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June 11, 2010
GREETINGS AND SAL-UTATIONS!
Dear NJGCA Member:
SAFETY INSPETIONS, ERT EXTENSIONS, AND LUKOIL LAWSUIT
For well over a month now, our attention has been focused nearly full-time on Safety Inspections and the vehicle inspection program. As of today, we have less than three weeks to go until the budget needs to be passed and signed into law. I have other issues to discuss with you, but it would be wrong for me not to keep you updated as this chess game plays out.
Many of you are calling me because you’ve either talked to someone or heard rumors that this is a done deal. Let me assure you -- It’s not. I have plenty political connections in Trenton and even MY SOURCES can’t tell me for sure one way or the other. We have very influential people in the State House that are strongly on our side and trying to make things go our way.
Yes, we have one very strong opponent right now and that is Governor Christie. Please note that I said Governor Christie is our opponent on this issue….I did not say he is our enemy. The Governor and I have a strong difference of opinion on this issue.
As for me, I’ve been on an emotional --- and even factual --- roller coaster for the last month. It seems that I have met with Legislators who seem to fully understand our presentation and have pledged their support. I have also met with other Legislators who are clearly baffled and don’t seem to have a clue what’s happening. Such is life in the State House.
However, despite any confusion, all indications are that Legislators in both the Assembly and the Senate agree with us – That Safety Inspections should NOT be eliminated and that ALL re-inspections should be performed at PIF locations.
That being said, I regret to inform you that we had a bit of a set back this week. Senator Cunningham, who last week submitted a resolution supporting our proposal, contacted me this Tuesday to say that she was withdrawing the resolution from the Senate. While I can’t agree with her rationale for pulling her support, I don’t take it personally. However, the good news is that the resolution has been sponsored in the Assembly, and we don’t need to have our resolution introduced in both houses to get it passed into law; so not having a bill in the Senate will not hinder us.
What is the status today? I think we have strong support, including both the Chair of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. However, even if the bill should pass both houses and our proposal is included in the final budget to substitute the Governor’s plan to eliminate Safety Inspections, the consensus from my insiders is that Governor Christie still favors his plan over mine.
What does this all boil down to? IT’S NOT OVER. I know over the last few weeks, I’ve asked you to reach out to the Governor’s Office and key Legislators and ask them to get onboard.
Today, I’m asking you to do it again. Even if you have called before, please pick up the phone and call. These elected officials must hear from you. Any negotiations between the Governor and the Legislature can include our proposal, as a compromise measure, as they hash things out.
Click HERE to review the Wildfire Alert from a few weeks back with the proper contact information and instructions.
Please allow me to be clear and direct: I remain hopeful that the NJGCA Plan will become part of the final budget since the majority of Legislators – both Republican and Democrat -- agree with us and not the Governor.
This isn’t a joke and we are in this fight to the bitter end. The Governor and Legislators MUST know how you feel and keep letting them know. That means call, email and fax them every day until I tell you to stop.
For anyone who is an Emission Repair Technician (ERT), and has not been able to take ETEP training due to scheduling issues, the NJ DEP will issue a one-time-only extension to August 31, 2010 to any ERT who is registered for ETEP training by June 30. Please note that this is for re-certifying technicians only.
To be granted an extension, an ERT MUST have their Training Provider submit proof to the DEP that the ERT is registered for class. Please email Debbie Hill (debbie@njgca.org) or call her at NJGCA HQ (973-376-0066) so we can get you registered for a class and have your information submitted to the DEP.
Please keep in mind, if you are going to take advantage of this extension, you MUST be enrolled in an ETEP class by June 30, and have it complete by August 31st. No registration information will be accepted after June 30 and there will be no extension if training is not completed by the end of August.
Contact Debbie ASAP so you can take advantage of this extension.
Last week I told you that NJGCA and a number of Lukoil franchisees began legal proceedings to challenge Lukoil’s violation of the First Right of Refusal Act. This week I’m pleased to report that our efforts are getting attention by the media. Click HERE to read a recent Oil Express piece reporting on our actions.
Thanks for reading and see you next week!
Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
IN THIS WEEK’S NJGCA ROAD WARRIOR
UPDATE: NEW PIF CLASSES ADDED!!
•Added All PIF and Diesel classes below!!
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
•Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!
NEWS AROUND THE STATE
•Trenton seeks federal healthcare aid
•Proposal seeks advertisements, sponsorships at toll plazas
•D.C. think-tank opposes Governor’s budget cap
•Bill passes which requires state employees to live in New Jersey
ON THE NJGCA HOMEPAGE
MEMBER SAVINGS PAGE
Check out all of our MBPs and Programs designed to SAVE YOU MONEY!
HELPFUL LINKS
Looking for something? Take a look at our list of useful links!
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Find all our communications and search for old e-newsletters. Take a look!
NEWS AROUND THE STATE ARCHIVE
Need to catch up on events? Want to see what's going on? Find out here!
KNOW YOUR TERRITORY MANAGER!
Henry Darden: Territory Manager for Middlesex, Union, Part of Essex (Southern Half)
Cell: 973-477-0057
Email: henry@njgca.org
Jack Leli: Territory Manager for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem
Cell: 732-995-1637
Email: jack@njgca.org
Bob Quirk: Territory Manager for Bergen, Hudson, Part of Essex (Northern Half)
Cell: 201-214-8836
E-mail: bob@njgca.org
Frank Stewart: Territory Manager for Morris, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic
Cell: 973-234-7403
Email: frank@njgca.org
Don Stohrer: Territory Manager for Monmouth, Mercer, Somerset
Cell: 732-539-2955
Email: don@njgca.org
UPDATE: NEW PIF CLASSES ADDED!!
CALL FOR FUTURE CLASS SCHEDULE INFORMATION
ETEP Re-Certification Classes
NJGCA is offering the ETEP course that your ERT’s need in order to re-certify their license.
Our Course includes:
•New Jersey State Specific Information Course
•ETEP Section 6 “OBDII Monitoring Failures”
•Section 7 “Light-Duty Diesel Vehicle Technologies and Testing”.
Everything your technician needs to Re-Certify his ERT license!!!
CALL FOR CLASS INFORMATION
PLEASE NOTE: We are always in the process of putting together additional classes. If you are interested in taking classes in this time period, please call NJGCA and let us know so we can add you to the list.
Call Debbie Hill to enroll in the classes at debbie@njgca.org or call 973-376-0066.
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
Ensuring our friends in the legislature are re-elected and advocating for our agenda in Trenton are of utmost importance to the agenda of NJGCA.
It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.
For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon the shoulders of a few. This is not fair to them, and it is not fair to many of you who are relying on the benefits of good legislation being passed in Trenton.
To truly understand the importance of fundraising for our allies, let’s look back upon the overwhelming successes of the last year:
NJGCA successfully lobbied against BELOW COST SELLING. If approved, BELOW COST SELLING would have cost each of you thousands of dollars and put many of you out of businesses. NJGCA leaned on some of our friends in the Assembly and literally had the bill pulled off the floor on the day it was scheduled to be voted on. Our friends in the Legislature helped us get this accomplished.
NJGCA made history and led the charge to pass the most comprehensive protection of franchisees in decades with FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL legislation. FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL passed only because NJGCA and dealers throughout the state were able to lean on several friends in the Assembly and the Senate.
NJGCA has been rallying support for RIGHT TO REPAIR over the last two years among key legislators. This would end the practice of car manufacturers denying you the codes necessary to complete the repairs you make on your customers cars. Every state has tried to pass RIGHT TO REPAIR and no state has even been able to get the legislation out of committee. Because of our friends in the Legislature, NJGCA has been successful in getting this bill passed by the Assembly and now awaits a vote in the Senate.
I am asking some of you as individuals to make a contribution and attend a fundraising event sponsored by one of our friends in the Assembly.
However, we will not be able to host events for all of our friends, so the NJGCA PAC will have to make contributions. You will be receiving letters soon from the NJGCA PAC asking you to make contributions.
If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.
PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
66 Morris Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC
I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.
We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.
NEWS AROUND THE STATE
6/10/2010:
Trenton seeks federal healthcare aid
The state Department of Banking and Insurance has filed with the federal Department of Health and Human Services in an attempt to receive a portion of the $5 billion “high-risk” pool created for pre-existing conditions. The state is seeking $141 million in funding, and if approved, would allow New Jersey to retain control of the state’s “high-risk” pool.
6/9/2010:
Proposal seeks advertisements, sponsorships at toll plazas
Two Assembly members recently introduced a bill which would allow commercial sponsorship and business advertising on major toll roads in the state. Among the roads which could be affected are the NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway. Permitting signage at toll plazas would raise revenue for road improvements without increasing the state’s Gas Tax.
6/8/2010:
D.C. think-tank opposes Governor’s budget cap
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think-tank based in Washington, D.C. has issued a report opposing Governor Christie’s 2.5% property tax cap. The report states that public education and government services would suffer under the cap. Political observers believe the report was issued in opposition to the right-leaning report recently offered by Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.
5/20/2010:
Bill passes which requires state employees to live in New Jersey
A recently passed bill will require that all state workers hired in the future must reside in New Jersey in order to secure employment with the state. The new law calls for all public workers to live in state or move to New Jersey within one-year of taking a public position. The measure was heavily opposed by public employee unions and now moves to the Assembly for further consideration.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES IN OUR “NEWS AROUND THE STATE” ARCHIVE
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