President Obama's Weekly Address 4/26/14 : Congress Needs to Act on Minimum Wage

WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s address, the President highlighted small business owners across the country acting to raise wages for their workers, and called on Congress to give America a raise so more hard-working Americans have the opportunity to get ahead.

84 Percent

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

These days, almost no one can afford to pay the full cost of college.

In fact, about 84 percent of full-time college undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. About 56 percent take out student loans – on average, taking on $8,100 a year in debt. Even among students whose families earn more than $100,000 a year, about 46 percent take out student loans.

Congressman Rush Holt

These figures were revealed this week in a new federal survey of student aid. Taken as a whole, the report shows that America is failing to make higher education affordable and accessible for every student.

Fixing the problem will require a major overhaul of our nation’s education policy – but in the meantime, we can at least help make student loan debt as manageable as possible.

Although Congress passed and the President signed a new law this month making student loan interest rates somewhat lower for now, the same law allows for rates to go far higher in the future. Congress can and should take the obvious step further and set interest rates much lower. Together with others in the House and Senate, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, I’ve co-sponsored legislation that would cut the interest rate on federal student loans to just 0.75 percent – the same rate the government charges Wall Street banks to borrow money.

Would You Turn Down $8 Million?

In February 2012, the federal government essentially wrote New Jersey a check for $7.67 million. The aim? To help our state establish an online marketplace so that New Jerseyans can shop for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Unfortunately, Gov. Christie, driven by his party’s reflexive opposition to the health reform law, refused to establish such a marketplace – handing the task over to the federal government instead. In doing so, he left New Jersey at risk of losing these millions of dollars in federal aid.

Earlier this month, I wrote to Gov. Christie urging him to use the funds now to help uninsured New Jerseyans understand their rights under the new health reform law, and to help small businesses understand how the law affects them. With just 39 days until the new insurance marketplace opens for enrollment, we cannot waste any time in helping New Jerseyans understand their health care options.

The governor has until February 20, 2014 to use the money before it could be revoked. He should not allow his party’s irrational hostility to health reform to prevent him from using these funds to improve the lives of New Jerseyans....


Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Buono Unveils Economic Plan to Strengthen New Jersey’s Working and Middle Class

New Brunswick, NJ – Democratic gubernatorial candidate and State Senator Barbara Buono today released her plan to revitalize New Jersey’s economy. The Buono Economic Plan focuses on lifting up all New Jerseyans by giving them the training, resources and infrastructure they need to thrive in a 21st century economy.

“My plan was developed with the understanding that a strong economy begins with a strong middle class. In order to have sustainable, long-term growth we must invest in our workforce, schools, small businesses and infrastructure,” said Buono. “As Governor, I will marshal New Jersey’s resources to create jobs and make our state competitive in the global economy.”



You can find the entire Buono Economic Plan here.

The five-part plan calls for making strategic investments in New Jersey workers, ensuring working families can make ends meet and creating partnerships between institutions of higher learning and businesses in emerging industries so that New Jersey is at the forefront of the global economy.

New Jersey was once one of America’s leaders in developing complex technologies and lifesaving medicines. This history can be the foundation for the next generation of businesses that will move the Garden State forward. To make sure that New Jersey’s workers have the necessary skills, the Buono Economic Plan will:

• Restore New Jersey as a leader in research and innovation by emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum in our schools and providing higher education with the resources to expand this workforce.
• Create affordable options in our community colleges and vocational schools to train and retrain our workforce with the skills needed for developing industries.

The second part of the Buono Economic Plan will help working families that have been hurting under Governor Christie earn a living wage. This includes:

• Restoring the Earned Income Tax Credit to 25 percent and marketing it to all eligible families.
• Increasing New Jersey’s minimum wage and tying it to cost of living increases.
• Expanding tax relief for child care expenses that cost the average New Jersey family 9 percent of its monthly income.
• Giving parents the tools to save for their children’s higher education through the NJ BEST program.

As Governor, Barbara Buono will commit to fostering cooperative partnerships between emerging markets and institutions of higher learning, which will define New Jersey as a leader in innovation and help attract high quality businesses. To do this, she will:

• Connect start-up and emerging market businesses with institutions of higher learning.
• Increase investments in research and development to attract new businesses to New Jersey.

Tax credits and incentives work best when targeted at the communities and businesses that need it most. Approximately 95% of all New Jersey companies are small businesses. To help grow this sector of the economy, the Buono Economic Plan will:

• Target assistance to small businesses, many of which are women-and minority-owned.
• Start a Community Solutions program to help small businesses open and grow.
• Target tax credits for small businesses in biotechnology, life sciences, and other advanced fields.
• Restore and strengthen oversight of the Urban Enterprise Zone program

Finally, many people in New Jersey are facing obstacles that can only be removed by the government action. To promote growth, the Buono Economic Plan will:

• Tackle the foreclosure crisis and keep families in their homes.
• Fix crumbling infrastructure by leveraging private capital and federal funds to pay for new projects.
• Renew our commitment to a clean energy economy by investing in renewable energy sources and promoting energy efficiency.

Pallone Announces CDBG Disaster Recovery Grants to Asbury Park, Keansburg

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced $350,000 to the city of Asbury Park and $271,413 to Keansburg in Community Development Block Grant Disaster (CDBG) Recovery funds. These grants can help local government entities whose budgets are strained from the Sandy rebuilding process to maintain essential services to the community.

“Sandy took a lot out of our local governments financially, and I’m thrilled that these grants will help communities plug holes in their budgets,” said Pallone. “New Jerseyans’ lives have been disrupted enough as a result of this terrible storm, and it’s important to the rebuilding process that our cities and schools continue to support the community as they did before the Sandy.”

New Jersey has received $1,829,520,000 in CDBG grants from the Sandy aid package passed by Congress earlier this year. Under New Jersey’s Disaster Action Plan approved by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development on April 29, 2013, $60 million will support local government entities so they can maintain essential services. The large majority of CDBG grants will support individuals and small businesses suffering damages following Superstorm Sandy. These grants will help residents repair their homes, fund buyouts in areas where people face repetitive flooding, assist homeowners who need help to raise their homes and businesses with repair costs not covered by insurance or small business loans.

“I look forward to additional rounds of CDBG funding reaching more of our local government entities, residents, and small businesses in need,” Pallone added.

Residents and Small Businesses Impacted by Sandy Now a Critical Step Closer to Recovery

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Approved $1.8 billion Disaster Recovery Plan for New Jersey

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone praised the approval of New Jersey’s $1.8 billion Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster recovery plan that will help New Jersey’s homeowners and businesses impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

“I hear from New Jerseyans every day about how difficult this process is, and I know that many of them are not even close to a full recovery. The approval of this $1.8 billion plan means that more people now have an end in sight, and it will allow businesses to focus on business instead of how to pay for repair costs.” said Congressman Pallone.

The New Jersey CDBG disaster recovery funds have been allocated for homes and small businesses suffering damages following Superstorm Sandy. These grants will help residents repair their homes, fund buyouts in areas where people face repetitive flooding, assist homeowners who need help to raise their homes and businesses with repair costs not covered by insurance or small business loans.

The CDBG plan, submitted by New Jersey, was approved today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding was made possible by the Sandy Relief Package passed by Congress.

Pallone Announces $1.8 Billion in Federal Sandy Aid for New Jersey

Funds will go towards rebuilding homes and small businesses impacted by Sandy

WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that New Jersey was allocated $1,829,520,000 in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for rebuilding homes and small businesses impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Rep. Pallone’s New Jersey district includes a large stretch of the Jersey Shore and several towns devastated by Superstorm Sandy, like Sea Bright and Union Beach.

Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Funds may go towards the restoration of housing, infrastructure and economic revitalization. This particular allocation is limited to homes and small businesses suffering damages following Superstorm Sandy.

“This disaster recovery funding is an important step forward as New Jersey works to recover from Sandy,” said Pallone. “Many of our homes and businesses are badly in need of repairs or are in some cases, completely destroyed. These funds will kick start the rebuilding of our communities and set us on a course to revitalize the Shore.”

The grant is a result of the Superstorm Sandy Relief Package that passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by President Obama. Pallone was a strong advocate for a robust relief package to help the victims of the historic storm. In total, $5.4B in CDBG-DR funding was allocated today to the Sandy affected.

“I look forward to additional allocations of funding for disaster recovery in our region, including grants that will help our state rebuild the infrastructure damaged by Sandy,” Pallone added.

Opinion: As fiscal cliff nears, we are better off without Bush tax cuts for top 2 percent

The following editorial appeared last week in the Times of Trenton

By Joshua Henne

Mere days after the polls closed in 2004 — the election he actually won – President George W. Bush proclaimed, “I earned capital in this campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it.” Bush garnered 286 electoral votes and called it a mandate.

Well, last month, President Barack Obama racked up a whopping 332 electoral votes in his re-election bid. Now, that’s a mandate.

At its heart, the 2012 campaign was about fairness. And there’s no better way for Obama to level the playing field than by letting the Bush tax cuts expire on the wealthiest 2 percent.

The Senate has already passed legislation S3412, providing tax relief for middle-class families. Right now, Obama would sign a bill extending tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans if it came across his desk. Yet, some stubborn House Republicans continue holding this plan hostage to keep the system rigged in favor of those at the tippy-top. Obama has drawn a line in cement that he’d veto any legislation continuing cuts for those making more than $250,000.

By any metric, America’s most affluent aren’t hurting. In fact, they’re far richer today than at any time in history — taking home a larger slice of total wealth and income than top earners have received in more than 80 years. If the Bush tax cuts were to expire for the top 2 percent, they’d still be able to keep up with the Kardashians.

Allowing the clock to run out on these cuts isn’t merely a symbolic gesture of finally shaking off the yoke of Bush’s failed legacy. There are practical, real-life implications, as well.

Currently, there’s a spirited discussion regarding how to stop our nation from falling off a fiscal cliff. By letting the Bush tax cuts lapse on top income earners, we’d take care of half that conundrum. About $1 trillion would come flooding in over the next decade, half-filling America’s coffers with the money needed to avoid the plunge off said cliff. That’s not a drop in the bucket. It’s a significant contribution toward what’s needed to put our nation back on sound financial footing.

Every year, millionaires receive, on average, $128,832 back from the Bush tax cuts. Economists across the board say this strategy is the least effective way to grow our economy. The very rich simply sit on the additional money, rather than re-circulating it. Ayn Rand’s silly theory that the super-wealthy are society’s saviors has smacked against reality time and time again. Prosperity won’t come from the top down. Rather, we need policies that stimulate and strengthen the middle class.

Furthermore, if we hand hedge fund managers more money to simply add to savings accounts and shore up stock portfolios, we won’t have the funds needed to rebuild our crumbling roads, bridges and energy grid or invest in education, health and innovation. Congress shouldn’t hold the middle class captive just to make sure the Scrooge McDucks of the world can continue swimming around in ever-deepening vaults of cash.

It’s also a canard to claim small businesses would be harmed by ending the Bush tax cuts for the top 2 percent. The truth is 97 percent of them would still see their tax cut extended. Many of the remaining “small-business owners” are lawyers, Wall Streeters and folks who classify as such to take advantage of tax loopholes.

Real small-business owners will tell you they don’t need tax reductions to help them grow. Rather, they need more customers with more money to purchase goods or use their services. Supplying tax cuts to the super-wealthy would purely perpetuate an unfair advantage by giving them more cash on hand, making it even more arduous for actual mom-and-pop stores to compete. So, it’s no surprise that a Small Business Majority poll shows 52 percent of business owners support letting tax cuts lapse for those making more than $250,000.

There is no rational argument for everyone’s taxes to go up just so billionaires get another cut. Congressional members from coast to coast — and especially here in New Jersey — should slip free of the shackles of Grover Norquist’s childish pledge. In terms of sheer self-interest alone, Republican representatives would be wise to stop holding middle-class tax relief hostage, lest constituents remember this in the mid-term elections.

An Americans for Tax Fairness poll shows 67 percent said “making the tax system more fair” was a “very” or “fairly important consideration in making their voting decisions” this year. More people believe in dropping the Bush tax cuts for the top 2 percent than even voted for Obama. The people have spoken from the ground up. They won’t stand for trickle-down economics any longer. This president truly has capital. And he is going to use it.

Elections are about much more than the names at the top of the ticket. They’re also about the ideas, policies and philosophies for which voters are truly pulling the lever. In 2012, the American people clamored for fairness. By allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire on the wealthiest income earners, Congress can show it is listening to the will of the people.

Joshua Henne is a founding partner of White Horse Strategies and New Jersey spokesman for The Action. You can follow @JoshuaHenne on Twitter.

President Obama's Weekly Address 12/8/12 : Congress Must Extend the Middle Class Tax Cuts

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama urged Congress to extend the middle class income tax cuts for 98% of Americans and 97% of small businesses without delay, and made clear that a balanced approach to deficit reduction means that Republicans in Congress must agree to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay higher tax rates.

President Obama's Weekly Address 11/17/12: Working Together to Extend the Middle Class Tax Cuts

President Obama urges Congress to act now on one thing that everyone agrees on -- ensuring that taxes don’t go up on 98 percent of all Americans and 97 percent of small businesses at the end of the year. On Friday, the President had a constructive meeting with Congressional leaders on finding ways to reduce our deficit in a way that strengthens our economy and protects our middle class, and he looks forward to working together to get this done.

President Obama's Weekly Address 11/10/12: Extending Middle Class Tax Cuts to Grow the Economy

In his weekly address,President Obama says that it’s time for Congress to pass the middle class tax cuts for 98 percent of all Americans. Both parties agree that this will give 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses the certainty that will lead to growth, and so there is no reason to wait. On Tuesday, the American people voted for compromise and action, and the President calls on Congress to come together in that spirit to help create jobs and strengthen our economy.

President Obama's Weekly Address 8/11/12 : All-Hands-On-Deck Response to the Drought

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama discussed the Administration’s all-hands-on-deck approach to one of the worst droughts in more than fifty years. This drought is especially hard on farmers and ranchers who are facing poor crops and are struggling to feed their animals. That is why the Administration is doing everything possible to give them the tools to fight back and recover. The Administration has taken steps including opening more federal land for haying and grazing, giving farmers, ranchers, and small businesses access to low-interest emergency loans, and providing assistance to get more water to livestock and restore land affected by the drought. But the Administration can’t do this alone. The President reiterated his call on Congress to join him in taking action by passing a farm bill that makes necessary reforms while helping farmers and ranchers respond to these types of natural disasters and providing the certainty they deserve.

President Obama's Weekly Address 7/28/12: The House of Representatives Must Act on Middle Class Tax Cut Extension

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama urged Republicans in the House of Representatives to act on his proposal to protect middle class families and small businesses from being hit with a big tax hike next year. Everyone says they agree that we should extend the tax cuts for the middle class and the Senate already passed the President’s plan to prevent a typical family from seeing a tax increase of $2,200, but Republicans in Congress are holding these tax cuts hostage until we extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. The President called on Congress to pass the middle class tax extension so that we can continue to grow the economy and create jobs the American people.

President Obama's Weekly Address 7/14/12: It’s Time for Congress to Pass the Middle Class Tax Cut Extension

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama called on Congress to act now to extend tax cuts for the 98% of Americans making less than $250,000 for another year. If Congress fails to act, taxes will go up on January 1st and will be a blow to millions of middle class families and to our economy. Both parties agree on extending the tax cuts for the middle class, and the President believes it’s time for Congress to act so that we can give the middle class and our small businesses the certainty they need as we work to create an economy that is built to last.

President Obama's Weekly Address 5/12/12: Congress Must Act on "To-Do List"

In this week’s address, President Obama called on Democrats and Republicans to come together and act on his Congressional “to-do list,” which will create jobs and help restore middle class security. In this make-or-break moment for the middle class, these five initiatives have bipartisan support and will help create an economy that is built to last. While some believe we should return to the same policies that led to the worst recession since the Great Depression, the President believes we must take action to speed up the recovery and ensure that our economy once again rewards hard work and responsibility as we keep our country moving forward.

NEW JERSEY: 1 OF 8 STATES AWARDED HEALTH INSURANCE CO-OP

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Contact: Joshua Henne, 732-407-5938 

Freelancers CO-OP of NJ Will Benefit Individuals & Small Businesses

(NEW JERSEY) – Yesterday, New Jersey was announced as one of eight states awarded a Consumer Oriented and Operated Plans (CO-OP) loan. These funds will help the Freelancers CO-OP of New Jersey start a private non-profit, consumer-governed health insurance company.  Created by the Affordable Care Act, CO-OPs provide more health care choices for both individuals and small businesses.

The Affordable Care Act has an express goal of funding one CO-OP in each of the fifty states. The funding for loans is part of $3.8 billion included in federal health care reform to create non-profit insurers. Beginning in 2014, millions of uninsured people will now be able to purchase private coverage in new state markets. CO-OPs will compete in state-run insurance exchanges, and tax-credit subsidies will help customers with the cost. These new and innovative health-insurers will be run by their members and are designed to offer coverage to both individuals and small businesses.

"This CO-OP loan announcement is just another accomplishment in a long list of ways the Affordable Care Act is providing access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and wellness benefits to all Americans," said Joshua Henne, New Jersey spokesman for Know Your Care. "The Freelancers CO-OP of New Jersey will be a terrific resource for countless families and small businesses throughout the state."

 Freelancers CO-OP of New Jersey was awarded a $107,213,300
loan to provide health insurance coverage statewide. This particular non-profit health insurer is sponsored by Freelancers Union - a union of independent workers partnering with providers with an innovative and effective Patient-Centered Medical Home model.

 The loans will help fund CO-OP start-up costs. The money will also assist these nonprofit health insurers in meeting minimum reserve requirements to pay claims. All loans must be repaid with interest and loans will only be made to private, nonprofit entities that show a high probability of becoming financially viable. The loans for start-up costs must be repaid within 5 years, while solvency loans must be repaid in 15 years.

To-date seven nonprofits offering coverage in eight states have already been awarded $638.7 million. In addition to the Freelancers CO-OP of New Jersey, the other states benefitting include Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Wisconsin. All will begin operation starting January 1^st, 2014.

 For more information on this announcement, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2012/02/coops02212012a.html

****

 The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23^rd,^, 2010. Over the past two years, it has been a tremendous help to millions of Americans as this real reform lowers costs and guarantees more choice for consumers.  As additional provisions are implemented, ACA will continue to benefit millions more people.

  

President Obama's Weekly Address 2/18/12:Continuing to Strengthen American Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama spoke to the American people from the Boeing Plant in Everett, Washington about our efforts to strengthen American manufacturing and job creation here in the United States. He described how we can support businesses like Boeing, which is hiring thousands of Americans across the country, through steps like removing tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas and giving them to companies that create jobs at home. The President is committed to continue assisting businesses in selling their products around the world, and the United States is on track to meet President Obama’s goal of doubling exports within five years. The President believes that by boosting American manufacturing and supporting our job creators, we can create an economy that’s built to last.

President Obama's Weekly Address 9/17/11: Passing the American Jobs Act

WASHINGTON—In this week’s address, President Obama urged Congress to pass the American Jobs Act without delay so that businesses will be able to hire more workers and every American who wants a job will be able to find one. The President’s jobs bill keeps cops on the streets and teachers in the classrooms, cuts taxes for small businesses, and puts construction workers back to work without adding to the deficit. All Americans who agree with the President’s plan should call their elected officials and tell them that it’s time to pass the jobs bill, which will ensure that everyone pays their fair share and that we live within our means as we help the economy continue to grow.

President Obama's Weekly Address 1/29/11: "America Will Win the Future by Out-Innovating, Out-Educating, and Out-Building Our Competitors"

WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama called Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, Wisconsin an example of how America can win the future by being the best place on Earth to do business. Orion was able to open with the help of small business loans and incentives that are creating demand for clean energy technologies. By sparking innovation and spurring new products and technologies, America will unleash the talent and ingenuity of American workers and businesses, which will lead to new, good jobs.

Douglas Herbert Will Fight For Small Business In 11th Congressional Distrcit

Press Release
10/6/10


Morristown) - Speaking outside of a closed storefront in downtown Morristown, Douglas Herbert addressed the urgent need to help struggling small businesses in New Jersey's Eleventh District. Doug said, "Small businesses are the engine of our economic growth. They account for 75 percent of new job creation... Nothing should be more non-partisan than helping small businesses grow and putting Americans back to work."

Referring to Rodney Frelinghuysen's recent vote against the 'Small Business Lending Fund Act,' Doug emphasized, "Rodney talks about how he supports small business and how he wants to help put people back to work. However, when he has a chance to act, a chance to actually help small business, Rodney Frelinghuysen votes against their interests."

"Now is not a time to play politics with people's lives. I would have voted to allow small businesses to rehire and reinvest. By putting money in the hands of those who will use it, we can and will create an economic recovery one dollar at a time."

In order to help small businesses gain access to the resources necessary to grow, Doug proposed three approaches:

(1) I will fight to provide payroll tax credits for small business that hire and rehire Americans currently unemployed. Many small business owners that I have spoken to have told me that they would put this credit back into their business and into hiring new employees.

(2) I will fight to expand government guaranteed loan programs and credit lines to small businesses. As a small-business owner myself, I know that access to capital is a primary concern for many small business owners now. We cannot sit back and allow small businesses to suffocate while Congressmen like Frelinghuysen approve billions of dollars in big bank bailouts. Bills like the one last week are crucial to ensuring business can survive this recession.

(3) Lastly, it is time that we have a Congressman in the Eleventh District who will support innovation and high-tech job creation. Through investments in research and a tax credit so that businesses can innovate, I will work to bring new, high-tech jobs to the Eleventh District. I will not accept the status-quo; there are real steps we can take to create new high-paying and secure jobs here.

Closing his comments, Doug said, "Small-businesses drive our economy, and I will make sure that their interests and the Eleventh District's interests are represented in Congress."

To read Doug's full statement

Douglas Herbert is a veteran of the 82nd Airborne and he currently resides in Chatham, NJ. He is running against the eight-term incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen.

Letter: Small Business Can Count on Holt

The following letter written by Mr. Vin Gopal appears on the AHherald.com

This November, we'll find the usual cast characters on the ballot: wall street millionaires, politically-connected lawyers and career politicians, all of whom will try to convince us that they know what is best for us. As a small business owner, I work 16 hours a day, battling to make payroll for my employees while fighting to keep prices low for my customers and clients. One member of Congress understands what small business owners go through every day. His name is Rush Holt and he is not a career politician, he is a rocket scientist turned college professor turned public servant. During his tenure in Congress, Representative Holt has had a far greater outreach into the small business community than any other member of Congress in the New Jersey delegation.

He feels our frustration and pain when we are working twice as many hours making half of what we used to two years ago. That is why he recently introduced the “Creating Jobs From Innovative Small Businesses Act of 2010” - legislation which would encourage small business investment by establishing a temporary 20 percent tax credit for investments in research-intensive small businesses. Last year, Representative Holt helped pass legislation in the House that would eliminate fees on SBA loans and increase loan guarantees to increase lending to small businesses. Month after month, Representative Holt is fighting for us in Congress.

As Labor Day passes and as the campaign season heats up, the last thing small business owners need is another wall street genius who claims he can fix all of our problems. We need someone who has walked the walk and that is Representative Rush Holt. As a private citizen and a proud small business owner, I urge Central Jersey residents to vote for Rush Holt, someone small business owners can count on and someone Wall Street can count against.

Sincerely,

Vin Gopal
Long Branch, NJ

Vin Gopal serves on the Board of Directors for the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce and is President of the Hazlet Business Owners Associations. He is the co-owner of Monitor Publications, which currently markets over 200 small businesses throughout Monmouth and Middlesex Counties. These views in this letter do not represent the position(s) of any of these organizations.