs related to untreated mental illness are $147 billion each year in the United States. An analysis of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act indicates it would result in an increase of less than one percent in premiums and would reduce out-of-pocket costs by 18 percent. Further, a recent article in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) indicates that employers who actively encourage their employees to use men tal health services actually experienced an increase in hours worked and productivity gains.

Last November, H olt h eld a roundtable on mental health and this legislation with local and national mental health advocates at Carrier Clinic in Belle Meade, New Jersey. Participants addressed the economic and so cial costs associated with mental health and ways to better meet the needs of the population.

“I am pleased that this bill protects states, like New Jersey, who go above and beyond the coverage requirements that this legislation establishes. New Jersey is a leader in mental health parity . Today we should honor the hard work of mental health profes sionals, social workers, a ffected families, and others who tirelessly fought to make Sen. Wellstone’s dream a reality for all,” Holt said.

A summary of the legislation can be found here .

“Voter registration” is a pretty dry phrase, and it may seem like a small thing. Fill out a form, mail it in, and you’re done. Nothing to get excited about.

But registering to vote means the difference between helping to change the world or letting the opportunity pass you by. It’s the difference between having a voice or watching silently as others make decisions that affect your life and your future.

In other words, it’s incredibly important. And, while you may think you don’t have to worry about voting until November 4th, in many states, voter deadlines are coming up very soon. So in these final weeks before deadlines hit across the country, our campaign is focused on getting folks registered and ready to make their voices heard now. And we’re launching a new tool to make it easy to register too, which I hope you’ll check out.

Our campaign has set up a website: http://www.voteforchange.com/. Go there now to check if you’re already registered to vote. If you’re not, http://www.voteforchange.com/ will help you register, or arrange an absentee ballot or figure out where to go on Election Day.

Here’s where you come in. No matter who you’re supporting in this election, check out the site, register to vote, and tell your friends about the site too. Right now, hundreds of thousands of young people across the country aren’t registered to vote. And registration deadlines are coming up in many states. So if you’re reading this, young unregistered folks, heads up! If you don’t act soon, you’ll miss your chance to have a say in this historic election.

Today, I’m in Madison, Wisconsin, and talking with reporters from college newspapers all over the country to encourage them to report back to their schools about the importance of voter registration on their campuses. I’m going to share with them the points that I think every young person should consider in the final weeks of the campaign.

Young people have been profoundly affected by the consequences of the past eight years. The war in Iraq has, in many ways, been fought by your peers. Of all the soldiers who have been wounded or killed in Iraq, their average age is just 21.

The economy has also taken its toll. Today, the average college graduate has almost $22,000 in student loans. We’re dealing with record unemployment rates, and the bad news on the economy just keeps increasing… so it’s harder and harder for recent graduates to find jobs that pay a good wage.

And then there are all the long-term challenges that the next generation (and their children’s generation) will face, unless we get ahead of them now. Challenges like developing renewable sources of energy, and rebuilding our schools, restoring the middle class, and making health care available to all Americans. If we don’t make progress on these issues soon, they’ll only get worse—and it’s the young people in this country who will shoulder the burden.

The next president will also have great influence over global crises. Whoever we elect in November will have an enormous opportunity to influence the future of places like Darfur and Iraq… places torn apart by violence, where American leadership could mean the difference between a future of war or peace.

And the next president will have the power to take us to the next level in the fight against global warming. The world has waited for years for America to lead on this issue. But we’ve delayed action… and our planet and neighbors around the world have suffered the consequences. The next president can lead us in a different direction.

There are serious stakes in this election. We all need to make our voices heard – and we especially need you.

As you might have guessed, I’ve already made my choice for President. But no matter who you vote for on November 4th, make sure you vote. And then tell your friends, classmates, and families to register as well. Visit the Website (http://www.voteforchange.com/) and show them how easy it is.

For the past 19 months, Barack and I have traveled to every corner of this country. We have been so encouraged by the young people we’ve met… the bright, curious, creative, and passionate young men and women who have an enormous capacity for hard work and a deep belief that a better world is possible.

We would never have come as far as we have in this campaign without students and young voters. You made this campaign a true movement for change.

Now, let’s all vote on Election Day… and bring the change we need to the country we love.

TRENTON – Assembly Democrats today issued the following multimedia package as the Assembly Labor Committee took testimony on the effects of the financial crisis on New Jersey’s economy and its citizens.

The multimedia package consists of a video from the hearing, audio of same and a transcript of comments by Assembly Democratic lawmakers.

The video can be accessed directly via our Web site – www.assemblydems.com – or by pasting the following link into a Web browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYE4aZc0cRw.
The audio file has been included in the e-mail as an attachment.

A transcript of some Assembly Democratic comments is appended below:

Assemblyman Joseph Egan, (D-Middlesex), the committee chairman:
“I’m optimistic that leadership is willing to have some meetings to see what we can do to ensure people can keep their jobs, can pay for their mortgages and move forward in these difficult times.”

Assemblywoman Elease Evans (D-Passaic), the committee vice-chair, on what comes next:
“We as state legislators will have to try to figure out how do we help people, where do we go from here and how do we best do our budget and take the money that we are bringing into the state of New Jersey to give it back to the community to help people.”

Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) on possible solutions:
“We heard a variety of solutions, local solutions like take a second look at the UEZ program to more global solutions like trying to reduce the cost of business in New Jersey.”

Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Essex) on the proposed $700 billion federal buyout plan:
“Can we use some of that money to get some of our people back to work, paying their mortgages before they have to foreclose?”

Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer) on a possible solution:
“The creation of jobs, green jobs - to help us with our power shortage, to help us with our blue-collar construction type of projects, to help revamp our infrastructure in the state of New Jersey, to attract corporate businesses into the state.”

MIDDLETOWN TWP - The Middletown Democratic candidates for Township Committee, Patricia Walsh and Jim Grenafege, have unearthed a serious concern for every township resident.

"This township administration has concealed the fact that there are serious environmental concerns where it regards underground oil tanks," Grenafege said.

"This environmental issue not only involves the Town Hall but also the Middletown Cultural Arts Center," Walsh said. "This environmental issue could cost the taxpayers of Middletown literally millions of dollars. And, taxpayers are looking at this problem only because the Republican Administration in this town has ignored this problem and built their projects on poor planning."

According to Grenafege, the press conference, which takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 outside the Police Entrance of Town Hall, will include outstanding issues where it regards billing irregularities with Township Attorney Bernard Reilly. "

But, the recent revelations about the environmental situation and contamination at Town Hall and the Arts Center are so serious they have to be exposed for the public's perusal immediately."

ATLANTIC CITY – At the Legislative Reception of the Governor’s Conference on Housing and Community Development Monday night, Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Joseph Doria honored U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for their contributions to housing and foreclosure prevention throughout New Jersey .

Lautenberg and Menendez were recognized for their advocacy efforts on behalf of foreclosure prevention, and for their support of policies and programs that improve the quality of life for the state’s families and communities. Last night’s reception was held in their honor.

“Senators Lautenberg and Menendez are committed to making a real difference in the lives of New Jersey residents,” Commissioner Doria said. “ New Jersey is proud of their dedication and service to the citizens of our state. It is my honor to celebrate their accomplishments.”

The New Jersey Senators were instrumental in helping to pass the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, a major piece of legislation that provides relief for families who are struggling to keep their homes and to stabilize the market.

Senator Lautenberg has always been a strong ally for families in need of affordable housing and individuals facing foreclosure. He has consistently fought to increase funding for affordable housing and community redevelopment programs, and in July, he secured $20 million for public housing safety and security programs in a housing appropriations bill. That same month, before voting in favor of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act , he made sure the law contained funding to help our communities recover from the foreclosure crisis and provide incentives for new homebuyers to help get the housing market back on track. Senator Lautenberg continues to fight predatory lending practices that tricked many homeowners into subprime mortgages they could not afford.

Senator Robert Menendez was elected to his first full term in 2006 after spending 13 years in the House, rising to Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus as the highest-ranking Hispanic in congressional history and is a member of the Senate Banking Committee. He has been a major advocate for a strong federal response to the foreclosure crisis, voted in favor of the housing bill, and praised it as an important step toward boosting our economy and providing relief to homeowners. The Senator is dedicated to helping the community in New Jersey and has put policy into practice in the state. He held two outreach events for foreclosures last spring and is planning two more for the fall.

The Governor’s Conference on Housing & Community Development offers participants the opportunity to interact with others facing similar challenges in planning, preservation and development. This year, more than 1,500 housing and community development professionals are expected to attend the annual two-day conference at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today announced that he is in full support of a plan to convene an emergency summit to help New Jersey deal with the fallout of the economic crisis that has gripped the nation. In doing so, Codey announced that he is working with Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney to get the ball rolling so that New Jersey can find real solutions to help residents deal with plummeting stocks and rising consumer prices.

“From Wall Street to Main Street, we’re feeling the effects of the chilling economy,” said Sen. Codey. “Current economic policies have created a global and national disaster that will have a severe impact on New Jersey residents. We can't solve this problem by ourselves but we must make sure that we take whatever actions are feasible. We have a lot of brilliant minds in New Jersey, from economists and CEO’s to academics and labor leaders. We need to make sure we leave no stone unturned when it comes to protecting our working families and the homes, investments and savings that they stake their very future on.”

“New Jersey gets hit harder than most states when Wall Street takes a beating because so many corporations are headquartered here or have employees that live here. I’m confident that if we get moving quickly on finding serious solutions to weather this storm, then we will survive this crisis better than most states.”

Codey said that he is working with Senator Sweeney, Speaker Roberts and other legislative leaders to lay the groundwork for the summit and new details should be announced shortly.

This comment was posted on the Miami Herald web site and sen to the Trentonian.

When Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., took the gavel in January 2007 to become the first woman to fill the post of House Speaker, she proclaimed that Democrats would run the chamber ''with the highest ethical standards.'' That was then.

This is now: Rep. Charles Rangel, D.-N.Y., chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, is caught in a scandal in which he didn't pay taxes on property he owns in the Dominican Republic. But Speaker Pelosi is singing a different tune. ''I see no reason why Mr. Rangel should step down,'' she said, brushing aside criticism that it is unseemly -- to say the least - - to have someone who owes back taxes at the helm of the panel that writes tax laws and is under investigation for wrongdoing.

Ms. Pelosi would doubtless have had a field day with this back when she was leading the charge against Republican control of the House by accusing its leaders of fostering a ``culture of corruption.''

It is hypocritical of her not to hold Democrats to the same standard. Mr. Rangel's problems are not limited to the Dominican investment, for which he owes the IRS $5,000. The Ethics Committee is probing reports that he misused rent-controlled apartments in New York. The latest disclosure by the newspaper Roll Call contains still more potential problems, including an alleged failure to report income from the sale of a condo in Sunny Isles.

Mr. Rangel should step down until the Ethics Comittee files a report and his tax returns going back years are examined in a fair and thorough accounting procedure. Even if some problems are the result of an honest mistake, as Mr. Rangel claims, it doesn't inspire confidence to have someone under a cloud at the helm of such an important committee.

If Mr. Rangel won't go voluntarily, Ms. Pelosi should remember that pledge about the ''highest ethical standards'' and remove him as chairman.

TRENTON - In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne, Governor Jon S. Corzine has renewed his objections to oil and gas exploration in the North and Mid-Atlantic region, citing threats to the environment, national security, and ultimately the New Jersey economy via the tourism and fishing industries.

“I write today to express my continued opposition to any actions to weaken the current moratorium on offshore oil and gas leasing in the North and Mid-Atlantic Planning Areas,” Governor Corzine wrote. “I remain very concerned that an energy plan that is focused on drilling in those areas is not only short-sighted but will, despite public desire to the contrary, increase our country’s dependence on foreign oil over the long-term.”

Governor Corzine wrote in response to a request for comment sent by Secretary Kempthorne in July. The Secretary’s request solicited New Jersey’s views on the Department’s initiation of a new five-year leasing program, which could include the waters near and adjacent to New Jersey’s shores.

In his response, the Governor urged the federal government to address the domestic energy situation through a balanced approach that includes energy conservation and encouraging the development of renewable and alternative energy sources. Governor Corzine also noted that, contrary to public will, increased capital investment in new domestic drilling leases would further stoke domestic demand, ultimately increasing the country's reliance on foreign oil while offering no price relief to American citizens.

Ultimately, Governor Corzine said, an aggressive offshore drilling program could be devastating to the New Jersey economy. He pointed out that tourism pumps $38 billion a year into the state’s economy, and the commercial and recreational fishing industries adds another $4.5 billion annually – two industries both heavily dependent on water quality.

“Due to the potential impacts of drilling to the future energy security of New Jersey ’s residents, our coastal heritage, economy and environment, I continue to oppose leasing in the North and Mid-Atlantic Planning Areas and ask that you exclude these areas from the next five year program,” Governor Corzine said.


The text of the letter follows:

Honorable Dirk Kempthorne
Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street N.W.
Washington , D.C. 20240

Dear Secretary Kempthorne:

Thank you for your letter of July 31, 2008 soliciting New Jersey ’s views on the Department of the Interior’s initiation of a new 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (5-Year Program) for oil and gas development on the OCS. I write today to express my continued opposition to any actions to weaken the current moratorium on offshore oil and gas leasing in the North and Mid-Atlantic Planning Areas. I remain very concerned that an energy plan that is focused on drilling in those areas is not only short-sighted but will, despite public desire to the contrary, increase our country’s dependence on foreign oil over the long-term.

Your letter and the associated Federal Register request for comments indicate that the Program is part of the Federal government’s actions to address the existing domestic energy situation. Now, more than ever, I urge the federal government to champion a comprehensive and forward-looking approach to meeting our country’s energy needs. I urge you to adopt a balanced energy policy, encouraging and even mandating energy efficiency and conservation and investing aggressively in renewable and alternative energy. Such approaches are being adopted by many states and, in fact, are the cornerstone of New Jersey ’s draft Energy Master Plan, released in April of this year. Opening up the east coast OCS to drilling flies in the face of such a balanced policy since it will reinforce an economy that is based on increasing the supply of fossil fuels. Further, in a global, competitive market, any new deposits that might be extracted will not force domestic prices down or ease domestic demand. Only one outcome is certain, increased investment in OCS fossil fuel drilling will reinforce our domestic economy’s focus on oil as a commodity – including foreign oil and, as proposed, will actually slow our nation’s vital move away from fossil fuels toward a new energy future.

In addition, I urge the federal government to consider air pollution, greenhouse gasses and climate change when considering its domestic energy policy. New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act, which I signed into law on July 6, 2007, adopts proactive and ambitious goals for the reduction of green house gas emissions in New Jersey . It calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, approximately a 20 percent reduction, followed by a further reduction of emissions to 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050. In short, New Jersey and many northeast and Atlantic states have been leaders in looking at the true cost of the energy we use. I encourage the Federal government to consider climate-related impacts more fully in its domestic energy strategy by mandating that new energy investments be direct to low carbon, alternative energy sources, shifting from the focus on leasing areas in the Atlantic Ocean for oil and gas exploration and production to renewables. I strongly support the proposed MMS program for alternative energy uses of the Outer Continental Shelf.

Finally, New Jersey ’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism, with expenditures reaching $38 billion a year. Our oceanfront counties contribute almost 65% of these expenditures. Moreover, 71% of each tourism dollar spent is retained in the state and travel and tourism is NJ’s third largest private sector employer. Our commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, and aquaculture have an economic impact valued at $4.5 billion annually. We have major fishing ports and seafood processing plants. All of these industries are heavily dependent on maintaining good water quality and protecting our living marine resources and access to those resources. In addition, offshore drilling would leave New Jersey and its marine ecosystem and aquatic life vulnerable to damage caused by drilling-related incidents in nearby waters.

The Interior Department’s Request for Comments on the Preparation of a 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2008, seeks comments on whether Congressional restrictions should be eliminated or modified. If restrictions are to be lifted to expand the oil and gas leasing program, such an expansion should first be considered in the Gulf of Mexico, an area with proven untapped reserves and where most OCS production already occurs. The Request for Comments also indicated that deference should be paid to coastal states with regard to an offshore oil and gas leasing program. This is certainly true but it is important to note that New Jersey would be affected by oil and gas activities in both the North Atlantic Planning Area and the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area. Therefore New Jersey needs to have a substantial role in the determination of whether to proceed with a leasing program in either of these Planning Areas, not simply off the New Jersey shore.

In summary, due to the potential impacts of drilling to the future energy security of our New Jersey’s residents, our coastal heritage, economy and environment, I continue to oppose leasing in the North and Mid-Atlantic Planning Areas and ask that you exclude these areas from the next five year program.

Than you for the opportunity to comment.

Sincerely,

Jon S. Corzine
Governor

John McCain has backed off his "pig" charge, but he did get the necessary mileage out of the fracas. The public was temporarily diverted from contrasting McCain and Obama's prescription for the economy. Like Bush, McCain believes that the economic "fundamentals are sound."

Like Bush, McCain believes that the best medicine for the economy is lower taxes, an unregulated Wall Street, and a Security Exchange Commission that doesn't meddle. Follow the links below describing McCain's economic platform, and you'll find no mention of reform of the finance industry. Only today, September 15, the day of the Big Meltdown, did McCain jump on the bandwagon to overhaul the financial sector.

Mr. McCain's top economic advisor and personal friend of decades, Phil Gramm, has always advocated a hands-off approach to regulation. Just last year, Mr. McCain spoke in disapproval of government meddling in the banking business. Mr. Obama, however, has long advocated that the Feds step in and bring some control to the free-for-all that has led the failures of some of the most storied names in banking and lending. Mr. Obama has long advocated economic reform of the finance industry, a stronger SEC and stricter oversight of Wall Street trading.

When Americans finally get around to comparing Democratic and Republican plans for reforming the economy, it will not be a happy day for John McCain. I'm sure he wishes we could all get back to Palin pig debate.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/mccain_this_morning_the_fundam.php
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/15/chris-matthews-battles-na_n_126657.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/us/politics/16record.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdX1csHuXbUFJ6REp97MjBsJouHAD932F24O0
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080701_Dave_Davies__A_few_minutes_with_McCain.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/15/mccain-fundamentals-of-th_n_126445.html
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/07/foreclosure-phil.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120451614688707083-email.html
http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/John_McCain.htm
http://economistmom.com/2008/09/mccain-palin-economic-platform-bush-policy-extended-with-lipstick/
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4510097.ece
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091700449.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/politics/27text-obama.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080915/pl_nm/usa_politics_dc
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2000
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Barack_Obama.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Budget_+_Economy.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Tax_Reform.htm

Poll shows race has been static since summer

The latest Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll finds Democratic incumbent Frank Lautenberg leading his Republican challenger Dick Zimmer by 46% to 33% among registered voters. Among likely voters, the Democrat holds a 10 point lead – 46% to 36%, which is basically unchanged from the 45% to 37% race measured in July.

Each candidate has widespread support among his partisan base – 77% of Democrats back Lautenberg and 74% of Republicans are for Zimmer – while independent voters give Lautenberg a slight 35% to 32% advantage.

With seven weeks to go before the election, the U.S. Senate race continues to fly under voters’ radar, especially when compared with this year’s presidential contest. While an astounding 83% of Garden State voters have a lot of interest in the presidential race, only 45% show the same level of interest in the U.S. Senate race. And few voters – just 6% – have been paying close attention to the senate election, compared with a whopping 62% who have been closely following the presidential campaign.

“If anyone wondered what would happen if you held an election in New Jersey and no one paid attention, these results may provide a clue. Apparently, the Democrat gets a ten point advantage,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Currently, 42% of voters have a favorable opinion of Lautenberg compared to 28% who feel unfavorably toward the incumbent, and 30% who have no opinion. This is up from the 34%-27% rating he held in July.

Dick Zimmer’s personal rating is now 27% favorable to 18% unfavorable. Both numbers have increased since the summer, but 55% of voters still say they don’t know enough about the GOP nominee to give him a rating. In July, he was basically unknown to 71% of voters.

Even though they haven’t been paying attention to the election, nearly half (46%) the state’s voters say Lautenberg has done a good job of addressing the issues important to them, compared to 31% who say he has done a bad job.

For the Republican, 30% of voters say Zimmer has done a good job of addressing the issues, compared to 24% who say he has done a bad job.

Half (49%) of New Jersey voters say the senate race has been positive so far, compared to 17% who say it has been negative. In July, many more voters said they expected this year’s race to be negative (61%) rather than positive (21%).

“The great irony is that both candidates appear to do better the less the voters see of them, but in the end this accrues to Lautenberg’s benefit,” said Murray.

Lautenberg’s age continues to be a non-issue with voters. Just 31% of voters feel he is too old to be an effective senator – identical to the July poll results and down from 41% in April, when Lautenberg faced a primary challenge from Congressman Rob Andrews.

However, this could still become a campaign issue, as few voters actually know how old Lautenberg is. When asked to estimate their senior senator’s age, the average guess by New Jersey voters is 75 years old, fully nine years younger than his actual age of 84. Fewer than 1-in-4 voters can estimate his age within the right decade – only 23% guess Lautenberg to be in his 80s. Another 33% tab him in his 70s, 12% say he is younger than 70, and 2% say he is in his 90s. The remaining 30% don’t offer a guess.

The poll also found that Lautenberg continues to have a slight edge over Zimmer on four issue areas asked of voters in the poll. The incumbent leads the challenger 29% to 20% for understanding the problems of average New Jerseyans, 30% to 22% for sharing voters’ views on economic issues, 26% to 17% for sharing voters’ views on Iraq policy, and 35% to 15% for making sure New Jersey gets its fair share of federal funding. Between 18% and 22% think that neither candidate would do a good job on any of these four concerns.

The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll was conducted by telephone with 689 New Jersey registered voters September 11-14, 2008. This sample has a margin of error of + 3.7 percent. This report also includes analysis on a smaller group of 589 “likely voters” with a + 4.0 percent margin of error. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute and originally published by the Gannett New Jersey newspaper group (Asbury Park Press, Courier-Post, Courier News, Daily Journal, Daily Record, and Home News Tribune).

Now that the conventions are behind us, the 2008 election is shaping up to be much closer than anyone would have believed months ago.

Still, it will be an uphill battle for John McCain as Barack Obama has the advantage this year.
If Obama wins, it should be a wake-up call to Republicans that the nation’s political landscape has dramatically changed, making it difficult for Republicans to win national elections.
A key factor in the challenge facing Republicans is shifting demographics. States such as Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada, once considered solid red states, are now faltering for the GOP.

In George W. Bush’s home state of Texas, African-Americans and Hispanics — traditionally Democratic voters — form a majority of the population. In 2006, Texas’ popular Republican Gov. Rick Perry won re-election with just 39 percent of the vote in a three-way race.

McCain is still expected to win Texas this time. But Republican majorities in other states are fraying.

Obama knows this. He has solid blue states New York and Massachusetts in his back pocket, along with most of the Northeast. Add to his base titanic California with 55 electoral voters and other left coast states like Oregon and Washington.

There is no indication any of these states will move to the right. In fact, these blue states are moving further to the left. Ronald Reagan won New York in the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections. It is doubtful a conservative Republican will win the Empire State any time soon.

This is why Obama and his campaign are so confident of victory. This is why he could pick Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate, though Biden adds so little to his campaign.
With such a solid base, Obama knows he needs to focus his campaign in just a handful of states, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Montana, Missouri, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and North Carolina.

If he picks off a few of these states that have traditionally voted Republican in national elections — Colorado and New Mexico, for example — he wins.

McCain, on the other hand, has to run a national campaign to keep his base together and at the same time engage in battle with Obama for these key swing states.

To win, McCain must think outside the box. His pick of Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin indicates he realizes he needs to run a different campaign to beat Obama, the front-runner. McCain’s difficulties are compounded by the likelihood that Obama will outspend McCain by a ratio of 3-to-1 or more in these key swing states.

Obama’s massive campaign spending at the micro level is showing. Anecdotally, I have heard stories about massive voter registration drives and preparations to get out the vote with the help of unions, teachers, and other Obama fans.

Chief among these groups is ACORN, or Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a radical group that has been caught engaging in voter fraud. Not surprisingly, Obama has close ties to the group since his days as a “community organizer” in Chicago.

The New York Times noted that Obama had been a key ally of ACORN. His influence at charitable foundations “allowed him to help direct tens of millions of dollars in grants.” The paper also noted the key role ACORN played in helping him win his first state Senate race in Illinois.
ACORN’s Web site features a lead article about its voter drive for this election year. The group says it has already signed up more than a million new voters for the upcoming elections.

Joining the group’s efforts in registering new voters is the Rev. Al Sharpton. He is quoted saying that he and ACORN are targeting the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama.

ACORN calls its voter registration campaign “Not This Time” — a reference to the 2000 election when Al Gore lost the presidency by a handful of votes in Florida.

Obama’s team has no plans to repeat the 2000 election. They want to win with a bigger margin, and they have a “whatever it takes” approach to make sure that happens.

MIDDLETOWN - Over 100 people from New Jersey and New York are gathering on the front lawn of a private residence in Middletown, New Jersey on Friday afternoon to tell Senator Obama that America urgently needs vaccination choice and vaccine policy reform.

Senator Obama is in town as the guest of honor at a Democratic National Committee fundraising reception. The event is co-hosted by Gov. Corzine and Middletown residents, Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi and Tammy and Phil Murphy.

"Parents are deeply concerned about the consequences of increased, forced vaccination in America," says Middletown resident Louise Kuo Habakus. "We want Senator Obama to know that we welcome him warmly. We would appreciate the opportunity to share our views with him and ask him some questions. We look forward to hearing a clear statement of his position on the issue."

"New Jersey is the most vaccinated jurisdiction in the world. And for our high levels of compliance, we have huge numbers of sick and damaged children," says Habakus. And she has this message for Barack Obama: "Millions of American children are suffering from neuroimmune disorders. The CDC says one in 60 boys in New Jersey has autism. This is nothing short of a crisis. As a largely untested leader, Senator Obama, the mandate of your nomination lies solely in your promise to deliver change. Our greatest presidents made history by demonstrating exceptional political courage during a crisis. Do you have the stomach to do what must be done?"

Habakus has been delivering parent vaccine choices seminars to packed rooms across New Jersey. Since they live two houses from the reception location, she and her husband Ronald Habakus invited friends and supporters to join them on their front lawn with banners and signs.

"The one-day response has been overwhelming. Entire families are joining together in strong support and with one shared voice. We're telling Senator Obama that, wherever he goes, we are there," says Habakus.

The parents hope that Senator Obama will take a few minutes from his fundraising festivities to talk with the group. "We're respectful and exceptionally informed. Please listen and talk with us. Tell us why we should vote for you," says Habakus.

Habakus is a member of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice, a large group that includes local, state and national organizations, parents, physicians, attorneys, scientists and other professionals.

New Jersey recently added four new mandated vaccines to the state's minimal immunization schedule for school attendance. One of these is the highly controversial and widely unpopular flu vaccine. The flu shot is now mandated for New Jersey children as young as six months of age as a requirement for daycare and preschool. It is the first time that the flu shot is being mandated anywhere in the world.

TRENTON – Bipartisan legislation Assembly members Alison McHose, Louis Greenwald, and Joan Voss sponsored to give the parents of twins or other multiple-birth children the authority to decide whether their kids learn in the same classroom was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

“Parents know best what the right educational setting is for their children,” said McHose (R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon). “When making classroom placement decisions about twins or multiples, it makes sense that the parents be involved in determining what arrangement will work well for their children.”

“Parents of twins know whether their children will be a help or a hindrance to each other in the classroom,” said Greenwald (D-Camden), the father of twins. “Class placements involving twins should not be made in a vacuum. The knowledge and experience of parents in knowing how their children interact with each other must be given the utmost consideration.”

The measure (A-1671) allows parents of twins or higher order multiple births – such as triplets or quadruplets – enrolled in the same grade at the same public school to request their children be placed in either the same or separate classrooms. A placement request will be granted if it is submitted within the first 14 days of the students’ enrollment.

The new law makes New Jersey one of at least seven states that grants parents such rights.

After the first marking period following enrollment, a principal – in consultation with teachers and parents – can request that a board of education change an arrangement if the initial placement is found to be disruptive or does not sufficiently support the students’ academic or social development.

Parents will be responsible for transportation costs associated with a placement decision.

“With multiple births becoming more common, parents and principals are more frequently confronted with decisions about classroom placement for siblings,” said Voss (D-Bergen). “Parents of twins must be empowered to make placement decisions that can directly impact their children’s ability to learn and grow.”

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-Union, Morris, Somerset) and Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon) prime sponsored the bill in the Senate.

The new law takes effect take immediately and will apply to the 2008-2009 school year.

NJ Citizen Action is deeply disappointed with the decision by Speaker Roberts to put New Jersey’s 2009 Clean Elections program on hold. This action will temporarily stall efforts to change New Jersey’s current election financing system, which has left us with candidates who are mostly self-financing millionaires or dependant on contributions from well-healed donors and special interest.

Robert’s decision to put this legislation on hold comes after a Federal Judge ruled that parts of Arizona’s Clean Elections program are unconstitutional. We strongly disagree with the Speaker’s assessment that this court decision should put New Jersey’s much-needed Clean Elections program on hold, and believe that the Legislature can and should find a way to move this legislation forward.

We will continue our efforts to educate the public and the legislature about the need for a statewide Clean Elections program, which will put an end to the corrupting influence that money has on the legislative process.

Phyllis Salowe-Kaye
Executive Director
New Jersey Citizen Action