Robert Menendez in 2012 N.J. Senate debates

On Abortion: I'm pro-choice, not multiple-choice

When the debate turned to abortion, Kyrillos drew a distinction between his private and public lives. "I'm not exactly sure when exactly life begins. I know for me, I have a pro-life thought process," he said in response to a question asking when he believed life first begins during pregnancy. "I'm pro-life in terms of how I conduct my own affairs," he said, adding, "I'm pro-choice for society at large."

"I have now been in three debates, and I've heard three different answers" from Kyrillos about abortion, said Menendez, who added he is pro-choice. "What I don't believe women in this state can afford is someone who goes to the Senate and is multiple-choice," he said.

Source: The Bergen Record on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 14, 2012

On Budget & Economy: Opposes Romney-Ryan budget plan

Menendez likened Kyrillos' economic positions to those of Romney and his running mate, Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan. Menendez maintained that Kyrillos was in favor of the national budget proposal submitted by Ryan, which calls for eliminating such popular tax breaks as the home-mortgage interest deduction.

Kyrillos, who denied that assertion, meanwhile, tried to tie Menendez to Corzine. After leaving office, Corzine led MF Global, a futures-trading financial firm that collapsed in October 2011, in one of the largest bankruptcies in American history. "He's pursuing a Jon Corzine economic strategy," Kyrillos said of his opponent. "Reelecting him to the Senate would be like sending Jon Corzine to the Senate."

Kyrillos blamed Menendez for New Jersey's economic woes, while the Democrat focused on the money and projects he said he has brought to New Jersey as its senator.

Source: The Bergen Record on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 14, 2012

On Technology: Helped promote NJ biotechnology and solar industries

The federal government should follow Trenton's example, Kyrillos said, by cutting spending, taxes and "job-killing regulations."

"We're making all the wrong decisions in Washington, D.C.," he said.

Menendez emphasized his efforts to help the middle class grow and prosper, listing New Jersey's biotechnology and solar industries as areas that he helped to promote.

Both candidates indicated that failing to avoid the impending "fiscal cliff"--a set of large spending cuts and tax increases set to take effect in January unless Congress takes action--would be unacceptable.

Menendez promised Congress would find a way to meet this challenge. "There will be no tax increases on New Jerseyans or Americans in January," he said.

Kyrillos attacked Menendez and the Congress for waiting until the last minute to respond. "I'm not sure he understands what's at stake. I can't believe that they allow the uncertainty to exist out there," Kyrillos said. "Why can't they get their act together?"

Source: The Bergen Record on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 14, 2012

On Civil Rights: Evolved from supporting DOMA to supporting same-sex marriage

Menendez said although he supported the Defense of Marriage Act in the House in the 1990s, which restricted the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage, he now favored it.

Kyrillos, who has voted against same-sex marriage twice in the state Senate, jumped on Menendez for changing his mind and said he wanted to "motivate civil unions," legislation he voted against in 2006.

Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 10, 2012

On Jobs: Supports minimum wage increase

When Kyrillos said he favored raising New Jersey's minimum wage next year--though not by constitutional amendment, as the state's Senate Democratic leader wants to do--Menendez noted that he had a chance to vote for it in 2005. "You've become the biggest flip-flopper in the Legislature," said Menendez. "You voted against a minimum wage increase when you had the chance."

Menendez and Kyrillos cast blame in each others' direction for New Jersey's 9.9% unemployment rate, which is significantly above the national rate of 7.8%. "Other states see their unemployment rates lowering," Menendez said. "What are you doing to create jobs? I don't see it."

For his part, Kyrillos said Menendez was "outsourcing his responsibility" for New Jersey's troubles, and on the state level brought the blame back to the last governor, a Democrat.

Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 10, 2012

On Principles & Values: Elected mayor of Union City at 32

Both men have long histories in state party politics. Menendez comes out of the rough and tumble of Hudson County, which is overwhelmingly Democratic. He was elected mayor of Union City at 32, and later to the State Assembly, State Senate and Congress, before being appointed in 2006 to his seat by Jon S. Corzine, his predecessor, who had been elected governor. He helped his party narrowly hold on to its Senate majority against the Republican headwinds of 2010. Source: Associated Press on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 5, 2012

On Tax Reform: We cannot simultaneously cut the deficit and cut taxes

Menendez [says] his Republican opponent supported tax cuts for the wealthy. Menendez has sought to present himself as the champion of the middle class, and to lump his opponent with the extreme wing of the Republican Party, arguing that he cannot simultaneously cut the deficit and cut taxes, as Kyrillos has proposed. (Menendez borrowed from Obama, who borrowed from former President Bill Clinton: "That arithmetic doesn't work.") Source: Associated Press on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 5, 2012

The above quotations are from 2012 New Jersey Senate debate. Click here for other excerpts from 2012 New Jersey Senate debate. Click here for other excerpts by Robert Menendez. Click here for a profile of Robert Menendez.
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018