Ocean City, NJ, June 17, 2009:  Since Jon Corzine announced in January that he was going to eliminate property tax rebates and raise taxes AGAIN, Mike Donohue and Frank Conrad have been in the streets with the voters of the First District carrying a message of reform and change. 

During their 100-Day Tax Revolt, Donohue and Conrad, Republican Candidates for State Assembly in the First District, marched in Tea Parties and other anti-tax rallies, while putting forth an optimistic message that a change in leadership in Trenton will lead to brighter days for New Jersey residents.

Last night, the Donohue-Conrad campaign conducted a TeleTownhall Meeting.  Thousands of voters from throughout the First District participated. Their message is clear:  It’s time for the Corzine Democrats to be kicked out of Trenton.

In response to the momentum the Donohue-Conrad campaign has built over the past weeks, incumbent Democratic Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam have frantically  attempted to distance themselves from their Democratic governor, Jon Corzine.  Tomorrow, Albano and Milam will exercise what is typically referred to as a “pass.” THAT MEANS THAT THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER WILL ALLOW THEM TO VOTE "NO" ON THE DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. Passes are given out by political bosses to elected officials who need to vote against their party in order to remain politically competitive. ALBANO AND MILAM ARE ONLY BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE "NO'' BECAUSE THEIR VOTES ARE NOT NEEDED FOR CORZINE'S BUDGET TO PASS.

“This is no profile in courage,” Mike Donohue says. “Albano and Milam are getting a 'pass' because we have been out there with our message of reform and change and we have built a movement.  Albano and Milam are not a part of that movement; they are part of the Corzine Team.  After all, IT WAS ALBANO AND MILAM WHO FIRST PROPOSED eliminating property tax rebates last year. Corzine adopted their idea and made it his.  Make no mistake, this is the Corzine-Albano-Milam budget regardless of whether they vote for it or not.  Their  'No' vote is a desperate attempt to hide the fact that they are Corzine  Democrats from the voters of the First District.  They are so desperate that they are voting against their own proposal to eliminate property tax rebates.   Only when Albano and Milam come out and endorse Chris Christie for governor can they claim not to be part of Team Corzine.”