Against Van Drew’s Votes

To the Editor: 
“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” portrays Jefferson Smith, a senator played by James Stewart, fighting a one-man war against a corrupt political machine. John F. Kennedy’s “Profiles in Courage” details senators who defied the opinions of their party and constituents to do what they felt was right.
Once, I thought my state Sen. Jefferson H. Van Drew was a crusader who fought for lost causes, the ones you fight harder for or even die for because of one simple rule, “love thy neighbor.”
In 2011, he voted for S2937, cutting pension benefits for state retirees against powerful unions, preserving the pension through benefit cuts and empty-promising state payments never made. In 2012, he voted against S1, the Marriage Equality Act (same-sex marriage) against his Democratic Party.
Then, 2018 hit the fan. Gov. Phil Murphy signed his first law, S120 (Van Drew – “Aye”) restoring $7.5 million in duplicative services grants for Planned Parenthood. On March 26, 2018, Van Drew voted for S699, allowing undocumented immigrants to qualify for state student financial aid. On April 12, 2018, Van Drew voted for A-3380, creating a New Jersey healthcare tax to replace the hated Obamacare tax.
Honestly, Van Drew’s not all bad, he voted Feb. 1, 2018 for SJR17, making Valentine’s Day “Socks for the Homeless Day.” On June 21, 2018, joining the Republicans, Van Drew wisely voted against the vetoed Democratic nickel per plastic bag tax. It’d be expensive picking up after my dogs and the Democrats.
The state has shorted its pension for the last 22 years, but Van Drew voted to give promised pension funds to Planned Parenthood and to fund college for undocumented immigrants. He caved in to the “right” values.
More power to him, an aspiring politician must run with the pack (his Native American name is “Dances with Wolves,”) and a Democratic politician must increase taxes, thanks guys for the 186 percent gas tax increase in two short years.
It hurts when one’s hero dies and when the guy with the white hat turns out not to be true.
ED. NOTE: The facts above are the author’s assertions.