The year began with Social Security under siege by George Bush and certain Republicans, who wanted to privatize the program.  NJ Media Corps Members devoted their first three assignments of 2005 to protecting this highly successful government program, which has never missed a payment in 70 years and which America's seniors and other persons in need rely upon for their financial security. 

Despite a whirlwind publicity tour, Bush failed to convince the public that diverting investments to private accounts would help make Social Security solvent.  Bush had demanded that Congress put together a plan to introduce private accounts in 2005, but this never occurred, partially due to Bush's falling approval ratings and partially due to Republican fears of losing Congressional seats in 2006.  In November, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) claimed that Social Security reform would not occur until 2009 - after Bush leaves office.  On December 1, The Nation proclaimed that "George W. Bush's plan to privatize Social Security, the centerpiece of his second-term agenda, is dead."

This was a clear win for New Jersey Democrats and the NJ Media Corps.  Although the race became competitive in October, Jon Corzine pulled away - partially due to a backlash against Douglas Forrester, who broke a pledge not to use statements by Corzine's ex-wife in his ads.  Corzine won easily, 53% to 43% for Forrester.

Sen. Jon Corzine, D-NJ (center), Governor-elect of New Jersey (see Assignments 4 and 5)

Also for the first time, New Jersey has a State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP), modeled after the Federal Section 8 program. The state government approved $25 million dollars for rental assistance, which is expected to service approximately 2,200 vouchers.  Unfortunately, there are still an estimated 18,000 people on the State waiting list and another 80,000 on waiting lists around the state. For more information, see the 2005 "Out of Reach" report released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

This issue remained unresolved at year's end.  Rep. John Conyers'  “United States National Health Insurance Act,” H. Res. 676, languished in Congress, and prospects were dim for advancing this legislation under Republican House leadership.  But the Democrats did not give up on this issue and hope to make progress in 2006.  In December, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean vowed that "We are going to insist that this country join the 36 other countries in the world that somehow manage to both balance their budgets and provide health insurance to every one of their citizens."

This was one of the year's most hotly contested issues, as Republicans continued their attempts to open up America's largest wildlife refuge for oil drilling.  Unable to win an "up-or-down vote", Republicans tried to sneak ANWR drilling through the back door.  For most of the year, they attempted to pass a budget reconciliation bill that allowed for Arctic Refuge drilling.  This effort failed in November when Republican moderates forced leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives to abandon this plan.  Not to be deterred, Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) made a late attempt to attach Arctic Refuge drilling to the Defense Appropriations bill.  This highly cynical effort failed when the Senate refused to invoke cloture on the defense appropriations bill by a vote of 56-44. The Republicans will no doubt try again in the future, but our successes in the face of Republican Congressional majorities bode well for future attempts to defend ANWR from oil interests.

This was a 50/50 split for Democrats.  Incumbent Linda Greenstein won re-election, but her running mate Dan Benson failed to unseat Republican incumbent Bill Baroni.

Another clear win on Election Day 2005 for the Democrats, as incumbents David B. Crabiel and Camille Fernicola easily defeated Republican challengers Andrew Tidd and Jay Boxwell Jr.