Bruce Baker to Oppose Leonard Lance in 2010 Republican Primary

WESTFIELD, N.J., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by Bruce Baker for Congress:

I am announcing my candidacy to oppose Leonard Lance in the 2010 Republican primary in New Jersey's 7th Congressional district.

Thomas Jefferson best summarized my reasons for opposing Mr. Lance. Jefferson always feared that the abuse of power from governments controlled by self-serving career politicians and special interests could result in tyranny.

"Experience has shown that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have…perverted it into tyranny." -- Thomas Jefferson

Mr. Lance, a typical career politician from a politically connected family, epitomizes every measure of fear Thomas Jefferson held for the survival of our Republic. As a public employee for most of his adult life, Mr. Lance has been sheltered from the realities of having to turn a business profit or meet a payroll. Prior to his 18 years in the N.J. Legislature, as both an Assemblyman and Senator, he was a functionary in the Kean administration. Not surprisingly, his 17 years in the state legislature coincide with the build-up of a massive bureaucracy and debt bubble that is now bursting all over us.

"An elective despotism is not the government we fought for." -- Thomas Jefferson

Moving from Trenton to Washington in 2009 it took Lance less than six months as a member of Congress to pile more debt on his constituents by voting for the Cap & Trade bill. This bill will be one of the most punitive and costly tax hikes in U.S. history. It will mean a $1 to $2 Trillion tax hike, an even bigger pass-along cost of living increase to all Americans and, studies have shown, will cause up to a 2.5 million NET JOB LOSS. This at a time when our combined unemployed and underemployed (part timers who can't find full time work) number is close to 20%. So, while one in five American workers is without a full time job, Mr. Lance votes to make the situation much worse!

Since small business employs 84% of the nation's workforce from which most jobs are created, the progressive agenda to tax, spend and over-regulate is suffocating the incentives for business to grow and create jobs. For Mr. Lance the time has come to say GOODBYE! With your support we can unseat him and begin the process of returning our government to We the People.

I have been a small businessman most of my adult life. I co-founded and ran a small advertising agency for 20 years; and then with a friend formed a golf putter company for which we hold three patents. For the last ten years I have also owned a small real estate appraisal company. From these experiences I have seen first-hand the job-killing effects of over taxation, regulation and the playing field tilted in favor of special interests.

We the People need to have our elected representatives represent us, not the special interest lobbies that keep them in power. If elected I pledge the following:

1. I will not accept campaign contributions from corporations or labor unions. I will only accept contributions from individuals or groups favoring limited government;
2. I will work tirelessly to repeal or defeat burdensome taxes and regulations on business;
3. I will vote to revise and simplify the Tax Code, including elimination of the Estate Tax, maintain or lower the Capital Gains Tax and spread the Income Tax more fairly across a broader segment of the population;
4. I will vote at every opportunity to limit the size and power of government, beginning with the elimination of the Depts. of Education and Energy;
5. I will sponsor a National Private Business Act that will prohibit government from owning any portion of a publicly owned business;
6. I will sponsor a Constitutional Amendment for Congressional Term Limits;
7. I will sponsor a Constitutional Amendment for true campaign finance reform that allows only individuals to contribute and without limit;
8. I will sponsor a Constitutional Amendment that Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people;
9. I will co-sponsor the Enumerated Powers Act that will require Congress to cite in each piece of legislation where in the Constitution is the authority to enact it;
10. I will represent We the People, not special interests.

I am a 7th generation Westfield native, where my wife Judy and I raised three daughters. For eleven years I coached youth soccer and football, am a former member and Director of the Jaycees, a charter member of the Optimist Club, a lifetime member of the SAR and a past President and Trustee of the Westfield Historical Society.

My belief in the American Dream for anybody willing to work for it is unbending. Fortunately, the current mood of the country to "throw the bums out" favors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn the tide of progressivism before it is too late. I ask for your vote in the Republican primary so we may return our government to We the People.

For more information go to: www.baker4congress.com

Sincerely,

Bruce Baker

SOURCE Bruce Baker for Congress