November 6, 2018
NJ incumbents face midterm challengers Menendez, Hugin vie for Senate seat while Pallone faces Pezzullo in House CATHERINE NGUYEN STAFF WRITER
This year’s midterm elections for the New Jersey Senate and 6th congressional district of the House of Representatives are said to be one of the most heated yet. Running for the Senate is Democratic incumbent Bob Menendez. Challenging him is Republican Bob Hugin. In the House, current Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D.) and Republican perennial candidate Richard Pezzullo are set to face off in the ballot box. Here are their stances on some of the most contested issues this midterm:
GUN CONTROL: SENATE
Menendez supports pro-gun control legislation. In 1994, he voted for an assault weapons ban. In 2016, he participated in the Senate Democratic filibuster supporting a vote banning gun sales to people on the terrorist watch list, according to NJ Advance Media. Hugin believes in maintaining Second Amendment rights but opposes President Donald J. Trump’s proposal to arm teachers. He supports universal background checks, treatment of men-
tal health and increased funding for school safety, according to NJ Advance Media.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Pallone has co-sponsored measures to increase spending for a national criminal background system, establish a committee on gun violence protection and ban the sale of large capacity ammunition devices, according to his campaign website. Pezzullo supports the Second Amendment and is against new federal gun control laws, according to his campaign website. He has also earned the highest rating possible for a candidate not holding public office from the National Rifle Association (NRA).
HEALTH CARE: SENATE
Menendez helped draft the original Affordable Care Act, and fought against Republicans who attempted to repeal it, according to NJ Advance Media. He voted against the Republican tax overhaul bill ending the requirement that Americans have health insurance or pay a penalty. Hugin wants to keep what he considers the “good” things about the Affordable Care Act, such as
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) faces Republican candidate Richard Pezzullo at the polls today. Pallone supports universal health care while Pezzullo plans to fight against the Affordable Care Act. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS (LEFT) TWITTER (RIGHT)
guaranteeing affordable coverage for pre-existing conditions and allowing people to remain under their parents’ insurance until age 26, according to NJ Advance Media.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Pallone believes all Americans should have access to healthcare and that the Affordable Care Act makes significant investments in the nation’s health while controlling costs, according to his campaign website. Pezzullo vowed to fight against the Affordable Care Act, supporting its repeal. According to his campaign website, he plans to use his power to block the funding of the act.
IMMIGRATION: SENATE
Menendez was part of a bipartisan group of senators that created legislation to strengthen border security but also to offer a path to citizenship for unauthorized persons, according to NJ Advance Media. He said the country needs comprehensive immigration reform, and opposed Trump’s methods “to create fear in people.” Hugin opposed Trump’s call to end birthright citizenship, and also believes that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary, according to NJ Advance Media. He has supported a path to citizenship for immigrants who he believes are living “productive”
lives in the country.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Pallone also supports legislation that provides citizenship for those who pay their taxes and have not gotten in trouble with the law, according to his campaign website. He also supports the DREAM Act, and has spoken out against the harassment of immigrants in New Jersey. Pezzullo opposes any proposals to give citizenship and amnesty to illegal immigrants in the country, according to his campaign website. He believes that the border should be secured and wants a system where immigrants are sponsored.
Residents to vote on $500 M. in funding What this year’s public question means for NJ public school bonds, colleges BRENDAN BRIGHTMAN STAFF WRITER
This year’s midterm election ballot will feature a public question to be voted on, asking whether the state should buy an additional $500 million in bonds to provide funding to schools and colleges across the state.
PUBLIC QUESTION TO BE VOTED UPON
Do you approve the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act? This act authorizes the state to issue bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $500 million. The money from the sale of the bonds would be used to provide grants to schools, school districts, county vocational school districts and county colleges. The grants would be used to build, equip and expand facilities to increase career and technical education program capacity. Money would also be used for school security upgrades and school district water infrastructure improvement projects.
INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT ON THE BALLOT
The money would also be used to provide grants for school se-
curity projects at kindergarten through grade-12 schools. The money would also be used to provide grants for school district water infrastructure improvement projects. Three-hundred-fifty million dollars would support county vocational school district projects and school security projects. Fifty million dollars would support county college projects. One-hundred million dollars would support school district water infrastructure improvement projects.
EXPLAINER
In a statement released by the League of Women Voters for New Jersey, a non-profit in Trenton, the organization listed some reasons why people should vote “yes” or “no” on the question. Below are some of the reasons it said residents should consider.
“YES” REASONS:
It is intended to increase capacity of county vocational school districts and county colleges to serve more students, equipping them with the skills necessary to take advantage of high-demand, highgrowth career opportunities. The bill aims to foster an educational environment that combines core academics with real-world
This year, New Jersey residents have the option of voting “yes” or “no” on whether the state should buy an additional $500 million in bonds to provide funding to schools and colleges. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
experiences, help retain high-demand industries and attract new ones and improve infrastructure. The bill may help the state retain high-demand industries and attract new ones by assuring the availability of qualified employees.
“NO” REASONS:
It may foster a competitive en-
vironment between the county vocational schools and the district high schools within each county with career and technical programs. This competition may cause students to transfer from district high schools to vocational schools, which is harmful to the district schools that rely on the size of their student population to qualify for state aid.
The bill may also make it more difficult for special needs and socially disadvantaged students to access vocational-technical school pathways as they have an admissions screening process. The additional spending will increase the state’s bond debt, which is currently $41.8 billion, according to the latest state debt report.
Referendum Page 2
Vote Yes This April 2019
The Daily Targum looks at next 150 years To the reader,
WHY SHOULD YOU VOTE YES?
Referendum 2019 is crucial for The Daily Targum’s existence, but it is also imperative for the students of Rutgers University—New Brunswick. The Targum is the second-oldest collegiate newspaper in the nation, existing since 1869. For more than 150 years, we have created a daily paper, by students for students. The Targum covers Rutgers University, its students, athletes and professors, as well as college life, the surrounding communities and the ideas and viewpoints discovered. We proposed scarlet as the school color, we reported on the first collegiate
football game in the world and we have continued to break news stories ever since. We are constantly expanding and adapting in order to represent the Rutgers community. With 14 editors, we have rebooted the “Humans of RU” project on Instagram and Facebook, as well as created the “RU Streetwear” project. We want to involve and represent the diverse student body of Rutgers, on social media and within our paper. We have also expanded coverage across all desks. The Sports Desk created a new section called, “Spotlight Knight,” which will help tell the stories of athletes, both Division I and club sports. The Inside Beat desk has expanded its coverage to include an “Artist Spotlight,” to highlight
RUTGERS NEWS What’s happening on campus, what students and faculty are doing, and more! NEWS, FRONT
the underground music scene at Rutgers. These are just a few examples of what we have recently done to better represent the Rutgers community. This paper is as much yours as it is ours, and we hope you take part in supporting your school newspaper.
would control what we publish. We would be prohibited from publishing anything critical of or detrimental to the University and its image. More importantly, we would not be able to exercise our right to journalistic integrity and free speech.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TARGUM DOES NOT PASS REFERENDUM?
WHAT DO WE USE FUNDING FOR?
We have been independent from the University since 1980, which is vital for our coverage to remain unbiased and investigative. The Targum would shut down if Referendum did not pass, or become absorbed by the University, making the funding fall under the student fee, and thus becoming non-refundable. Additionally, with the loss of independence, Rutgers
We print 10,000 copies of the paper Monday through Friday. It is a full-time job for editors, working five days a week from 4:00 p.m. until the paper is finished — usually between 1 and 2 a.m. We also utilize funds for equipment used by the editors, such as video and camera equipment, the software we license, the printing and delivery costs and the travel costs to cover our athletic teams.
SCARLET KNIGHTS Nobody covers them like we do. Check it out in SPORTS, BACK
HOW CAN YOU VOTE?
Voting begins today, April 1, 2019. I implore you to take a few minutes to vote at your local student center or dining hall. Students with 105 or fewer credits can vote, as graduating seniors will not be paying the term bill next year, and will not be impacted by Referendum. Students in the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy can vote if they have 179 credits or fewer. Do not let Rutgers University—New Brunswick become the only Big Ten school without a newspaper. We have stood by you for 150 years, and we now ask you to stand by us. Sincerely, Rebecca Bright Editor-in-Chief/Co-CEO of the Targum Publishing Co.
TARGUM LOVES YOU
Seriously, we do. Love us back and VOTE YES ON ANY CAMPUS, SEE LIST BELOW
Serving the Rutgers community since 1869. Independent since 1980
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY–NEW BRUNSWICK
TODAY & EVERY DAY
ONLINE AT DAILYTARGUM.COM
MONDAY, APRIL 1 - THURSDAY, APRIL 4 COLLEGE AVE CAMPUS Brower Steps Rutgers Student Center Alexander Library Scott Hall Bus Stop Student Activity Center Rutgers Academic Building LIVINGSTON CAMPUS Livingston Student Center Plaza Bus Stop Business Building Tillett Circle Carr Library Quad Bus Stop COOK/DOUGLASS CAMPUSES Cook Campus Center Neilson Dining Hall Douglass Student Center College Hall Bus Stop Biel Road Bus Stop Institute for Food, Nutrition, Health Red Oak Lane Bus Stop Eagleton (Wood Lawn)
BUSCH CAMPUS Busch Campus Center ARC Busch Dining Hall Pharmacy Building (Except Thurs.) Werblin Bus Stop SERC Best Hall Engineering School
FRIDAY, APRIL 5 COLLEGE AVE CAMPUS Brower Steps Rutgers Student Center Scott Hall Bus Stop
LIVINGSTON CAMPUS Livingston Student Center Rutgers Dance Marathon
BUSCH CAMPUS Busch Campus Center ARC Busch Dining Hall Pharmacy Building SERC Engineering School
COOK/DOUGLASS CAMPUSES Cook Campus Center Neilson Dining Hall Douglass Student Center
Visit a polling location today and vote YES!