Shelley Adler For Congress

(MOORESTOWN) – Shelley Adler, Democratic candidate for Congress, today formally announced her candidacy at a small business in Burlington County and the home of senior citizen in Ocean County spotlighting some of the biggest challenges facing our country.  In her announcement, Shelley Adler called for a new direction in Washington, and committed to fighting for middle class families, senior citizens, veterans, women and small businesses that deserve better from their government. 

 “I’ve had so many people share with me their struggles, their frustrations and their hopes.  Finding a job in this economy is still hard and listening to Washington is virtually unbearable.  But there is still a fervent hope and belief that things will get better, if we’re able to restore the idea that Congress should be finding solutions, rather than picking fights,” said Adler.

“We need to help small businesses create jobs.  We need to get our fiscal house in order.  We need to cut wasteful spending and the taxes on middle class families that fuel it.  We need to do justice by our veterans.  And we have to stand up and protect Social Security and Medicare, rather than turn these lifelines into scapegoats for the sins of a reckless Congress,” continued Adler.

“Just like life, elections are about choices.  And there will be a clear choice in this campaign between Mr. Runyan and myself.  In the name of fiscal conservatism, Jon Runyan voted to eliminate Medicare.  He voted to increase out-of-pocket Medicare costs by $6,000.  He voted to defund life saving women’s preventive healthcare programs.  He voted to reward multi-millionaires and big oil companies with more tax breaks, while middle class families and small businesses continue to struggle under the burden of our tax code.  That’s not fiscal conservatism.  That’s fiscal delusion that hurts middle class families, children, seniors, women and small businesses.  It hurts everyone but himself and his special interest friends.  And it’s wrong,” continued Adler.

“In order to jumpstart the economy, we need to strengthen small businesses and give them the tools necessary to spark job creation.   Small businesses account for half of all jobs in America, nearly two-thirds of new jobs created during the past 15 years, and employ 40 percent of scientists, engineers and computer programmers in the ever-growing field of high tech.  As our member of Congress, I’ll fight to relax credit restrictions so small businesses can meet their payrolls, expand their businesses, and purchase new equipment.  And I’ll work for a fair tax code that rewards hiring and new innovation, and not shipping jobs overseas.  Small business is no small thing in America, and it’s no small thing to me,” continued Adler.

“There is no better investment in our country’s future than to help returning veterans with job placement, health care and continuing education.  John and I shared this determination to help those who fought and risked their lives for all of us.  And since John’s passing, I’ve worked to establish a national fund in John’s name to study what we can do on a federal level to improve veteran benefits and better integrate them back into civilian life.  I’ll take the results of this study and go to Washington to implement them.  This is one study that’s not going to sit up on a shelf and collect dust.  It’s going to be the blueprint for real and lasting change for our veterans,” continued Adler.   

“Mr. Runyan sees things differently.  In his short time in Congress, he’s already voted to defund homeless veterans program, which would leave thousands of our bravest without the most basic of needs.  I think that’s wrong, and so do most Americans,” continued Adler.

“We must tackle high gas prices; this one of the biggest drains on the economy.  But despite the five largest oil companies raking in a record-high $137 billion in profits last year, Congress recently provided them with $50 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies.  These bad policies keep us dependent on Middle Eastern oil, put America’s security at risk, and drag down our economy by stifling growth, raising the cost of doing business and forcing families to make tough decisions about what they can and can’t afford,” continued Adler.

“We can reduce our dependence on foreign oil by increasing domestic energy production across the board – more oil, gas, wind, solar, hydro, coal and nuclear power.  We need to do it all in a safe and responsible manner.  We need to stop Wall Street speculators from driving up energy prices.  And we need more energy efficient vehicles, buildings and homes.  From fleets of cars, trucks and planes to every building on every street in America,” continued Adler.

“It’s a travesty that in 2012 there are no women in New Jersey’s Congressional delegation.  At a time when there is a clear attack on women’s life saving healthcare programs, we need a woman’s voice,” continued Adler.

“During the months ahead, I will wage an issues-based campaign that will engage in a real dialogue about the challenges facing our country.  And I will hold Congressman Runyan accountable for his votes and his politics.  He shouldn’t underestimate the determination of a PTA mom.  And he will soon see that I am going to offer the people a very clear choice.  A choice between an incumbent member of Congress who has been a part of the problem in Washington and voted time and again against the interests of our community, versus an independent voice who is beholden to no one but my conscience, my children and all of you,” concluded Adler.

Shelley Adler, a Harvard Law School graduate, formerly served as a councilwoman and PTA president.  As an attorney, she has represented individuals and businesses in corporate transactions and litigation. Shelley Adler would be the first ever Congresswoman to represent Burlington and Ocean counties and would be the first woman to serve as part of the New Jersey delegation in more than a decade.

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