JEFFERSON TWP. – Who says there’s no free lunch?

Those venturing out to the local diner between 11 a.m and 1 p.m. on a very rainy Saturday received a free meal thanks to Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and Jersey 1st.

The goal here was not mere altruism – but a blunt political statement by the two conservative-leaning groups. Here it is:

Bidenomics is bad – especially $5.5 trillion in new spending over the last three years. It’s also expensive.

A scorecard of sorts – “Biden’s Brunch Bummer” – highlighted how prices for such morning staples as coffee and eggs have risen over the last two years. For the record, coffee per pound went from $4.60 to $6.09 and eggs per dozen from $1.47 to $2.50, according to the handout.

So, the organizers’ point was that prices are so high, let us help out a bit by treating everyone to a meal.

The diner was jam-packed. Some came from the event; others just happened to be there. A lucky day for them.

“Everything is still off-kilter,” asserted Morris County Commissioner John Krickus, who showed up this morning.

Mark Taylor, the mayor of Florham Park, told a story about his daughter and son-in-law having trouble buying a home.

Why?

Taylor said there’s no inventory, because high interest rates make it hard for current homeowners to “move up” to a larger home.

Clearly, lingering inflation and the overall economy can be a big election year problem for the president.

However, there is another side.

The economy is growing, according to the GDP, unemployment is very low (under 4 percent) and the stock market has recently reached record highs.

Yes, but Ross Connolly, the northeast regional state director for AFP, spoke of a “massive disconnect” between Wall Street and many ordinary Americans.

That’s true, but there’s nothing unique about a disconnect between the business elites and everyone else.

The question between now and Election Day is whether a statistically-demonstrated improving economy is going to resonate with voters.

Enough of presidential politics.

In a more local concern, Alex Zdan, the newsman turned U.S. Senate candidate, was moving around the tables talking to diners.

Zdan said he was looking forward to an April 3 scheduled debate with fellow GOP candidates Curtis Bashaw and Christine Serrano Glassner. The Republican primary is certainly under the radar, but with three main people in the race, it’s going to be fun for political junkies.

Then, there was Bill Spadea, the radio host and presumed gubernatorial candidate in 2025.

He made the trek to Jefferson as well, proclaiming his goal to bring back common sense to New Jersey.
“We have to restore sanity, we’re on the march to do it,” Spadea told the diners.

With that, this reporter finished his ham and cheese omelette.