Pennacchio calls on top Chamber officials to resign

State Senator and U.S. Senate candidate Joe Pennacchio is so adamant in his opposition to the Governor’s fiscal restructuring plan that he wants the Chamber of Commerce’s president to resign for supporting it. Or the Chairman of the group’s Board of Directors. Or both.

In a press release sent out yesterday, Pennacchio today called on Horizon Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Jersey President William J. Marino, who he identified as the chamber’s president, to resign.

"The Chamber of Commerce's endorsement of Governor Corzine's toll-and-borrow scheme is very disappointing. For six and a half years, the Chamber has proven itself ineffective at lobbying the Democrats against their overtaxing, overspending, and over borrowing ways,” said Pennacchio.

Marino is actually the Chairman of the chamber’s Board of Directors. Its president is Joan Verplank. When informed of the apparent mix up, Pennacchio said that they both should resign.

Pennacchio also called on members of the Chamber of Commerce to demand refunds.

“Honestly, they all have some explaining to do . It’s a really powerful group of corporate elitists and social Democrats while dictating to New Jersey what’s in our best interest.”

Anne Evans Estabrook, one of Pennacchio’s opponents for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, is a former Chairwoman of the state Chamber of Commerce.