Sen. Jon Corzine interview outside UAW Local 980

Well, the Yankees were done at 1107, so I guess you're going to sleep with a four-zip lead, so. All right. Well, thanks a lot. First, if we could for Michael Aaron, who's doing a story up north, your opponent is at Ringwood today, talking about contamination at the old four-plant in Mauwa. And he'd like to return Ringwood back onto the Superfund list. As I understand it, you criticized his stance for that. I don't criticize the idea of it going back on the Superfund site list. Fact is, there's no money on the Superfund to clean up Superfund sites, because the policies that Mr. Forester has advocated, first when he was running for the Senate, and what I've seen so far in this campaign, is not making polluters pay is a great way to say, I'm in favor of the environment, but doing nothing about it.

You know, putting it onto the backs of general taxpayers when polluters are the ones that cause the problem, is not a solution that makes any sense. And you know, he fought, polluted, paid, argued against it in the 2002 election, bringing it up current. You know, he's so anxious to try to get close to the environmentalists. He isn't even prepared to have Sitko clean up Petty's island, which is that 50 years of chemical and oil dumping on it. And that actually has to be cleaned up before you can even talk about a natural preserve. So all of us want Ringwood put back onto the Superfund site, but I want to put back onto a Superfund list that has money in it. And if there's no money, you can't do anything. Isn't it that the Republican approach is pay businesses pay now, government sue them later to get the money, and the Democratic approach is, don't let the taxpayers put the money up front,

but to sue them and get it out of them, which also has proved to be a never-ending cycle. There's nothing else. There's too much gas that I'm lost. Actually, never get lost. It's often never get to conclusion. Sitko has been being sued for a long time on cleaning up pollution in the Delaware River. You know, that can go on for decades. That's a great way to break the bank, the budget. We should have polluter pay efforts on an ongoing basis, so we have the Superfund. Actually have money in it. This is like the Transportation Trust Fund being raided, which was the case under Governor Whitman and Republican administration. It's a traditional policy. Put the problems onto future generations as opposed to dealing with it now. The fact is, if we had revenue sources that came from people who have continually polluted the environment to make the payments as you go, then we wouldn't have this problem.

We'd have the money to clean this up, and we certainly have to go after Ford Motor Company and others in lawsuits, but that'll take decades. Well, how are you going to get them to pay if they're going to fight you in court? Well, you can ultimately win in court. You can ultimately win in court. Of course, you can attach their properties and other things if you win your suit. It takes time to have that happen, but the polluter pay principle is more than losses that's to put taxation on people who pollute the environment on an ongoing basis. That's what Mr. Forrester has resisted since he's been in public life, or tempted to be in public life. Very quickly to follow on this. On Petty's Island, the Citco cleanup, are you not in favor of the Cherokee development down there early? I couldn't tell you whether I am or not, because the first thing that has to get done is that island has to get cleaned up.

I don't think... What's the Citco willing to clean it up and get it to the state? They were willing to make a bargain that any good business person would. Here's two million dollars. Take away all our problems in the state of New Jersey. That doesn't tell us how much it's going to cost to clean up that island. It doesn't tell you what their other pollution problems are in the state of New Jersey. They were going to get complete protection for everything that they did in the state of New Jersey. It's a crazy idea. It's the most anti-environmental stance that anybody could take. That's what Doug Forrester stands for. All right, quickly, your staff let you know we wanted to ask you about commercials. I know you're running behind just quickly. On your commercial, it seems... Well, let's just say this. Both campaigns and appears are now on the attack. The Forrester people saying that you raised taxes, quoting a picture of you there with Jim McGreevy. What do you think of that commercial? Well, first of all, it's actually long. I think there's a study out that shows there are only 23 votes of those 133 could even be interpreted as tax increases. And most of those had to do with rolling back some of the excessive tax cuts that President Bush put forward.

In fact, there were lots of votes that were for tax cuts. They just happened to be democratic versions. You know, payroll, tax holidays, trial, credit. You know, it's just a complete distortion. Tax cuts, but not as much as the Republicans would come. And they call that a tax hike. Who's definition of reasonableness is that? What about the guilt by association, if you will? Putting your picture up with Jim McGreevy, Lord knows with whomever to come. Some of those Democrats discredited who you've been involved with over the years. Guilt by association is something we teach our kids early on is not the way to go after challenging the problem. Guilt by actions, which my opponent has many things that he has to be held accountable for. Starting with, he's the only guy that's raised property taxes, 200% when he was mayor and city councilman in West Windsor. I mean, that's a fact. All the papers were justified.

I've worked to lower middle income and moderate income families tax bills in the United States Senate. I've got an idea out right now to have a holiday on federal gas taxes, to raise taxes on the oil companies who are making 60 and 70% windfall profits at a time when our taxpayers are paying $3 a gallon for gasoline. So I think guilt by actions is a lot more powerful than guilt by association. Yes, I'm a Democrat. Jim McGreevy is a Democrat. I'm glad he's making that clear. He, on the other hand, is a subject of one of your commercials where you tie him with bush and you have pictures of him with bush and say bushes wrong for New Jersey isn't dug far. But that, I go on in that ad to talk about very specific policies. One of the most important is embryonic stem cell research. Mr. Forester would have you believe that stem cell research is embryonic stem cell research. He's intellectually dishonest. He says in the debate that adults stem cell research is where all the action is.

I can show you a letter where 81 Nobel Prize winners in research and science would say that the biggest hope for curing the most devastating diseases in the future for mankind is embryonic stem cell research. And it's also a huge economic driver of the state of New Jersey. So George Bush is restricting our ability to move forward with embryonic stem cell research and so is dug for us. Social security, he says he's not for that plan. Well, he's got a different position today than he did when he ran in 2002. I, you know, it's convenient for him to say that he has positions in 2002 that are one way and there are someplace else today. Would you characterize your commercials in a more general sense as negative attack ads of the sort that you said you wouldn't be part of? First of all, I never said I wouldn't be a part of. I said when I was attacked, I would return the compliment and that's what we're going to do.

Can we get a two shot with the good senator? And he's kind enough to wait for us. Thank God you watched your step there, Jimmy. Thank you. Appreciate it. I forget what else I was going to ask you about that Bush, Bush, Bush for us to add. But this is, this is going to go on through the campaign. You call it the power of uniform. Well, that particular ad is comparative. But there is no question that if I'm attacked, I will respond. Well, give me one second. We need one more shot. There's nothing new there. I didn't say I wasn't going to. I didn't run the first ads. On the Bush ad, I mean, do you, you know, isn't that guilt by association? And in fact, it's guilt by association. It's guilt by association with the policies, with the policies. It's an entirely different thing than saying I voted 133 times for something that I didn't do.

You know, guilt by association on fundamental policies of taxis cuts for the wealthy and in turn cuts on education and health care are exactly what Mr. Forester is proposing. So it's not guilt by association. It's saying if you saw this movie in Washington, why do you want this movie on their jersey? My mother's did say. I know that. But how do you keep all your support for your last time? Nope, it's not happening. I know that. Nobody replaces you. John, you take care. Thank you for the time. I would like to know a few days before trying to review this movie. So just if you can talk to me and forget about the camera, we'll start with Mr. T. Great. So I got to, I got to make you relax first.

All right. So you'll see him do it. Okay. So retired teacher, home is paid for. Yet you said, I think, if I heard you right in there, you know, primary concern is property taxes. Home is paid for, but we may not be able to live in a home if we have to keep paying these parts of property. Absolutely. Every time we get a property tax bill, it's six, seven, ten percent more. And we're up to about $8,000 now. And you know, when I retired, I thought I was going to have enough to get, get buy. And every year it gets a little tougher. Yeah. Where do you live? East Brunswick. With your wife or? Yes. I said you said we, so. Yeah. You have a little ranch up there or what do you have? No, it's a split level. I was raised to kids there, raised my kids there and one's home and one's gone. Now, what I really wanted to ask you about was, you know, your points will take it.

It's hard to get by. And that's what you said to the senator. His property tax plan. I don't think would save as much as, say, Doug Farristers. If you were to believe that Doug Farrister could even perform his plan. What are your thoughts on the two men's candidates plans? I'm gonna wait for this big truck to go by. What are your thoughts on the two candidates plans in terms of why wouldn't a guy like you like a forester who might get you more money back if he would have produced that plan of his? First of all, I don't think he can do it. Secondly, I think it should be based on a building to pay. And the tax rebate is based on the ability to pay. The millionaires won't be getting a rebate, but those of us who need it the most will be getting it. All right, so you're still a core science pointer on this one? Absolutely.

Yep. I've been involved in programs and coalitions to work for tax reform for 20, 25 years. And this we're really close now, I think, to getting this problem solved. Both candidates recognize it. It's important. And I certainly hope the course out of plans. What do you think of the forester plan? It's not based on a building to pay, and at which point there's me. The people who have too much money have already gotten it. They're sharing the way up from this administration. But we've been squeezed for more than 20 years. And it's about time we got a break. The last question. And it seems to me that if you believe what gets said in there that if foresters plan were to go through, that other areas would have to be cut. Is that something that you consider or not? Sure.

You know, we need to take care of the highways. And bridges, they're full on the part. Highway's bridges, school repairs, school construction. We've got all kinds of problems. And if they shoot that big hole in the budget, the other problems will be neglected. And look at their 40 million people in this country that don't have health care yet. New Jersey may be doing better than most, but to have a long way to go. We're going to take a two shot with you. Mr. Pearson, if you don't mind. No, you're just there right here. No, just you and me. All right, so what's your wife's name? Is she retired? Yes, she's retired too. She wasn't last job was at a bank. She just had several administrative jobs. Did she get a pension? Yes. Very small enough from a bank. Right. Can I ask you, in America, we don't usually ask these questions, but I'm going to try it anyway. And I'm going to try it this way.

What percentage of that $8,000 in property taxes is that of your annual income? The percentage has gotten bigger every year. But it just seems to me like it's about 20% of my annual income. What was it? It's about 20%. Okay, I'm sorry, because I wanted to get it for the tape. So you said, go ahead. It's about 20%. What is about 20% of what? The $8,000. The $8,000 is what? It's about 20% of my annual income. But the percentage keeps getting bigger every year. That's the concern I have. At one time, I thought we could afford the property taxes, but now we can't. Where does the other 80% go? Well, food. gasoline. So many other things. Yeah, prescriptions.

When I retired, I didn't have any doctors. Now I have four. It's amazing. When you're retired, your whole way of life changes. You think that you're going close to long on what you were making. And actually, sometimes it gets worse. I know some people may be lucky, but on the average, we have more doctors now than we thought we were going to have. We have a triple bypass and a couple of other things go wrong. And then more costs, of course. We're associated with that. That's right. All right, thanks very much for keeping us while we want to talk to you a little bit more. Pretty good about your concerns and what you think about who would be better suited to you because of your concerns. And if I heard you write, I think your concern was about prescription drugs. Yes. And you're paying an awful lot of money for that. You still have a mortgage to pay. Yes. And you're concerned? Yes, I am. And I think, of course, I would be a better person, really, for seniors and for the state of New Jersey. Why is that? Because he promised that he would have with the prescription drugs,

be promising to have with the tax. And, like I said, I need help. And lots of the seniors in my position need help, because I still have to pay a mortgage. And I don't, I don't, that's the only thing I have with my social security and my little pension. And that's all I have. Income. And from the mortgage, the tenant, like it's a two-front house in pay, they have paid a mortgage. So they would be good to have someone running on a ticket, the Democratic Party, to help the poor people. We've been, we've been jipped for so long. There's not no such thing as willing to come, people. There's no such thing as support or rich. And I feel they do not feel it, because they don't have, they never felt it. They don't feel the way that we feel. And I feel this way, my mother will be 99 next month, 24th this month.

She brought up and stayed. We was on a phone. I was raised on a phone. And everything. And I feel I paid my due to the side. And I feel that I'm entitled to certain things. I see other people's come to this country get better breaks than when I had them worked all these years. So why couldn't I give the, the people in this country a little more consideration and help them, you know, when they really need help? I'm not asked for a hand out. I'm asked for, I have work for. That's all I'm asking. And you think Corazon would be the better candidate? I believe so, with all my heart. I believe. Forrest or what do your thoughts on him? He says he'll help you. I don't want to, I don't want to go there. Okay. He says I believe forrest or speech just like Bush speak. That's my opinion. And I don't like him. And like I said, I might get sued or something, but I don't like him either. I don't think he's going to get sued. In the Accusac New Jersey. We was like decoration glass. Uh-huh. And what town in New Jersey? Accusac.

Oh, that's right. Accusac New Jersey. And I had to come out in 93 on a permanent disability. And I had a chronic a cough and, you know, and stuff like that. And I was supposed to get my medicine every day in three of my head. That, that didn't work. No. And everything. It cost 100 to something, Docs. And everything. You don't have a prescription plan? No. What about PAA digs? That's what I'm trying to get. You not on PAA? I get, I get, I get... Maybe you make too much money. Please don't go there. I don't go there. But we was at a convention in Atlanta, said the man said, as well, what is the people that situated $370 or something like that? Right. And he said, oh, if you make all that money, you can afford to pay your strippers. That's no money. Right. So I get, like... I'll tell you what I get. I get $1300. Uh... Pat. It's so security. A month. Patient is, uh, 400.

Now, you calculate that up. About $1,700. Yes. About $1700. We went, wait for the truck to go black. It's a trick that I use. I've tried to get you to say it and not me to say it. So that adds up to $1,700. Yes. Yes. $1,700. I'm on. I'm on. And then, so that's what I live on. That's not easy, huh? No, it's not. It's true, true or not. If I didn't have the two family house, you know, I would be up to creep. And if I didn't have a son that, you know, you're just some kind, you know, he helped me. I don't know what I would do. Because my husband deceased in 1999. And I don't have no other SS. All right. Well, God bless you, man. It's nice to talk to you. Thanks. I opened this plan up in 1948. No kidding. Yep. Retired in 1986. Hmm. And now what? Well, I'm here to try to help Johnny Cores. I got elected. I was here two years ago when we had the big rally.

I don't know whether you were or not. But yeah, I'm the secretary here of our retirees group. Uh-huh. And back in John Cores, I'm 100%. Well, because he's for labor. And I'm part of labor. Big part of labor. We were in this state, but now we're not much anymore. And you think he would be better for labor, as opposed to his opponent, the car. Oh, yeah. Oh, well, you know, I wrote to Doug Farrister, being a secretary here for the last five years. I wrote to him and never heard one response. And I even called his office and says, Hey, if you don't respond, that's it. You know. Uh-huh. No. Never heard from him. And John, well, you heard him in here today. You were here. He's for the working man. And like he said, you work hard and you make a good company.

It pays off. If you treat your people right. And that's the whole thing. Thanks a lot, sir. We're going to take a quick two shot with you. Good, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Yeah. So you're with the Eastman Kodak family. Yeah. You don't have any problems. No, no. It's the same name, but not the same family. Was that right, okay? Right. Because Jimmy and I were talking on the way up. I don't have the rich guys' problems. But they say that they're just as bad as the regular guys' problems. But they never want to get their money up to let us find out about it. Hey. You got your health, your rich. Right? In this country, especially. Right? I agree. And I thank God I got my health and doing great. You look terrific. Well, we didn't generate our own electric. Oh, okay. We did a heating and air conditioning. And all at the time, all ovens were heated by steam. We had a big, we used to swing three boilers in there in a winter time. Oh, yeah.

Okay. Three, two, one. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive. I told the crowd, I saw a lead drive. I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive. I told the crowd, I saw a lead drive. I told the crowd, I saw a lead drive. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive. We do what? We do what?

Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive. For the governor's office, and he forced to return the favor that they put in the trend in the next one selection. That's good. Three, two, one. Three, two, one. All right, take that again. Okay, yeah. Three, two, one. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive for the governor's office. And he pledged to return the favor if they land in the trend in the next one selection. And like the next one selection. One, two, one. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that I'm sorry to make one more time. This would be the monitor.

That's right. Three, two, one. Three, two, one. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive for the governor's office. Yes. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that next one selection. I got my car. Yes. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that next. Okay. Three, two, one. Three, two, one. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive for the governor's office. Just give me a favor, Jim.

I just want to know if there's trucks coming down that way before we go. And then I'm fine. You're good, right? Yeah. Very good. No trucks. All right. Thank you. Yes. Three, two, one. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive for the governor's office. And in place to return the favor. All right. So we both want to make sure there's no big trucks anyway. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside. Three, two, one. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive for the governor's office. And he promised to return the favor if they help put him in Trenton in next month's elections. Told you it will be easy. I thought about changing governor's office to stay house and Trenton to governor's office.

I'll try one. Three, two, one. Three, two, one. Of course, I told the crowd packed inside that organized labor is key to this drive for the stay house. And he pledged to return the favor if they help put him in the governor's office in next month's elections. All right. One of each. You got one? You happy with both of them? Yeah. No, I don't. No, I think there's a good shot from up there to into this place, but we need it. You know, you could see the whole thing from up there. All right.

All right. All right. All right.

All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right.

He's a doctor.