Norcross Opponent Speaks Out Over Post Office Rally Comments

Republican Claire Gustafson is speaking out about comments Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1) made during a rally outside the Bellmawr Post Office earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Norcross joined current and retired postal workers, union leaders and local officials for what he said was a rally to "highlight the urgent need to protect the Postal Service."
During the rally, he described changes that had been proposed by the postmaster general as “catastrophic” and “B.S.”

“It’s laughable that Congressman Donald Norcross would refer to anything as catastrophic when the real catastrophe in our congressional district was created by him,” said Gustafson, who is challenging Norcross in November’s general elections. “In February 2014, when he announced his first run for Congress, Norcross bragged that he ‘led the charge on getting the Economic Opportunity Act passed into law,’ the very law that led to his family and friends getting $550 million in tax breaks.”

The law Gustafson referred to has been at the center of an investigation by a task force assembled by Gov. Phil Murphy that concluded a lack of scrutiny by the Economic Development Authority (EDA) cost the state hundreds of millions in tax incentives. Read more here: Report Says Program Provided Big Benefit To NJ Political Boss

“Many of those tax incentives created by the law Norcross bragged about passing could have been used to help other areas of the district that are hurting. Imagine if businesses were helped move to the area of the Paulsboro Port,” Gustafson said. “We might be bringing in steel from Brazil rather than wasting opportunity on Russian steel and taxpayers might finally be getting a return on their $255 million investment. Instead, Donald Norcross worked hard in the state Senate to get tax breaks for his family and friends in Camden. As a member of Congress, he seems to forget the district runs south to the Gloucester County Border with Salem County. He represents more than just the political cartel that rules South Jersey.”

Tuesday's rally came in response to recent actions by President Donald Trump, his Administration and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to implement sweeping new operational changes that Norcross said "degrade postal service, delay the mail and threaten to deny the ability of eligible Americans to cast their votes through the mail in the upcoming elections in a timely fashion." Read more here: Norcross Joins Rally To Save The Post Office In Bellmawr

On Tuesday, DeJoy said he would suspend recent policies implemented within the U.S. Postal Service after the changes drew intense scrutiny due to the possibility of mail delays. Read more here: Postmaster General Axes Policies Blamed For Mail Delays

Tuesday's rally is one of two that were scheduled to take place in Camden County this week. That rally will take place at noon Friday at the Camden Post Office, 401 Market Street. Read more here: Post Office Rallies In Camden County; Local Leaders Speak Out