The New Jersey Express. A Big Success.

N.J. Chamber Train Trip to D.C. and Congressional Dinner Attracts 900, including 40 legislators,
10 Congress members, U.S. Sen. Menendez and 30 News Reporters

The 79th Annual Walk to Washington and Congressional Dinner on Feb. 25 and 26, 2016 brought to Washington a who's who of New Jersey business and government leaders. More than 900 boarded the Chamber's chartered Amtrak train, including state legislators, CEOs, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders, who walked the aisles chatting and exchanging business cards.

The train whisked through New Jersey, picking up guests along the way. When the train reached the nation's capital, guests gathered at the Marriott Wardman Park for networking receptions and the Congressional Dinner with addresses by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton); Col. Frederick Thaden, commander of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst; and NJTV Senior Political Correspondent Michael Aron, a 34-year veteran of Trenton politics who has interviewed every governor, legislative leader and chief justice in New Jersey since 1982.

Sen. Menendez Calls for Transportation Funding Solution

When Menendez stood at the podium at the Congressional Dinner, he took aim at one of the state’s most pressing issues: funding for transportation. He urged Gov. Chris Christie and the state Legislature to quickly develop new revenue sources for New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund, a nearly depleted account that pays for maintaining the state’s highways, bridges and mass transportation, so the state does not lose out on more than $1.6 billion in federal matching dollars. “At the end of the day, if we cannot match the federal dollars, we cannot access them,” Menendez said.

In his remarks, as master of ceremonies, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President Tom Bracken encouraged legislators to seek input from the business community when they consider anti-business legislation like paid sick leave, a $15 minimum wage and a constitutional amendment to mandate public pension payments.

“Our goal is to be an ally, not an adversary,” said Bracken, who is spearheading Opportunity NJ, a coalition to tackle initiatives deemed to be anti-business and damaging to job growth efforts.

With a state full of “great minds,” there’s no reason why the business community should be shut out of future legislative deliberations, Bracken said.

Also attending the event were 10 of New Jersey’s 12 members of Congress, 40 state legislators, and 30 print and broadcast reporters documenting the proceedings.

Was New Jersey’s Next Governor on the Train?

Drawing some of the biggest crowds during the four-hour train ride on Feb. 25 were the many possible candidates for governor in 2017, who were walking the length of the 13-car train. Among them were Democrat Phil Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive and former U.S. ambassador to Germany; Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union); and state Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union). Senate President Steve Sweeney, another possible contender, joined guests at the hotel in Washington D.C.

N.J. Chamber Business Leadership Award

During the dinner, the N.J. Chamber presented its 2016 Business Leadership Award to Dennis Bone, for his accomplishments and service to New Jersey. Bone served as president and CEO of Verizon New Jersey for 12 years, and continues to be a champion of business as the inaugural director of the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship at the School of Business at Montclair State University.

The festivities capped off the following morning with an insightful reporters roundtable breakfast where New Jersey's most experienced news reporters discussed, among other things, Gov. Chris Christie's future; the Transportation Trust Fund and the race for president.

Even the train ride carrying the movers and shakers back to New Jersey was eventful. Somewhere near Wilmington, Del., news broke that Gov. Christie was endorsing Donald Trump for president, sending cell phones buzzing, people whooping and gasping and dozens of reporters on board the train scurrying for quotes form the CEOs and legislators riding the rails.

This, of course, confirmed what NJTV senior political correspondent Michael Aron had said the night before in his address at the Congressional Dinner: “If you are a reporter,” he said, “New Jersey never lets you down.”

A special thank you to JCP&L, Walk to Washington's premier sponsor.

For photos from the train trip, click here.
For photos from the Congressional Dinner, click here.

Photos by Russ DeSantis Photography & Video.