James Joseph "Jim" Florio (born August 29, 1937) is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position. Picture of James Florio - taken from government website This work is copyrighted. ... Jon Corzine 54th Governor of New Jersey; Incumbent Christine Christie Todd Whitman, the first female governor of New Jersey The Governor of New Jersey is the chief executive of the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Thomas Kean Thomas Howard Kean (born April 21, 1935 in New York City) was the Republican Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. ... Christine Todd Christie Whitman (born September 26, 1946) is an American Republican politician and author, who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush. ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... New York, New York redirects here. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Jim Florio. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... This is a list of governors of New Jersey. ... Jon Corzine 54th Governor of New Jersey; Incumbent Christine Christie Todd Whitman, the first female governor of New Jersey The Governor of New Jersey is the chief executive of the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... An Italian-American is an American of Italian descent either born in America or someone who has immigrated. ...

History

Florio was born in Brooklyn. He attended Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and received a law degree from Rutgers School of Law (1967). He was an amateur boxer. He served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1958, and afterwards was a reservist until 1975 eventually achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), is a four-year public institution located in Ewing Township, New Jersey, a northern suburb of Trenton. ... “Rutgers” redirects here. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... In the Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, a lieutenant commander (lieutenant-commander or Lt Cdr in the RN) is a commissioned officer superior to a lieutenant and inferior to a commander. ...

After being admitted to the bar, Florio became the assistant city attorney for City of Camden, a position he would hold until 1971. Florio would also be the borough solicitor for the New Jersey towns of Runnemede, Woodlynne, and Somerdale from 1969 until 1974. The City of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey in the United States. ... Runnemede highlighted in Camden County Runnemede is a Borough located in Camden County, New Jersey. ... Woodlynne highlighted in Camden County Woodlynne is a Borough located in Camden County, New Jersey. ... Somerdale highlighted in Camden County Somerdale is a borough located in Camden County, New Jersey. ...

Politics

Florio made his political career in opposition to the corrupt Democratic Party machine that prevailed in those days in Camden County, that was headed by Angelo Errichetti.^{[citation needed]} His opposition to this pervasive corruption around him has been suggested as the cause for Florio's comparatively (for a politician) go-it-alone attitude, which would later help to undermine his popularity as Governor.^{[citation needed]} Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... Angelo Errichetti (1928 - ), American politician, served as Mayor of Camden, NJ and New Jersey State senator. ...

In 1970, Florio was elected to the first of two terms he would serve in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1970 to 1974. In 1974, Florio was elected to the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey's 1st congressional district, and served from January 3, 1975 until January 16, 1990. The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. ... The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. ... New Jerseys First Congressional District is currently represented by Democrat Rob Andrews. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

In Congress, he was best known as the author of the Superfund legislation to clean up the most polluted sites in the country. He was also co-sponsor of the Exon-Florio legislation, which created the Treasury Department's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and effectively removed Congress from the approval process on foreign takeovers of US industrial concerns. This legislation was a factor in the Dubai Ports controversy in 2006. Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups (as of November 7, 2006 elections) Democratic Party Republican... Checking the status of a cleanup site Superfund is the common name for the United States environmental law that is officially known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 to 9675, which was enacted by the United States Congress on December 11... Jim Exon John James Jim Exon (August 9, 1921 – June 10, 2005) was an American Democratic politician. ... The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (or CFIUS) is an inter-agency committee of the United States Government that reviews the national security implications of foreign acquisitions of U.S. companies or operations. ... Dubai Ports World (or DP World for short) is a company owned by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. ...

Governorship

While in Congress, he would make three attempts to be elected Governor of New Jersey, in 1977, 1981 and 1989. He got as far as winning the Democratic nomination in 1981 and finally won both the nomination and the governorship in 1989 with 61% of the vote.

His loss in the 1981 general election was the closest in New Jersey history, and was not decided with certainty until several weeks after Election Day. Florio served a single four-year term as Governor from 1990 to 1994. He supported a substantial tax increase once he gained office, after the perception that he had ruled out tax increases during his campaign. A general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ...

Within months of his term, Florio signed a 20% reduction of auto insurance premiums.[1] In May 1990, he enacted the stiffest laws in the U.S. on owning or selling semiautomatic firearms. However in 1993, Florio vetoed a bill the Republican-led legislature introduced, to repeal most of the law. The National Rifle Association lobbied hard to override the governor's veto, but the Republicans backed down. [2] A semi-automatic firearm automatically loads a round into the chamber after the weapon is fired, but still requires a trigger pull for each round that is fired. ... This article concerns the National Rifle Association of the USA. For the UK organisation, see National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom The National Rifle Association, or NRA, is a non-profit group for the promotion of marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection of hunting and personal protection firearm rights...

It was also during his term that New Jersey National and Air guard units were deployed for the Persian Gulf War. Florio expanded the New Jersey-Israel Commission, to include tourism during his 1992 trade mission there.[3] See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

The Florio administration started during the late 1980s recession. Faced with a projected 1991 deficit of $3 billion, Florio asked for a $2.8 billion tax increase. It was the largest increase of any state in U.S. history. The money generated would balance the budget, increase aid to public schools and increase property tax relief programs. Governor Florio also eliminated 1,500 government jobs and cut perks for state officials. [4] The recession of the late nineteen-eighties was an economic recession that hit much of the world beginning in 1987. ... A budget deficit occurs when an entity (often a government) spends more money than it takes in. ...

A grassroots taxpayer revolt in 1990, spearheaded by a citizens group named "Hands Across New Jersey" founded by John Budzash, a postal worker from Howell Township. Map of Howell Township in Monmouth County Driving down the back roads in Howell, NJ. Howell is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. ...

Budzash was a frequent guest on radio and television shows throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania speaking out against the new taxes. Florio was a regular topic on active anti-tax broadcasting from talk radio stations New Jersey 101.5, Curtis Sliwa's AM Radio Talk Show and Bob Grant's AM Radio Talk show, both based in New York City. Sliwa, Grant and John and Ken from New Jersey 101.5 along with Alan Keyes, who in later years was a Presidential Candidate in the Republican primary, were guest speakers at two rallies held by Hands Across New Jersey protesting both George H. W. Bush and Florio's tax increases. Bumper stickers with "Impeach Florio" were seen around the state.[5] WKXW-FM, better known as New Jersey 101. ... Curtis Sliwa & The Guardian Angels Curtis Sliwa (born March 26, 1954 in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York) founded the Guardian Angels in 1979, a volunteer anti-crime organization with which he has remained closely identified. ... Bob Grant Bob Grant (born Robert Ciro Gigante in 1929) is an American radio personality, who has mostly broadcast from New York City stations and who has been widely credited with being one of the pioneers of the controversial talk radio show format. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... WKXW-FM, better known as New Jersey 101. ... Dr. Alan Keyes (born August 7, 1950) is a public speaker, former diplomat, and conservative political activist. ... George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. ...

1993 Election

In 1991, the Democrats lost their majority in the state legislature, for the first time in 20 years. The governor's approval ratings were as low as 18% but stablized to roughly 50% by 1993. He made an effort for conservative support by making tighter restrictions on welfare payments to mothers and enjoyed the strong support of President Bill Clinton. Clinton advisers James Carville and Paul Begala worked on the campaign. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Most of this article is about heads of state. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... James Carville (born October 25, 1944), is a liberal American political consultant, commentator, media personality, and pundit. ... Paul Begala (born May 12, 1961) is a political consultant, a commentator, and a former advisor to President Bill Clinton. ...

The legislature left the tax hikes largely intact but repealed the property tax break but Governor Florio was subsequently defeated for re-election. Republican Christine Todd Whitman won in a narrow vote of 49% to 48%. Whitman won by 26,093 votes out of 2,505,964 votes cast. Christine Todd Christie Whitman (born September 26, 1946) is an American Republican politician and author, who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush. ...

Post Governorship

In 2000, he was defeated for the Democratic nomination for United States Senate by investment banker Jon Corzine, in the most expensive Senate primary in history. Corzine had 246,472 votes, or 58 percent, while Florio had 179,059 votes, or 42 percent. [6] Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Politics Portal      The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the... Jon Stevens Corzine (born January 1, 1947) is the Governor of New Jersey. ...

Florio served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission from November 2002 to June 2005. As a congressmen in the late 1970s, he was instrumental in shaping the legislation that established the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve (also known as Pinelands National Reserve) is an affiliated area of the National Park Service in southeastern New Jersey. ...

Florio has been a critic to the Bush administration and the Iraq war. In a letter to the editor of the New York Times he makes a connection between the war and Bush's energy policy saying, "the nation's right to know has never been more important". [7] For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ...

Current position

He teaches a course each semester at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. Edward J. Bloustein (1925-1989) Edward J. Bloustein (born 1925, in New York City New York—9 December 1989 in the Bahamas) was the seventeenth President of Rutgers University) serving from 1971 to 1989. ... Public policy is a course of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to address a problem. ... “Rutgers” redirects here. ...

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress