{"id":276,"date":"2023-05-22T22:31:55","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T22:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/?page_id=276"},"modified":"2024-03-20T14:33:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T14:33:00","slug":"platform","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/platform\/","title":{"rendered":"Platform"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"276\" class=\"elementor elementor-276\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1b11c660 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1b11c660\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b1b6b94 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"1b1b6b94\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a3e5d91 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a3e5d91\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Platform<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9dbe7d3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9dbe7d3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-448b4ce\" data-id=\"448b4ce\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-34972d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"34972d4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a7e7c51\" data-id=\"a7e7c51\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5912722 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5912722\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/health.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-321\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2277ad1\" data-id=\"2277ad1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f31ee5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f31ee5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Personal and Medical Freedom Over Mandates or Quarantines<\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca798b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ca798b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Medical decisions should be between a patient and a doctor, and, in the case of a minor, their parents. \u00a0Medical mandates, as a one-size-fits-all, I\u2019m-worried-so-the-rest-of-the-world-must-stop solution, are not providing any appreciable benefit, but they are causing a great deal of harm in many ways, especially to our children, not to mention the real discrimination that is occurring in a number of other life situations. \u00a0Big Pharma is also to blame, where it has been admitted that death and hospitalization numbers were overstated regularly, so that they and hospitals could receive more government funding, and were therefore incentivized to inflate them. \u00a0I will put an end to Big Pharma\u2019s death grip on our lives, make sure they face far more scrutiny, and force greater transparency in pricing and otherwise. \u00a0Personal and medical freedom requires all available options, including masks and vaccines, as well as access to any available medication, even if not yet formally approved by the FDA, if patients or parents understand the risks and want to try them. \u00a0Also, there is a reason we have never quarantined the healthy before, because it doesn\u2019t work, since the solution is worse than the problem on so many levels. \u00a0The government\u2019s job is not to protect us from every illness and disease that might come along; it is to provide honest and complete research and then have the citizens take personal responsibility for their own lives. \u00a0We need to return to normal living and follow tried-and-true precautionary measures that are showing far more success in other states than we are having in New Jersey, such as quarantining only those who become sick and following reasonable (not militant) social distancing during flu season, but, most importantly, the choices\/options must belong to the patient and parents. \u00a0Everything else is government overreach at its worst, where, for all of our mandates and quarantines, we have among the highest death rates per capita in the country right here in New Jersey. \u00a0The debacle of the nursing homes and the veterans\u2019 hospitals must also be prevented from ever happening again, along with a need to fully investigate what led to so many unnecessary deaths already. \u00a0We need our State to be a model of treating veterans right, since they make sacrifices for our country like few others. \u00a0I will seek the elimination of state income taxes on veteran pensions, acceptance of VA health benefits at all hospitals, and employment preferences for veterans. \u00a0My personal pledge is to visit veterans\u2019 hospitals on a regular basis during my term of office.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4af3d9b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4af3d9b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b21777\" data-id=\"5b21777\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-86ccebd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"86ccebd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-afee7c3\" data-id=\"afee7c3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-073d885 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"073d885\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/spending.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-323\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e176ce9\" data-id=\"e176ce9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78ea3d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78ea3d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Helping Small Business, Lowering Taxes, Enabling Self-Sufficiency, and Reversing the Rate of Departures from the State<\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d3e3be elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0d3e3be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Small business is the backbone of the economy, but they are being crushed in New Jersey, where we have lost over 30% of businesses, either closing down or leaving the state, due to the undue burden on those businesses in just the last few years. \u00a0In the most rapid expansion of the wealth gap in recent memory, estate taxes were replaced by the gas tax and toll increases in New Jersey, which far more disproportionately impact the poor, but the real problem has a simple solution, which I will fight for every day: CUT THE SPENDING! \u00a0Everyone talks about trying to reduce the rate of increase in spending, but that does not go far enough. \u00a0We need the free market to do what it does best by minimizing government intrusion into it, particularly with small business. \u00a0I will fight to minimize regulation to quality control specific to each industry, and otherwise promote opportunities for businesses to thrive. \u00a0Government needs to handle other people\u2019s money as responsibly as if it were their own. \u00a0If we can spend tax revenue on training and enablement programs, where people can soon come off the government benefit rolls that keep them impoverished and enable them to support themselves and their families, we would save a lot of costs, and more people would enjoy the benefits of the dignity of work. \u00a0This would also stop the flood of people leaving the state due to exorbitantly high taxes, where we are not seeing the return on that investment in terms of improving people\u2019s lives with the current spending. \u00a0I want people to stop depending on the government for survival, and be able to survive on their own. \u00a0It is essential to any free society.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ccba44c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ccba44c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f31d4d6\" data-id=\"f31d4d6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-46cad7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"46cad7f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-01944b0\" data-id=\"01944b0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a95e39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8a95e39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/schoolchoice.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-324\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-38a36f6\" data-id=\"38a36f6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc1e1cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cc1e1cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"comp-klvw1wfw__item-j9qtcsjc\" class=\"KcpHeO tz5f0K comp-klvw1wfw wixui-rich-text\" data-testid=\"richTextElement\"><h4 class=\"font_2 wixui-rich-text__text\"><span class=\"wixui-rich-text__text\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">School Choice, Home Schooling, and Free Market Competition<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a73bd80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a73bd80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>New Jersey is typically one of the better-performing states in the country when it comes to education, but, on an international level, the quality of education in the United States, including New Jersey, has fallen off a cliff, taking us from a #1 world ranking prior to the establishment of the Department of Education (federal and state) to a current ranking of #26. It is clear that students today are not nearly as prepared for adult life and work as in previous generations, and I intend to help put a stop to that. There is a very clear reason for this current problem: The lack of competition for the public school system when it comes to revenue dollars. The best cure is school choice, with as many options, including home schooling, available as possible, where, critically, the funding from tax revenue follows the student, whatever choice a family makes for their children\u2019s education. If a public school cannot perform, it needs to lose funding, and potentially close down, if that will strengthen the options for our children. All facets of the economy should be consumer-driven, with as many options available as possible, and the school system is no different. I will fight to have our children better educated than they have been the last several years, so they are better prepared to be independent, self-sufficient adults, ready to take on their normal adult responsibilities. They cannot be perpetually taken care of, and in fact, at some point in the future, they need to be equipped to take care of others, whether elderly parents or young children, or both. We are doing them a disservice if we do not prepare them for that responsibility and help them realize that it is okay, and is in fact necessary, that the party doesn\u2019t go on forever. Students have always performed better when curriculum control has been de-centralized to allow for a variety of innovative teaching methods by the ones trained for it, the teachers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f94723a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f94723a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-863354b\" data-id=\"863354b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b5fb7e7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b5fb7e7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-81f7871\" data-id=\"81f7871\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa62033 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aa62033\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/2A.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-325\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-aa48870\" data-id=\"aa48870\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e5de27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3e5de27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"comp-klvw1wfw__item-j9qtcsjc\" class=\"KcpHeO tz5f0K comp-klvw1wfw wixui-rich-text\" data-testid=\"richTextElement\"><h4 class=\"font_2 wixui-rich-text__text\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Adherence to the Second Amendment<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56dcaff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"56dcaff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Everyone has a right to protect themselves and their families, and all the studies show that safer neighborhoods are those where legal gun ownership is easier to achieve. \u00a0It is a clear deterrent to most criminals even if there is just a fair chance that any home they break into could have a legal gun owner inside, whether a particular home has one or not. \u00a0At most, a simple NICS check, without any process involving the local police, should be sufficient for a permit, rather than the overburdensome regulations, extended waiting times, and ever-increasing, unduly-prohibitive fees and costs of gun ownership we now have in New Jersey. \u00a0There are many ways to infringe upon the rights of the People to be gunowners, and, particularly here in New Jersey, almost every method has been implemented, as can be seen by the plethora of gun control legislation currently in place. \u00a0It is a state and national concern to ease these burdens, as responsible gunowners prove time and again that they are the solution, not the problem, with violent crime. \u00a0At the federal level, I will work tirelessly, as I already have, to eliminate a large portion of the problems by instituting concealed carry and reciprocity, while simultaneously preventing state and local infringements of 2A rights. \u00a0With a streamlined, minimal process, the resources, and the associated costs, for regulation can be reduced, and the right to bear arms under 2A can be preserved as intended by our Founding Fathers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f002749 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f002749\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f024281\" data-id=\"f024281\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-564e3df elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"564e3df\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2e683de\" data-id=\"2e683de\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93fb89d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"93fb89d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/lockdowns.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-329\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d45d06d\" data-id=\"d45d06d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdb9ad7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fdb9ad7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"comp-klvw1wfw__item-j9qtcsjc\" class=\"KcpHeO tz5f0K comp-klvw1wfw wixui-rich-text\" data-testid=\"richTextElement\"><h4 class=\"font_2 wixui-rich-text__text\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Border Crisis, Sanctuary Cities\/States, and Voter ID<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e73aaf2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e73aaf2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It has become clear that the border situation is a mess, to the extent that there are even admissions that we need to go back to securing it, rather than the current free-for-all and totally porous border we now have. \u00a0We have people coming in who are infected with diseases, a wide-open opportunity for terrorists to smuggle themselves into the country among the groups of illegal immigrants, and a fentanyl and human trafficking problem that is out of control. \u00a0The current administration is clearly inept at handling these types of problems. \u00a0It was proven that the wall worked, and I will fight to finish it. \u00a0While we need to improve current immigration law to allow more good people to come here and realize the American Dream, it is also clear that we need to control the border situation much better, for the benefit of everyone on either side of it. \u00a0Public lands are owned by the taxpayers, so, just like an individual who owns property, the property rights in either case allow the owners to set the rules for being invited onto those lands. \u00a0Allowing sanctuary cities and states, as well as driver licenses for illegal aliens, is also a clear violation of the oath of elected office to uphold the Constitution, and needs to result in immediate removal and a permanent bar from holding elected office again. \u00a0I will stand on the side of the Constitution and liberty every time on this issue. \u00a0Regarding Voter ID laws, of course there is no valid argument against having these laws. \u00a0Everyone is able to obtain IDs for things of far less importance, and to suggest that, for example, the law should allow illegal immigrants, or even permanent residents, to vote is illegal, treasonous, and also a violation of an elected official\u2019s oath of office. \u00a0It is clear that we have to enable every legal vote to be counted, but we also have to make sure no illegal vote is counted, as, by definition, those not allowed to vote cannot have interests that align with the best interests of the country.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4afbb1a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4afbb1a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ed7a9c4\" data-id=\"ed7a9c4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-847d122 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"847d122\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6736536\" data-id=\"6736536\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-164b89e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"164b89e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/roads.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-334\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8fa553f\" data-id=\"8fa553f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c97a84a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c97a84a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"comp-klvw1wfw__item-j9qtcsjc\" class=\"KcpHeO tz5f0K comp-klvw1wfw wixui-rich-text\" data-testid=\"richTextElement\"><h4 class=\"font_2 wixui-rich-text__text\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Transit\/Roadway Infrastructure, Supply Chain, and Climate<\/span><br \/><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Change\/Renewable Energy<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9830a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d9830a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With the passage of the infrastructure law, I will fight for our State to receive their fair share of funding for critical\/time-sensitive projects, while focusing on the inefficiencies and corruption in the process. \u00a0It is no secret that taxes and tolls continue to skyrocket in New Jersey, yet our infrastructure, funded by those same taxes and tolls, continues to be ranked among the worst in the country. \u00a0Due to prevailing wage laws, just like minimum wage laws or any other artificial imposition on the free market, our infrastructure costs the most by far per mile to maintain, so we once again need to go back to the free market, limiting these unsustainable impediments, and eliminating a limited bidding system that favors crony capitalism instead of true capitalism, the best system in world history. \u00a0If the government would stop interfering in the free market, all these projects would dramatically improve, and resources would then be available to support fair wages and attract new members of the workforce to the variety of roles needed to help the supply chain recover and thrive. \u00a0I will do everything I can to make sure government contracts have a fair and open bidding process, and also encourage businesses to allocate budgets appropriately to attract talented workers to help with the supply chain issue. \u00a0As to sustainable energy, almost all alternatives have been shown, when pulling back the curtain to see what is involved in their production, to have a similar negative environmental impact as that of oil, with nuclear energy, under modern safety measures, delivering the best results for the environment. \u00a0Exposing the problems associated with other forms of \u201cclean\u201d energy will be a priority for me, so people can know the truth about what works and what does not.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Personal and Medical Freedom Over Mandates or Quarantines Medical decisions should be between a patient and a doctor, and, in the case of a minor, their parents. \u00a0Medical mandates, as a one-size-fits-all, I\u2019m-worried-so-the-rest-of-the-world-must-stop solution, are not providing any appreciable benefit, but they are causing a great deal of harm in many ways, especially to our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=276"}],"version-history":[{"count":73,"href":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":645,"href":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276\/revisions\/645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mele4america.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}