Stuart Meissner in 2020 NJ Senatorial race

On Civil Rights: Supports expansion of Title VI addressing anti-Semitism

Meissner said, "I want to thank and congratulate President Trump for signing an Executive Order that expands the reach of Title VI to meet the alarming rise in anti-Semitism and BDS campaigns on campus. My own daughter and the students at Syracuse University have been recently terrorized by such threats, so I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Education will now be empowered to fight back against these instances of prejudice and hate." Source: SaveJersey.com on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Dec 12, 2019

On Energy & Oil: Climate change real, but response must be joint effort

He had much to say about climate change, offering "I believe it's real based on science, but we shouldn't cut emissions while China is spewing pollutants into the air. It needs to be a joint effort." However, he noted that "If we listened to the far left, we would be highly dependent on Iranian oil." He noted that he had read the Green New Deal, and "much of it was not about environmental issues but identity politics." Source: Jewish Link NJ e-zine on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Jan 22, 2020

On Foreign Policy: Against Iran nuclear deal that sent money used for terrorism

It seems to be foreign policy where Meissner is most critical of Booker. Meissner says the senator claims to be a strong supporter of Israel, but if that's the case, he wouldn't have supported the Iran nuclear deal, an agreement Trump abandoned. Meissner says money returned to the Iranian government as part of the deal has been used by the regime to bomb Israeli settlements. And for that, he blames Booker. Source: InsiderNJ.com on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Dec 12, 2019

On Gun Control: Supports 2nd Amendment, background checks

On gun control, he said that as a prosecutor he took illegal guns off the streets, "but law-abiding citizens should be allowed to defend themselves because we have a Second Amendment in our constitution." He stressed that he is in favor of responsible gun ownership, though, including background checks. Source: Jewish Link NJ e-zine on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Jan 22, 2020

On Health Care: Under socialized medicine "I wouldn't be alive today"

He developed a rare and aggressive form of cancer but survived due to successful surgery just a week after the discovery. He tied this personal experience to the "Medicare for all" debate, saying he is against socialized medicine, noting "Had I been under such a plan I wouldn't be alive today." He explained that among the flaws of such a system is the wait time for surgery, which can take months. His view is that for any new plan, "pre-existing conditions must be taken into consideration. Source: Jewish Link NJ e-zine on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Jan 22, 2020

On Health Care: Americans should not pay higher prices for drugs

Regarding the issue of prescription drug costs, Meissner was animated. "I want a law enacted where U.S. citizens cannot be charged higher prices for drugs than what citizens of other countries pay. We need to level the playing field." He explained that although many large pharmaceutical companies are U.S.-based, we pay considerably more for the same medications than Canada and Mexico. His belief is that the U.S. is subsidizing the world in this area. Source: Jewish Link NJ e-zine on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Jan 22, 2020

On Immigration: Not fair for illegal immigrants to cut the line

Meissner said that "As a child of an immigrant, I'm in favor of legal immigration as the backbone of our country, but I also feel strongly about law and order.' He added "It isn't fair for illegal immigrants to cut the line in front of legal ones." Source: Jewish Link NJ e-zine on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Jan 22, 2020

On Principles & Values: Lifelong Democrat turned Trump supporter

Meissner had been a lifelong Democrat until 2015. He explained that as a Jew growing up in Brooklyn during the 1960s and 1970s, it was simply the default position. As the 2016 presidential elections approached, he gravitated towards Donald Trump, volunteering for his campaign in September 2015. He liked the president's independence, and felt it was refreshing to hear someone tell Wall Street he doesn't need their money. Source: Jewish Link NJ e-zine on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Jan 22, 2020

On Tax Reform: Remove cap on federal deductions for local taxes

One quibble Meissner has with Trump is over the 2017 tax bill that capped the state's so-called SALT deduction at $10,000. Like many state politicians from both parties, Meissner wants to do away with the cap. And he suggests that one reason it came about was because there were not enough Republicans representing impacted states like New Jersey to negotiate a better deal. Source: InsiderNJ.com on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Dec 12, 2019

On Tax Reform: Raise property tax deduction to $20,000

Regarding Trump's legislation limiting property tax deductions to $10,000, Meissner was against it. However, he placed the blame for its passage on Booker, saying "For all his talk of reaching across the aisle, when it came to it he actually burned the aisle." He claimed that because of Booker's animosity towards Trump, the bill went through. "We didn't have a voice." Meissner wants the deductible raised to $20,000. Source: Jewish Link NJ e-zine on 2020 New Jersey Senate race Jan 22, 2020

The above quotations are from 2020 New Jersey Senatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts from 2020 New Jersey Senatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Stuart Meissner. Click here for a profile of Stuart Meissner.
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Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023