May 2007

Dear Friend:

Late last Fall New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) proposed new shore public access regulations. Waterfront property owners shall be required to convey a dedicated easement to the State to guarantee 24/7 public access from the street through their private property and along the waterfront boundaries of their lot. Owners of industrial, commercial, multi dwelling and single family residences may be affected. The purpose of this letter is to acquaint you with the proposals and to solicit your input.

The proposed regulations have not yet been officially adopted.  Three public meetings were convened on November 28, 2006, December 1, 2006 and December 4, 2006. Many of us caught up in the holidays were unaware of the proposed regulations and public meetings until 2007. With little time to review the proposal I hastily submitted my objections immediately prior to the public comment deadline on January 4, 2007. 700 hundred other citizens filed comments as well. Since that time I have been studying the proposed regulations, conferring with engineers, environmental attorneys, commercial marina owners, single family residential owners and NJDEP.

If your property falls within one of the five categories below and you require a permit from NJDEP for a variety of improvements (See “trigger” below) you must convey the aforementioned public access easement. Property immediately adjoining the following bodies of water are affected:

1. Atlantic Ocean
2. Raritan Bay
3. Sandy Hook Bay
4. Delaware River
5. “Tidal waters” (rivers and other waters affected by tidal changes where a “beach” or a “dune” is present). Definition of the terms in quotation marks appear at the end of this letter.

While I support public access to the shore I believe the proposed regulations are unnecessarily broad in scope, problematic on many levels for property owners and confiscatory in nature.

I believe in the public’s right to access nature’s most beautiful resource – the ocean. I also believe that as good stewards for New Jersey’s number two industry – travel and tourism, the State should insure residents and visitors ability to enjoy their day at the Jersey Shore. I also believe that the State can achieve these goals by taking into consideration present and future public access facilities such as State, County and municipal beaches and parks in lieu of a very drastic measure of taking private property without any compensation.

I welcome your comments.

 Definitions:

 Regarding category 5 please review the following definitions:

A.                Tidal water

B.                 Beach: "Beach" means a gently sloping area of sand or other unconsolidated material found on tidal shorelines, including ocean, inlet, bay and river shorelines, that extends landward from the mean high water line to either: the vegetation line; a man-made feature generally parallel to the ocean, inlet, bay or river waters such as a retaining structure, seawall, bulkhead, road or boardwalk, except that sandy areas that extend fully under and landward of an elevated boardwalk are considered to be beach areas; or the seaward or bay ward foot of dunes, whichever is closest to the ocean, inlet, bay or river water.

C.                 "Dune" means a wind-or wave-deposited or man-made formation of sand that lies generally parallel to and landward of the beach, and between the upland limit of the beach and foot of the most inland slope of the dune. Dune includes the fore dune, secondary and tertiary dune ridges, and all landward dune ridges and mounds, as well as man-made dunes where they exist. A small mound of loose, windblown sand found in a street or on part of a structure as a result of storm activity is not considered to be a dune.

D.                Trigger events: CAFRA and perhaps other permits (under review)

Assemblyman Corodemus will be hosting Town Hall Meetings to discuss Long-Term Health Care Planning.

Where - Ocean Township Town Hall

             April 17, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

Where - Wall Township Town Hall

               April 24, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

Due to a recent scheduling conflict, Assemblyman Steve Corodemus will have to reschedule the Tuesday, April 24, 2007 meeting in Wall Township on Long Term Care.

The meeting will be rescheduled sometime in the near future.

Please forgive the inconvenience.

For more information, please contact 732-708-0900.

Thank you.

Corodemus blasts Assembly majority, rails at corruption and tells it like it is
by JIM PURCELL
Posted: 2006-07-27

Assemblyman Steve Corodemus has served the 26 towns of Monmouth’s 11th District for eight terms in Trenton, and has been fighting for small business owners and taxpayers and against unethical office holders for a long time.

Earlier this month, prior to the adoption of the state’s $30 billion spending plan, Corodemus said what he witnessed in Trenton was “the worst side of New Jersey.” “After watching [most Democratic leaders in the Assembly] 12 to 18 hours a day for five consecutive days after the budget deadline convinces me that no business person in their right mind would hire them to work for them,” Corodemus said. The state budget was adopted eight days past its constitutional deadline, but only after the state government was “closed down” for four days.

“I used to take offense at late night comedians who would make jokes critical of New Jersey’s elected officials,” Corodemus said. “But I realized after that they’re right.”

According to the 15-year assemblyman, the lost revenue experienced during the shutdown for the private sector alone translated into millions of dollars. Perhaps even more disconcerting to Corodemus, the end result of the process was the government raising taxes and spending and borrowing more money.

Corodemus said he is astonished that, given the rising taxation in the state, voters are not more determined to make a difference at the polls insofar as tax reform. Corodemus said he sees visible signs of voter apathy.

Voter apathy and convertible Rolls Royces

“I read in the newspapers and hear about citizens’ reactions about increasing the sales tax (from 6 to 7 percent) and other taxes another couple billion dollars and how they are resigned to it and that is disturbing,” he said.

When asked if patronage in state government is a problem, Corodemus was candid. “Probably the whole issue (of patronage) was summed up for me when I drove into the State House parking lot and saw a black Rolls Royce convertible in the legislators’ area with a New Jersey Senate license plate, registered to (former Newark Mayor and Essex County Senator) Sharpe James,” Corodemus said. “That said it all.”

Corodemus leveled stern criticism of James about his part in the budget debacle. “[Senator] Sharpe James was one of the people who held up the budget process by keeping the governor at gunpoint for an additional $27 million for his district.” In general, Corodemus said that the state’s major cities are grabbing a disproportionate amount of the state’s resources and leaving very little for suburban and more rural areas.

Among his other duties in the Assembly, Corodemus sits on the Joint Ethics Committee. Currently, there are more than a dozen complaints of potential legislator misconduct the committee is looking into. In some cases, the complaints involve companies the legislators work for, and involve possible inappropriate economic activity involving the legislators. There have even been cases where legislators sitting on the Joint Ethics Committee have had to step down because they became the subject of complaints.

Despite the setbacks he’s seen, Corodemus said he still believes in the two-party system. “Both parties have their place,” Corodemus said. “Someone might take a look at the way government runs here and say it’s the worst form of government possible, until they look at all the other ones.”

Business: NJ’s ‘moving animal’

Currently, the Republican Party is in the Assembly minority. Corodemus said he believes that the Democratic majority on the state level, left unchecked by Republicans, would do much more harm to the state’s taxpayers than they are already doing, according to him. But, ultimately, Corodemus said the voter has to play more of a role statewide for real tax reform to take hold and for legislators to feel greater accountability to their constituents.

“Government treats business in New Jersey like a moving animal: If it moves government will tax it, if it keeps moving it will regulate it and if it stops moving then government will subsidize it,” Corodemus said.

There’s a popular phrase in government that “business can partner with the government.” However, Corodemus said that many of the business people he speaks with say they don’t want government as a partner…”just leave us alone is their message.”

Corodemus said that other states, particularly Georgia and North Carolina, are actively trying to bring business, and thereby jobs, into their states by luring companies away from the Northeast. “And, they are doing a pretty good job of it,” Corodemus said.

Where manufacturing was once a Garden State mainstay, today companies are voting “with their feet” and picking up and moving out because of excessive taxes and regulation.

“I called up a voter during my last election and he stopped me right away and said, ‘Don’t bother saying anything…I’m a builder and I won’t even be living here by the time the election comes around,’” Corodemus said. Apparently, the voter was moving to North Carolina to restart his business there because of a more encouraging outlook on small private business.

“That is a symptom of what is happening right now,” Corodemus said. “Forty years ago, manufacturing was a strong force in the state and that force created blue collar jobs that people used to buy houses, raise families and put their kids through college. Today, that’s not there because business has relocated to where it can get a better deal in many cases (because of the tax and regulation issues with government).”

Consequently, New Jersey is being eclipsed in population by Georgia, during 2006, and will be surpassed in population by North Carolina, in 2007. This represents a drop from 10th most populace state to 12th.

Where commercial and industrial taxation once carried the bulk of governmental taxes today that burden is being transferred to more and more residential property owners.

Government: Targeting private business?

Corodemus said that government interference locally in private industry is apparent in the clamming industry. He pointed to the depuration plant in Sea Bright established by Frank Brooks and Walter Hughes. “They’re competing with a (nearby) plant subsidized by the state,” Corodemus said. “Meanwhile, these guys have put their mortgages and their personal money on the line and their biggest competitor is government.”

Corodemus said government does have a place in commerce. “President Eisenhower created the major roadways and thoroughfares in this country, which boosted commerce incredibly. But government wasn’t in the business of competing with private industry,” he explained.

In addition, when it comes to regulation, Corodemus said he recently spoke with a business owner who faced a daunting amount of paperwork that required filing with local, state and federal agencies. While this is not unusual, what was is that all of the paperwork requested the exact same information. “Something as simple as creating a standard form that is on file with multiple agencies would uncomplicated so much, but seems to be too much for government to do sometimes,” he said. “On top of that, this business owner said that there is such a parade of inspectors that go through his store front he stopped asking just where they were all from.”

And, this was the case of a business that was in total compliance. Yet, as a result of the many inspections and many forms, the business owner had to take employees they were paying off of their jobs and put them onto the tasks of filling out forms for long periods of work time.

Corodemus said he does have hope for the future. “I still have the fire in my belly and believe government can be made right,” he said. “But it is going to take more voter interest and involvement to get things on track.”

About Steve Corodemus

Corodemus is an attorney who served in the New Jersey Assembly for eight terms as a representative for the 11th Legislative District, which services communities from Highlands to West Long Branch, Brielle to Spring Lake and Wall to Sea Girt, among others. He received his law degree from Seton Hall University, Newark, and his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. He is a former Atlantic Highlands councilman, and resides in Atlantic Highlands with his wife and daughter.

The fiscal health of New Jersey is steadily -- if not rapidly – failing. Governor Jon Corzine’s remedy comes in the form of record-shattering $30.9 billion state budget that is likely to render a terminal diagnosis for New Jersey’s working and middle class citizens. 

Corzine’s proposed budget is a pill too great to swallow.  Recovery requires much more than drastic tax hikes.  A long-term remedy requires sound, strategic initiatives that will preserve New Jersey’s legacy and position our state for significant improvement and growth in the coming years.

 As a state, we’ve already said good-bye to countless neighbors, many of whom have relocated to Pennsylvania for refuge from the pending tax hikes. It is becoming increasingly difficult for families and businesses alike to prosper in NJ.

Sadly, if the proposed budget is approved, NJ residents can expect: 

• Increased state-spending by nearly $2.8 billion, representing an increase of 9% in just one year.

• Freezes or cuts to school districts and municipalities (which translates to a dramatic property tax increase).

• More than $2 billion in new taxes and fees including but not limited to:

·        Sales tax increase of 1% as well as an expansion of the sales tax base to include a host of additional items and services such as landscaping, health club memberships, music and video downloads, electronic data access, shipping and handling, tanning salons, carpet cleaning, and more;

·        Property tax increases between 7-8% despite the rise of property taxes nearly 30% over the past four years;

·        4-cent per 1,000 gallon water tax;

·        5-cent per gallon beer tax;

·        10-cent per gallon tax on wine or liquor;

·        35-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax;

·        2.5% corporation business tax surcharge;

·        A new car tax on mid-sized and luxury cars that cost over $45,000 and cars that get less than 15 miles per gallon of gasoline;

·        A commercial property transfer tax; and

·        An increase of $2 per prescription co-pay (up to $10/month) for Medicaid and dual-eligible recipients.

 “Your Republican leadership is actively seeking ways to cut spending, eliminate government waste and end the tax increases.  We have already given Governor Corzine $600 million in suggested cuts for the coming fiscal year and $450 million in cuts for the current budget,” said Assemblyman Steve Corodemus, (R- Monmouth County, district 11).

 Please attend and visit us frequently at www.njassemblyrepublicans.com for budget updates.

THE CORZINE BUDGET WILL MAKE NEW JERSEY

UNAFFORDABLE FOR EVEN MORE FAMILIES!

Governor Jon Corzine proposed budget for the 2006-2007 fiscal year increases state spending, hikes taxes and guarantees higher property taxes. The record-shattering $30.9 billion budget is nearly $3 billion higher than this year’s budget. That’s a 10% spending increase in a single year!

HIGHER SALES TAXES!

An increase in the sales tax from 6% to 7% and an expansion of the sales tax base to include a whole host of additional items including landscaping, health club memberships, music and video downloads, electronic data access, shipping and handling, tanning salons, carpet cleaning, air charter flights and parking ... even bail bondsmen.

LESS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF!

Corzine promised to restore rebates to the amount they were at ($600) before being cut in half last year by Governor Codey and the Democrat-controlled Legislature. He said he would then increase them by 10% each year for four years. Corzine now says he will not restore rebates to the higher level but that he will increase their size by a miniscule amount.

HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES!

The Corzine budget freezes or cuts state aid for schools and municipalities. This practically guarantees a 7% or 8% increase in property taxes. Thanks to the irresponsible fiscal practices of the Democrats, property taxes have already risen nearly 30% over the past four years!

BOGUS BUDGET CUTS!

Corzine says his budget contains no “pork.” However, the governor wouldn’t say whether he would line item veto any “pork” added to the budget by the Democrats in the Legislature. Other “cuts” in his budget aren’t really cuts at all. They are actually proposing to “restrain the growth in expenditures.”

HIGHER COLLEGE TUITION!

The Corzine budget slashes state aid for higher education by $170 million. Officials for many state colleges and universities are already warning of double-digit tuition increases! This would hit middle income families the hardest! It may force a lot of families to look for more affordable colleges outside of New Jersey.

TAXES, TAXES AND MORE TAXES!

• A 4-cent per 1,000 gallon water tax.

• A 5-cent per gallon beer tax.

• A 10-cent per gallon tax on wine or liquor.

• A 35-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax.

• A 2.5% corporation business tax surcharge.

• A new tax on mid-sized and “luxury” cars with sticker prices         over $45,000 and cars that get less than 15 miles per gallon.

§         A new tax on the transfer of commercial property.

§         A $2 per prescription co-pay up to $10 per month for Medicaid and dual eligible recipients.

Assemblyman Steve Corodemus - 40 First Avenue

P.O. Box 266, Atlantic Highlands

(732)708-0900

            Assemblyman Steve Corodemus and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin today announced they will be introducing legislation next Monday that will create a new clean elections program that will address many of the problems identified in last year’s failed program.

            “It is clear that the 2005 clean elections program did not work the way its supporters had intended,” said Corodemus, R-Monmouth. “Amy and I are committed to the concept of clean elections and our bill will revise the program in a way we believe makes it more likely to achieve success.”

            The legislation would make changes to last year’s clean elections program based on the concerns that were raised by candidates who attempted to participate in the program. In Handlin’s legislative district – one of two districts where the program was run on a trial basis – neither the Republican or the Democrat candidates were able to qualify.

            “Many of us were excited about the potential of the clean elections program to get big money out of politics and to return power to the voters,” said Handlin, R-Monmouth and Middlesex. “Unfortunately, the original pilot program collapsed because of a multitude of procedural flaws. The changes we have made to the program will make it easier for candidates to qualify and will ensure a level playing field for those candidates who do participate.”

            Among the key provisions of the Corodemus-Handlin bill would be:

·        Candidates who collect between 210 and 419 contributions of $5 each will qualify for half of the money available to candidates in the Clean Elections program and candidates who collect 420 or more contributions of $5 each will receive the full $100,000 allotment;

·        The $100,000 spending limit will remain in place;

·        Contributions can be made online in the form of e-check, debit cards, or credit card payments;

·        Candidates will have until September 15 to collect contributions;

·        Candidates can receive contributions from any registered voter in the state;

·        Each candidate is allowed to raise up to $6,000 in seed money;

·        Candidates can hold small events (barbecues, house parties) to collect contributions;

·        Candidates who do not qualify can keep the seed money, and all contributions will be returned to the contributor;

·        Any candidate wishing to participate must file a “Code of Fair Campaign Practices” pledge with ELEC;

·        Candidates may announce in the primary that they would like to run as clean elections candidates;

·        Four districts will be selected to participate in the 2007 elections including Senate races;

·        After the conclusion of the program the bill recommends a statewide referendum to allow voters to decide whether the program should be expanded statewide. 

            Corodemus and Handlin said that they will file the bill for introduction Monday and hope to have the support of the Democrat majority in a bipartisan effort to improve the clean elections program.

The 2005 campaign season is over. After spending millions of dollars by both major political parties the political make up of the legislature is nearly the same. Here in Monmouth County, Republican legislative candidates overcame a massive money assault from out of county sources.

Finally, the airwaves are free of the scandalous TV and radio commercials, household telephones are quieter now that the automated telephone calls have stopped, our mail boxes are filled with Christmas cards as opposed to candidates’ direct mail pieces and the lawn signs have come to peacefully at rest in the county landfill.

Now it’s time for incumbent elected officials to survive the infamous “lame duck” season. For the newly elected candidates they should be making plans to fulfill their campaign promises. Oh really?

It is rumored that the Democrat leadership will be introducing proposed laws in early January to hike New Jersey’s gas taxes from the current 14.5 cent to, well who knows?

Governor –elect Corzine hasn’t even taken office and it is already rumored that he is flip flopping on his no gas tax pledge. No wonder why the public has little faith in politician’s campaign promises. Let’s hope that this is not true.

This eighty year old tax started at 2 cents per gallon and has risen incrementally over the years. The last increase was in 1988.  Nine cents of the 10.5 cent motor fuels tax is constitutionally dedicated to New Jersey’s transportation Trust Fund. There is also a 4 cent Petroleum gross receipts tax that we eventually pay at the pump.

What is the problem? No matter how much is generated by the gas tax, the amount dedicated to the TTF is $405 million. The annual amount of gas tax collected at its present rate is in excess of $550 million. The remaining $145 million is being sent to the General Fund.

Another part of the problem is also the fact that money in the TTF has been used to pay for salaries and raises for its supervisors, a direct conflict for the money that was only supposed to be used to pay for infrastructure needs and improvements. Then there is the fact that contracts are given to companies that might not have given the lowest bid, but maybe are better connected.

Have you received any deliveries lately? Have they included a “fuel surcharge” in response to the $3 per gallon pump prices we recently experienced? If the gas tax increases any further, you can bet that you will see a new round of that type of “pass on” taxes to us as consumers.

In Monmouth County alone, there are a number of bridges that are 50 years old or older that are in dire need of repair or replacement. Just think about the roads around you, I’m sure you can think of a number that have such poor surfaces that it’s almost like a slalom course. Add to that the fact the New Jerseyans commutes are becoming longer and longer, with more traffic on our roads than ever before.

What is the political lineup? Those in favor of the gas tax hike are a majority of the Democrat members of the State Senate and General Assembly, supporters of transportation issues, contractors that build bridges, pave roads, sell maintenance equipment and of course the unions that are employed in all of the above industries. Those opposed to the gas hike are a majority of the Republican members of the State Senate and General Assembly, millions of New Jersey consumers, commuters and supporters of transportation issues like me that believe that there is another way to solve the problem.

What is the solution? Rather than supporting a gas tax hike, it is more beneficial to support fiscal restraint and to reform the present Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) structure, and to dedicate the existing Motor Vehicle Commission revenues- drivers’ license and registration fees that are currently being diverted to the General fund. After all, isn’t if perfectly reasonable that money derived by the regulation of motorists in this state be used to help finance New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure needs?

The Republican caucus has two possible options for maintaining the TTF without increasing the gas tax. Maintain the $950 million annual funding level with not year-end provisions, so there would be not need to renew2every five years. This could include a 50 percent bonding cap, limiting bonding to $475 million per year. The second would be to constitutionally dedicate $300 million in Motor Vehicle fees, increase the Turnpike Authority’s obligation to $45 million and constitutionally dedicate all revenues from the motor fuel tax to the TTF. 

Whatever the solutions that are proposed, I am not in favor of raising the gas tax. We need to cut the wasteful spending, rather that increasing the exorbitant taxes that are imposed on all of us. For more information on the gas tax, or to register your opinion please contact my office at 732-708-0900 or contact my website at www.corodemus.com.

JIM REILLY’S SILENCE ON DEMOCRAT HOMELAND SECURITY SCAM CONTINUES

- Corodemus, Kean & Local Officials Say Former Assembly Democrat

Attorney Owes the Public Some Answers - 

Atlantic Highlands & Long Branch & Wall, NJ - One day after Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean called on Democrat Assembly candidate Jim Reilly to answer questions about his role in the political manipulation of homeland security funds by his Democrat allies in Trenton, local officials today joined the legislators in demanding those answers.

“As a former attorney and staff member for the Assembly Democrats in Trenton, Jim Reilly had an opportunity to influence this policy,” Corodemus said. “We need to know what he knew, whether he played any role in determining where these funds should go, and whether he spoke up to oppose what his party leaders were doing.” 

“All of the questions we asked yesterday are legitimate concerns,” said Kean. “The residents of this district need to know where Jim Reilly stands on this issue and whether he supports what his former Democrat bosses in Trenton have done.” 

Several media outlets recently exposed a concerted effort by Democrat officials in Trenton to direct vital homeland security dollars primarily to legislative districts with Democrat representatives. 

Just about $7.8 million of the $8.3 million distributed last year went to Democrat districts, and 93 percent of the $22.9 million distributed since 2002 went to those same Democrat districts. The Eleventh Legislative District received no funding despite numerous applications from towns with legitimate homeland security needs. 

At the time the money was being diverted, Democrat Assembly candidate Reilly was an attorney on staff for the Democrat caucus and was the legislative aide to the Assembly Homeland Security and the Assembly Law and Public Safety committees. 

“As a local official who realizes how important these funds are to our community, I would like to know if Jim Reilly approved of this misguided policy,” said Atlantic Highlands Councilman Jack Archibald. “The safety of the residents in my community should never have been jeopardized by political considerations, and Jim Reilly needs to speak up on this issue.” 

“My town has legitimate homeland security concerns and we expended time, money and effort on these grant applications,” said Long Branch Councilman Anthony Giordano. “We deserve to know if Jim Reilly agreed with our applications being ignored and whether he is willing to condemn the officials in Trenton who turned a legitimate homeland security program into nothing more than a pot of political pork.” 

Today is the second day Reilly has failed to answer questions about his role in the process and whether he agrees with how the money was distributed. When will he speak? 

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REILLY WAS SILENT AS HIS PARTY ORCHESTRATED

HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING SCAM

- Former Assembly Democrat Attorney Staffed Homeland Security and Law & Public Safety Committees, Turned Blind Eye While Funds were Diverted -

Atlantic Highlands & Wall, NJ - Republican Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean today asked Democrat opponent Jim Reilly to explain why he sat idly by and did nothing as his party diverted much-needed homeland security aid away from the 11th District and into Democrat-controlled districts.

“The people of the Eleventh District got short-changed in this process,” Corodemus said. “Jim Reilly and his Democrats bosses in Trenton decided to place politics above the security of the residents in this district, and Jim Reilly knew that the Democrat bosses laundered homeland security money into political booty.”

Several media outlets have recently exposed a concerted effort by Democrat officials in Trenton to direct vital homeland security dollars primarily to legislative districts with Democrat representatives.

Just about $7.8 million of the $8.3 million distributed last year went to Democrat districts, and 93 percent of the $22.9 million distributed since 2002 went to those same Democrat districts.

At the time the money was being diverted, Democrat Assembly candidate Reilly was an attorney on staff for the Democrat caucus and was the legislative aide to the Assembly Homeland Security and the Assembly Law and Public Safety committees.

“With his position on these committees, Jim Reilly had a duty to put a stop to this political diversion of funds, defend taxpayers and protect the residents of the Eleventh District,” Kean said. “Why did he remain silent while his party denied our district funding to protect our residents? Will he condemn his party leadership, Albio Sires, Joe Roberts and Dick Codey, for putting the lives of our citizens at risk?”

Corodemus and Kean said that Reilly needs to explain what role, if any, he played in deciding where these funds would go, whether he helped the Democrat legislators he worked with to obtain these funds for their districts, and whether he will now condemn this process and the leadership of his party.

“Mr. Reilly must explain to the families of the Eleventh District how anyone can justify jeopardizing their personal safety for political advantage,” Corodemus said. “Apparently Mr. Reilly and the Democrat Majority in Trenton are still using Governor McGreevy’s political play book that resulted in the appointment of Golan Cipel to head New Jersey’s Homeland Security. Mr. Reilly must explain to the families of the Eleventh District how he, as legal counsel to the committee and counsel to the Assembly Democrats didn’t know what was going on?”

“Either he knew what was going on and did nothing, or he was in the dark even while staffing committees that dealt directly with these issues,” Kean said. “Both explanations are somewhat troubling. Regardless, Jim Reilly failed to protect the people of the district.”

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