February 27, 2009

PLEASE STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!
PLEASE TAKE 2 MINUTES TO READ THIS MESSAGE THROUGHLY!!
READ IT SEVERAL TIMES IF NECESSARY TO
FULLY UNDERSTAND EACH STEP.
HELP US PASS FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL!!

In case you missed, yesterday NJGCA and lessee dealers were successful in getting S-2553 – our First Right of Refusal legislation – passed before the Senate Commerce Committee.

If eventually passed by both houses of the Legislature and signed by Governor Corzine, this bill will give small business lessees the opportunity to purchase their locations and prevent Big Oil from pulling the rug out from under them!

Any further success hinges on your ACTIVE participation!!

This measure must now go before the full Senate for a floor vote and an Assembly version of the bill (A-3726) is still awaiting action in the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.

We are expecting the oil companies to toss their weight around to prevent a hearing in the Assembly, and to block this from a floor vote in the Senate.

Below are very specific instructions that are easy for you to do and will not take more than 5 minutes.  You must make 3 phone calls.  We will contact you at the next step to inform you of the next phone calls you must make.  At this point, Sal prefers a quick phone call rather than an email, but if an email is easier for you, then it will be just as good.

WHAT YOU MUST DO

Please follow these instructions in their entirety!  Help us get S-2553 and A-3726 passed in both houses!!

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING & CALL!!

1. CALL THE OFFICE OF ASSSEMBLYWOMAN NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ

A-3726 is currently awaiting a hearing before the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.  Assemblywoman Cruz-Perez is the Chair of the committee and responsible for deciding what bills are heard and when.  We believe that with some persuasion from NJGCA members, the Assemblywoman will agree to post the bill for consideration before the Committee on March 9th.

Here’s what you MUST say when calling the Assemblywoman’s office:

“Assemblywoman Cruz-Perez, I own a small business gasoline station, and I’ve worked hard to grow my business.  But now, Big Oil wants to sell my location without giving me the right to own the property I worked so hard to build.  Please post A-3726 for consideration before the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee on March 9 and defend lessee dealers.”

Contact Info: 856-541-1251 - AswCruz-Perez@njleg.org

2. CALL THE OFFICE OF SENATOR DICK CODEY

Senator Codey is the Senate President and is responsible for selecting which bills will appear on the board list before the full Senate.  We believe that other Senators will support our initiative, but we need YOUR help in first getting this legislation posted for a floor vote on March 16th.

Here is what you MUST say when calling Senator Codey’s office:

“Senate President Codey, S-2553 was just released from the Senate Commerce Committee by a 4-0 vote.  This important legislation will stop Big Oil from selling my business location without giving me the opportunity to buy it from them.  Please support small businesses like mine and send S-2553 to the Senate floor for a vote on March 16th.”

Contact Info: 973-731-6770 – SenCodey@njleg.org

3. CALL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE TO THANK THEM

Despite strong opposition from Big Oil, the Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously to pass our legislation.  Now, we must take a moment to let them know how much we appreciated their vote and their understanding.  This kind of feedback is not only important but NECESSARY.  CALL NOW!

Here is what you MUST say when contacting Committee Members:

“Senator, thank you voting for S-2553 and standing up for small business owners like me.  Your vote will help defend my gas station from Big Oil and give me the chance of owning my business location.  Thank you!”

Again, Sal would prefer if you called, rather than emailed, the Committee members.

Contact Info:
Senator Nia Gill—973-509-0388— SenGill@njleg.org
Senator Raymond Lesniak—908-624-0880— SenLesniak@njleg.org
Senator Gerald Cardinale—201-567-2324— SenCardinale@njleg.org
Senator Robert Singer—732-901-0702— SenSinger@njleg.org

Take a few moments and contact these Legislators.  ACT NOW!!!

If you have any questions please call Chris Stark at 973-376-0066.

Please visit our web site at www.njgca.org