Tom Wilson

er union leader and gubernatorial ex-girlfriend Carla Katz has filed a legal brief saying that the emails she exchanged with Gov. Corzine should be kept private because they touched on union negotiations, reports the Associated Press.  

Katz attorney Paul Fishman argued that the some of the emails made “in connection with” contract negotiations don’t have to be disclosed, while the rest of the correspondence is private.

Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson is suing to make the emails public, believing that they should be public information.  Corzine cited executive privilege.  Wilson won the initial phase of the lawsuit, but Corzine appealed. 

If he's re-elected, Frank Lautenberg would be 90 at the end of his next term: Getty Images Photo
Three months after former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer held a press conference and said he would not make age an issue in his U.S. Senate run against incumbent Democrat Frank Lautenberg, Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson stood in the same State House conference room and brought the issue front and center, making repeated references to the 84-year-old Senator’s senior status.

“If you’re too afraid, too incompetent or too old to campaign, then you’re surely not fit for six more years in the U.S. Senate,” said Wilson. “It’s time to let voters decide whether you’re up to serving in the United States Senate until you’re 90 years old.”

Wilson called the press conference to attack Lautenberg for the way he’s run his campaign – or rather, his lack of a campaign.

Lautenberg, said Wilson, has been missing on the campaign trail, making only a public appearance here and there while giving the media little time for questions and refusing to accept one of the roughly 20 debate invitations that have been issued so far.

By not engaging his opponent or the voters on the issues, Wilson said, Lautenberg has brought attention to his age by raising the question of whether he really is up to the task of serving another six year term, at the end of which he’ll have just turned 91. He contrasted Lautenberg’s public schedule with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), 78, who although not up for reelection has been holding town hall meetings on behalf of John McCain in every one of his state’s counties.

Republicans yesterday held their fire on the Democratic Party while Hurricane Gustav bore down on the Gulf Coast.  But now, with damage from the Hurricane apparently less than feared, Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson and Senate candidate Dick Zimmer let loose on incumbent Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Introducing Zimmer to speak at the delegation breakfast this morning, Wilson took a shot at Lautenberg on rumors that he spends most of his time in Manhattan rather than his Cliffside Park condo.

“For 25 years, Frank Lautenberg has left his apartment in Manhattan and gone to Washington to represent New Jersey.  And in those 25 years, he’s got three things to show for it: a train station with no parking, no smoking on airplanes and a 21-year-old drinking age.  Two of those things happened when Ronald Reagan was president,” he said.  “And since then, Frank Lautenberg has just been along for a ride.”

Former New York Gov. George Pataki, moments after addressing N.J.'s GOP delegation at the Hilton.: Politicker photo 

MINNEAPOLIS - McCain as military protector provided the solemn motif former New York Gov. George Pataki used this morning to finally prompt a standing ovation from his New Jersey audience.

"There are no finer people in our country than those who put on the uniform for our country," said Pataki, and a pattering of hands started that grew steadily as the former governor added of McCain, "I pray he spends the next four years protecting our country."

Hitting another responsive chord in the crowd, Pataki told a story about a reporter - and there were some groans as he provided the setup - who asked him if the massive loss of oil in the Gulf as a consequence of Hurricane Gustav were not sufficient proof that America shouldn’t drill.

Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson issued a statement today comparing John McCain’s new running mate to Gov. Jon Corzine.

“New Jersey is going to love Sarah Palin, She is everything that Jon Corzine isn’t. She is a straight talking fiscally conservative reformer who has fought corruption, attacked wasteful government and delivered real results. Like John McCain, she has a record of doing what’s right and working with those from both sides of the isle to deliver change and shake up the status quo,” he said. “When it comes to change the McCain Palin team hasn’t just talked the talk they’ve walked the walk.”

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg’s attempt at humor – he told an ABC News reporter doing a story on lobbyists, corporations and labor unions spending $50 million at the Democratic National Convention that it’s his duty to check out their food and booze – has drawn the wrath of Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson. “Now it all makes sense. Lautenberg hasn’t gotten anything done as our US Senator because for the last 25 years, he’s believed his ‘duty’ was to be wined and dined by the special interests instead of creating jobs, lowering taxes, or tackling our dependence on foreign oil,” said Wilson.  “These kinds of statements are precisely why Senator Lautenberg is being sheltered away from the public view by his handlers.”  Click here to watch.

New Jersey Republican Chairman Tom Wilson released a statement Monday blasting Assemblywoman and Democratic congressional candidate Linda Stender (D-Union) on her personal tax problems.

In the statement, Wilson said Stender accured $90,000 in unpaid local, state and federal taxes over the last three years, paying only when faced with foreclosure on her home.

Wilson said Stender has consistently voted to raise taxes in the state Assembly while neglecting to pay her own.

Stender's raised taxes 64 times as a legislator, but when it comes to paying her own taxes, she routinely takes a pass," Wilson said in the statement. "The last thing Congress needs is another tax and spend liberal all too eager to raise everyone else's taxes because she doesn't want to pay hers."

Stender is facing off against state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. She failed in a 2006 bid to take the seat from incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-Ridgewood), who is not seeking reelection.

New Jersey Republican Chairman Tom Wilson released a statement Monday blasting Assemblywoman and Democratic congressional candidate Linda Stender (D-Union) on her personal tax problems.

In the statement, Wilson said Stender accured $90,000 in unpaid local, state and federal taxes over the last three years, paying only when faced with foreclosure on her home.

Wilson said Stender has consistently voted to raise taxes in the state Assembly while neglecting to pay her own.

Stender's raised taxes 64 times as a legislator, but when it comes to paying her own taxes, she routinely takes a pass," Wilson said in the statement. "The last thing Congress needs is another tax and spend liberal all too eager to raise everyone else's taxes because she doesn't want to pay hers."

Stender is facing off against state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. She failed in a 2006 bid to take the seat from incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-Ridgewood), who is not seeking reelection.

New Jersey Republican Chairman Tom Wilson released a statement Monday blasting Assemblywoman and Democratic congressional candidate Linda Stender (D-Union) on her personal tax problems.

In the statement, Wilson said Stender accured $90,000 in unpaid local, state and federal taxes over the last three years, paying only when faced with foreclosure on her home.

Wilson said Stender has consistently voted to raise taxes in the state Assembly while neglecting to pay her own.

Stender's raised taxes 64 times as a legislator, but when it comes to paying her own taxes, she routinely takes a pass," Wilson said in the statement. "The last thing Congress needs is another tax and spend liberal all too eager to raise everyone else's taxes because she doesn't want to pay hers."

Stender is facing off against state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. She failed in a 2006 bid to take the seat from incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-Ridgewood), who is not seeking reelection.

Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson said that an Obama/Biden ticket will seek to raise taxes, which will be “about as popular Corzine’s toll hike plan.” 

Below is Wilson’s full statement.

“With his selection of Joe Biden, Senator Obama has made crystal clear his commitment to raising taxes.  The Obama-Biden ticket has a long history of voting for and advocating tax increases on those making as little as $42,000 a year.  New Jerseyans already pay more in state and local taxes than anyone else in the nation.  Senators Obama and Biden want to make sure that we also pay more in federal taxes too.  That idea will be about as popular as Corzine's toll hike plan and makes John McCain's no tax increase platform all that more attractive.  This sets up a major contrast that we will drive home from now until Election Day: if voters want a President who will raise their taxes, vote for Obama.  If you want a President who won't, support McCain.