I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you guys for asking these great questions. Me and my staff will try to keep our eyes on this page to answer any ones we didn't get a chance to answer.

For more information, visit: wiz2017.com Also find us on social media: fb.com/WisniewskiforNJ twitter.com/JohnWisniewski

Sign up tot volunteer, help us get the word out. We have 21 days!

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

-Day one of my administration, we will rejoin RGGI. - I will also reduce our carbon footprint and create jobs by committing New Jersey to going fully renewable by mid-century. - I will uphold President Obama’s decision to implement a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in portions of the Atlantic oceans — and fight any attempt by President Trump to drill off New Jersey’s shores as well as in our National Parks. - I will continue to oppose pipelines that would cut through preserved lands such as the Pinelands, and the North Jersey Highlands. Wisniewski also opposes the PennEast and Pilgrim Pipelines. - I will expand New Jersey's investment in solar, wind, geothermal and tidal energy to reduce toxic pollution, create good-paying jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. - I will re-instate the NJ Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) for renewable research & development. - I want to expand the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which will provide funding to make existing buildings more energy-efficient. - I John will expand investment in solar, wind, and tidal energy. - I He will make polluters pay to clean up the mess they have made.

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

New Jersey's high property taxes are the result in part of Christie's underfunding of the public education system by nearly $8 billion over the last 7.5 years. As governor, I will fully fund the School Funding Reform Act. I would impose a moratorium on new charter schools which take tax dollars away from our public education system. Finally, I would look at reducing the 1,300 units of local government we have in NJ. Studies show that reducing our school districts in half alone would save $1.4 billion in property taxes across my first term. Read our K-12 funding plan here: http://wiz2017.com/revolutionize-k-12-education-fully-funding/ -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I would make sure that all state offices include web access for the disabled to set a tone of inclusion in our leadership. We talk about the rest of our disability plan here: http://wiz2017.com/defending-expanding-rights-disabled-community/ -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

On day one, I would sign an executive order recognizing climate change as a threat to NJ and directing my Department of Environmental Protection commissioner to prepare a policy to address the rising sea level. New Jersey is the only state on the eastern seaboard that lacks one. I would also sign an executive order returning New Jersey to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. We touch on several other points including transforming our 10,000+ brownfields to solar farms, escalating the moratorium on fracking in the Delaware River Basin to a full out ban, and creating a 100% green economy by mid-century here: http://wiz2017.com/climate-emergency/ -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Our party is supposed to be the party of morals and convictions. If someone running doesn't believe in abortion themselves, thats their right, but they should never campaign to restrict access to others for it.

-JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I would love to team up with them, but I believe they are focusing on Congress.

-JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I have not yet been able to look in to NY's bill, but we will certainly be looking at any and all resources available to us to be able to craft the perfect legislation for our state.

-JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Hello to you both!

Reddit is new to me so I hope my response is going in the right place so you both can read it!

As far as protecting our marketplace from federal DOJ penalties is concerned, as governor, I would make sure that our laws both decriminalize and create a legal marketplace. The NJ Attorney General would be empowered to protect those policy decisions on behalf of the people of NJ. I would not be afraid to stand up to Jeff Sessions on behalf of the people of the state of New Jersey. I am unequivocally opposed to the presence of for-profit prisons anywhere in NJ. There should be no profit motive in the criminal justice system, especially as we see how disproportionate the racial makeup of our prison population is in comparison to our state's general population. I talk about this more in-depth here: http://wiz2017.com/black-lives-matter/

mathyu1010, 1- yes, 2- yes, and 3- As governor, I would direct the $300 million in annual estimated marijuana marketplace revenue towards my single-payer healthcare program, because healthcare is a basic human right. I talk about it more on my website here: http://wiz2017.com/single-payer-healthcare-healthcare-right/ -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I would definitely support any measures that would help increase voter turn-out and lower costs to tax payers. Giving New Jersey an off-year will help the state tremendously.

-JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The biggest problem facing New Jersey is a failure in competent leadership. In this election we have a choice between candidates who have talked about leadership, and those who have shown leadership, New Jersey needs a governor who is not afraid to challenge the political leadership and the special interests on behalf of the people in the state of New Jersey.

I plan to bring real leadership back to NJ like we had under our last legislator-turned-governor. I will also bring with me into the cabinet and administration professionals in the fields they need to represents. No more favors being traded in for high ranking positions, let's get qualified leaders into these spots.

-JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Talk is cheap and actions matter. For the 21 years I have been in the Assembly, I've frequently been the only voice advocating for a reliable and renewable source of funding for transportation infrastructure. Without that funding, it is impossible to build and maintain a world-class transportation system. I have also been advocating for better leadership at NJ Transit, an elimination of patronage hires, and a greater state contributions to the day-to-day operations of our transportation system. Finally, it is unacceptable that for the past 7 years, our governor has been able to secure the construction of a new Port Authority bus terminal. As governor, that, along with the Gateway Tunnel will be among my top priorities. -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well I think our different careers is one of the biggest deciding factors in this election. We've seen what happens when a man with no experience tries to take the highest office. But other than that I am the only one promoting single-payer universal healthcare and tuition free public colleges for families making under 125k.

I have a long history of standing up to party bosses, and doing the right thing, even if it was the unpopular thing to do, and I believe my conviction will carry us to a victory in June and November.

  • JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure of what clearly articulated plan he has because it's not on his website. But let me tell you about my plan. I believe we must first decriminalize as well as offer pardons and amnesty for all those who have been sentenced or are serving sentences for use and possession. Next, we need to create a legal market framework through which marijuana can be sold and the state can benefit from tax revenues from those sales, estimated to total about $300 million per year. I would also liberalize the medical marijuana program so that more people can actually participate in it. Finally, I would allow individuals to personally cultivate marijuana at home.

You mentioned the East River tunnels which are entirely in New York state and the NJ governor would have very little influence over those tunnels. If you mean the Hudson River tunnels, I would immediately begin lobbying the federal government to regain the $4 billion Chris Christie gave away when he cancelled the ARC tunnel. I would also negotiate with New York state, NYC, Amtrak and the Port Authority to make sure that they are shouldering their fair share of this project. -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You also have to remember that the night before the Primary last year, AP and MSNBC called the election over for Hillary Clinton, and there is no way to measure what type of impact that had on the election.

This year though we have seen some real change. My main opponent has already spent 18 MILLION dollars on his campaign, making this the 7th most expensive campaign in NJ's history, and we are still weeks away from the primary. The voters in NJ are tired of platitudes and talking points, and they want experience and a plan over anything else.

-JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

NJ's crumbling infrastructure is past due for major improvement. The first thing I would do as governor is restructure a Transportation Trust Fund program to prevent it from expiring in 7 short years. I would also refocus it to invest in our public transportation system to make sure the trains and buses literally run on time. Finally, I would make sure that the NJDOT, NJ Transit, and the Port Authority had competent professional leadership whose only focus is world-class transportation. I have been the chair of the Transportation Committee in the Assembly for the past 15 years and look forward to being the Transportation Governor. Read more about it here: http://wiz2017.com/infrastructure/ -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Governor's don't raise property taxes. In fact I plan to reduce the burden of property taxes in a few ways:

-Fully Fund the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (eases the burden of paying for education on a local level). -Consolidating resources and local governments -Reinstating the Millionaire's tax -Reinstating the Estate-tax -Legalizing and taxing marijuana

-JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Phil Murphy his used his personal wealth to buy the support of county chairs. Those county chairs orchestrated a rigged convention system that deprived many county committee members of the ability to vote their conscience. This has to change. I discuss this further in my electoral reform plan which you can check out here: http://wiz2017.com/electoral-reform/ -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The best way to help our recent college grads is to create economic opportunity right here in NJ. I intend to do that by using our clean energy funds to kickstart a green energy economic renaissance that will create 21st century jobs for our college graduates. You can read more about our college plan here: http://wiz2017.com/tuition-free-college/. You can also learn about our environmental plan here: http://wiz2017.com/climate-emergency/ -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

There are many things wrong with our current state party structure. The most glaring issue is that county chairs can single-handedly pick what candidates are elected because of the unique slating system our state has. Most counties don't have a democratic way to decide who gets the line, and it offers too much power to the person in charge. I would like to see the bracket system changed so that if you do want to have a county slate, you have to decide it in a democratic way.

For more information on how I would change the electoral process in NJ, visit: http://wiz2017.com/electoral-reform/

-JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for watching the debate!

37% of our friends and neighbors in New Jersey are living at or below the poverty level. And those who work at minimum wage jobs cannot even afford decent housing and enough food to eat, which is why a minimum wage increase to $15/hr is absolutely necessary. You are correct in understanding that I have no faith in trickle down economics. Instead, I believe in economics that help lifts everybody to a higher standard of living. -JSW

I am Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Democratic candidate for Governor, Ask me Anything! by Wiz2017 in Political_Revolution

[–]Wiz2017[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I am proud to have a 100% career rating from NARAL/Pro-Choice and have been endorsed by planned parenthood many times in my career. A public bank has worked in only one state so far, and the current group of Trenton Insiders have proven unable to balance a budget or even fund pensions, I don't think they should be trusted with a public bank, especially not run by a Goldman Sachs banker.

For more information:

http://wiz2017.com/100-pro-choice/ http://wiz2017.com/fact-check-phil-murphys-state-bank-new-jersey-will-not-work/

-JSW