Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio

PENNACCHIO SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE SELECTIVE OUTRAGE ABOUT HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUES

DEMS WHO ARE OUTRAGED BY PORT SALE, WERE SILENT ON CIPEL AND HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT SCANDALS

March 2, 2006
Assemblyman Joseph Pennacchio/973-984-0922
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

PENNACCHIO SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE SELECTIVE OUTRAGE ABOUT HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUES

DEMS WHO ARE OUTRAGED BY PORT SALE, WERE SILENT ON CIPEL AND HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT SCANDALS

Assemblyman Joseph Pennacchio, one of the first state legislators to officially register his concern about the sale of a company in charge of certain operations at New Jersey ports to a United Arab Emirates-owned company, today blasted New Jersey Democrats for having selective outrage when it comes to the issue of homeland security.

"The Democrats have been quick to hold press conferences and committee meetings on this issue, but where were they at when our security was being compromised by leaders in their own party?" asked Pennacchio, R-Morris and Passaic. "Apparently the Democrat test of whether a decision presents a homeland security risk is only whether it provides a convenient opportunity to bash President Bush."

On February 21, as the story of the port sale was first becoming public, Pennacchio sent a letter to Michael Chertoff, Secretary of United States Homeland Security, questioning the port deal and asking for public disclosure of information about the process for approving the sale.

Pennacchio said that when it was revealed in newspaper stories last year that 93 percent of state homeland security grants had been steered to Democrat controlled legislative districts, leaving no funds for many high-risk facilities in Republican districts, the Democrats seemed to think there was no problem.

Pennacchio also notes that when Governor McGreevey appointed his friend Golan Cipel to be his homeland security advisor and liaison to the federal office of Homeland Security – a job for which Cipel had NO qualifications – most Democrats remained silent and there were no special committee meetings held to explore the issue.

Furthermore, Pennacchio doesn’t remember such Democrat outrage when the city of Newark spent vital homeland security dollars on air-conditioned garbage trucks.

"I would hope that with this renewed focus on the issue of homeland security, maybe we can take a look at some of these other issues that have been ignored," Pennacchio said. "I suggest that the Homeland Security Committee convene and perhaps seek subpoena power to look into the handling of homeland security grants under the prior administration."

Pennacchio called upon Democrats to work in a bi-partisan fashion to ensure all our homeland security needs are free of politics and truly protect the citizens of this state.

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