New Jersey To Issue Its Own Currency? Springsteen And Sinatra To Appear On New Paper Money.

From www.whatexitnj.com:

“My personal favorite for the One Hundred Dollar bill is Joe Piscopo.”

“Everyone agrees that Jerry Lewis (of Weehawken) or Lou Costello (of Paterson) should be on the One Dollar bill,” said Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll, sponsor of bill A-1776. “And that either Frank Sinatra (of Hoboken) or Bruce Springsteen (of Long Branch) should be on the One Thousand Dollar bill.”

Carroll is the main sponsor for legislation, A-1776, that would “…immediately initiate, create, fashion and grant authority to the state of New Jersey to print monetary paper currency to be valid for all debts public and private for the state there in.” The bill is cosponsored in the State Assembly by fellow legislators Allison Littell McHose (NJ-24), Erik Peterson (NJ-23), and John DiMaio (NJ-23). The same legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Michael Doherty as S-117.

“The Obama administration has so devalued American currency, by its failed economic and fiscal policies, that this is the best a state can do,” noted Carroll.

Under Article I Section 8 of the Federal Constitution, Congress has the authority to:

“To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States.”

One would think that this alone would deter Assemblyman Carroll, ––– however he claims that “Article I Section 8 merely refers to ‘coin money’, and not paper currency.”

“In an originalist interpretation of the Constitution, as the Founding Fathers would have us interpret the document, there is no mention of ‘paper money’ – just ‘coin money’ ”, noted Carroll.

“Obviously, the intent of the Framers was to leave this to the Several States, under the 10^th amendment––which says ‘The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.’ The Founding Fathers clearly had it in mind for states to issue their own paper currency. It is only liberal activist courts that have subverted this Original Intent.”

Additionally, under A-1776, “An exploratory New Jersey Currency Commission shall be set up in the following manner: Two members shall be appointed from the general public by the governor; Two members shall be appointed by each house of the legislature; and the Seventh member shall be the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, unless he is a ‘liberal’, whereby the governor shall have the power to appoint his own additional nominee subject to the advice and consent of himself.”

The New Jersey Currency Commission shall have the power to decide which persons, living or dead, will appear the on the various denominations of the paper money.

“There are those liberals who have their favorites; Princeton is lobbying for Woodrow Wilson or Paul Robeson. My personal favorite for the One Hundred Dollar bill is Joe Piscopo. That ‘I’m from Jersey’ bit from 1980s SNL still cracks me up,” finished Carroll.

What Their Side Says----

Now you may have thought that the only people from Their Side who say wacky things are Michael Patrick Carroll, Steve Lonegan and Michael Doherty, but nooooo. Here are others---What Their Side Says...

A congressional candidate in Alabama, Rick Barber, a self-described tea party adherent, claims in a new advertisement that the health law amounts to "slavery," reports, in a separate story. "In his latest ad, the tea party candidate is speaking with a revived Abraham Lincoln.

'Hey Abe,' Barber says, 'if someone is forced to work for months to pay taxes so that a total stranger can get a free meal, a medical procedure or a bailout, what's that called?' Before Lincoln answers, Barber cuts in to ask: 'What's it called when one man is forced to work for another?' 'Slavery,' Lincoln says.”

"Barber will face Martha Roby in a runoff on July 13 for the GOP nomination to oppose incumbent Alabama Rep. Bobby Bright (D) in November." Barber defended his ad, which also included Nazi imagery, saying "Somebody has to say this. When Hitler took power, no one wanted to think that the Holocaust, the murder of 6 million Jewish people, was possible. I'm saying that you have to recognize and name tyranny when you see it", according to MSNBC.

NJPP: Definitely smarter than a fifth grader.

Last year the fine folks at New Jersey Policy Perspective turned 10 years old, the same age many kids New Jersey turn when they are in the fifth grade. And Jon Shure and NJPP are definitely smarter than any fifth grader. And way ahead of the curve, too.

They said, regarding NJ’s income gap:

The numbers are in and the trend continues: the rich are indeed getting richer. The latest confirmation comes from the state's own Status of Income report on tax returns.

Furthermore,

“the New Jersey Treasury Department found that just about half the income in the state goes to those making more than $100,000 a year, and only about 25 percent goes to those making less than $50,000-even though there are far more of these people.

And finally, they cited Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll of Morris “saying the numbers mean the economy is creating opportunities for everyone.” Carroll warned against dealing with the income gap by raising the state income tax, arguing that ‘The politics of envy doesn't work. All you will do is scare people off to Florida or Pennsylvania. You want very productive people to stay here.’ "

Very forward thinking, NJPP. Thing is, you said that waaay back in 1999 in a press release, talking about the income gap back then ---when you were just a mere tot of 2 years old. Even at that age, you were smarter than most Republicans, and, of course, Mr. Carroll.

Unfortunately, things in NJ have not changed much since you were two.


More recently, at the end of March 2008, you guys were right on the money again:

“Nearly 1 in 5 New Jersey Families Struggles To Make Ends Meet despite Having a Working Adult”

“Despite being one of the nation's most affluent states, New Jersey is home to close to 200,000 families that have a working adult but still make too little in pay and benefits to adequately support themselves, a new study has found. According to a study by Rutgers Center for Women and Work and New Jersey Policy Perspective, Climbing the Ladder: How to Invest in New Jersey's Working Families,

“The number of low-income working families in the state has climbed by 16 percent since 2000, the study found. In all, these families include about 750,000 mothers, fathers and children.”

Some recommendations in the report include increasing the minimum wage, providing family leave insurance, increasing spending for adult education, and making higher education, particularly county colleges, more affordable and accessible to low-income working adults.

Keep up the good work, NJPP. Now and for the next ten years, too.

The New Jersey report is available at www.njpp.org or www.cww.rutgers.edu.

Mensch of The Week and Putzes of the Week

Let’s start off with the Putzes of the Week--both big and little, shall we?

This week, New Jersey moved closer to becoming the first Northern state to apologize for slavery under a measure approved by a legislative committee. The Garden State had a history none of which we can be proud of concerning this issue.

NJ was home to more slaves than any other Northern state except New York, and we didn't ratify the constitutional amendment prohibiting slavery until January 1866, a month after it had already become federal law. So, an apology would be in order to set the record straight.

Said bill sponsor Assemblyman William Payne: "This bill does nothing more than say New Jersey is sorry for its shameful past.”

This is no different than the Pope apologizing for the Catholic Church's record of anti-Semitism from centuries ago. There is no one alive who was a victim, but it sets the record straight.

So, what did the Republicans have to say about the bill? Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll actually praised the institution of slavery.

I will repeat that: Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll actually praised the institution of slavery.

He said: "

If slavery was the price that a modern American's ancestors had to pay in order to make one an American, one should get down on one's knees every single day and thank the Lord that such price was paid."

Well said. Mike, praise the Lord, and pass the whip.

For that ignorant and uncaring remark, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll is the big Putz of the Week.

The Little Putz:

In my home borough of Flemington, in November 2007, the Democrats took control of the Borough Council for the first time in ten years. With a ‘weak’ Mayor form of government, a Republican mayor and four council members who are Democrats, you would think there would be rough sailing ahead.

So, acting in good faith, the Democrats met with Mayor Bob Hauck and discussed such things as Planning Board appointments, hiring of consultants and Council assignments for 2008. After a bit of good old political horse trading, everything seemed settled out peacefully.

Or so the Democrats thought.

So what did Hauck do? At the Reorganization Meeting Thursday, January 3rd, he sandbagged the Dems on each and everything he agreed to. Planning Board appointments? Nope. Council assignments? Buzz off, Dems. He made what started off as a feel-good meeting go sour right away. Talk about sour grapes about being in the minority.

The main problem with Hauck at the meeting was just how much of a puppet he is for County Clerk, Mary Melfi. It was she who pulls his strings, and demanded a seat back on the Planning Board. Don’t take my word for it: watch on the Flemington website archive of the actual meeting.

So, for starting off the new Council year with a blowout and brawl, instead of respect and goodwill, Hauck is the little Putz of the Week.

Mensch of The Week

Politicians, by and large, have a reputation for not keeping their promises. However, one former governor made the swearing in ceremony of a newly elected member of the Flemington Borough Council very special, and kept his promise.

Linda Mastellone, a member of New Jersey for Democracy, is a tenant resident of Flemington, who also has a strong business background. That made her a great candidate for Flemington Borough Council, running against incumbent Phil Greiner, a much more conservative and libertarian Republican.

Back in September, Linda ran in to former governor Jim Florio at the New Jersey State Democratic Conference in Atlantic City. Governor Florio promised that if Linda won a seat on Borough Council, he would swear her in. Linda won; Greiner lost.

So, Thursday night, when Linda Mastellone became Councilwoman Mastellone, Governor Florio read the affirmation of office for her. By the way, the governor never once had to refer to the paper for prompting, remembering every word of the Oath of Office. Linda took the oath of office in front of her proud dad, her step-mom, brother, sister-in-law and two adorable nieces.

So, for keeping his promise, and making the Mastellone family proud, Governor Jim Florio is our Mensch of the Week here at NJPoliticsUnusual.com.

New Year, same Grand Old Party: Republicans don’t think it’s right to apologize for slavery

Believe it or not, but the Party of Lincoln think it’s OK to not apologize for slavery.

If New Jersey issues a formal apology, then we would be the first northern state to do so. This far, state legislators in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia have issued formal slavery apologies.

What the heck is the matter with a little “I’m sorry” after 140 years? Several prominent Republicans think it just doesn't matter.

Said Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris, "Who living today is guilty of slave holding and thus capable of apologizing for the offense…And who living today is a former slave and thus capable of accepting the apology? So how is a real apology even remotely possible, much less meaningful, given the long absence of both oppressor and victim?"

That’s harsh, Merkt.

Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll demanded that the Democratic Party should apologize first----since Republicans historically opposed slavery. He also noted that New Jersey twice voted against Abraham Lincoln.

He continued, "…But, on a current note, if slavery was the price that a modern American's ancestors had to pay in order to make one an American, one should get down on one's knees every single day and thank the Lord that such price was paid.”

So, maybe Carroll wants to offer an opposing resolution thanking the nation for slavery? Just what hallucinogens are these guys taking?

Of course, this the same guy who had time to offer a bill changing the name of Clinton town to “Reagan” during the time of President Clinton’s troubles with Monica Lewinsky ----but no time or good sense to support this legislation.

The resolution would read in part: "…the vestiges of slavery are ever before African-American citizens, from the overt racism of hate groups to the subtle racism encountered when requesting health care, transacting business, buying a home, seeking quality public education and college admission, and enduring pre-textual traffic stops and other indignities."

"This is not too much to ask of the state of New Jersey," said Assemblyman William Payne, who sponsors the bill. "All that is being requested of New Jersey is to say three simple words: We are sorry."

Once again, the NJ Republicans both amuse and amaze as to what they take issue with ---and what they support.

Welcome to 2008.