September 23, 2015

Our District Representatives Get High Marks From the NRA, Vote Against Family Planning

To the Editor:

There may be those like the Republican state legislator [Senator Christopher Bateman] who recently asserted that Princeton Democrats should support our Republican state representatives in the upcoming election in a spirit of nonpartisanship [Mailbox, Sept.16].

That argument may fool Donald Trump voters, but the reality is that politics is partisan and that partisan legislative voting is a tangible manifestation of our values. Princetonians should understand that we are currently represented in the assembly by three Republicans who consistently and reliably support Governor Christie’s right-wing agenda.

For example, Assemblywoman Donna Simon received an A+ rating from the NRA. She has always voted against funding for family planning, and she was endorsed by the tea party. Jack Ciattarelli is slightly less right-wing, receiving a B+ from the NRA, but he also rejects all funding for family planning.

When New Jersey’s governor brags in national debates about how he has advanced his conservative agenda in a Democratic-leaning state, we can thank Princeton’s current assembly representatives. But on Election Day, November 3, we can get ourselves to the polls and vote for new representatives. We have two excellent Democratic candidates: Maureen Vella, a former judge, and Andrew Zwicker, a physicist. I hope you will join me in turning our district in a new direction and support Zwicker and Vella for Assembly.

Beth Healey

Moore Street