Republican Sam Thompson returns to “Ask the Senator”

When "Ask The Senator" debuted on News Talk 1160 & 1310 WOBM-AM eight months ago, New Jersey state Senator Sam Thompson (R-12) was host Tom Mongelli's first guest. We learned during Thompson's return to the show this week that many of the issues he discussed then still haven't been resolved, including pension funding, the nearly broke Transportation Trust Fund and Atlantic City's financial mess.

Thompson also discussed Donald Trump's quest to become the Republican Presidential nominee and national efforts to unite the GOP.

Thompson admitted Trump wasn't his choice early on when there were 17 candidates in the Primary ring.

"There aren't 17 candidates. It is now Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, and to me, that makes it very simple: It is Donald Trump," said Thompson.

Thompson said he believes we'll start to see a different side of Trump with fewer off-hand comments and clearer differences between him and his Democratic opponent.

"I think we're going to see a very interesting campaign," Thompson said, pointing out that it's a different ball game now. He also noted that Trump recently shocked a lot of people by earning almost the same percentage of support for Clinton in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Florida and Ohio.

As far as lingering issues impacting New Jersey, Thompson compared the situation in Atlantic City to the Transportation Trust Fund, noting how both are in serious financial trouble and need a drastic solution to fix the problem.

Thompson feels a state takeover of Atlantic City is necessary to get its finances back in line.

He said the money the city spends per person is outrageous.

"They lived it up based on what was coming in from the casinos, and that's just not there anymore," said Thompson. He added that if Atlantic City goes bankrupt, credit agencies and investors will be more reluctant to loan money to the city, which will result in higher interest fees.

"Chances of their suffering loss has increased because they can't rely on the state will come in and back people up under any circumstances."

Meanwhile, the state's Transportation Trust Fund is due to run out of money on June 30th, 2016 and nothing has been cemented to fix the problem.

"About the only really viable alternative out there is to raise the gas tax. Nobody wants to increase taxes," Thompson said.

Thompson stressed the reality is, there must be money in the fund that pays for projects for roads, bridges and rails.

"Our bridges are going to fall apart, the trains are not going to run, etc.," Thompson said. He added, "No one has come up with a better way to replenish the fund other than to increase the gas tax."