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Capitol Quickies

  • Listen to gay marriage debate here

    The Senate Judiciary Committee's consideration of a bill that would allow gay couples to marry in New Jersey is underway (live stream here).

    The committee started a bit late, then quickly advanced seven nominations while holding off action for a second time on the reappointment of Nicholas Fargo, who has [...]

    Posted: December 07, 2009, 1:45pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Transition: Transition Counsel

    stephen edelstein

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie's transition office is being assisted by a number of volunteers who have agreed to study the state government's various departments and recommend what Christie should do with each area after taking office.

    In addition there is a "transition counsel" providing legal help in [...]

    Posted: December 07, 2009, 11:04am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Assembly setup, 12.07.09

    The state Assembly returns for its first voting session since late June this afternoon for a scheduled 1 p.m. start. As many as 48 bills might be passed, according to the agenda, including five that would head to the desk of Gov. Jon Corzine and one that would next head [...]

    Posted: December 07, 2009, 10:04am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Senate setup, 12.07.09

    Today's one of those heavy-lift days lame-duck legislative sessions are known for (and short-staffed Trenton bureaus dread). In addition to today's Assembly voting session, the state Senate has six committees meeting with votes scheduled on 46 bills, hearings set for others, and eight nominations up for votes.

    And those bills aren't' [...]

    Posted: December 07, 2009, 8:52am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 12.07.09

    It's Monday, Dec. 7th, 2009 -- and the big news in Trenton, as you've probably heard by now as you're reading a state politics blog, is that the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on a gay marriage bill.

    The Assembly meets for a voting session. Two groups of Senate committees meet. The' [...]
    Posted: December 07, 2009, 6:35am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • A Corzine sighting (four, in fact)

    Number of comments: 2

    Gov. Jon Corzine, who public schedule consisted of just eight events in 32 days after losing his re-election bid, today practically breaks into campaign mode with four appearances.

    Three are to participate in 'Super Sunday' fund-raising drives by various Jewish organizations -- a 9 a.m. stop in Scotch Plains to visit [...]

    Posted: December 06, 2009, 8:02am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Senate wrapup, 12.03.09

    Thursday's state Senate action included committee approvals for 21 bills but no vote, though one had been scheduled, on five bills. Five of the approved bills were second-referenced to the Budget & Appropriations committee.

    The bills that advanced include ones that let the state pay for pothole repairs with the Transportation [...]

    Posted: December 04, 2009, 2:14pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • State eyes stiffer rules for doctors & sales reps

    New Jersey consumer affairs officials proposed banning the state's 33,000 doctors from accepting any gifts, fees, travel reimbursements or free meals from any pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturers, in a report released this week.

    Doctors who are also consultants to pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturers would also have to publicly disclose [...]

    Posted: December 04, 2009, 1:15pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Assembly wrapup, 12.03.09

    Number of comments: 1

    Seven Assembly committees met Thursday. They advanced 31 bills and held off voting on four others that were listed (five if you count the one listed that never got introduced). There was also a discussion scheduled about tenure for school district administrators.

    Eleven new bills were proposed. The Assembly returns Monday [...]

    Posted: December 04, 2009, 1:03pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Proposed bill would clip Christie’s authority

    Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, D-Union, who will be the Assembly majority leader in the upcoming session and is also currently the state chairman for the Democratic Party, proposed legislation Thursday (A4335) that would provide that a governor's executive reorganization plan cannot take effect unless approved by the Legislature within 60 days of' [...]

    Posted: December 04, 2009, 10:25am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie potpourri

    Bits and pieces from Gov.-elect Chris Christie's news conference at the Statehouse Thursday:

    There will probably be more appointments to key jobs to announce next week. "I think it will probably be a pretty steady drumbeat now for the next six weeks, between now and the inaugural." A few of the [...]
    Posted: December 04, 2009, 8:24am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 12.04.09

    It's Friday, Dec. 4th, 2009.

    The Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning meets in the Statehouse Annex. It receives the annual debt report, as well as hears construction requests for FY2011 from the departments of Corrections, Education and Human Services. National employment data for November is released. New Jersey Citizen Action holds its [...]
    Posted: December 04, 2009, 6:45am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Corzine nominates chief of staff to be judge

    EMcBride

    Lame-duck Gov. Jon Corzine today nominated his chief of staff, Edward J. McBride Jr., to become a state Superior Court judge.

    McBride, 49, a resident of Pennsauken, has been chief of staff -- one of the most powerful positions in state government -- for nearly a year. [...]

    Posted: December 03, 2009, 6:36pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Final election results add 110K votes; Christie won by 86,700

    Number of comments: 1

    While this year's governor's election wasn't a rout, it also wasn't terribly close. Final results certified this week show that Gov.-elect Chris Christie defeated Gov. Jon Corzine by around 86,700 votes, 0r 3.6 percentage points.

    Every year, the unofficial results significantly underestimate the final tally. That's to be expected; this year, [...]

    Posted: December 03, 2009, 11:28am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • UPDATED: The Daily Quickie, 12.03.09

    It's Thursday, Dec. 3rd, and here's what's on tap:

    Four Senate committees meet. Among the bills on the docket: Revamping the state authority overseeing redevelopment of Fort Monmouth, providing liability protection in certain environmental cleanups and preventing drivers with graduated licenses from entering plea deals for motor vehicle violations. Seven select Assembly [...]
    Posted: December 03, 2009, 10:34am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Assembly setup, 12.03.09

    Seven Assembly committees meet today. They'll take up 37 bills, from which two essentially are duplicates of other bills due up today that will probably be merged together. There's also a discussion scheduled about tenure for school district administrators.

    A few of the proposed bills would:

    Establish a 60-day amnesty period for [...]
    Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:35am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Senate setup, 12.03.09

    Four Senate committees meet today, taking up 26 bills, including the ones highlighted directly below that would:

    Let the state pay for pothole repairs with the Transportation Trust Fund. This could save the state budget roughly $1.7 million, though take that funding away from other projects. Prohibit drivers with a learner's permit, [...]
    Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:07am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Assembly wrapup, 11.30.09

    Number of comments: 1

    Here's the belated boxscore from Monday's Assembly meetings:

    Sixteen bills advanced -- 15 to the Assembly floor, with one sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a vote scheduled to be held tomorrow on a bill ending diversions from the unemployment fund. Eight of those bills that advanced were introduced Monday and [...]
    Posted: December 02, 2009, 3:03pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Election turnout both dips & jumps

    Final official voter turnout numbers (and election results) were announced yesterday by the state Division of Elections.

    Turnout was 46.9% -- the lowest on record for a gubernatorial election, down from 48.5% in 2005 and 49.3% in 2001, the only other times less than half of registered voters turned out at [...]

    Posted: December 02, 2009, 12:18pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Both current U.S. senators were appointed

    Number of comments: 1

    One interesting wrinkle behind the political theater over whether Democrats will change the rules for filling U.S. Senate vacancies is that both incumbent senators, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, took office as gubernatorial appointees to fill a vacancy.

    Menendez was appointed in 2006 by freshly minted Gov. Jon Corzine to replace [...]

    Posted: December 02, 2009, 9:05am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 12.02.09

    intro

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno are in North Brunswick for a roundtable discussion with school superintendents from around the state. Then the pair will tour North Brunswick Township High School before meeting with reporters. Post-election campaign finance reports from this year's candidates for state Legislature, county and local' [...]
    Posted: December 02, 2009, 6:00am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Corzine’s end-of-campaign change

    The amount of his own money Jon Corzine put into his campaign in the last 7 days of the 2000 U.S. Senate election: $3,641,496.

    The amount of his own money Jon Corzine put into his campaign in the last 7 days of the 2005 governor's election: $3,846,142.19.

    The amount of his own [...]

    Posted: December 01, 2009, 1:32pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • State’s debt swells by $6.5 billion

    Number of comments: 1

    New Jersey's outstanding debt grew from $44.5 billion to more than $51 billion over the last fiscal year, primarily due to the way pension and health benefit obligations are accounted for, according to a Treasury Department annual report.

    The 2009 debt report has been submitted to the state Comission on Capital' [...]

    Posted: December 01, 2009, 12:03pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 12.01.09

    It's Tuesday, Dec. 1st, 2009, and here's an overview of what's going on in and around the state politics scene:

    Post-election campaign finance reports from this year's candidates for governor are released by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, possibly updating how much money Gov. Jon Corzine spent in his loss. Through [...]
    Posted: December 01, 2009, 6:23am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Changing Senate vacancy rules

    Number of comments: 5

    Assm. John McKeon's proposed legislation that would require a U.S. Senate vacancy to be filled with someone from the same political party would allow a governor to choose from any registered member of the party, not just from a list submitted by party leaders.

    The change, should it be approved during [...]

    Posted: November 30, 2009, 2:04pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • State overstated job losses pre-election

    When New Jersey's labor department announced the October jobs stats in mid-November, showing another decline in employment, it included the typical revision of the numbers from the month before.

    Ironically, and probably unhappily for Gov. Jon Corzine, that revision shows that Corzine's labor department overstated job losses in September by 2,100 [...]

    Posted: November 30, 2009, 1:02pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Assembly setup, 11.30.09

    Five Assembly committees meet today for a light schedule -- particularly by post-election, lame-duck standards. A full preview of what's on the docket is below the jump, but here's a summary:

    Nine of the 18 bills scheduled to be taken up today were proposed after the election, including eight that weren't' [...]
    Posted: November 30, 2009, 8:57am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.30.09

    It's Monday, Nov. 30th, 2009. Which, if you ask me, makes it far too early in the year for radio stations to be airing little transitional snippets between songs that wish listeners a happy and healthy new year. I heard one of those over the weekend. Please put that one away' [...]

    Posted: November 30, 2009, 6:33am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Odds are …

    Number of comments: 1

    Back in October, when the state announced revenues were $190 million short over the fiscal year's first three months, I ran the math on what that would mean over the course of a full year -- about $1 billion. And a spokesman for the administration criticized me.

    Now in November, the [...]

    Posted: November 27, 2009, 2:30pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Reporters Roundtable reaches into vault

    Number of comments: 1

    NJN's 'Reporters Roundtable' show, in which a panel of four political reporters review and analyze the news of the week gone by, debuted 20 years ago during the 1989 governor's race.

    Nowadays, the group of reporters changes every week. But at the beginning the panel was the same every week -- [...]

    Posted: November 27, 2009, 12:00pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.27.09

    It's Friday, Nov. 27th, 2009. Quiet day in state political circles ... except on the happy-birthday front.

    State offices aren't universally closed for the day after Thanksgiving, actually. Courts are closed, and most people have the day off. But some offices will have some staffing, most non-union or 'essential' employees. The CWA's [...]
    Posted: November 27, 2009, 10:28am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Enjoy your turkey (and popcorn and toast)

    Have a fantastic Thanksgiving -- enjoy some turkey, stuffing and a clip below from 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,' which you can enjoy in its entirety on ABC tonight at 8 p.m. (or in Youtube segments online -- parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.)

    [...]
    Posted: November 26, 2009, 8:00am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Johnny Sack, Al Leiter on Christie transition team

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie has been announcing the members of his various transition team committees this week; in due time, those names and some backgrounders on the members will appear in this space.

    Most of the people are known primarily to the political community. But today's appointment of the members of the [...]

    Posted: November 25, 2009, 12:34pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Senate wrapup, 11.23.09

    Number of comments: 1

    Monday's action in the state Senate:

    Thirty bills advanced -- 23 sent to the Senate floor, seven sent to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee for consideration because they could have an impact on state spending. Five bills that were on the committee agendas were held without a vote, including one -- [...]
    Posted: November 25, 2009, 10:42am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Assembly wrapup, 11.23.09

    Here's the boxscore from Monday's Assembly meetings:

    Twenty-seven bills advanced -- 18 to the Assembly floor, and nine were sent to another committee for further consideration. Thirteen of those Assembly bills were introduced Monday and voted upon before their text was even posted online (though two existed in their Senate version). Something [...]
    Posted: November 25, 2009, 9:21am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.25.09

    It's Wednesday, Nov. 25th -- Thanksgiving Eve, 2009.

    Quinnipiac University issues results of a poll asking New Jersey voters their opinions on same-sex marriage, which could come up for a vote before the legislative session expires Jan. 12th. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez visits the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside, [...]
    Posted: November 25, 2009, 6:26am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Ethics complaint against Stack dismissed

    Number of comments: 3

    The Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards just voted unanimously to dismiss an ethics complaint filed against Sen. Brian Stack, a Democratic senator and the mayor of Union City, in mid-2006 by conservative activist Steve Lonegan.

    Lonegan filed ethics complaints related to grants from the state budget against 34 lawmakers, and [...]

    Posted: November 24, 2009, 1:55pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Channeling Chris Christie

    Number of comments: 1

    While it remains to be seen how Democratic lawmakers and Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie ultimately work together, they're at least saying the same things about fiscal matters for the time being.

    Senate Majority Leader-designate Barbara Buono took it a step further Monday, when she talked about seeing the partisan flip in' [...]

    Posted: November 24, 2009, 12:02pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Bill aims to keep Lautenberg’s seat Democratic

    Number of comments: 4

    Assemblyman John McKeon, D-Essex, has proposed legislation that would effectively take away Gov. Chris Christie's ability to pick a new U.S. senator of his choosing, should, for instance, Sen. Frank Lautenberg not complete his term.

    Lautenberg will turn 86 four days after Christie's Jan. 19th inaugural, and that has raised concerns [...]

    Posted: November 24, 2009, 8:55am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.24.09

    It's Tuesday, Nov. 24th, 2009 -- probably the last busy day of the news week, with Thanksgiving just around the corner.

    The New Jersey Business & Industry Association releases the findings from its 2010 Business Outlook Survey. Glum, glum, glum. Health & Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard updates reporters via teleconference about [...]
    Posted: November 24, 2009, 5:43am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Bill extends Christie’s budget deadline three weeks

    Among the bills dropped into the hopper Monday, the first day back after a five-month recess, is one from Senate President Richard Codey that would give Gov.-elect Chris Christie an extra three weeks to propose the first state budget.

    State law says the budget is to be transmitted by the fourth [...]

    Posted: November 23, 2009, 5:50pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Challenge to school aid formula loses again

    Number of comments: 1

    A state appeals court today affirmed the dismissal of a class-action lawsuit filed three years ago against the state's school funding formula that sought to declare the state's school aid effort unconstitutional and order 25 school districts to let students withdraw from public schools and attend other schools, private [...]

    Posted: November 23, 2009, 12:31pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Corzine signs 24 laws, leaves one bill unsigned

    Nearly five months since the state Legislature last met, Gov. Jon Corzine Friday afternoon signed two dozen bills it sent to his desk way-back-when.  They're all listed below the jump. Among them is one establishing a pilot program requiring instruction in personal finance to high school seniors, a priority of' [...]

    Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:24am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Assembly setup, 11.23.09

    Seven Assembly committees are back in session today, the first time bills are being considered since June. A dozen of today's bills haven't yet been introduced but are scheduled for votes. Democrats will also meet behind closed doors to pick their speaker for the session that starts in January; the [...]

    Posted: November 23, 2009, 9:30am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Senate setup, 11.23.09

    The state Senate swings back into action today with the swearing-in of Sens. James Beach and Michael Doherty to complete unexpired terms; the vote for a Senate president for 2010 and 2011, most likely Sen. Steve Sweeney; six committee meetings; and the introduction of lame-duck session legislation.

    Here are some highlights [...]

    Posted: November 23, 2009, 8:50am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.23.09

    It's Monday, Nov. 23rd, 2009, and the Legislature's finally coming back to town.

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie, joined by Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno, conducts a media availability with Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell at the headquarters of AE Polysilicon in Morrisville, Pa., across the Delaware River from Trenton. Democrat Jim Beach and Republican Mike [...]
    Posted: November 23, 2009, 6:33am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.21.09

    Today is Saturday, Nov. 21st, 2009.

    Gov. Jon Corzine participates in the Department of Children & Families reception for National Adoption Month in Newark, then speaks at Julia Traphagen School's Blue Ribbon Celebration in Waldwick. The Delegate Assembly of the New Jersey School Boards Association conducts a program looking at what's in [...]
    Posted: November 21, 2009, 7:06am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Judge censured for intimate emails

    Number of comments: 1
    lawrence debello

    A state Superior Court judge now serving as a Family Court judge in Mercer County was censured this week by the Supreme Court for intimate emails he repeatedly sent a former law clerk, even after being ordered to stop, from his judiciary account.

    Judge Lawrence [...]

    Posted: November 20, 2009, 1:42pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The center of the room

    The second of Gov.-elect Chris Christie's recurring lines from his Thursday speech to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities were his repeated references to "the center of the room" -- part of his call for officials to work cooperatively, rather than from their political poles, to address issues.

    "The problems" [...]

    Posted: November 20, 2009, 11:07am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Transition team: Rich Bagger

    rich bagger

    The second co-chairman of Gov.-elect Chris Christie's budget and taxes task force is Richard H. Bagger, 49, who was in the state Legislature from 1992 through 2003, including a stint as chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and is now an executive at the pharmaceutical [...]

    Posted: November 20, 2009, 9:43am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.20.09

    Here's what's up in state government and politics for Friday, Nov. 20th, 2009.

    The Burlington and Mercer vicinages of the state judiciary hold their annual Adoption Day programs. It will include 17 adoption proceedings in Mount Holly and six in Trenton. National Adoption Day is celebrated annually throughout the United States [...]
    Posted: November 20, 2009, 6:40am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Ending the got-mine mentality

    Here's Gov.-elect Chris Christie's extended riff from his Thursday speech to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities convention about changing the mindset in Trenton, one of the many things he'll need to alter as he hopes to balance a severely deficit-ridden budget through spending cuts.

    "The entire country is facing'" [...]

    Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:56pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Transition team: Bob Grady

    Number of comments: 2

    Among Gov.-elect Chris Christie's first moves in his transition was creating a Transition Task Force on Budget and Taxes, which will recommend ways to deal with the current year deficit, the projected gap for FY2011 and the state's long-term debt and looming costs for benefits for public retirees.

    [...]

    Posted: November 19, 2009, 10:41am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Going softer on Corzine

    After pummeling him for months and years on end, state Republicans -- now hoping to maximize cooperation from his outgoing administration, no doubt -- have broken out the catch-more-flies-with-sugar approach in their commentary about Gov. Jon Corzine.

    For sure, they're not calling a recount. But there have been multiple instances from' [...]

    Posted: November 19, 2009, 9:34am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.19.09

    It's Thursday, Nov. 19th, 2009.

    The New Jersey State League of Municipalities continues its annual conference in Atlantic City. Gov. Jon Corzine gives the keynote speech, and Gov.-elect Chris Christie will also address the crowd. Also at the League of Municipalities convention this afternoon, conference attendees can meet with officials from Lt. [...]
    Posted: November 19, 2009, 6:45am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie transition website launched

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie's transition office has established its website.

    It has the standard stuff, such as a section with press releases and bios of both Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno -- as well as places to submit resumes in search of a job in the administration or[...]

    Posted: November 18, 2009, 4:02pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie in Texas today for RGA

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie is traveling to Texas today for the Republican Governors Association's annual conference, being held near Austin.

    He'll attend a conference session this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. our time, a news conference with Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (the RGA chairman) at 7 p.m. and' [...]

    Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:30pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Campaign database expands to municipal donations

    The state Election Law Enforcement Commission this week added campaign donations received by municipal candidates to its searchable database.

    Previously, copies of reports filed by municipal candidates have been posted online, but not in a sortable format. Currently more than $5.5 million donated to 377 different primary fundraising committees [...]

    Posted: November 18, 2009, 11:31am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Pension-anigans

    On consecutive days last week, Attorney General Anne Milgram announced settlements of civil lawsuits brought on behalf of the state's pension funds.

    Last Thursday, the state announced that former Tyco International Ltd. board member Frank Walsh Jr. agreed to pay the state $5.6 million to settle a lawsuit alleging securities [...]

    Posted: November 18, 2009, 10:49am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Echoes of Campaign ‘09: Mammograms

    Remember all the hullabaloo from the recent governor's race, driven by Gov. Jon Corzine's campaign, about the future of mammography coverage should Chris Christie's health insurance proposals ever be adopted? Corzine said the state's mandated coverage would be in jeopardy for women under 50, a claim Christie vehemently denied.

    How would [...]

    Posted: November 18, 2009, 9:23am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.18.09

    Today is Wednesday, Nov. 18th, 2009, and here's a review of the docket for New Jersey government and politics.

    The New Jersey State League of Municipalities continues its annual conference in Atlantic City. Sessions include a discussion among four former governors (Brendan Byrne, Jim Florio, Don DiFrancesco and John Bennett --' [...]
    Posted: November 18, 2009, 5:22am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Echoes of Campaign ‘09: Robocalls

    Number of comments: 1

    The governor's race concluded two weeks ago, but the drip-drip-drip of developments regarding some of its key storylines continue this week.

    Attorneys for independent Chris Daggett's campaign asked the state Election Law Enforcement Commission to investigate "robocalls" apparently paid for by the Democratic State Committee to registered Republicans in at least [...]

    Posted: November 17, 2009, 4:22pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Health care ads target Adler, Lance, LoBiondo

    Number of comments: 2

    The Democratic National Committee, as it said it would, announced plans Monday to launch radio ads criticizing 32 House Republicans from districts that backed President Barack Obama last year who voted against the health-care reform bill two weekends ago.

    Among them are Rep. Leonard Lance of Hunterdon County (hear the ad [...]

    Posted: November 17, 2009, 1:19pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Senate Judiciary agenda: Spicuzzo, Frank Herbert, Oliver Twist

    The initial Senate committee agendas for Monday's return to action in the Legislature were issued this morning.

    Among the first committees to meet will be the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Currently, the docket includes the following:

    Joseph Spicuzzo, the Middlesex County sheriff and leader of that county's Democratic Party organization, to replace former [...]
    Posted: November 17, 2009, 11:29am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Turning now to sports …

    While this has got little to do with politics, although higher education spending is a legitimate issue in state government, below are a few if-you're-distracted links to coverage USA Today provided last week about college football coaches' salaries.

    Here's the USA Today story, and here is its database.

    Rutgers University' [...]

    Posted: November 17, 2009, 9:09am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.17.09

    It's Tuesday, Nov. 17th, 2009.

    The New Jersey State League of Municipalities opens its annual conference in Atlantic City. The New Jersey Farm Bureau wraps up its 91st annual meeting at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village. Former gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester, president of Integrity Health, and Toms River Regional Schools superintendent Michael' [...]
    Posted: November 17, 2009, 6:48am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie’s office: FY11 deficit worse than $8 billion

    Number of comments: 1

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie and his top budget aides met with three top officials in Gov. Jon Corzine's Treasury Department, including state Treasurer David Rousseau, for three hours today before the news conference.

    Christie budget adviser Robert Grady -- who now works at a private equity firm but has worked in government' [...]

    Posted: November 16, 2009, 2:28pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.16.09

    It's Monday, Nov. 16th, 2009 -- which, between holidays for Election Day, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the only uninterrupted week of work in the state capitol in the month of November. Except for the part of the week where establishment Trenton decamps to Atlantic City for [...]

    Posted: November 16, 2009, 6:46am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • ABC was the election’s winner

    Though the election is over, the polls just keep on coming.

    Rasmussen Reports today issued results of a Nov. 9th survey of 500 likely New Jersey voters, in which 60% say Gov.-elect Chris Christie's support in last week's election came from people voting against Gov. Jon Corzine (aka, Anybody But Corzine), while [...]

    Posted: November 13, 2009, 12:54pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Legislature finally schedules its return

    Number of comments: 1

    The state Senate and Assembly, which have been in recess since June, have finally released their meeting schedules for the lame-duck post-election session -- which seems to be getting a much later start this year than usual, as the majority Democrats regain their bearings after their loss of the governor's' [...]

    Posted: November 13, 2009, 10:04am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.13.09

    It's Friday, Nov. 13th, 2009, and here's a quick glance at the goings-on in state government:

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno hold a media availability in the Clubhouse Lobby at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford this afternoon. The Commission on Higher Education meets. Rutgers University administrators, representatives of the [...]
    Posted: November 13, 2009, 6:53am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Pew on Jersey’s finances: Phew!

    Here's a link to the Pew Center on the States report that tags New Jersey as having one of the 10 worst fiscal situations among the states.

    Here's some of what it says about the Garden State:

    "New Jersey is playing catch-up after years of fiscal mismanagement and a daunting structural" [...]

    Posted: November 12, 2009, 1:13pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Another ‘Apprentice’ contestant shifts to politics

    pinkett

    Remember all the talk this past summer about Gov. Jon Corzine possibly plucking entrepeneur and former 'The Apprentice" winner Randal Pinkett as his lieutenant governor running-mate? Didn't happen, of course. Pinkett wound up as chairman of the Democrats' "Yes We Can 2.0" effort to lure young'" [...]

    Posted: November 12, 2009, 9:51am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.12.09

    It's Thursday, Nov. 12th, 2009.

    Gov. Jon Corzine and Gov.-elect Chris Christie attend the Archdiocese of Newark Archbishop’s Mass for Law Enforcement Personnel at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno also attends. Corzine and Christie also hold a private meeting to discuss, among other topics, the [...]
    Posted: November 12, 2009, 5:08am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Daggett’s next step

    Number of comments: 1

    In an email to supporters sent over the weekend, independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett, who finished a distant third last week,  indicated that he's not planning to exit the political stage. Daggett received more than 136,000 votes, unofficially, surpassing the 114,172 that Libertarian candidate Murray Sabrin attracted in 1997. His 5.8 percent of [...]

    Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:10am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.11.09

    Today is Wednesday, Nov. 11th, 2009. It is Veterans Day, and state offices are closed to mark the holiday.

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno are in Holmdel for the 11 a.m. Veterans Day ceremony at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, on the grounds of the PNC Bank' [...]

    Posted: November 11, 2009, 6:36am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Threading the partisan needle

    The Democratic National Committee and Organizing for America, the online continuation of Barack Obama's online campaign of 2008, are attempting to turn votes against the health care bill cast by Republican Reps. Leonard Lance and Frank LoBiondo into political liabilities -- all the while, of course, skating past the fact [...]

    Posted: November 10, 2009, 12:51pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Courts turn Black Friday into Furlough Friday

    Number of comments: 1

    The state's judiciary will be in recess the day after Thanksgiving, and Chief Justice Stuart Rabner has ordered -- in response to the ongoing fiscal crisis facing the state -- all non-judge employees to be furloughed for the day.

    [...]
    Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:55am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Over 24,000 voters skipped gov’s race

    More than 24,000 people who cast ballots last Tuesday skipped over the governor's race -- meaning that for every 100 actual voters, one didn't cast a vote for the state's chief executive race that was at the top of the ticket.

    Put another way, more people skipped the race than voted' [...]

    Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:30am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.10.09

    It's Tuesday, Nov. 10th, 2009, and here's a bit of what's happening in state government.

    The state Supreme Court hears arguments, including an Open Public Records Act case involving the Asbury Park Press. The New Jersey Transit board of directors meets. The New Jersey Conference of Mayors opens its new West State Street [...]
    Posted: November 10, 2009, 6:50am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • ‘No vote’ tops ‘no’ on open space

    Number of comments: 2

    While 'yes' votes carried the day on the open-space ballot question, the 'no' votes didn't actually finish second.

    Unofficial election results indicate that 'no' actually finished behind the 'undercount' -- the thousands of people who go into a polling place and skip a particular office or question on the ballot. It's [...]

    Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:07am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Open space question lost in six counties

    Lost in the attention paid to the governor's race -- as it was for most of the campaign season -- was the narrow victory of state Public Question No. 1, the $400 million proposal to borrow money to preserve open space, farms, flood prone properties and historic sites.

    The final results [...]

    Posted: November 09, 2009, 9:26am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.09.09

    It's Monday, Nov. 9th, 2009, and here's a quick glance at the day in state politics and government.

    A group called Transportation for America issues a report that says pedestrians account for 22 percent of traffic fatalities in New Jersey and that the state should spend more of its available federal [...]
    Posted: November 09, 2009, 7:05am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • After 16 years, N.J. loses EPA regional post

    judith enck

    The regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency that covers New Jersey will be run by someone from another state for the first time since 1993.

    Judith Enck, New York's deputy secretary for the environment, was announced yesterday as the pick by EPA Administrator Lisa [...]

    Posted: November 06, 2009, 12:16pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Women lawmakers declining by four

    The Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University's Eagleton Institute says Tuesday's election results will, as expected, drop New Jersey from its brief visit to the top 10 states for women in its legislature. The state did elect a woman, Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno, as its [...]

    Posted: November 06, 2009, 11:38am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie visits the Shore today

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie is along the Shore today for two public appearances, beginning at the top of the hour in Toms River.

    Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno hold a roundtable discussion with Ocean County mayors at 11 a.m. at the Toms River Municipal Building. They'll later travel north to North' [...]

    Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:36am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • State’s October revenue below target

    Gov. Jon Corzine acknowledged Thursday that "October revenue collections are coming in below targets and may continue to erode in the months ahead" as he directed his Cabinet officers to identify another $200 million in budget savings by Dec. 1.

    In mid-October, the Treasury Department had announced $205 million [...]

    Posted: November 06, 2009, 8:57am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.06.09

    Today is Friday, Nov. 6th, 2009, and here's a glance at what's going on in a still-slow state politics scene:

    Princeton Public Affairs Group hosts a post-election luncheon at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, to discuss the 2009 election and the upcoming legislative session. Participants include Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts [...]
    Posted: November 06, 2009, 5:45am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie’s brother, Palatucci to co-chair inaugural

    Another day of relatively light news regarding Gov.-elect Chris Christie's transition into office.

    My Home News Tribune colleague, Sergio Bichao, who covered Christie's walk through downtown Woodbridge today, said the Republican announced that his brother, Todd, and advisor William J. Palatucci will co-chair the inaugural committee to "organize different events surrounding" [...]

    Posted: November 05, 2009, 4:41pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Lonegan’s school construction lawsuit dismissed

    Number of comments: 2
    steve lonegan

    A state appeals court today affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by conservative activist Steve Lonegan against the state's plan to borrow $3.9 billion for school construction.

    Lonegan said the appropriation-based contract bonds violate the state constitution because voters didn't approve them. The courts' [...]

    Posted: November 05, 2009, 3:02pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Gay marriage campaign underway

    Number of comments: 1

    The gubernatorial race was barely over and the votes not even counted when television ads in support of gay marriage started airing on News 12. The issue may come up for a vote in the lame-duck session that ends while Gov. Jon Corzine -- who says he would sign such [...]

    Posted: November 05, 2009, 12:54pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Can’t worry about other 49 states

    With some Republicans already pointing to Gov.-elect Chris Christie as an roadmap for the national Republican Party's road to a resurgence, Christie Wednesday said at his event in Newark that he has "no idea, no idea" if there are lessons to be drawn from the race for the party at' [...]

    Posted: November 05, 2009, 12:01pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie’s tour of Democratic towns continues

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie, whose first official event since claiming victory was in Newark, today tours Main Street in Woodbridge with Democratic Mayor John McCormac, who was state treasurer under Gov. Jim McGreevey, who used to be that township's mayor.

    Christie recorded surprising wins in Middlesex County and in Woodbridge, some of' [...]

    Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:15am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie: Optimist, yes; wallflower, no

    Number of comments: 1

    Among the points of interest in Trenton with the pending inaugural of Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie is how he'll deal with a Legislature controlled by Democrats -- 23-17 in the Senate, 47-33 in the Assembly (a one-seat GOP gain Tuesday). Here's what Christie had to say about the subject, which' [...]

    Posted: November 05, 2009, 9:10am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.05.09

    It's Thursday, Nov. 5th, 2009. Here's a quick glance at today's actvity in state government and politics, which is still recovering from other hours-long delirium after Tuesday's victory or being shellshocked by Tuesday's loss.

    Gov.-elect. Chris Christie told reporters Tuesday that he would be making more announcements today about his transition office [...]
    Posted: November 05, 2009, 5:44am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Samson to chair Christie’s transition

    david samson

    David Samson, who was attorney general under Democratic Gov. James E. McGreevey, will chair Gov.-elect Chris Christie's transition committee. Samson, 70, is registered as an unaffiliated voter and lives in Caldwell. He's now back at the law firm he founded in 1972, Wolff & [...]

    Posted: November 04, 2009, 2:59pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • “Show me the money”

    Number of comments: 1

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie is making his first appearance since claiming victory at this hour -- an assembly at the Robert Treat Academy charter school in Newark, where school founder (and Democratic Party power broker) Stephen Adubato just led the students in a shouted-out economics lesson to "Governor Chris," as they're' [...]

    Posted: November 04, 2009, 1:53pm EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Newark charter school Christie’s first stop

    Gov.-elect Chris Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno will visit the Robert Treat Academy charter school in Newark this afternoon, his first public appearance since winning election.

    [...]
    Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:30am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • Christie’s winning formula

    Number of comments: 1

    Chris Christie surged in South Jersey. He was the first Republican candidate for governor since 1997 to win in Atlantic and Salem counties; since 1993 in Burlington County; and since 1985 in Gloucester County. He also won Middlesex County, which hadn't voted for a Republican for governor since 1985.

    Christie's performance [...]

    Posted: November 04, 2009, 10:00am EST
    by Michael Symons
  • The Daily Quickie, 11.04.09

    Today is Wednesday, Nov. 4th, 2009. There are 207 weeks and six days until the next gubernatorial election.

    The Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University hosts its traditional post-election "morning after" program to analyze the election results. Panelists include Kathleen Donovan, a Republican who currently serves as Bergen County clerk, [...]
    Posted: November 04, 2009, 5:39am EST
    by Michael Symons

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