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Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 06:58:00 AM EST
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A not-so-gentle reminder for the political folks
Who the health care reform debate is actually about.
Scott Garrett gets a Democratic challenger
Tod Theise is in the race.
The bear people to sue the fish and game people
Claiming a violation of the Open Public Meeting Act.
Silly, trivial and for show
N.J. employees would have to pay for parking as part of Gov. Christie's privatization plan.
February snows
Both New Jersey's United States senators are asking Barack Obama to declare 8 southern NJ counties disaster areas.
New lawyers for Hal Turner
Hate blogger Turner of Bergen County, his second mistrial on charges of threatening 3 federal judges behind him, will switch out his lawyers and start fresh with new defenders if he goes to trial a third time.
State Senate confirms Bret Schundler Education Commish & James Simpson to head up Transportation.
Voting no on Schundler, Sen. John Girgenti cited Schundler's "dogmatic approach" and Sen. Nia Gill found his experience foundimg a charter school "interesting" but not "substantive".
Families are angry
Budget cuts slow effort to move mentally disabled from institutions to a place in a supervised group home, frustrating them - and their families, and in some cases costing the state more money.
Senate votes to allow transfer of Highlands development rights statewide.
Authorized a program to benefit property owners in the state's Highlands region whose property values have been limited by development restrictions.
Ground Zero workers suit is settled
For some of the thousands of rescue and cleanup workers who rushed to the scene of disaster at the World Trade Center, a settlement has been reached of up to $657.5 million. This will cover payouts to about 10,000 plaintiffs according to the severity of their illnesses and the level of their exposure to contaminants at Ground Zero.
Don't disrupt families and keep your eye on the ball
Star Ledger is cool on a bill supported by both Gov. Christie and Sen. Steve Sweeney, requiring NJ public employees to live in the state.
Christie says he's going to do what needs to be done
The governor talks budget.
Weinberg: history is going to defend Jon Corzine's legacy
Chris Christie slams Jon Corzine routinely for budget problems he pins on the former governor, and through spokesman Josh Zeitz, Corzine responds. Loretta Weinberg and Dick Codey have different opinions about whether Zeitz needs to pipe down.
GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter tax caps
I wonder what they mean by "tools" to control labor costs contributing to New Jerseyans' $7,300/year average property tax bill.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 11:18:58 PM EST
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You probably remember how the New Jersey pension fund invested in Lehman in early 2008: Our Juan Melli thought it was a big mistake, I said "might be a bargain, who knows?" and within months New Jersey lost over a hundred million dollars as Lehman went bankrupt.
When you take that kind of gamble and lose, it's really no one else's fault, unless the leaders at Lehman who convinced the pension fund were somehow committing fraud. The New York Times reports that a new report says it was fraud and there is evidence to support a lawsuit:
But the examiner, Anton R. Valukas, also for the first time laid out what the report characterized as "materially misleading" accounting gimmicks that Lehman used to mask the perilous state of its finances...
Mr. Valukas writes in the report that "colorable claims" could be made against some former Lehman executives and Ernst & Young, meaning that enough evidence existed that could lead to the awarding of damages in a trial. He added that Lehman's directors were not aware of the accounting engineering.
By his reckoning, Lehman managed to "shed" about $39 billion from its balance sheet at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, $49 billion in the first quarter of 2008 and $50 billion in the second quarter. At that time, Lehman sought to reassure the public that its finances were fine - despite pressure from short-sellers.
There's a lot more in the article. Obviously the money is not going to be recovered, but both for the sake of justice and to discourage future Wall Street trickery I hope New Jersey vigorously sues everyone who knew.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 10:47:04 PM EST
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This really pisses me off if it's true:
GLAAD has learned from a source that wishes to remain anonymous that sponsors of the Stars on Ice Tour, which include Smuckers and IMG Entertainment, have refused to allow 3-time US National Champion and 2-time Olympian Johnny Weir to participate because they claim that he is "not family friendly."
To say that Weir is "not family friendly" would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation. Weir is extremely involved with his family. He is putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father's disability prohibits him from working. Weir's dedication to his family can be clearly documented in the Sundance series, Be Good Johnny Weir, which follows him and his family and friends through his life and career as a championship skater.
I don't know if he still lives in New Jersey or not, but Weir should know he has lots of fans here, gay and straight, male and female. (Hattip: I saw the story at Dailykos.)
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 04:54:01 PM EST
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Last night, Ed Potosnak won the endorsement of the Union County Democrats in his bid to be the Democratic nominee in NJ-7, and the chance to oppose Rep. Leonard Lance in his first re-election campaign.
And Zenon Christodoulou ended his bid for the nomination last night, swinging his support to Potosnak. Union County Dems' decision marks the second county party endorsement Potosnak won, after he took the Hunterdon County Democratic Committee's endorsement almost two weeks ago.
The other counties comprising NJ-7 are Middlesex (with only part of Edison, part of Woodbridge Twp, and South Plainfield in the District) and Somerset, mostly in NJ-7. The fact that not only Potosnak, but Christodoulou hail from Somerset County is important. The Obama surge in late 2008 flipped the historically Republican county to majority Democrat. If there are opportunities in this uphill race, they may come there.
Hunterdon County saw its number of Democrats nearly double from 2005-2009, but the total still hovers under 18,000. And Lance, a lifetime resident from a political legacy family, will count on Hunterdon - which delivered the highest percentage victory for Christie 4 months ago - as base support. Middlesex and Union are Democratic.
Somerset's in flux. Potosnak has roots there. He was a chemistry teacher at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional HS, then won an Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship which took him to work as an aide for DNC Vice-Chair Rep. Mike Honda on education policy, among other issues. He was born and raised in New Jersey, was an adjunct professor at his alma mater Rutgers, and now lives in North Plainfield.
Christodoulou is in a great position to be a key player in Potosnak's race. Christodoulou is Vice-Chair of the Somerset Democratic Committee, and under Chair Peg Schaffer, the Somerset organization has been building much needed infrastructure. And both Christodoulou and Schaffer are members of a bunch of Democrats known as "The Group," who raise big money for Democratic candidates, and recently tried to clear the field for Hillary Clinton. At Blue Jersey, we have often been critical of "The Group" but they sure as hell get their calls answered. Christodoulou can be a key player in attracting financial support for a NJ-7 Democrat, if he makes the choice to be. I called Zenon today to tell him I hope he does.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 03:30:00 PM EST
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As the days of Republicans obstructing legislation in the Senate continue to pass, momentum has built to change the rules of the filibuster. Talking Points memo has a story up talking about how Harry Reid is suggesting it's time to make a change and our Senator had this take:Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) added in his remarks that Democrats need to "crystallize" obstruction and showcase incidents like the Bunning blockade to highlight the real effects parliamentary tactics have on voters. At the very least if they don't change the rules, they should make Republicans actually stand up and filibuster. Not play the games that they are. And Democrats need to clearly spell out what is going like the Senator says, because they can't continue to lose the messaging battle and expect to win at the ballot box. I would hope Senator Menendez, in his role leading the DSCC can push other members to make sure they are highlighting the obstruction on a more regular basis until permanent changes are made.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 02:05:38 PM EST
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The Obama campaign -- sorry, Organizing for America -- is asking you to call Congress today to support health care reform. When I clicked on the link, "Janice N" had just called Scott Garrett, so if she can call the most hopeless member, maybe you and I should call too. Probably Adler is the only vote that might flip, and he is also the only local Democratic vote we're likely to lose.
Update: Speak of the devil.* Garrett just posted this on Facebook: "BREAKING NEWS: Health Care Reconciliation will be in the Budget Committee on MONDAY! I am on the Budget Committee. I'll be fighting it every step of the way!" So both sides agree the final battle is approaching.
*Hey, it's a common expression.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 11:06:42 AM EST
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There's a new report out warning that the New Jersey Transportation Fund will be broke next year at the latest. The full PDF of Spiral of Debt is worth reading.
Let's just look at the accounting. Money In:
$483 million from Motor Fuels Tax, aka gas tax.
$200 million from Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax, a tax on refineries and distribution.
$200 million from the sales tax.
$12 million from tolls, contributed by the Turnpike Authority. Unlike the three above, this one is not mandated by the constitution.
$0 from other sources. There used to be money from other, non-mandated sources, but not since 2002.
Money Out:
$874 million to service existing debt.
$2 million to "other."
$1,388 million to Transportation Capital Program
How will they manage to spend this bit? Why, they will borrow another $1,300 to $1,600 million dollars. But this is the last year that trick works. As you can see, real money in now only matches the debt service, and this years borrowing will add nearly $100 million in debt service for the next thirty years. Then you won't be able to pay for any new debt. So that's why it goes broke next year.
The report states that when created in 1984 the Fund was supposed to fund projects by pay-as-you-go, but that rule was broken long ago, and we are trapped in this spiral of debt. Since this is politics, we know that our more conservative users will blame Corzine and the older liberals will blame Whitman. I think this chart, taken from the report, demonstrates that both perspectives are right (look at before and after 1992, and 2006), and feel free to take shots at McGreevey too and the last two decades of legislators. All sold us out for short-term gain.
I don't envy Governor Christie here.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 09:30:00 AM EST
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 The Senate will have a voting session, the Senate Judiciary committee will consider two nominations from Governor Christie and the Assembly will have two committees meeting to consider legislation.
There are 21 bills on the agenda for the Senate Session today. Some of those bills include changes to Municipal land use law, Highlands programs, steroid use among students and gender equity in workplace concerns.
The Senate Judiciary Committee considers the nominations of the heads of Banking & Insurance and the Motor Vehicle Commission.
The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development committee has just four bills up for consideration including one dealing with qualifications for green building loans. The Human Services Committee also has just four bills on the agenda including one dealing with Eligibility concerns for NJ Family Care.
I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along live here.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 07:42:00 AM EST
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Christie to privatize up to 2,000 NJ state jobs
Gov. Christie will create a commission to privatize as many as 2,000 state jobs beginning January 2011, and is considering invoking the Disaster Control Act to suspend Civil Service rules, making it easier for him to lay off higher-paid workers. Privatizing jobs will mean layoffs. The January date is significant; by then he would not be subject to the deal between Gov. Corzine and state worker unions requiring the state to pay millions in raises to remaining workers if he orders layoffs before then. Hetty Rosenstein, CWA state director, called privatization a "completely discredited" practice with a failed history in NJ that doesn't save money.
Glenn Beck disses New Jersey
The noive! Why, I oughta ...
Homeless in Morris County
In one of the richest counties in America, the homeless population doubles.
Demographic breakdown
Zach Fink examines who proposed pension reform largely affects - workers that are 75% women and minorities - and the curious fact that far fewer concessions are proposed for firefighters and local police (90% male) and state police (96% male and at least 80% white).
This - related - is also worth a 2nd look: The Police State: Will Gov. Christie take on Jersey cops? (Blue Jersey)
Camden considers layoffs
Camden employees could face furloughs this spring to help make up for $8 million that the state recently rescinded from the city's current budget, says Mayor Dana Redd. Redd said the city would save just under $500,000 if all non-uniformed employees took 6 unpaid work days. With police & fire, the city would save $2.3 million.
Who's lobbying?
ELEC has a fascinating look at some shifts in the NJ lobbying universe last year.
The GOP and the Democrats spent big bucks in the governor's race
Given that the Republican Governors Association (RGA) spent $7.3 million in NJ and its Democratic counterpart the DGA spent about $3.3 million, this is an interesting headline choice, particularly since the 2 major NJ papers use the same statehouse bureau and reporters and run the same stuff, doubling the impact on Jersey readers.
Clean Trucks
Truck drivers in New Jersey & New York can apply for grants and low-interest loans for buying newer, cleaner trucks as part of a new $28 million program to improve air quality. It's a joint effort between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
That thing, that "new media" thing
Fred Snowflack on who the Governor of New Jersey is following on Twitter.
Marriage Equality snapshot
Where we are now, and what's likely to happen next, as of spring 2010.
Against Norcross' bill
Courier News: Don't force public workers to live here Quoting: "... Donald Norcross says that it's only fair for workers making money off NJ to live here and pay taxes too. What's fair is to recognize that those employees are already contributing something to the state for that money they're making off New Jersey - their work. Even the harshest critics of bloated government payrolls would have to acknowledge that many public workers do good and needed jobs. Norcross makes it sound as if workers are simply siphoning off those taxpayer dollars for nothing."
Out of the shadows
Bob Braun discusses some of the ironies in the movement to get illegal immigrants to trust the federal government enough to join the count that will bring essential resources and representation to New Jersey via the US Census.
Da Bears
Star Ledger says we need the bear hunt.
Hate blogger/shock jock Hal Turner of Bergen County
Turner's trial ends in a second mistrial.
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