Democrats' Forum Truck r1; Public Affairs

Live from Hickman hall in the Douglas College campus of Rutgers University. This is a New Jersey public television special report. Good afternoon. I'm Larry stupid. On Tuesday New Jersey voters will go to the polls to choose the Democratic and Republican nominees for governor. And all there are 13 Democrats and eight Republicans seeking their party's nomination. All of the candidates have been invited to participate in two forms sponsored by the New Jersey League of Women Voters. In this broadcast we will hear from the Democratic candidates. Now here is league president John Crowley. Good afternoon I'm president of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. We are pleased to present this forum featuring the Democratic candidates for the office of governor and next Tuesday's primary election in keeping with its nonpartisan tradition. The league has invited all the Democratic candidates to participate in this event which we hope will allow voters to compare the candidates views on issues of importance to New Jersey. The moderator for today's form of New York served as a member of the board of the League of

Women Voters of the United States for eight years four years as vice president and is presently employed at a research corporation. She serves as moderator today because of her broad period and because as an out-of-state resident she forces the commitment to a non partisan candidate. Thank you. Thank you Joan and good afternoon. We are going to have the opportunity today to meet the candidates for governor of the state of New Jersey. This portion of the program will present Democrat candidates the Republican candidates will appear this afternoon at 4:00 p.m.. Candidates have drawn lots to determine their speech. I shall introduce them with biographical information which they have supplied to the league and give each one two minutes to answer the same question. After opening remarks there will be

questions from the audience and one minute answers from the candidates. Finally each candidate will be allowed one minute concluding statement. Ladies and gentleman your time keepers are right down there in the front row. The league has tried to divide the available program time equally. The question which the League of Women Voters would like you to answer is this. If you were elected governor in November what would you like most to accomplish in your first year in office. The candidate who drew the first slot to answer is Rosie manya a resident of her always a housewife as well as a sales manager secretary and bookkeeper who became interested in politics in 1974 when she joined a Committee opposing the building of a new city hall and police station complex in Rahway. She ran as an independent for state Senate in the 22nd District in 1079 and for 12 congressional seat against Matthew Rinaldo. She has long been

active in community affairs and community groups such as the PTA B'nai Brith. Y.M. why WAGA the rowing Taxpayers Association and the Women's Political Caucus throws money. That's a little different anyway I'm usually I stand at the end of the line because I'm so tall in my name. When I was single again with a Z this time on first. However if I became governor I would not follow the leader where everything that President Reagan says is do to believe because he's giving more benefits to big business and big corporations and I think it's about time people have to be represented. I would appoint more public representation on the Public Utilities Commission. I would review all agencies and appointments as to their cost effectiveness and another very critical area is our transportation system where I think we should look at it with a microscope really to see if

we can eliminate a lot of the special bussing so that we can improve or increase the volume on the buses and bring it down to an economic field where everyone can afford to get on and off of the bus. And it's. Affordable by all flaws I think senior citizens today are being used as political pawns. They need to know people in order to get into the senior citizen housing and you have to ask them the administrations and various areas even if you can talk to them so they are kept in a vacuum to a certain extent. I would decrease the Department of Education at a level we have too many levels in the Department of Education with too many good men strangers and very little is going back to the children and the cost of education is getting on real work for two minutes goes fast. And another thing is I would protect our freedoms I do think we're heading for a police state I don't believe that the police should be able to come in and take over an

agency at the same time if someone makes an allegation that there is corruption such as there is in the wrong way or the misuse of police power it should be investigated by the law enforcement agencies. Thank you. Next is John Degnan a resident of Princeton graduate at St. Vincent's College and Harvard Law School after which he became a law clerk to former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice John Francis. He's a practicing attorney and formerly served as both executive secretary and counsel to Governor Byrd. He recently resigned as attorney general in order to campaign for this office. He has received an award from the neighborhood for his fight against anti-Semitism and was chosen young lawyer of the Year by The New Jersey bar association in 1979 yesterday. Thank you and thank the league for voting is this opportunity to address you all this afternoon. I have essentially three objectives during my first year as governor. The first is to deal effectively with the problem in the campaign I've identified is that which is most important in

Jersey and that's crime both turning around the statistics which are ever increasing and reducing the level of fear with which each of us lives each day because of this problem. You may ask why are you among all the other Democrats. Or for myself as that person most capable of dealing with that problem. Perhaps it's because as the Bergen Record said would have endorsed me. But I have the most comprehensive and innovative strategy and the most admirably restrained program to deal with crime among any of the Democratic candidates. Secondly I want to hit the ground as running as governor. I want to be the kind of governor for New Jersey that I was an attorney general and activist visible highly aggressive person on afraid to use the whole panoply of powers and Herenton in office to affect the public good. There's no time to lose for the next administration given the critical choices this State will face due to the Reagan budget cuts. I gan you may ask why I among all the others. Perhaps because when the New York Times in commenting on my candidacy said that although I was the youngest candidate in the race I was mature and skillful and daring.

I can deal with those problems. And thirdly I want to implement a meaningful program of economic and urban revitalization of educational funding the form of toxic waste disposal dealing effectively with women's issues and the efficient delivery of government services. I want that to be the platform of the Democratic Party on the basis of which I'll seek election after the election next Tuesday and bring back to the fold of that party the groups it's been losing too often in the last few years. Again you may ask why I point to you The Daily News editorial of this morning which is endorsing my candidacy said that I had been among the Democratic candidates the most specific and realistic on the major issues. And at the same time fiscally conservative. I think I stood up and stood out as attorney general and as a candidate in this race because I've addressed the issues I've taken and I've made my position clear on the basis of that record as attorney general and based on the way in which I've addressed the issues during this can I ask for your consideration. Thank you. Thank you. Next I'll remind the audience that your candidate's time next. I'd like to introduce Barbara McCall a resident of Delaware township in

hundred County Tennessee Tech University. She is presently serving her second term as 14th District assemblywoman and is vice chairman of the agriculture and Environment Committee. She was director of the state Division of tax appeals and the co-chair of the presidential campaign. Thank you and my thanks to the league and my first year as governor I would implement a 10 point program to make government more efficient by cutting out duplication and waste and by dismantling those programs and agencies of government that have outlived their usefulness. I would begin the long range task of economic development and job growth through the promotion of tourism and small business growth. I would reduce the net worth portion of the corporation business tax and actually carry over a provision to beef up the office of business advocacy and the Economic Development Authority on crime that would make our streets and homes safe again by putting more walking policemen on our streets and by instituting in all 21 counties a career criminal task force whereby we use plea bargaining less often and other permissive

judicial procedures. I would develop a comprehensive land use plan so we could direct our state's resources to those areas that we want to see growth and development take place. And also where we want to see prayer is preservation take place. I would speed up our efforts to finance include up toxic waste in our state and our polluted ground waters and would construct resource recovery plan so we could begin to handle the garbage that's being dumped on our land. I would call for more graduated income tax for those in the higher income brackets in order that we could absorb some of the 1.2 billion dollar federal budget cuts. Also develop a plan of affordable housing in our state. I will preserve and protect the abortion rights of women. And last but not least I would be the kind of governor that needs public opinion rather than listens to the voice that cries the loudest. I'm sorry we have it thank you. We have asked the audience not to refrain from demonstrations mostly so we can ask the candidates lots of questions during the middle portion. Next we have James

Florio a resident of running me a graduate of Trenton State College and a Woodrow Wilson scholar at Columbia graduate school with a law degree from Rutgers currently a congressman from the first district. He was first elected in 1974. Prior to that election he served five years in New Jersey. In the New Jersey Assembly and as a city prosecutor in Camden as chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce Transportation and tourism. He has authored legislation creating a super fund for toxic cleanup as well as certain law enforcement legislation. That much I obviously am pleased to be here and thank the league for providing us with a forum to address you this afternoon. I suppose the major goal that I'd like to achieve in the first year in a ministration might be presided over by Gov. Florio would be to facilitate an orderly transition for state government out of the existing circumstances that we find ourselves into the new reality

that unfortunately is going to be visited upon us by this administration in Washington. Whether one agrees or whether one doesn't agree with what's going on in Washington it's clear the new responsibilities are being provided to the states and with those new responsibilities are going to come much less in the way of resources. So we're going to have to have whomever it is that the governor is going to have to have some new imaginative innovative approaches to delivering services with less resources. The potential is there for great economic and social dislocation as a result of the cutbacks. And what I'm suggesting is that with some creativity with an approach that is going to enable us to fashion new service delivery delivery mechanisms to provide for services in a way that is not going to require the extent of the funding that we've been getting out of the federal government. That approach is one that has to be followed through upon. And I'm suggesting that through the course of that period of time it's going to take a need for great political skills

in harmonizing the divergent interests which are clearly going to be competing for the resources. It's going to take a sensitivity as to how to get more out of less cost effective government is going to be the key to success in achieving those types of service goals that we feel I think as Democrats our absolute minimum required for good responsive government. Thank you very much. Thank you sir. Next I'd like to introduce Pat Dunn a resident of West Orange educated at Absolut college in Seton Hall University. He is a businessman who has served in the legislature for 14 years for assemblyman and 10 a senator and incumbent senator. He was president of the Senate from 1974 to 1975 chairman of the Legislative Services Commission in 1977 and chairman of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee from 1978 to 1981. Thank you.

It's nice to be in a format where there are more people in New Orleans than are cavity. The. The first year in office I believe boils down to one word and that is leadership. Something that has been lacking unfortunately in the last two terms of crime. Everybody's against crime and no one in this audience believes that John Degnan is more against crime and Stella man or that Jim Florio was more against toxic waste and I am We're all against that. That's not an issue. It takes leadership to speak out very clearly on controversial issues. I have spoken very clearly on my position on abortion and I am in favor of the freedom to choose and I state that very clearly I don't equivocate you don't have to ask me where I stand on it. I came out very clearly on the death penalty for the reinstating of that in New Jersey. Well not everyone agrees with all of my positions. But you don't have to scratch your head and wonder where I stand and that.

And other issues such as the so-called moral majority coming into New Jersey I want to tell you and I have to live. I don't believe they belong in New Jersey. And as governor I would fight to keep them out. Our nuclear power in New Jersey I believe that we have sufficient and I have called for a moratorium on any new construction of nuclear plants in this state. Now again it does not take a leader. It does not take a great deal of thinking to come out and say hey I'm against crime more than anybody else. That's nonsense to take positions that are clear and precise. That's what counts and that's what I would like to deliver to New Jersey during my term as governor. Thank you sir. Next I'd like to introduce candidate Robert Rowe a resident of Wayne who has been congressman from the 8th district since 1969. He was educated in local schools and majored in

engineering and political science at Oregon State and Washington state universities. In addition to his congressional Post Mr. Rose served the state commissioner for conservation and economic development from 1963 to 69 the same county freeholder and mayor of Wayne Township. He is also chaired and served on many important House committees. Sir thank you Madam Chairman. And I want to express my deep appreciation of the League of Women Voters for providing this forum for all of the candidates for governor to participate in. I believe the New Jersey our state is truly a great state with a world of potential. I know that our state has often been the butt of unfunny jokes to some people's avail. Some believe that in many areas of our state such as our cities our best days are behind us. But I know this is not so. Our governor and as governor my top priority will be to revitalize the economy of the state. We have so many resources available to us it would be a sin not to make the most of all of them. By improving the

economic atmosphere in the state by showing business men and women around the state and around the nation that what New Jersey is all about and the opportunities for businesses our state is a primary priority objective. In my first term we can keep here the many great industries you already have and we can attract to our state businesses and industries that might otherwise locate elsewhere. We believe the people and we have the market we have the people who do the job. During my first time I want New Jersey to establish the reputation of a state that wants business to locate here and stay here to create jobs here. And how do I plan to do that. I'm putting administrative agencies on notice that they will no longer be able to promulgated unnecessary and ineffective regulations when I'm governor. I intend to change New Jersey's unworkable regulatory structure. This in turn will bring jobs and dignity to all the people of our state something we want very dearly. Jobs and dignity they bring with them will help us to deal with the many problems of our society such as crime in education the environment transportation. During my first term of office

I intend to show New Jersey in the nation that this day can be turned around and headed in a new direction. Thank you very much. Thank you sir. Now let me introduce Joseph P. Merlino a resident of Trenton educated at Trenton high school college of South Jersey holds a B.S. degree from Seton Hall college graduated from Fordham University Law School an attorney and a senior partner in a Trenton law firm. He is currently president of the New Jersey Senate where he has served since 1971. He was also majority and minority leader of that body. He was a member of the General Assembly from 1967 to 1971 and he also served as Trent city attorney and Mercer County assistant prosecutor. I don't need on the job training as all the other candidates here I have years of training as a senate president for an unprecedented four years when chairman of the joint Appropriations Committee had been acting governor almost six months in the last three and a half years as governor my first year will be devoted to fighting the budget

cuts and set ways in which to deal with the cuts so that services to the people in New Jersey will be delivered and can still be delivered to them and to do all the abuse all the efforts of the governor's office to stop the attacks on our Social Security system. The streamlined administration of the programs in New Jersey continue to deliver the services and eliminate duplications of services continue the programs are so vital to the people of New Jersey in particular the senior citizens program who now number almost a million in our state. And as governor I will assure the people of this New Jersey that the casino monies will not be tampered with They'll go where they belong. I bring to the governorship a proven record of leadership a record which demonstrated my ability to get things done and the courage to do what had to be done. Even though those things be unpopular and difficult I will continue to be that kind of a governor.

Thank you sir. Next our candidate. Is William Hamilton a resident of New Brunswick. I graduated from Rutgers College and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He is currently the state senator in the 17th district and a partner in a law firm in New Brunswick. Prior to his service in the state Senate Mr Hamilton was a member of the General Assembly from 1970 1976 where he was majority leader and speaker. He has been a member of the New Jersey capital budgeting and planning commission from 1975 to the present. Sir I can say I thank all of you for being here. In two minutes as possible imagine only a few of the accomplishments that I would hope to achieve in one year. Let me mention three principle areas. First is jobs and economic development. The second is crime. The third a battery of environmental Larry. I'd like to do first to complete the job of economic revitalization that I proposed three years ago

long before I was a candidate. I think it's essential for us to do that if we have the resources that we're going to need to solve other problems in transit. Senior citizens who are rebuilding our cities I appoint the first commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development and implement policies and programs first of all to improve the business climate regulatory reform job creation so that we can build the housing we need and create the jobs we must have in order to ensure a healthy economy and the employment and not crime and unemployment and loss and disillusionment that we now face in many of our cities. Crime is an overwhelming problem today cities suburbs young old rich poor it makes no difference. I believe that justice delayed is justice denied to the victim to the accused and to society. Accordingly I will institute in cooperation with the chief justice and aggressive speedy trial program. No more 2 to 3 year delay from arrest to trial. No more business as usual either for criminals judges or prosecutors. I want criminals

to know that they can't beat the system. I'm prepared to say that we will open our criminal courts at night if necessary so that we can move cases involving violent crime within 45 to 60 days. I'll move immediately on all judicial vacancies and use retired judges and judges from elsewhere in the judicial system if necessary to eliminate a backlog in cases that we have. I think I'll have to say the rest of my time later to talk to you about the program for the environment that will give you some idea of the kind of priorities I would put to accomplish in my first year in office. Thank you. Next we have her. You are a resident of Allen hers who holds a B.A. degree from Seton Hall University and then a degree from Rutgers University. He was a teacher in Ocean Township for nine hundred fifty two thousand nine hundred seventy nine for nine hundred sixty seven thousand nine hundred seventy one he served as Ocean Township councilman from 974 to 1979 he represented the 10th District in the New Jersey State Senate sir.

In my first year as governor I will concentrate on rebuilding New Jersey's faltering economy the creation of private sector jobs and the production of manufactured goods will be my highest priority. I am not wedded to the executive mistakes of the 1970s which has resulted in blocking the much needed talks Island dam project is virtually closed down the development of housing and business growth in South Jersey Pylea and region. Jersey's natural harbors are rich fertile farmland and how beautiful she coasts have all fallen victim to severe restrictive unreasonable overregulation. I intend to correct this problem by forcing the regulators to defend their position or to leave state government. I will see a fine balance between the ecological demands of our state and the economic needs of our state and all of my executive actions. I will work closely with the members of the legislature with local and county officials

and with the business community a common objective. Will be full employment and maximum production and a higher quality of life for the citizens of New Jersey in the 1008. My first year. I am also committed to correct the broken promises which have been made to our senior citizens to our Vietnam veterans. And to our educators in the public school children of the state. Finally as chief executive of the state with the greatest potential in the nation I will forcefully carry the fight to Washington to return to New Jersey. Our federal tax dollars to provide funds for mass transit to wish in aid for our students and most importantly assistance for the most needy people in the state. Thank you. Thank you. Our next candidate is Ian Klein a resident of Morristown who has a bachelor's degree from Barnard College and a master's from Columbia University's School of Social Work.

She served two terms as president of the labor women voters of New Jersey and two years in the New Jersey assembly representing Morris County. She served for seven years since 1974 as commissioner and Governor Burns can. Thank you. I am a problem solver. I took on an antiquated bureaucracy and transformed it and made it deliver good services for the people of New Jersey. I will do that with all of state government. That is the task of my first year in office. The fact is that New Jersey is facing the most threatening the money crunch in its history because of the certainty that a billion dollars of federal cuts will impact on the quality of life of all our people. The saddening if not surprising fact is that neither the governor the legislature nor the candidates are willing to deal with that issue we're facing right now a phony

budget that is based upon make believe federal dollars which will disappear in October and I'm not talking about nickels and dimes. The impact will be increased cost to commuters students local school districts and the closing down of many vital services for the elderly for children the mentally ill retarded and the loss of thousands of jobs. These facts are being swept under the rug by the present administration the legislature and the other candidates and postponed until after the election in November. It's politics as usual in New Jersey and that's why voters all of us are turned off tuned out and filled with apathy and disgust. I want to change that. I want you to have a government you can believe. My first task will be to deal with the emergency which is being created. And I will start on June 3rd by getting all the facts out before the public and forcing the legislature to act as the nominee I will

have the opportunity to be heard. I will also force the issue of letting you vote on whether you want a new long term source of revenue for New Jersey through a state owned and operated casino in the Meadowlands you have a right to make that decision. Thank you. Now I'd like to introduce Stella Emain a resident of Union Township. This man has been a teacher in the Union County school system for 23 years. She is a graduate of Seton Hall University and is a member of the New Jersey educational The National Education Association and the Union Township Teachers Association. Yes ma'am. Thank you. I would crackdown on crime corruption and influence peddling. I would clean out corrupt politicians and expose them. I would expand the role of the state police giving the state police authority to go into every community in the state to aid local law enforcement agencies. I would set up a special

Police Crime Strike Force with a specific order to break the back of crime in New Jersey. I reinstate the death penalty for murderers as well as those who contract to kill. I will redo the juvenile code. It simply doesn't work. I would reconstruct the state commission of investigation with people of the highest standards in law enforcement and make this commission permanent. I would institute a mandatory 10 year prison sentence for anyone convicted of mugging an elderly person and 25 years for anyone convicted of a crime using a gun. I would prohibit all state officials their families and lawyers from doing business with the land tax City casinos for 10 years after they leave office. I would break up the rigged court system by having judges who sit on the state Supreme Court elected by the people rather than appointed by the governor. Presently governor Burton's friends who he appointed controls the Supreme Court. I would not reappoint judge is soft on criminals. I would order an investigation of the Essex County prosecutor's office where case is sent to them for grand

jury action are being squashed. I would order all judgeship appointments recently approved by Sen. Musto chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee must be evaluated since Senator muster was just indicted on 32 counts. Judges sitting on the benches of our courts must be of the highest integrity. I will order an independent audit of the ten and a half million dollars of Sita funds and I will order an independent audit of the thirty million dollars spent on toxic waste cleanup conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection for the period between January and May of this year. As governor I will order all hearings held before the county Real Estate Tax boards be recorded. Large sums of money are involved on tax appeals and however transcripts of these transactions are recorded. Thank you. Now I'd like to introduce a candidate please. Now I'd like to introduce candidate Kenneth Gibson a resident of Newark and the 36 the mayor of Newark serving his third

term. He is a graduate of college of in engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology. And it's a professionally licensed engineer prior to his term as mayor. He served in the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Newark Redevelopment Authority. He was president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors from 1976 to 77 and received the Jefferson Award for public service. Sir. Thanks Will. I'd like to first of all say that I think most of us realize that New Jersey does not have a master plan planned for the 80s. The first thing that I would do would be to develop a plan for the 80s. We can't if we listen to all of the candidates all of the people by the way we would have all of the solutions and frankly we would do it all of the year. There would be no need to have anybody administer the affairs of state for the next three years.

But we really have to have a plan and I think that before we know where we're going to be in 1990 we have to develop that plan. We have to know what we want establish priorities and develop the resources to get there. When you have an adequate effective tax reform system in New Jersey on the basis of our proposal equalize statewide property tax and a graduated income tax we have to have economic development of the state of New Jersey and we have shown how it can be done in New York. And we can't really continue to lose the economic resources of this state to other states. We believe that New Jersey can be competitive. And as governor I would make New Jersey competitive with other states in this nation. Thank you. Kennedy Thomas F. Smith has apparently been detained he had accepted an appearance this afternoon so we're going to move on and should you join us later. Still

just Didion with whichever part of the program we're at at the time what we're going to do now is go on to the questioning period where people from the audience may ask candidates questions are are you ready back there have the first question please. Freida Warner Franklin Township I should like to address my question to say State Senator Bill Hamilton. Since you have stressed economic development in your campaign what plans do you have regarding this important issue. First of all to improve the business climate. By appointing the first commissioner of Commerce in economic development by making some fine adjustments in the corporation business tax both in the area of net worth the area of loss carryover and also in the allocation within the corporation business tax. Secondly the area of regulatory reform that I think I can legitimately claim credit for initiating in New Jersey with the creation of the first legislative

oversight committee in 1077 and the regulatory flexibility bill that sits on the governor's desk today. We've got to have regulation that's commensurate with the scope of the activity that's being regulated. Finally I think we've got to use the resources of the state the state's own funds the pension funds of the state fully protected by guarantee funds fully protected by insurance to move is in the area of the housing that we need so desperately to move is in the area of economic development especially in the cities and especially in small business enterprises. Thank you. Next question please and before you give it me I remind the time keepers to hold up for 30 seconds in the one minute warning. Are you rich. Montclair New Jersey. My question is dress directed to Rose money. Do you favor continuation of the New Jersey Department of Energy. And why. I know I know. I think it should be included within the department.

Actually de-escalated eliminated also the Department of Education and Department of Transportation could be reduced. Department of Energy goes in with environment should be in with environmental control. And also. It's it's overlapping in other areas. Thank you. Next questioner please. My name is Nancy Lycos and I'm from Chatham Township. My question is for Mr. Rove. Mr. Rove. Do you feel that. Cutbacks and limited state financial resources may cause a crisis in funding essential to mass transit services in New Jersey. What are your views on this situation. Yes definitely I think that what's happening in developing now is a whole new relationship that will emerge between the federal government the state governments our state will lose approximately is estimated lose approximately one point two billion dollars in state monies coming back to our state federal money. There's no question in my mind that they're good they're recommending

they cut back on a host of various important issues in our state and particularly in transportation. It's amazing to me they tell us to you know get out of our cars and get in a mass transit money cut all that money back on mass transit keep it going. It's going to have a serious effect upon us it's going to increase rates and we've got to figure ways that we can revise this system to make it work better for better for. Thank you I remind the questioner the person organizing the microphone back there monitoring it that we may have time for extra questions we're not using quite all our time. Next question or just one question is for mayor Gibson Marc Shaiman from Result park many urban problems regarding the poor and the elderly seem to have gotten lost in this campaign in Newark an assembly candidate Carol graves even suggested last week that urban food bank might be needed because supermarkets are fleeing the cities. As Governor what can you do to help the delivery of basic life supporting services to the cities.

I think that the basic problems and we. Are referring to here facing the people in the cities I was saying kinds of problems that exist all over the state whether it be the ability to shop or Frankly I think we have more of the natural economic facilities food stores in the cities and in the urban centers that exist frankly are suburban areas but I think that the thing that we have to have is an economic team economic development team as we have in the city of New York which deals with the needs of the business sector and their profit making motives and therefore to tie that in families that with the needs of the population. We've done it we've shown how it can work and I think that's what we need to do in all areas of the state. Is there another question. Michael from the touching my question is directed to Mr. Buehler.

Can you see a workable and affordable plan for the future storage and distribution of freshwater in New Jersey. No question about that. We should have been moving in the early 70s. The federal government since 1950 56 has expended a hundred million dollars in assisting New Jersey with the largest dam project in the history of this nation. I agreed with the secretary of agriculture a lamprey that the time has long Jersey to actually on the talk's Island dam project. That will not solve all of our water quality problems in New Jersey. But it will assist the former's of warming Sussex County. It will supply water up to the 23rd century for much of. The northern part of our state. We cannot afford to reject dollars that are coming from every taxpayer in the nation to give us

additional water supply in our future and I move as I have said in my earlier remarks on that project. Thank you sir. Next question. ROBERT RAY chopper Mike Claire New Jersey in the event that federal this is turning general statement in the event the federal government ceases funding legal services programs for the poor in New Jersey. What in your opinion should be the response of state government. Do I think we're doing this again and I think the response to a federal court or the position of the legal profession to provide that service either through a supreme court order or through legislation which would accomplish the same I think is one of the areas in which government can no longer be looked to as a primary source of revenues to accomplish that goal. And if the federal courts proceed the way in which they propose that's how I would deal with it. Thank you. Next question from a touch and this question is from Mrs.

Klein. What kind of balance would you see between pressure to develop land in industry and protection of the environment. I think this is one of the key issues of this coming decade. New Jersey must have a sound like a land use plan and a balance between preserving our open space and having economic development. I am on record right now as opposing the new plan in the Meadowlands to build a shopping mall of gigantic proportions within four minutes of Bergen lined avenue because I know and everyone else knows that the result of that will be to kill off the commercial area in that area of Hudson County. The one of the few thriving commercial in the city areas that we have. I think that we have to be very clear that our goal is and that we must not waiver and we cannot make

plans and then turn around and plan to put free trade zones in a place like that at all. We must direct our resources to urban renewal and and development in the cities and preserve the open space. Thank you. Question. Mary Cheyenne Mountain Lakes. My question is for Mr. Giles the Assembly Judiciary Committee has introduced legislation to revise the juvenile code harsher sanctions and an increased role for the juvenile court in non criminal family problems threaten to further overcrowded the juvenile justice system at a substantial cost to New Jersey taxpayers. If you are elected governor you will inherit the mammoth problems of the adult criminal justice system at a time when federal funding for social service programs is being withdrawn. Do you think such legislation legislation should be enacted before your administration has had time to assess the juvenile justice system and make your own recommendations.

Most of the crimes that are committed breaking and entries assaults muggings are done by juveniles more and more and we can no longer treat the juvenile as such. They are going to have to be dealt with in a harsher manner. And this is a fact. It's an unpleasant fact but it's going to have to be done. Last year the legislature passed a bond issue to construct new prisons. And unfortunately that part of ministration traveled around the state asking people hey who wants a new prison. Well nobody wanted a new prison in their municipality. It takes leadership. And unfortunately we do not have the prison space available today. And with that comes the difficulty of extremely hard choices on prison space. Next question. Mary on Englewood Mr. Florio. What is your position on gun control. And did you welcome the endorsement of the National Rifle Association.

I have no difficulty accepting the support of the 50000 members of the National Rifle Association who are residents of New Jersey for the most part they are sportsmen they are hunters they are law abiding citizens. Opposition with regard to the bill that's been the vehicle of most of the discussion through the course of this year is really is just an embodiment of existing law with a few exceptions creating new programs whereby people can voluntarily turn in their guns and we paid for them. I just don't forsee a great rush of criminals to turn in their guns. My point is that humans have laws to deal with those who by definition violate the law. It's not the most appropriate way to deal with the real problem the problem of course is the abuse of handguns by criminals or those who are mentally deranged. There are other suggestions as to how to go about dealing with that. We've heard some today talk about making the criminal justice system act in a more expeditious way. There are lots of things we can do to target in on the so-called career criminal we've all talked about that small number of individuals who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime. So those are the things we should be doing. And I'm just not sure it's

productive to talk about a mode of dealing with crime that is not going to result in any resulting diminution in the crime rates. Thank you. We have the next question please. My name is Kay Abraham from Montclair New Jersey. My question is directed to Stella Mann. Will you support a beverage container deposit legislation. If not why not. Yes I will support it and I promise I will work very hard. I am honest. I have integrity and I will do everything in my power to help it. Thank you could I remind the time keepers when they hold up the 30 second warning to dot just flash but to continue to hold it it would assist me to know this that the minute was running out. Thank you. Next question please. And Greene Livingston New Jersey this is from Barbara McConnell. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of having initiative and referendum as a tool for public participation in the governmental process.

While I believe that the people of the state do have the opportunity for initiative and referendum in many cases. I believe that state wide initiative and referendum could has many inherent dangers and it I think the representative process is far superior whereby people can initiate certain ideas and programs through their elected representatives and certainly turn those people out of office if they have not done their job. But the people of this state have many opportunities to vote on issues bond issues constitutional amendments through the ballot process and I think that through the initiative and referendum proposal that's being made in the state of New Jersey today could be very dangerous because I think that there's the possibility that special interest groups that have far greater influence on the process governmental process through initiative and referendum than they do through the elective process. Thank you. Next question please.

Yes Susan first township of ocean for Representative Roe. My understanding of the public finance law is that it would strengthen the integrity of the elective government of elective government by limiting the influence of big money donors for the most part big business. You have made an issue of not accepting public financing. Why and don't you feel that the acceptance of large contributions makes you susceptible to ANTU undue influence of the donor. Yes I have refused to accept public financing in the primary campaign because history I think is strictly partisan elections and we have my campaign has stuck right to the letter of the law and nobody above can finance or put any funding in above a hundred dollars we have 10000 citizens that have participated in our campaign from a dollar 87 cents up to 800. Just quickly if time prevails was an article in The New York Times today that had there was a relationship of the statement by Mr. Thurston who is the executive director he says the following and I quote One thing the law has done is change the way people campaign. We have lost that interaction between the

candidates and the voters. The candidates may not be as aware of the basic concerns of the public's needs because too much is being filtered through the polls and through television. Thank you sir. Next question please. And Marjorie Jones Short Hills I have a question for Senator Dodd as a candidate for governor in the November general election. Would you campaign for passage of the constitutional referendum abolishing the practice of gubernatorial courtesy and the pocket veto. Gubernatorial courtesy we have imposed the 45 day rule on the governor that when we do put a bill on his desk he must either sign or veto it within 45 days or does become law. I would look to strengthen that as governor and cooperate fully I don't believe that the legislature gets a fair shake when the governor can just simply sit on a bill until the term runs out

and therefore not giving the legislature a chance to override. I believe I'm only one of the one of the few senators that ever had a bill delivered to the governor's desk. Therefore making him forcing him to veto it so we could then go for the override. So I I would be the same as governor I would want that interaction with the legislature. Thank you. Is there another question. Yes my and my question is for Senator merely no. What would you do as governor to ensure a continuing reliable supply of energy to New Jersey. To what extent would you sanction the use of nuclear energy and soft coal. Nineteen seventy three I was in the member of a majority report which called for the moratorium on any future expansion of nuclear energy in New Jersey. I think we have sufficient laws now which would permit us to use or any of the other fuels including soft coal to provide their safe and clean use and I would hope you support the use of any kind of energy

any kind of fuel to in order to produce efficient energy without endangering the environment of New Jersey. Thank you. Next questioner please. I'm Larry Kleinman from New Brunswick and I have a question for Senator Hamilton. As a medical student I'm very concerned about the state of health of people in the state of New Jersey. What would you do to clean up toxic waste in New Jersey. At least two things that I would do and do immediately the first is to seek an amendment of the federal Superfund law that has stripped us of our capacity to deal in New Jersey their own spill compensation fund. I call upon Senator Assemblyman strike that Congressman Florio today as the original sponsor of the Superfund legislation which had a noble purpose and he worked very hard to see it and acted. But other members of the Congress gutted New Jersey's ability because of the preemption provision to deal with their own school compensation fund. I think we ought to amend it to remove preemption allow a dollar for dollar credit so that our New Jersey employers are not penalize by payments into two phones. In addition I've called

for more continue to press for the use of ocean incineration safe high temperature burning at sea with dumping it see where that's environmentally sound and with a return for land flowing or rather disposal assure where it's not environmentally sound I think those are two very positive and affirmative actions that I would call for immediately. Thank you. Next question please. Deborah Fagan from Medford New Jersey. My question is for Congressman Florio as co-author of the federal legislation creating the Thailand's National Reserve. What role do you now feel the governor should play in Thailand's preservation. Plan that's a plan which has been put forth as a good plan. It's got to be implemented in a sensitive way taking into account local contingencies. There's a high degree of appropriate discretion within the implementation of the plan the plan conceptually set certain minimum standards for the preservation of the resources particularly the 17 trillion gallons of water that is in that area and then within

those limits provides for the opportunity for municipalities to adjust and to adapt to take into account growth rates or things that are local in nature. So this is a dynamic process that's going to evolve. I think it's key that the governor is going to be in a position to work very hard to protect the integrity of the area within the scope of some minimal degree of flexibility. Thank you. Next question please. Gary from Brighton town. A question for Mr. Degnan. What proposals if any do you have for improving the housing stock in our state. While there are a number of things I think we can do. First of all we can seek amendment to the federal regulations which restrict the ability of the mortgage finance agency to be used as a vehicle to underwrite costs of low interest loans for people who want to rehabilitate urban housing preserve a neighbor to a neighborhood concept which would increase the ability of a community to retain its own cultural identity. I think we could float a two wanted million dollar bond

issue with an existing bonding capacity in New Jersey with the only state except for New Hampshire and the northeast have a triple-A bond rating thanks to the fiscal prudence of the burning ministration for the last seven years and use that money to make reasonably low interest rate mortgage money available to people want to construct housing. And finally I think we have to curtail the administrative inflexibility of state government either through the administration of the uniform construction code or other agencies of the state which in fact contribute to the impediments to housing which so many people point to a New Jersey. Thank you. Thank you. Another question please. Q Did Stuart Randolph in light of the latest Call This is from this man. Thank you. In light of the latest court challenge to school funding would you as governor support an increase in state funding of education. If so what sources of revenue will you propose for this purpose. I will not short change our educational system. The children of today are the future leaders of tomorrow. I will allocate more money for education.

An investment in education is of the investment in the future and would have been wiser move to have used public funding's monies of multimillions of dollars of education for education instead of political propaganda. I will set up a Cabinet level Department of Education when I if I become governor. But I will use monies from the casinos. I will I want casinos to be state owned and state operated at the present time we're only getting 8 percent from the casinos revenue. We should be getting 100 percent and if we receive 100 percent that will. That's a 92 percent increase. You can imagine how much monies we would have in a state treasury. Thank you. Next question please. I Marlo bell from aquatic township and my question is for Anne Klein. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of expanding casino gambling to the Meadowlands.

The only advantage is that it is a new source of revenue for New Jersey. We do not know the exact size of the but we know that it would be an enormous amount of money to help offset the big loss of federal funds that is going to hit New Jersey. That is the only advantage of it. There are always disadvantages to increasing gambling but I think we have to recognize that in this country in this area billions of dollars are spent on gambling both legal and illegal. The casinos that was sent up in Atlantic City were set up as franchise casinos I recommended against that in 1982. But that is done and we cannot change that. We are getting a very small amount of money out of those casinos because we get just 8 percent of what they earn after they pay the winners. I stayed on to see you know would without any question be possible to operate with much less possibility of corruption than the franchise Pacino's and would yield

money to New Jersey. Thank you. Next question please. Robert Rich Montclair New Jersey question candidate Florio. Certain candidates in both the Democratic and Republican parties have suggested that our next governor should cut taxes and services traditionally performed by state government. Perhaps as governor Burns suggested yesterday the Reagan administration expects the states to pick up the fiscal burden left by the by the federal government. Are you willing to suggest that that state taxes must be increased to make up for the devastating effect which the decline in federal funds will mean to urban areas. Well I think before you get to that point you've got to make a determination and do an inventory of the appropriate services that are going to be carried forth. You've got to make an inventory of the effectiveness of current delivery systems and that in fact if we can provide for more effective delivery systems we should be doing that we're going to have a self discipline enforced upon us whether we like it or not to go through those preliminary steps

before we determine as to what the actual bill is going to be. I think it is fair to say that the bill is ruggedly rather substantial because I think there's just so many economies one can effectuate we should be dealing with economic development to try to encourage the growth of the pious so to speak. And then as a last resort different fact is a determination that there are services that have to be carried forward and there is a need for revenues within existing systems. One will have to go forward and take the appropriate action to provide those revenues. Thank you. Can I have the next question please. Geraldine Philips South Jersey I address my question to Mayor Kenneth Gibson says the removal of nuclear waste is a life hazard. I assume that you are against its transportation and burial in the state of New Jersey. If my assumption is correct what are your feelings about new solar energy as an alternative energy source. First of all I think your assumption has been pulled from some of our position

papers is correct I think the problem however is that we have to deal with energy and the needs of energy in this country state. I am opposed to nuclear energy plants and the expansion period because of the problem of nuclear waste. We do not have the technology frankly to deal with nuclear waste and therefore I would be opposed to any more construction of nuclear plants in the state. I think we have to talk about ways in which we both conserve energy and develop additional sources solar power. We do have technology for requires a great deal more I think practical engineering to get it done. But I would think that we could help to subsidize that which we have now with solar power. Thank you. Next question Barbara. My question is for Mrs. Klein. Do you believe that the state should control New Jersey's water supply. And if not would you establish any

controls over the present autonomous water companies. I believe that the entire system of water control and water distribution in Jersey has to be examined and revised. We have too many air too many ways in which there's not clear lines of responsibility for water supply and where it's fractured and fragmented between different agencies boards commissions and so forth. Having an adequate supply of water to meet New Jersey's needs is one of our most essential requirements for the coming administration. I am proposing that we address the question of water supply by looking very carefully at what can be accomplished through investing in conservation methods. We have we are allowing much of our water to be wasted because of leaky infrastructures and all our communities. We do not have the adequate interconnected system to bring water from one area to another which I think we have to do. But before we start investigating and investing in talks island or new dams

anywhere I think that we must really carefully study what we could accomplish and what it would and what would be the cost benefits of investing in real conservation. That's it. Thank you. Next question please. My name is Priscilla Anthony from Newark and I'd like to direct my question to Mr. Leno. What is your position on abortion and your position on state financing abortion what for. I personally oppose abortion by the indicated that I would never say I would not support a constitutional amendment banning abortion I don't think it's incumbent upon the government to dictate to those personal things which affect the individuals. I guess they call that the right to choose. I think the law is clear on the financing of abortions for

through the use of public funds and I will abide by the law. Is there another question. Yes my name is Lois Hoffman from Wayne. And my question is for Miss McConnell. New Jersey cap laws combined with a loss of federal grant funds make it difficult will make it difficult for local governments to provide needed services for their citizens. Do you propose any adjustment to New Jersey's capital ought to help those local communities cope. Well I certainly support the concept of the caps and indeed I think they have helped us to stabilize and to bring down property tax in many instances and also to hold back government spending at all levels of government. However to to meet the reality of the times when we're talking about inflation and also the proposed federal budget cuts which will surely dump many of these programs and cost to local government. I think the time has come when we have to be honest and realistic and realize that we're going to have to build in some flexibility within the caps at the local level. And yes I am supportive of that. For instance certain fixed calls whether they be energy cost or

pensions or insurance premiums or things that municipalities have little or no control over mandated programs by state government up on local government is something that local government has no control over. I'm a strong proponent and if I was governor if we mandated any programs up on local government then we would have to provide a funding mechanism for that or to relieve those programs from the camps. Thank you. Next question please. I'm Gail Robinson of Morristown in Cumberland County and I've a question for Senator Hamilton. What innovations might you bring to the Atlantic City as opposed to the Atlantic County area to provide housing needs for all income levels. I have one very immediate action item. We've had one casino in the state.