Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 09:21:24 PM EST
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Chair of the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, Congressman Rush Holt responded to news that President-Elect Barack Obama will nominate Leon Panetta to serve as Director of the CIA."Having served in Congress in the wake of Watergate and the domestic surveillance abuses that surfaced during the 1970s, Mr. Panetta understands how a democratic government should operate. He also demonstrated skill in running the Office of Management and Budget and as Chief of Staff under President Clinton. We need the CIA to collect reliable, actionable intelligence in ways that respect American values and honor the Constitution. Mr. Panetta's background and reputation indicate he would serve the intelligence community, the President, and the country well."
Diane Feinstein didn't seem thrilled by the choice, apparently because she wasn't consulted before the name was leaked out and wanted an intelligence professional. Feinstein may have also wanted Jane Harmon for the position. John Rockefeller said he didn't like the potential politics of the pick, but there is precedent for it:Although Panetta was a surprise pick -- his name was absent from most of the lists of contenders circulating in Washington in recent weeks -- the selection was historically consistent with previous CIA directors, only a few of whom were agency veterans, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. We'll see what kind of response Panetta gets over the next few days and when the nomination is officially made. It'll be a more difficult confirmation process if prominent Democrats on the Senate Intelligence committee don't come on board.Update: Hopeful made this observation in a quick hit:I think it's pretty obvious that Feinstein is against the choice because she is neck-deep in the abuses of the Bush era, and an outsider increases her risk of being exposed. |
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Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 07:52:27 PM EST
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Finally, what appears to be some good newsThe New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance announced Wednesday that New Jersey's workers compensation premiums will fall about 1% in 2009, saving employers $33 million.
Maximum workers comp benefits, meanwhile, will increase 4% to $773 per week. I know it's not the largest increase, but it's better than the alternatives of the same compensation or possibly a decrease in benefits. At the same time of the increase, we're seeing some of the burden lifted on businesses. If only all of our funds could work this well. |
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Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 02:23:10 AM EST
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Promoted by Jason Springer because the lack of a paper trail isn't going away. Once again, it takes the New York Times to blow the whistle on Trenton.
Shortchanging Voters
More than three years have gone by since the New Jersey Legislature required the state to install modern voting machines that provide printouts of each vote - the paper trail that experts regard as essential to fair and accurate elections. The machines are still nowhere in sight.
Deadlines have been imposed and proved meaningless. The latest deadline was New Year's Day, which of course has passed. Technically, the state is in violation of its own law, but nobody seems to care. Gov. Jon Corzine has said he will do something without specifying what. |
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Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 02:00:00 PM EST
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Another sign of the times:In the latest sign the economic crisis is deepening in New Jersey, food stamp applications doubled and the number of people seeking welfare rose 40 percent in October compared with the previous year, according to state figures. Breaking down the numbers further:The greatest demand has been for food stamps. Applications more than doubled from 2,234 people in October 2007 to 4,547 people in October 2008, Human Services spokeswoman Suzanne Esterman said.
During roughly the same period, there was a 61 percent spike in the number of people seeking cash assistance through public welfare, known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. In November 2007, Esterman said, 395 people submitted applications, compared with 635 in October 2008, the most recent information available. The highest demand came in July, with 730 people seeking public assistance. I don't know that this is a surprising development, given the rise in unemployment and overwhelming of New Jersey Food Banks. You would expect people to utilize these programs as a safety net to help stabilize things when they are struggling. Good thing there are programs to help break the fall. |
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Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 12:30:00 PM EST
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I got an email about a beef and beer fundraiser that I wanted to pass on:On November 1 st , U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan Wilno came home after serving seven months in Iraq. His father Ron drove all the way to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from their home in Evesham to pick up his son. He couldn't wait for Ryan to see the celebration that had been planned. They were escorted the whole way home by State Police and about 70 motorcyclists to the family’s Evesham home. For Betsy and Ron Wilno, this was one of the happiest days of their lives.
That night, after a wonderful homecoming filled with family and friends, Ron went to lie down for a little while. About an hour later Betsy found him slumped over in the bathroom. He had died. In one day, Betsy went from being an overjoyed and proud mom to a devastated and grief-filled widow with three children.
The VFW wants to help this family. They may not live in the Triple-Towns, but Ryan is still one of our own. They had no money for a funeral, etc. There has been a fund set up. If you can help in any way, it would be greatly appreciated. Please come out and support him and his family. The stress of families of soldiers must be off the charts. The soldier who experienced the shock of war now must handle another enormous challenge outside the war zone: Ryan Wilno, who must return to Camp Lejeune Nov. 23, said he's just glad he came home in time to see his father, with whom he spent countless days hunting ducks and geese.
"This is like being hit by a freight train," he said, adding that he rarely went a day without speaking to his father on the telephone, even from Iraq. Contributions to the Ronald Wilno Memorial Fund can be sent to The Bank, 195 Greentree Road, Marlton 08053, attention Karl Eckstrom. If you are in the area, the Beef and Beer will be held in Riverside on Saturday, January 10 at the Riverside VFW Post #3020 on Fairview Street 7rom 7:00-11:00. Tickets are $20.00 and if you want more info or donations, you can call 461-6293. As always, if you can help, please consider doing so. |
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Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 11:00:00 AM EST
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The Colts Neck council has found "Mr Recreation" to handle the now full time job of recreation director, but not everyone is thrilled:Former Republican Mayor Rose Ann Scotti and her husband are among a group of residents who will present a petition to the Township Committee at its organization meeting Sunday to protest the governing body's decision to hire the outgoing mayor as a full-time recreation director.
Scotti said she is "mortified" that the committee is forcing her to publicly protest the new position and is giving the $62,000 job to Mayor Thomas E. Hennessy Jr. a few days after he leaves office.
Hennessy, 68, will replace Harold Nolan, the part-time director for nearly three decades who earned an annual salary of $57,000. Nolan, a Middletown resident with a doctorate in recreational management, will retire at the end of the month. After 30 years of a part time position, why is now the appropriate time to change the job to a full time position with a salary increase? Another problem arises out of how the search went was conducted to fill the position and find the best, most qualified candidate:Borough Administrator Robert Bowden had confirmed that the township did not advertise for the position, but rather spread the news about the opening through word of mouth. Five other township residents applied for the job, but no one was interviewed. No advertisment, check. No interviews, check. Very extensive process they held, but why waste everyone's time:Committeeman Ben Forester said interviewing other candidates would have amounted to a charade because Hennessy's resume "read the best." Of course, because no one has ever exaggerated on their resume. And whose fault is it that the interview process would have been a charade? That's more of an indictment of the council than the candidates for the position. The former Mayor who got the position may in fact be extremely qualified and do a great job. Unfortunately, the way the council gave him the position puts a cloud over him. If he truly was the best candidate, that would have become obvious in an open process. |
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Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 04:11:37 PM EST
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File this in the "Did they really say that?" file: Keeping some documents out of the public eye is necessary to run government, Acropolis said.
Okay, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. The courts have long recognized that, in fact, it is necessary to keep secret such things as military plans, negotiations with hostile nations, and other such security-related issues. Unfortunately for Acropolis, he isn't talking about that stuff. He's talking about his secret plan to gut local government.
This not only fails that "clear and present danger" test, but the smell test as well. "Eventually, you will have it," the mayor is reported to have told a reporter. Yeah, about ten seconds after this gets in front of a judge. Hey, Mr. Acropolis, I know you're a Republican, but George W. Bush never got a free pass in Jersey. His tactics won't, either. |
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Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 03:49:22 PM EST
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Herb Jackson takes a look at the money spent by NJ Congressional campaigns in the 2008 cycle and the results of the fundraising. I'm not really sure what to make of it all, other than it's really expensive to run for office:
| Cong. dist. |
Winner |
Winner spent |
Loser spent |
Spending difference |
Victory margin |
| 1 |
Rob Andrews, D-Haddon Heights |
$1,483,894 |
$25,037 |
$1,458,857 |
46% |
| 2 |
Frank LoBiondo, R-Millville |
$1,609,732 |
$187,514 |
$1,422,218 |
20% |
| 3 |
John Adler, D-Cherry Hill |
$2,776,508 |
$1,219,164 |
$1,557,344 |
4% |
| 4 |
Christopher Smith, R-Robbinsville |
$937,705 |
$441,241 |
$496,464 |
34% |
| 5 |
Scott Garrett, R-Wantage |
$1,745,982 |
$1,163,667 |
$582,315 |
13% |
| 6 |
Frank Pallone, D-Long Branch |
$1,512,234 |
$12,365 |
$1,499,869 |
35% |
| 7 |
Leonard Lance, R-Clinton Twp. |
$1,271,670 |
$2,630,066 |
$1,358,396 |
8% |
| 8 |
Bill Pascrell Jr., D-Paterson |
$1,172,466 |
$54,134 |
$1,118,332 |
43% |
| 9 |
Steve Rothman, D-Fair Lawn |
$1,306,297 |
$32,283 |
$1,274,014 |
36% |
| 10 |
Donald Payne, D-Newark* |
$495,092 |
$0 |
$495,092 |
98% |
| 11 |
Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-Harding |
$1,192,363 |
$92,338 |
$1,100,025 |
25% |
| 12 |
Rush Holt, D-Hopewell Twp. |
$1,288,279 |
$31,090 |
$1,257,189 |
28% |
| 13 |
Albio Sires, D-West New York* |
$909,597 |
$0 |
$909,597 |
54% |
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Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 02:56:58 PM EST
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Thanks to Andrew Poag for pointing out the brilliance that is Doug Forrester. He pens an Op-Ed in the Asbury Park Press telling Trenton to stop thinking outside the box. And just in case you don't know what a box is, he takes time to explain the concept:A box is a container with structure, usually with sides and a bottom, that constrains things, keeping them safe and in their place. Uh yeah, ok. Maybe he can line that box with this column. |
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