"Current" unedited

10/23/2010 Full answers to questions posed by The Current in the 10/21/2010 edition. (Heavily edited they were!) Actual questions were not part of the article.

Tell us a little about yourself. Provide your age, hometown, education, family information (name of spouse and names and ages of children if you’re comfortable providing those details) leadership experience, public office titles held and occupation.

Gary Stein, age 54. Hometown is Mullica Tsp., born and raised in Dumont, N.J. Married 25 years to Cynthia Stein- definitely, a proven leader. My turn at being boss comes next January 2011, in Washington D.C. and here in the district; if only? If only entrenched incumbents could be beaten! Children. None. Current occupant living with us. Mike, 25 years old. Free room and board while he attends college full time, we love him. Political offices held. None. Occupation. Office cleaner. Those two last items; my lack of political resume, and my work as a "janitor" that's the perfect combo and a great way to send a message that we're all fed up; at least I think so.

1. What is your position on offshore wind energy in the United States, specifically off wind turbines off the coast of New Jersey. Please explain why your are in favor or oppose this measure.

Against. Untested, expensive and a waste of political capital by whoever is proposing it. But if Google, with their billions, wants to pick up the entire tab for such experiment, the way I heard discussed on NPR last week, I’d be all for it. I hope Google can make money doing it. Perhaps a proposal to put a nuclear plant in the Pine Lands, as I provocatively suggested in my last campaign, might create enough of a buzz this year, running as a Democrat (and not the minor Independent Party nuisance as I was before) that we might get a debate about the merits of proven, reliable carbon free nuclear energy as an energy source. The Pine Lands?? That's me being a little silly, or am I? A debate? Ain't happening. Blame my opponent. Ramping up either energy source though, nuclear or wind mills, would still come too late to power the wave of electric cars coming next year. That’s called good planning ahead. I'm for off-shore drilling, and no, there's no oil off the coast of New Jersey. I believe Frank LoBiondo is against off shore drilling.

2. How do you feel congress should react to illegal immigration in this country? Please give an example of a bill or proposed plan if you feel this can help convey your point.

Congress will be at constant loggerheads; unless my neighbors elect me, the only candidate for national office - who can say openly- I had two illegals live with my family for 5 years- ending in 2007. I’ve been to rural Mexico many times and know firsthand the havoc, police and institutional corruption reeks on a very fragile economy. Leading Democrats in the 2^nd district tell me I’m crazy for talking openly about this, but that’s the kind of administration (congressional office) I’ll have, open and honest. As soon as I’m settled in as your Congressman, I’ll take my first and last junket. I’ll travel to Mexico with a conservative Congressman or two (plus a dozen bodyguards) and show the world how much economic potential our next door neighbor has. If I'd been listened to three years ago, perhaps my group wouldn't need take along "muscle' because the cartels weren't that strong yet. I’m for a secure border, repealing the 14^th amendment where it concerns “anchor babies” and I’m for holding the Mexican gov’t accountable! With that harshness from me out of the way, I’d be for a path to citizenship, aka, amnesty.

3. Are you in favor of letting the tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush between 2001-2003 that would result in the U.S. Government collecting an additional $238 billion next year? Please explain your answer.

I’m not in favor of raising any taxes, especially during a recession. Here in a very short space, is the optional; Stein Alternative Minimum Tax (SAMT) for reviving the country and forever eliminating the constant tinkering of the tax code, as well as solving the debt crisis, etc. First, banish the underground economy by eliminating cash. Issue a gov’t debit card. Impose a regressive national sales tax and debit the tax with every transaction. Eliminate the income tax for anyone below say $500000? Scrap the FICA taxes, goodbye state sales taxes, death taxes, corporate taxes and whatever other taxes I’m leaving out. From this new 11 or 12% National Sales tax, rebate money back to the states based on their contribution. The regressive nature of the tax would encourage people to move up the economic ladder. The all inclusiveness of this tax would be a second chance at Natl’ Health Insurance since the poor, all the lower, middle and upper middle class, plus illegal aliens (plus flea market vendors) would all be paying for their health coverage.

In exchange for this revenue windfall (and loss of privacy) Washington would agree to cut itself by about 1/3.or my grandiose idea is off the table, and we'll go back to tinkering with the Federal Income Tax.

4. How do you feel you will represent the constituents of District 2 if elected as its representative? Feel free to give an example of how to bridge the gap between Southern New Jersey and Washington D.C.

Constituents come first, grand ideas for revving the economy come second. Unlike my opponent, I would have one of the largest congressional staffs, not the smallest. A large staff means quicker and more thorough turnaround of Constituent problems and concerns, plus it means I just created several civil service jobs here in the district that I can be right on top of. My staff would be devoted to the 2^nd district, and would be freed from worrying about getting me re-elected because I won’t raise one nickel in 2012, same way I didn’t this year. I’ll run on my record, not yard sign name recognition, or a reputation of very cleverly paying for your own health coverage the way Frank does. (That last stunt must win him lots of friends among his peers down in D.C.!) I also pledge to take more constituent phone calls than Mr. LoBiondo because I'll wear a beeper. I personally guarantee I'll visit Democratic as well as Republican strongholds in this district.

Please provide how much money you have in your campaign war chest.

I have 0 dollars in the treasury to spend on my campaign, today, last month or since this all began last March. My only weapon is questionnaires like this, a web site full of other questionnaires and snarky (but practical) answers, plus editorial boards, talk radio, and word of mouth. Please go to, www.theessentialsteinforcongress2010.com before deciding who to vote for on Nov. 2, thanks.

Me (on left,lol) in Mexico.

http://theessentialsteinforcongress2010.com/NJLeague_of_Women_Voters.html