Dick Zimmer in 2008 NJ Senate Debate

On Principles & Values: Lautenberg is too old to serve another six-year term

Zimmer challenged the age and effectiveness of incumbent Lautenberg, saying he’s come to believe that 84-year-old Democrat is too old to serve another six-year term. “I’ve reluctantly come to the conclusion he is too old to return to the Senate, because he has not been willing to run the kind of campaign that is required to show you are up to the job,” the 64-year-old said.

Lautenberg disagreed, saying, “age has nothing to do with whether or not you are effective. It’s well-known I produce regularly. What counts is your knowledge, your experience and the respect your colleagues have for you.“

Lautenberg retired from the Senate after four terms, but returned after Bob Torricelli dropped out of the race in 2002. Zimmer said that since Lautenberg’s colleagues did not restore his prior seniority, he remains one of the more junior members of the Senate.

Lautenberg said he chairs two important subcommittees, on environment and commerce, and that he’s earned the respect of colleagues.

Source: 2008 N.J. Senate Debate reported in Gulf South Free Press Nov 1, 2008

On Tax Reform: N.J. receives back only 61 cents on every federal tax dollar

Zimmer said Lautenberg’s done nothing to improve the “measly” 61 cents returned to New Jersey for every dollar the state pays in federal taxes. “Sixty-one cents,” said Zimmer. “If I give that to you, Senator, will you give me back a dollar? Of course you won’t because it’s a bad deal. And, it’s a bad deal for New Jersey. We don’t have to be satisfied with 61 cents we send to Washington for our taxes.” Source: 2008 N.J. Senate Debate reported in Gulf South Free Press Nov 1, 2008

On Abortion: Supports abortion rights

Former Rep. Dick Zimmer, who supports abortion rights, defeated state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio and Ramapo College professor Murray Sabrin to win the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey, the Newark Star-Ledger reports (Schwaneberg, , 6/4). Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2008 N.J. Senate Debate Jun 4, 2008

On Civil Rights: Supports Patriot Act as appropriate response

Zimmer said he supports the USA Patriot Act “as an appropriate response to a very serious existential problem to the United States,” adding that the 2002 law helped law enforcement monitor and track the nation’s enemies through the Electronic Age’s newer forms of communications. Source: Press of Atlantic City on 2008 N.J. Senate Debate May 23, 2008

The above quotations are from 2008 New Jersey Senate Debate between Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer. Click here for other excerpts from 2008 New Jersey Senate Debate between Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer. Click here for other excerpts by Dick Zimmer. Click here for a profile of Dick Zimmer.
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Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade	Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare
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Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018