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| 2024 Election: | Joe Biden's book | Kamala Harris' book | Donald Trump's book | JD Vance's book | 2024 Senate Debates |
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| Book Reviews | |||||||||||||||
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(from Amazon.com) | |||||||||||||||
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(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com) |
from Past and present Senate candidates from New Jersey (number of quotes indicated): |
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Bob Hugin: Against late term abortions unless mother's life is at risk. Bob Hugin: Pro-choice, but no late-term abortions unless maternal risk. Cory Booker: No restrictions before viability; exceptions after viability. Cory Booker: Vigorously defend women's access to affordable birth control. Cory Booker: Fix Hobby Lobby: it's not about religious freedom. Hirsh Singh: Eliminate all taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. Hirsh Singh: New Jersey should promote a philosophy of life, not death. Jeff Bell: Apply 14th Amendment to the unborn. Jeff Bell: Hobby Lobby ruling protects religious freedom. Murray Sabrin: Human life begins at conception. Rich Pezzullo: Opposes using tax dollars for abortions, wants regulations. Rik Mehta: Protect unborn children from the moment of conception. Robert Menendez: Yes affordable contraceptives; no unneeded restrictions. Curtis Bashaw: Pro-choice, but supports Dobbs decision leaving it to states. George Helmy: Played a role in codifying Roe v. Wade into state law. |
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Budget & Economy Cory Booker: We will not be able to cut our way out of the jobs crisis. Hirsh Singh: The Federal Reserve has caused a lot of damage. Hirsh Singh: New Jersey should get more of its tax dollars back. Jeff Bell: Return to gold-dollar convertibility now. Jeff Bell: Restore the gold standard. Jeff Bell: Fed's zero interest rate policy extends Great Recession. Murray Sabrin: Federal Reserve is one big scam. Murray Sabrin: Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity. Rich Pezzullo: Balance your budget and provide affordable services. Rik Mehta: Supports a balanced budget amendment. Doug Steinhardt: Will stand up against runaway liberal spending. Andy Kim: Mitigate risk of recurring damage due to extreme weather. Curtis Bashaw: Cut reckless and wasteful spending to bring inflation down. Cory Booker: GOP is dismantling the protections of Americans' safety. Cory Booker: Republican budget cuts present moral threat to country. |
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Civil Rights Bob Hugin: Supports gay marriage. Bob Hugin: Regrets ban on women at 1970s Princeton eating clubs. Bob Hugin: My kids taught me to be more tolerant of gays than in 1970s. Cory Booker: MLK's dream still demands work to do, after 50 years. Hirsh Singh: People free to be themselves; don't force it upon us. Jeff Bell: Government shouldn't redefine marriage. Murray Sabrin: Government shouldn't redefine marriage. Robert Menendez: Supports gay marriage. Stuart Meissner: Supports expansion of Title VI addressing anti-Semitism. Tammy Murphy: Oppression of LGBTQ community is highly offensive. Curtis Bashaw: First openly gay Republican running for NJ Senate seat. George Helmy: Ensure all marginalized communities have a seat at the table. |
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Corporations Bob Hugin: As a job creator he'll employ new policies to spur growth. Cory Booker: Government procurement should promote women-owned business. Cory Booker: Lower corporate tax rate & close loopholes. Jeff Bell: Low interest rates favor big businesses over small. Rich Pezzullo: Government shouldn't bail out businesses that can't succeed. Robert Menendez: Keep CFPB Financial Protection; keep Consumer Advisory Board. |
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Crime Cory Booker: Bipartisan solution to reduce recidivism. Cory Booker: Real solution to crime is addressing poverty and education. Cory Booker: Incarceration isn't working; focus on preventing recidivism. Cory Booker: Increase the number of police in all neighborhoods. Cory Booker: Cut first responders due to economic downturn. Hirsh Singh: Supports sending troops into New Jersey to "Protect America". Ray Lesniak: Change culture of corrections: limit solitary confinement. Rik Mehta: Lock up violent offenders and throw away the key. Doug Steinhardt: Punish New Jersey's criminals instead of protecting them. Curtis Bashaw: The lack of support for law enforcement is a problem. |
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Drugs Bob Hugin: Decriminalize pot in small amounts but not recreational use. Cory Booker: The drug war is an abject failure. Hirsh Singh: Treat drug addiction as a public health problem. Hirsh Singh: Regulate and tax cannabis like alcohol. Rik Mehta: Eliminate aid to socialist governments run on trafficking. Robert Menendez: Give marijuana businesses access to banking services. Andy Kim: Educate the public on fentanyl & synthetic opioids. Andy Kim: States with medicinal marijuana have 25% fewer opioid deaths. Robert Menendez: Rated C by NORML: decriminalize medical marijuana & banking. George Helmy: Worked with Helmy on legalization of adult-use marijuana. Cory Booker: Remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. |
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Education Bob Hugin: Supports expanded charter schools. Cory Booker: Ensure that college tuition is not a long-term burden. Cory Booker: Pre-school for 3-year-olds; more teacher empowerment. Cory Booker: Fundamental right to high quality public education. Cory Booker: Newark Workshops got $1.3M in Pell Grants. Hirsh Singh: Introduce meaningful school choice reform. Hirsh Singh: Promote school choice polices at state & local levels. Hirsh Singh: Empower public, private, home school environments. Hirsh Singh: School violence due to political indoctrination, propaganda. Jeff Bell: End federal involvement in education. Murray Sabrin: Oppose nationwide Common Core standards. Rik Mehta: Backs school choice for those locked in failing schools. Robert Menendez: Vouchers drain money from public schools. Robert Menendez: Supports making 2 years of community college free. Doug Steinhardt: Leave politics out of the schoolhouse. Curtis Bashaw: For parental rights in public education, not woke ideology. |
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Energy & Oil Bob Hugin: Energy independence: solar & wind, plus domestic oil & gas. Bob Hugin: Climate change is human-caused, but Paris Accord is unfair. Cory Booker: Sustainability programs: slow growth of carbon footprint. Cory Booker: Eliminate unfair subsidies for oil and ga. Hirsh Singh: Against switch over to high-risk energy systems. Jeff Bell: No subsidies for wind and solar. Murray Sabrin: No subsidies for wind and solar. Rich Pezzullo: Keep energy costs low by opposing radical Green agenda. Robert Menendez: World must cut greenhouse gas emissions, or reject science. Stuart Meissner: Climate change real, but response must be joint effort. Curtis Bashaw: Climate has been changing; we need energy independence. |
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Environment Bob Hugin: More work is needed for safe, clean environment. Bob Hugin: Protect our environment in a way that's fair to businesses. Cory Booker: Green space; green housing; green jobs. Robert Menendez: Don't let the EPA get undermined. |
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Foreign Policy Bob Hugin: Supports Israel and recognizes Jerusalem as its capital. Cory Booker: No head in the sand; but no global police. Cory Booker: Where Israel's security is at stake, so is America's. Cory Booker: Development funds via international organizations for Africa. Cory Booker: Robust diplomacy and international development. Rich Pezzullo: As our ally, we must support Israel's right to defend itself. Rich Pezzullo: Oppose all UN treaties that weaken our sovereignty. Rik Mehta: China: masters of misinformation, not to be trusted. Robert Menendez: Unequivocal support for Hong Kong protests against China. Stuart Meissner: Against Iran nuclear deal that sent money used for terrorism. Tammy Murphy: Joined with Bon Jovi in fundraising for Ukrainian war relief. Tammy Murphy: Joined with Bon Jovi in fundraising for Ukrainian war relief. Curtis Bashaw: Israel has right to defend itself & take out terrorists. |
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Free Trade Bob Hugin: In the end, tariffs will get a better deal with China. Cory Booker: African trade makes stable countries & good for our security. Cory Booker: China cheats via currency manipulation & IP theft. Jeff Bell: Act on bilateral agreements with Colombia and South Korea. Rik Mehta: For trade, but ensure other nations don't take advantage. Robert Menendez: Tariffs on China drive allies into arms of our adversaries. Curtis Bashaw: Real free trade takes commitments from all sides. Cory Booker: Unequivocally condemn the Trump tariffs, there's no strategy. Cory Booker: Trump tariffs have no strategy, it has no sense. |
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Government Reform Cory Booker: Campaign PAC money shouldn't speak louder than people. Cory Booker: Founding principle: make laws open to public debate. Cory Booker: Threat to voting rights in America remains very real. Jeff Bell: Photo ID for voting. Murray Sabrin: Photo ID for voting. Robert Menendez: Citizens United rolled back decades of progress. Robert Menendez: Do everything to protect all Americans' right to vote. Cory Booker: Average black voter waits in line 2X as long as white voter. Andy Kim: No officials having stock ownership in individual companies. Curtis Bashaw: Government should unshackle our small businesses. Curtis Bashaw: I believe election integrity is important to all voters. |
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Gun Control Bob Hugin: Expanded background checks; bar people with mental illnesses. Cory Booker: Common sense gun reform on day one. Cory Booker: More background checks & gun trace data. Hirsh Singh: Enact reciprocity between states to own & carry firearms. Hirsh Singh: If they take AR-15 rifles, will cell phones be next? Jeff Bell: Debated who's most supportive of gun rights. Jeff Bell: Opposes more gun restrictions. Murray Sabrin: Opposes more gun restrictions. Rich Pezzullo: Opposes new federal gun laws; high marks from NRA. Phil Murphy: Reduce maximum magazine size from 15 rounds to 10. Rich Pezzullo: More conservative justices on federal bench. Rik Mehta: Never back down from defending the 2nd Amendment. Robert Menendez: Universal background checks & assault weapons ban. Stuart Meissner: Supports 2nd Amendment, background checks. Doug Steinhardt: Gun owners are under constant attack from the left. Tammy Murphy: Owe it to our children to end the epidemic of gun violence. Andy Kim: Critical that Congress pass ban on bump stocks. Curtis Bashaw: Bump stock ban reasonable; an effective safety measure. |
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Health Care Bob Hugin: As CEO, paid $280M drug settlement. Bob Hugin: Will use his 20 years in healthcare to craft new reforms. Bob Hugin: AdWatch: Raised drug prices in US while lowering them abroad. Bob Hugin: Lobbied to block cheaper generic alternatives. Bob Hugin: Repeal ObamaCare but keep preexisting conditions. Cory Booker: ObamaCare is a vital step in the right direction. Hirsh Singh: Cap malpractice damages; limit frivolous lawsuits. Hirsh Singh: Repeal and replace ObamaCare. Jeff Bell: Repeal ObamaCare; it's not a government responsibility. Murray Sabrin: Repeal ObamaCare; it's not a government responsibility. Rich Pezzullo: Repeal ObamaCare; it's a dangerous proposal. Rik Mehta: Against Medicare for All, end excessive regulation. Robert Menendez: Repealing ObamaCare would hike premiums & hurt the disabled. Stuart Meissner: Under socialized medicine "I wouldn't be alive today". Stuart Meissner: Americans should not pay higher prices for drugs. Andy Kim: Expand Medicare: cover vision, hearing, and dental benefits. George Helmy: Covid exasperated crisis in youth mental health. Curtis Bashaw: Don't give even more power to government bureaucrats. |
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Homeland Security Bob Hugin: Syrian airstrikes no "kabuki show" to our brave military. Cory Booker: Public oversight needed for NSA domestic spying. Cory Booker: Maintain the strongest military force in the world. Cory Booker: Irresponsible to spend on irrelevant weapon systems. Jeff Bell: Defense hawk and foreign-policy interventionist. Jeff Bell: Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal. Murray Sabrin: Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal. Rich Pezzullo: Spying on citizens not needed against criminals & terrorists. Andy Kim: Helped veteran-owned businesses compete on federal projects. Cory Booker: Trump seeks personal political loyalty from military. |
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Immigration Bob Hugin: Fully supports pathway to citizenship for innocent DREAMers. Bob Hugin: Path to citizenship for people building a productive life. Hirsh Singh: Build that wall; enact merit-based immigration policies. Hirsh Singh: Illegal immigration should not be allowed. Hirsh Singh: Illegal immigrants getting driver's licenses will ruin state. Hirsh Singh: End undermining the sanctity of American citizenship. Jeff Bell: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry. Murray Sabrin: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry. Rich Pezzullo: Opposes pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Rik Mehta: For the wall; against healthcare for illegal immigrants. Robert Menendez: DREAMer kids have grown up as Americans. Stuart Meissner: Not fair for illegal immigrants to cut the line. Tammy Murphy: Supported pandemic relief for undocumented immigrants. Curtis Bashaw: Our wide-open southern border is a national security threat. Cory Booker: Ban ICE agents from being masked while operating. |
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Jobs Cory Booker: 1/3 of all NJ development is in Newark, where only 3% live. Cory Booker: $1,000 tax credit for job-training apprenticeships. Cory Booker: Great Recession decreased hourly wages overall. Cory Booker: Gender wage gap problematic; minority wage gap worse. Robert Menendez: Raise minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10/hour. Cory Booker: DEI actually allows us to hire the best of the best. |
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Principles & Values Cory Booker: First African-American senator from New Jersey. Hirsh Singh: I take absolute pride in being morally consistent. Jeff Bell: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework. Jeff Bell: 1982: ran for Senate; speechwriter for Ronald Reagan. Jeff Bell: Wife wept upon hearing he would run for Senate. Jeff Bell: Defeated incumbent Senator in GOP primary in 1978. Murray Sabrin: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework. Rik Mehta: Campaign $300,000+ in debt, entire campaign staff quit. Rik Mehta: We need God, we need prayer, reopen houses of worship. Robert Menendez: Admonished by Senate Ethics Committee for accepting gifts. Robert Menendez: Severely admonished by Senate for political favors. Stuart Meissner: Lifelong Democrat turned Trump supporter. Andy Kim: Inject some integrity and civility back into our politics. Tammy Murphy: Churches played an important role during the pandemic. Curtis Bashaw: America is the greatest exception to tyranny in history. Curtis Bashaw: I'm a Libertarian freedom guy in many, many ways. George Helmy: Was unaffiliated; became Democrat to support candidate. George Helmy: I consider public service a privilege. George Helmy: First member of the Coptic Christian Church in the Senate. George Helmy: I have never--nor will I ever--seek elected office. Cory Booker: When has Trump crossed the line over love of this country? |
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Social Security Bob Hugin: Blasts opponent for voting to raise taxes on Social Security. Cory Booker: Opposes raising retirement age; expand entitlements. Robert Menendez: Opposes privatization of Social Security. |
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Tax Reform Bob Hugin: Opposes new $10K cap on deductions for state & local taxes. Bob Hugin: Trump tax cuts delivered real relief & job creation. Hirsh Singh: End the inheritance tax, the gas tax, and property tax hikes. Hirsh Singh: Lower corporate tax to 15%, reduce capital gains tax to 10%. Hirsh Singh: Higher tax burdens are counterproductive. Jeff Bell: Convinced Pres. Reagan to adopt radical tax-rate reductions. Robert Menendez: Trump tax cuts was giant hit job on middle class. Stuart Meissner: Remove cap on federal deductions for local taxes. Stuart Meissner: Raise property tax deduction to $20,000. Curtis Bashaw: A "fair share" shouldn't mean higher taxes. Cory Booker: Trump tax cuts blow a trillion dollar hole in our deficit. |
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Technology Cory Booker: Protect critical infrastructure from cyberattack. Cory Booker: Technology empowers individuals but creates diverse threats. Cory Booker: Fix crumbling rail & road with National Infrastructure Bank. Cory Booker: Invest in Next-Gen air traffic; broadband, and smart grid. Hirsh Singh: Potholes have become a de facto tax on citizens. Robert Menendez: Net Neutrality avoids higher prices. Curtis Bashaw: TikTok is a known national security risk from China. |
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War & Peace Bob Hugin: Iran used nuclear deal to export terrorism. Chris Murphy: Oppose sale of precision guided bombs to Saudi Arabia. Cory Booker: All options on the table with Iran, including military. Hirsh Singh: We must stop radical Islamic terrorism, with military. Robert Menendez: Selling arms to Saudi Arabia makes crisis in Yemen. Rik Mehta: Bring our troops home when it's not our war. Robert Menendez: Grave mistake to walk away from Iran nuke deal without plan. Robert Menendez: Oppose bombs to Saudi Arabia; no national security emergency. Robert Menendez: Is Trump acting for Russia and Turkey or willfully blind? |
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Welfare & Poverty Bob Hugin: Non-profit advocate for needs of homeless families. Rich Pezzullo: Make major cuts in welfare "giveaway" programs. |
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Senatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - U.S. House of Representatives winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - Gubernatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - |
All material copyright 1999-2022 by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org Reprinting by permission only. |
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