Marie Tasy

So far, Assemblyman Mike Doherty (R-Washington) is the only announced candidate to succeed Congressman-elect Leonard Lance (R-Flemington) in the state Senate. But he’s already won the endorsement of the state’s major pro-life organization, New Jersey Right to Life.

The group’s executive director, Marie Tasy, lauded Doherty as a “principled leader on matters concerning the sanctity of human life,” noting that his voting record has been firmly pro-life and that as a Warren County freeholder he “led the effort” against publicly funding Planned Parenthood.

As U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie prepares to run for Governor, he has the luxury of a clean slate ideologically: Getty Images Photo
Yesterday, when veteran Republican political operative Dan Gallic announced that he was forming an organization to draft conservative activist Steve Lonegan into the Governor's race next year, he lamented the candidates Republicans typically choose for statewide races as "weak-kneed wimpy moderates who believe in nothing and are afraid to throw a punch."

Today, Gallic said that language doesn't apply to the two other most high profile potential candidates next year: U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie and biotech millionaire John Crowley.

"I was referring to the past slew of candidates who have lost by 9 or 10 points," said Gallic, who managed conservative State Sen. Joe Pennacchio's run for U.S. Senate earlier this year. "So far what I've seen is a far better group of candidates than the Republicans have put up in quite some time, all of which have no ties to the establishment at this point."

Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks won the endorsement of New Jersey Right to Life for his 7th district congressional run.

Marks, a dentist who is running to the right of six other candidates in the hotly contested Republican primary, used the pro-life endorsement to bolster his conservative credentials. 

“This endorsement will provide a strong base of voters in both the primary and general election from which he can build for victory.  NRTL-PAC will utilize its various resources to help elect Martin Marks to Congress,” said the group’s director, Marie Tasy.

Critics say he's ineffective, but Gov. Jon Corzine said he has a lot to show for his first two years in office.  In an interview on Wednesday, Corzine pointed out that his administration will shortly release its new school funding formula, while property tax growth has significantly slowed under his watch and rebates have been sent out.   They've created an earned income tax credit, maintained a relatively low unemployment rate and helped shepherd in a syringe exchange program.

Soon, Corzine will come out with what may be his boldest move yet: the secret, controversial asset monetization plan to leverage toll roads to put much needed money in state coffers.  (No, Corzine would not say how much tolls will rise).

New Jersey Right to Life
113 North Avenue West
Cranford, NJ 07016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marie Tasy
Executive Director, 732 846-2000

$250 Million Taxpayer Subsidized Stem Cell Institute Bill is a Loan to Clone Scheme

May 18, 2006�

“On May 17, NJ Senate President Codey and a majority of NJ Senators advanced Big Biotech’s $250 Million ‘Loan to Clone’ Scheme which will result in the exploitation of women and the mass production of cloned human embryos and fetuses for use in destructive experimental research,� said Marie Tasy, Executive Director of New Jersey Right to Life. All this is being done at a time the state is facing a $4 Billion budget shortfall. Under this legislation, $150M will be spent on a stem cell research institute operated jointly by UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. UMDNJ is currently under a federal probe for “unethical and potentially illegal� activities involving the misspending of thousands in public funds.

New Jersey Right to Life Sets "The Record" Straight

New Jersey Right to Life issued the following statement today in response to media reports that it has been cited for "illegally spending charitable contributions" from the use of the proceeds of its annual raffle.

NJRTL categorically denies any misuse or illegal spending of the charitable contributions of its donors. Contrary to the statements published by The Record in its May 9, 2006 article, NJRTL has never been cited by any regulatory body for "improperly diverting proceeds" of its annual raffle. In 2003, NJRTL inadvertently used approximately 2% of its 2003 raffle proceeds to pay for a raffle dinner for its members. Upon learning that it mistakenly used raffle proceeds, it immediately reimbursed its raffle account for that amount.

New Jersey Right to Life
113 North Avenue West
Cranford, NJ 07016

Contact: Marie Tasy, Executive Director
(908) 276-6620

New Jersey Right to Life Sets “The Record� Straight

May 9, 2006�

New Jersey Right to Life issued the following statement today in response to media reports that it has been cited for “illegally spending charitable contributions� from the use of the proceeds of its annual raffle.

NJRTL categorically denies any misuse or illegal spending of the charitable contributions of its donors. Contrary to the statements published by The Record in its May 9, 2006 article, NJRTL has never been cited by any regulatory body for “improperly diverting proceeds� of its annual raffle. In 2003, NJRTL inadvertently used approximately 2% of its 2003 raffle proceeds to pay for a raffle dinner for its members. Upon learning that it mistakenly used raffle proceeds, it immediately reimbursed its raffle account for that amount.

Earlier this year, NJRTL fully cooperated with the New Jersey Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission (LGCCC) as it conducted an audit of NJRTL’s 2004-05 raffle. During that audit, NJRTL learned, for the first time, that its internal accounting procedure for raffle proceeds did not comply with the raffle law. NJRTL disbursed its raffle proceeds for charitable and educational purposes from its raffle account through a general operating account. That procedure had been overseen for several years by NJRTL’s former executive director, who was also a lawyer. Believing it was in full compliance with the raffle law, NJRTL continued to use the same accounting procedure after the former executive director left the organization.

Although NJRTL could have contested the LGCCC’s interpretation of the applicable regulations, NJRTL voluntarily entered into a administrative consent order in which it agreed to disburse its raffle proceeds directly from its raffle account and to report the handling of those funds annually to LGCCC. Although no funds were improperly used, NJRTL also agreed to transfer $20,000 from its general operating funds to its raffle account. No financial or other sanctions of any sort were imposed on NJRTL.

Contrary to media reports, the consent order had nothing to do with the purchase of a car, for personal or organizational benefit. Of course, raffle proceeds can be used to purchase the vehicle that is offered as the raffle prize. Moreover, as reflected in the consent order, the LGCCC’s allegations stemmed solely from NJRTL’s method of disbursement of its raffle proceeds and not from the misuse of those proceeds. Any implication that NJRTL engaged in criminal conduct or diverted donations for some purpose other than its educational or charitable endeavors is absolutely false.

“New Jersey Right to Life will continue our commitment to work on behalf of protecting unborn children and their mothers from abortion. We count on the generosity and good will of our contributors in order to carry out our educational and charitable functions, and we deplore any attempt to interfere with our mission by deliberately misleading our donors with false accusations against us,� said New Jersey Right to Life President, Traude Barbiero.

New Jersey Right to Life – PAC
113 North Avenue
Cranford, NJ 07016

Contact: Marie Tasy, Executive Director
(908) 276-6620

New Jersey Right to Life – PAC Endorses John Ginty for U. S. Senate

“We will urge every pro-life voter eligible to vote in the Republican primary to cast their vote for John Ginty on June 6th� - New Jersey Right to Life-PAC Executive Director

New Jersey Right to Life
113 North Avenue West
Cranford, NJ 07016

Contact: Marie Tasy
Executive Director
(732) 846-2000

Quinnipiac Poll on stem cell research misleading
Poll omitted important facts

April 26, 2006--

Marie Tasy, Executive Director of New Jersey Right to Life issued the following statement today regarding the release of today’s Quinnipiac Poll.

“Today’s Quinnipiac Poll results should not be taken as an accurate barometer of public support for the type of stem cell research Governor Corzine and legislative leaders are pushing,� said Marie Tasy, Executive Director of New Jersey Right to Life. “When you ask someone if they support stem cell research, they automatically assume the question refers to adult stem cell research because that is where the cures are occurring. Many people are hearing the wonderful healing success stories in the news about umbilical cord blood stem cells and stem cells taken from bone marrow. This is the type of stem cell research they are expressing support for, not stem cells which are derived from the cloning and killing of human embryos and human fetuses which NJ law expressly authorizes,� said Tasy.

Quinnipiac also asked a question that is inaccurate as it pertains to current pending legislation. They asked, “Do you support or oppose legislation to spend up to $250 million on stem cell research in New Jersey?� The bill before the legislature, S1471/A1828 proposes to use $250M in bonds to fund the capital construction of three buildings.

Tasy also said it was noteworthy that the question regarding needle exchange was much more detailed and informative than the question on stem cell research because it provided opposing views on the matter. “The questions on stem cell research did not distinguish between adult and embryonic stem cell research and unlike the question on needle exchange, did not provide objections to embryonic stem cell research and cloning. The results of the stem cell question would have been far different if the same standard was applied to the stem cell question as was applied to the question on needle exchange,� said Tasy.

New Jersey Right to Life
113 North Avenue West
Cranford, NJ 07016

Contact: Marie Tasy, Executive Director
(908) 276-6620

Re: Governor Corzine’s Inaugural Address

What is Best for NJ? Pursue Ethical Stem Cell Research That Is Already Providing Cures