Is Rep. Leonard Lance good for your health insurance?

The first shots are being fired in the war for health care, with right-wing Republican zealots demanding that there be no public option.

In last year's election, Congressman Lance's top campaign contributor was AFLAC insurance and 3 of his top 5 contributors were big companies in the health and insurance industries. Of all industries, the top industry that supported Lance was insurance.

For his 2010 re-election campaign, Rep. Lance is already forking in cash from the same insurers.

So where does he stand on health care reform? So far, the one stand he has taken is to parrot talking points from the notorious Bush acolyte Frank Luntz, who is sending his minions to torpedo meaningful health care reform. According to Lance's web site, he is co-sponsoring the so-called "Medical Rights Act", which rephrases a Luntz memo on the subject. Media Matters has published a line-by-line comparison.

Awards and speakers at the spring brunch

Gov. Jon Corzine was the keynote speaker at our annual spring brunch on May 17, introduced by County Chair Lois Zarish. Watch the video.

Chan Leung, Gov. Jon Corzine, Marianne Rampulla

Other speakers included award recipients and candidates: Ron Pittore, William Martin, Jr. award; Flemington Councilwoman Brooke Liebowitz, Carey McWilliams award; Raritan Committee Candidate Marianne Rampulla, Woman of the Year; Treasurer Eric Richard, Man of the Year; Assembly Candidate Tammy Smith, Freeholder Candidates David Syring and Pete Maurer, and Senate Candidate Dr. Harvey Baron.

Brooke Liebowitz	Marianne Rampulla
Eric Richard	Tammy Smith
David Syring	Lois Zarish & Ron Pittore
Pete Maurer

Rethink Raritan! Rampulla/Leung for Raritan Twp.

Marianne Rampulla and Chan Leung are running for Raritan Twp. Committee. They stand for preserving open space and making the Township responsive to its residents, while using resources more efficiently.

See more info on their new web site and watch their video.

Candidate & Activists Training

Join the Hunterdon County Democratic Committee for our June County Committee meeting and candidate & activists training:
Wednesday, June 17
6 to 9 p.m.
American Legion Post 159
41 Route 31 South in Flemington

Topics covered will be Fundraising and ELEC Reporting Canvassing, Voter Contact and Get-Out-the-Vote Efforts, Reaching Your Audience, Managing Election Day and more.

RSVP by June 15 to Chairwoman Lois Zarish or by phone to 908-782-3940. Pizza, Salad and soft drinks will be served.

New ads from Jon Corzine

Governor Corzine's budget does the right thing

Corzine's budget cuts spending $4 billion while protecting education, health care and our most vulnerable and makes sure New Jersey families are well positioned to capitalize when the national economy rebounds.

He is the only Governor in 60 years to reduce overall spending during a four-year term. Not Whitman, Not Byrne, Not Kean or McGreevey, not anybody. Only Jon Corzine.

Flemington Councilwoman Brooke Liebowitz leads another rain barrel workshop

Have you thought of making your own rain barrel? Instead of using scarce, filtered water for your flower beds or washing your car, rain barrels are easy and inexpensive to make and the water is free. And you don't have to worry about water restrictions if there's a drought. Watch the video.

Christie wouldn't take stimulus funds, prefers to raise taxes and pay interest, instead

If someone offered you billions of dollars, would you take it? Not if you're Chris Christie. Playing politics with our future and financial stability, he says that as Governor, he would refuse to accept federal stimulus money that would help the state pay for growth and unemployment insurance. Like it or not, the state has to pay for insurance, and without stimulus funds, Trenton would either have to borrow the money or raise payroll taxes. This would hurt businesses and workers, just to satisfy his partisan ideology. Facts and arithmetic don't matter to the Party of No.

Remember last November's election? New Jersey overwhelmingly decided to go in a new direction. Christie and other right-wingers want to thwart the clear will of the voters.

Congressman Rush Holt