The Republican Party's latest hand-picked candidate for the U.S. Senate, Dick Zimmer, a Washington lobbyist and Newt Gingrich loyalist, staged the first act of a campaign to reinvent his political profile and recast his political loyalties.

'A true victory for families that builds on our legacy of workers' rights and makes New Jersey a leader on Family Leave Insurance. Earning a living and caring for a family member should not be mutually exclusive.' Governor Jon S. Corzine

Governor Corzine's financial restructuring and debt reduction initiative is an opportunity for New Jersey to get back on sound fiscal footing for the first time in decades. This unique fiscal proposal provides a solution to combat the State's crippling debt, while also providing funding for transportation projects for a generation. The Corzine Administration has put forward a real solution to fix our State's crippling debt obligations and provide a permanent funding source for the Transportation Trust Fund.

The Governor believes we need to change the “credit card” culture of New Jersey’s finances and restructure our fiscal practices, our balance sheet, and our fiscal culture.

Democratic Party Chairman Joe Cryan issued the following statement on Tuesday in response to Governor Corzine's State of the State Address:

"The Governor today gave all of us in New Jersey a straightforward and sobering diagnosis of a fiscal crisis that has been years in the making and that, if left to itself, could choke off our financial well being and deny us future opportunities.

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed legislation abolishing the death penalty in New Jersey and replacing it with life imprisonment without parole. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to enact a law to end use of the death penalty since it was reinstated by the United States Supreme Court in 1976. To ensure that the intent of the legislation was fully carried out as to the eight remaining inmates on death row, on Sunday evening Governor Corzine commuted the sentences of those inmates to life in prison without parole.

“Today New Jersey evolves. This is a day of progress for us and for the millions of people across our nation and around the globe who reject the death penalty as a moral or practical response to the grievous, even heinous, crime of murder,” Corzine said. “I have been moved by the passionate views on both sides of this issue, and I firmly believe that replacing the death penalty with life in prison without parole best captures our State’s highest values and reflects our best efforts to search for true justice.”

Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan issued the following statement on Monday in response to Congressman Ferguson's announcement not to seek re-election:

"We should thank Congressman Ferguson for his service and wish him well in his political retirement.

Trenton - Joseph Cryan, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement today condemning the divisive political comments by Senator Cardinale and dismissing Cardinale's post-election explanations as empty excuses:

Election Brings More Women, Including the First Latina & Two African-Americans, Youth and Experience, Talent & Commitment To Public Service

Trenton - State Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan on Wednesday called on Republican legislators to help save the children's health insurance program from President Bush's veto by publicly pressing their colleagues in Congress to abandon the President on this issue. Chairman Cryan cited the $88 million impact on the state budget as added incentive.

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today filed a lawsuit on behalf of the people of the state of New Jersey challenging the letter issued by the Bush Administration limiting eligibility for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The lawsuit accuses the Bush Administration of circumventing the public rule-making process by fundamentally and arbitrarily changing the program via letter, which would have the effect of denying health insurance coverage for over 10,000 New Jersey children.

The SCHIP children's health insurance plan reauthorization passed Congress on September 25 and is heading to the Senate for consideration. Not surprisingly, Republicans want to deny health insurance from the neediest Americans, and 3 of our own "moderate" New Jersey Republican Congressmen, Jim Saxton, Scott Garrett, and Rodney Frelinghuysen, felt the need to vote against providing health care to 4 million low-income American children. President Bush is threatening to use his veto when this bill passes, but Governor Corzine and the Democratic Party are leading the fight to make sure our children remain safe and healthy.

The U.S. House of Representatives last night passed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, H.R. 976, by a vote of 265 to 159.

All New Jersey Democratic members of Congress voted 'Aye.' Three of the Republican members of the delegation - Saxton, Garrett & Frelinghuysen - voted 'No.'

George Bush - with his 68% disapproval rating in NJ - is threatening a veto.

The legislation includes exemptions to continue strong federal support for New Jersey’s FamilyCare program.

Democratic Party Chairman Joe Cryan issued the following statement on Wednesday in response to the GOP's recycled campaign plan:

"This is nothing more than recycled rhetoric and nothing less than a litany of empty promises. The Republicans have already proven the only thing they know to do with promises is break them. Today they gave us even more evidence of their past failures and current hypocrisy.

Trenton - The determined commitment by Democrats to provide property tax relief and institute long-term reforms that was initiated on July 28th when Governor Jon Corzine addressed a Special Joint Session of the Legislature - followed by a months-long Special Legislative Session under the leadership of Senate President Richard Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts - has now delivered on a key phase with the distribution of $2.2 billion in rebates.

TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today sent a letter to President Bush vowing to continue to enroll New Jersey children in the popular State Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), FamilyCare, despite recent federal efforts to limit such enrollments. Corzine also said in his letter that he was prepared, if necessary, to pursue legal action to further the goal of protecting our most vulnerable children.

The text of the letter follows:

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine, along with Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia division of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Mark Potter, Attorney General Anne Milgram and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Rick Fuentes today announced a historic agreement between New Jersey and the ATF that will allow the state to more effectively trace the sources of illegal firearms through real-time electronic access to the ATF's e-Trace system.

As distribution of the first wave of Homestead Rebate checks from the most substantial and extensive property tax relief program in New Jersey history was launched this week, Governor Jon S. Corzine extended the application deadline to make sure that all eligible homeowners and tenants participate.

WASHINGTON – New Jersey Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) led a strong and successful effort to protect the health of New Jersey children that culminated in tonight’s Senate passage of the Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization bill by a seemingly veto-proof 68-31 vote. The legislation includes exemptions to continue strong federal support for New Jersey’s FamilyCare program – exemptions that Menendez and Lautenberg defended repeatedly from amendments targeting New Jersey on the Senate floor.

TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine and State Treasurer Bradley Abelow announced today that the Division of Taxation will begin mailing Homestead Rebate checks tomorrow to 1.2 million New Jersey households. Half of the recipients are non-senior tenants who will see their average benefit increase more than three-fold this year under the new Homestead Property Relief Program and FY 08 Budget approved by the Legislature.

WEST ORANGE – Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed the New Jersey Stem Cell Research Bond Act, a $450 million bond referendum that will provide financing for stem cell research grants to eligible institutions over a 10 year period.

TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today ceremonially signed legislation cracking down on the misclassification of full-time construction workers as independent contractors.

(Washington, DC)- Today, New Jersey's entire House delegation jointly called on Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to increase funding for risk-based anti-terror grants to their state. The effort, led by Reps. Steve Rothman and Albio Sires, comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalizes the amount of Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant funding that the region will receive.

Trenton - The New Jersey Democratic Party will launch a series of comprehensive political training programs for women candidates with the first day-long session in South Jersey on Saturday.

Trenton - With the addition of a State Senate candidate in the 23rd District, Democrats now have a full team of 120 legislative candidates competing in the upcoming election, leaving no Republican unchallenged and no district uncontested, Party Chairman Joe Cryan said on Wednesday.

Trenton - Governor Jon S. Corzine and Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan announced on Thursday that former President Bill Clinton will be the featured guest at the Governor's Gala in June. The State Party's annual fundraising event will be held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on June Eighth.

Evesham - Democrats targeting local elections produced a clean sweep in Evesham on Tuesday, winning three races in a community once considered "Republican territory," State Democratic Chairman Joe Cryan said. Democrats defeated a 16-year incumbent to capture the mayor's office and added two Democrats to a town council that had a four-to-one GOP advantage.

Trenton - Democratic candidates have filed to compete in 118 of the 120 seats in this year's legislative races, state party chairman Joseph Cryan noted after Monday's filing deadline, demonstrating the party's determination to compete on the entire playing field with top-notch, energetic candidates. In contrast, Republicans failed to produce candidates for 16 seats, continuing a downward trend of the 'incredible shrinking minority."

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed landmark property tax legislation that will lower property taxes in the short-term while instituting long-term reforms to help break the decades-long cycle of steep annual property tax increases.

Trenton - Democratic Party Chairman Joe Cryan said on Wednesday that the poll just released by Fairleigh Dickinson University's 'PublicMind Polling' documents the public's trust and respect in Governor Corzine's leadership despite - or maybe because of - the Governor's willingness to take on the big challenges and to make the tough decisions.

Trenton - State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Cryan issued the following statement on Wednesday following the release of the latest Quinnipiac Poll:

Trenton - Assemblyman Joe Cryan, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic Party, issued the following statement on Monday in support of the legislation approved by the Assembly State Government Committee that would move New Jersey's Presidential primary election to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February:

Trenton - Assemblyman Joe Cryan, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Thursday praising Governor Jon Corzine for his budget address:

State Democratic Party Chairman and Assemblyman Joe Cryan issued the following statement on Tuesday after Senate approval of the Property Tax Relief & Reform plan:

"This is an important milestone on the long hard road to tax relief that is substantial and reforms that go to the root causes of the property tax crisis. We were not afraid to take on an issue that has defied solution and scared away serious remedies for far too long.

'GOP wants to argue against the most significant tax reform plan New Jersey residents have seen - they must be suffering from some type of political hangover after last night's historic action in the Assembly'

Joe Cryan, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, wants all Democrats to join him in welcoming Rob Angelo as the new Executive Director of the Democratic State Committee and in thanking Diane Legreide for the excellent job she has done in guiding the state party.

Trenton - Joe Cryan, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Tuesday in response to Governor Jon Corzine's State of the State address:

Trenton – On the 25th anniversary of one of the most notoriously disgraceful episodes of voter suppression in electoral politics, a coalition of elected officials, civic groups and the clergy announced a pro-active plan to protect voters’ rights. Pointing to a 25-year history of intimidation, misinformation and dirty tricks by Republicans in New Jersey and nationwide, the group outlined an array of actions to prevent a reoccurrence of abuses in this year’s election.

Trenton - As the latest money magnet and political emissary representing Washington Republicans, Elizabeth Dole's fundraising venture on behalf of Tom Kean Jr. is more evidence that Kean Jr. would be a "captive vote for the Bush agenda," Senator Loretta Weinberg said on Wednesday.

Trenton - Congressman Donald Payne, New Jersey's first African-American member of Congress and a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, criticized Tom Kean Jr.'s civil rights record on Wednesday, saying that "New Jersey needs a senator with a demonstrated commitment to civil rights."

Trenton - Joe Cryan, Chairman of the State Democratic Party, issued the following statement on Thursday challenging Tom Kean Jr. to undo his broken promise and participate in the League of Women Voters debate:

Trenton - Tom Kean Jr. should immediately investigate his own campaign for the dirty tricks and deceit of the Swift Boat Internet scandal, the chairman of the Democratic Party said on Thursday after Kean Jr's campaign was caught lying about fake Internet postings.

Trenton - New Jersey Democratic Party Chairman Joe Cryan issued the following statement on Tuesday following the release of a new radio ad, entitled "Anything," by the Menendez for Senate Campaign:

Revelations that Tom Kean Jr's campaign manager engaged in the same travel practices Kean Jr criticized in others is another instance of the double standards, deceptions and deceit that have come to define Kean Jr's campaign of hypocrisy.

Trenton - Tom Kean Jr's personal investment in the nation's largest offshore drilling company contradicts his recent claim that he is opposed to offshore oil drilling, adding to the reasons not to entrust the fate of the Jersey Shore and other coastal waters to the Senate candidate, Congressional Republicans and their oil industry allies, Congressman Frank Pallone said on Wednesday.

Trenton - Joseph P. Cryan, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Friday following Governor Jon S. Corzine's address to the Legislature on property tax reform:

"The property tax has long been called 'the tax without a conscience,' today the Governor gave it a conscience.

Trenton - Senate President Richard Codey, a leading proponent of stem cell research, criticized Tom Kean, Jr. on Monday for repeatedly failing to support initiatives to establish biomedical facilities that have the promise to produce life-saving stem cell therapies.

Trenton - Joseph Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Thursday following release of the latest poll on the New Jersey Senate campaign:

"I'll be running a positive campaign focused on the issues." -- Tom Kean Jr, Republican Party Senate Nominee.

"If Bob Menendez had his way, Zarqawi would still be leading a campaign of car bombings, assassinations, suicide attacks, kidnapping and beheadings..." -- Tom Wilson, Republican Party Chairman.

"Reprehensible!" -- Joseph Cryan, Democratic Party Chairman

The bite-sized sound bites Tom Kean Jr has relied on to justify a campaign void of substance and direction have been exposed as self-serving hypocrisy - again. Anxious to play the part of a reformer in a political stage-play that has no basis in reality, the Republican Senate wannabe was shown to be actively engaging in the same type of fundraising practices that he likes to condemn from a hastily assembled soapbox - again.

Lawrenceville - Congressman Rush Holt launched his reelection campaign on Monday, propelled by the power of job performance, principles and personality, according to the head of the Democratic State Committee.

From The Record (5-22-06):
The 'Mr Clean' Image ?!

"Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr. has been attacking
Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez's fund raising...but there are donations that Democrats may use to muddy the Mr. Clean image Kean is building for himself..."

The 'Letter of the Law' ?!
"What remains to be seen, however, is if voters expect Kean to do more
than just follow the law when he is saying that the law needs to be reformed."

No More 'Politics As Usual' - Except for Himself ?!
"Kean said, 'We can't have a continuation of the politics as usual.' But in response to several questions, he said he has not put any special limitations on his own fund-raising."

Trenton - It's no surprise that Tom Kean Jr is losing the debate on stem cell research, according to Joseph Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, what is noteworthy is that he's losing the debate to himself.

NEW YORK TIMES: GOP Tax Plan Provides “Nothing…For Most Americans.”

LA TIMES: “More Than a Few Reasons” to Dislike the GOP Tax Bill.

BOSTON GLOBE: GOP Tax Plan Is “A Dumb Idea.”

NEWSDAY: GOP Tax Plan Is Election Year Gimmick.

WASHINGTON POST: GOP Plan Built on “Budgetary Dishonesty” and “Distributional Unfairness.”

BEACON JOURNAL (OH): “No Good Reason” To Cut Taxes for the Wealthy.

CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER: GOP Should Be Worried About the Growing Deficit, Not Tax Breaks.

Trenton - Joseph Cryan, chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, on Friday condemned both the messenger and the message of a white supremacist from Alabama planning to speak in the state this weekend, declaring that neither are welcome in New Jersey.

Kean, Menendez in duel of barbs, boasts over gas
Bergen Record - Friday, May 5, 2006

Responding to soaring gasoline prices and surging profits for oil companies, Senator Bob Menendez took to the political frontlines, challenging Bush Republicans and Big Oil with a plan to provide relieve to motorists with a federal gas tax holiday, paid for by repealing tax breaks granted to the oil industry by Washington Republicans.

Trenton - Joe Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee and member of the Assembly Budget Committee, on Monday issued the same challenge to opponents of Governor Corzine's Clean Water plan that he has issued to those criticizing the Governor's budget proposal absent alternatives:

Trenton - Joe Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee and member of the Assembly Budget Committee, on Friday issued the same challenge to opponents of the proposed Clean Water plan that he has issued to those criticizing Governor Corzine's budget proposal and don't possess the intention of offering viable alternatives.

Tom Kean Jr's travel plans include a weekend excursion to a Republican fundraising retreat in Nashville, Tennessee, where he will collect money from Senator Bill Frist, field general for the Bush Agenda in the U.S. Senate, and where he will pledge his allegiance to the desperate effort by Washington Republicans to hold on to control of Congress.

Trenton - Joe Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee and author of the state law that caps school spending, issued the following statement on Wednesday following voter reaction to school budgets throughout New Jersey:

Trenton - Joe Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Tuesday challenging Republican Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance on his mischaracterization of the Governor's plan to close a gaping budget deficit and for the continued failure by Republican critics to offer constructive alternatives:

Trenton - Joe Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Thursday after campaign fundraising figures for the Senate race were reported:

He Stood Up To Bush On Dubai, And Won

He Stood Up To Bush On Transportation Funding, And Won

Trenton - Senator Robert Menendez's determined effort to get the Bush Administration to reverse course on scheduled changes to Medicare's prescription drug program is the most recent instance in which the newly-minted senator has distinguished himself in battles with the President, the head of the State Democratic Party said on Tuesday.

Trenton - Joe Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Thursday after hearing State Treasurer Bradley Abelow testify before the Assembly Budget Committee on Governor Jon Corzine's budget for the upcoming fiscal year:

Trenton - Joe Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Tuesday on the latest poll on the Senate race:

Why Would Tom Kean Jr. Deny New Jersey Its Fair Share Of Highway Funds?

1) He's Unwilling To Challenge The Bush Administration

2) He Wants To Distinguish Himself As The Only Public Official From New Jersey - Republican or Democrat - To Side With Bush & Against The State

3) He Believes Promises By The Bush Administration Don't Have To Be Kept

4) He Doesn't Want Traffic Congestion On Route 1 Cleared Up In Case He Needs An Excuse To Avoid His Pals In The Bush Administration, Again

5) All Of The Above

For those who questioned Tom Kean Jr for leaving the Senate Budget Committee just as New Jersey confronts the fiscal crisis, we now have an official explanation:

Cheney devoted much of his remarks to affirming administration policies in Iraq, on counterterrorism and on taxes.To assure the audience of the difference a single senator can make, Cheney recalled how he cast the deciding vote in passage of President Bush's tax cut package. Dick Cheney, speaking in New Jersey at Tom Kean Jr's fundraiser. (AP - 3/21/06)

Leadership requires tough choices, and yesterday Tom Kean, Jr. faced a very difficult one: stand up for the people of New Jersey or stand up with Vice President Dick Cheney. Faced with this difficult choice, he did neither. Tom Kean, Jr went AWOL.

Governor Corzine’s budget proposal is grounded in four principles:

1) New Jersey must stop spending more than it takes in;
2) Stop borrowing from the future and using gimmicks to pay today’s bills;
3) Rely more on cuts in spending and savings than new revenues to balance our books; and
4) Be smart in finding ways to mitigate these dramatic cuts to protect the most vulnerable in our state.

Dick Cheney is coming to New Jersey to solicit campaign cash for Tom Kean Jr. This fundraising venture is an opportunity for the politically-timid Republican candidate to finally speak up on behalf of the voters of the Garden State; he should start with port security.

By trading in his assignment to the Senate Budget Committee just as New Jersey confronts its most serious fiscal crisis in history, Tom Kean, Jr. is placing his need for campaign cash ahead of his commitment to his legislative responsibilities.

The encapsulized descriptions of Senator Robert Menendez's handling of the Dubai port security issue from the New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer (below) have been repeated in numerous news accounts and echoed by many political commentators. Within months after assuming the responsibilities as a United States Senator, Senator Menendez has distinguished himself on an important national issue of special significance to the people of New Jersey.

Trenton - The Democratic State Committee on Tuesday announced an agreement with the Election Law Enforcement Commission to settle past reporting infractions dating back to the 2001 campaign cycle.

Trenton - Governor Jon S. Corzine announced on Thursday the selection of Joseph P. Cryan as the next chairman of the Democratic State Committee.

"My dealings with Joe Cryan have shown him to be a man of character and integrity," said Governor Corzine. "Joe Cryan is the right man to lead our party forward, and I am pleased to announce that he is my choice to head the Democratic State Committee."

Trenton - As political leaders, high-tech businesses, the medical community and research scientists move forward to capture the promise and opportunities of stem cell research, State Senator Tom Kean, Jr.'s failure to take a position on the issue shows a "lack of political fortitude," according to Joseph Cryan, vice chairman of the Democratic State Committee.

Trenton - Joseph Cryan, vice-chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Tuesday regarding Governor-elect Jon Corzine's Senate seat:

"Washington Republicans are back, but they bring nothing but bad news, bad politics and bad choices. The fundraising event highlights the contrast between a Republican candidate who will inevitably be wrong for New Jersey and the Democrat who will fight for the priorities embraced by the voters.