March 3, 2009

STOP & ACT NOW!!
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO CONTACT THESE LEGISLATORS!!
WE NEED YOU TO MAKE TWO PHONE CALLS &
KEEP FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL MOVING!!
HELP US GET IT HEARD IN COMMITTEE!!!

In case you missed it last week, 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.

WHAT YOU MUST DO

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING & CALL!!

1. CRITICALLY IMPORTANT: CALL ASSSEMBLYWOMAN NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ TODAY!!

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.  It is of the utmost importance that YOU CALL Assemblywoman Cruz-Perez TODAY!!  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.  ACT NOW!!

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 9th 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

Take a few moments and contact these Legislators -- TODAY!!!

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

Please visit our web site at www.njgca.org