State House Bureau Blog

Toll Discounts for Some?

2011-10-27T11:42:00.002-04:00

ATTENTION! THE STATE HOUSE BUREAU BLOG IS MOVING. If you have linked directly to this page, please note you should now link directly to the website StatehouseSteps.com.

This is the last blog that will be posted to this Blogger.com page.

State Senator Mike Doherty wants to re-ignite a program that would provide toll discounts for local residents who are impacted by the recently enacted toll hikes on Delaware River bridges.

“A 33% toll hike was not the right course of action to impose on working families and seniors during hard economic times,” says Doherty. “The Bridge Commission historically had a program that allowed local residents who relied on the bridges to receive discounts. I am calling on the Commission to issue coupons or tokens, as they did in the past, to offset the recent increase."

Doherty views see these toll increases as counter-productive to the state’s economic recovery, and vows to remain committed to work to derail them. His discount idea would not apply to commuters also faced with huge tolls who are heading into New York via Hudson River crossings.

“I am quite disturbed by these hikes that were decided behind closed doors so that the very people, who would be affected, are unaware of the planned hikes,” explains Doherty. “They’re apparently not interested in hearing or considering the public’s opinion.”

Suspicious White Powder in Found in NJ Lt. Gov's Office

2011-10-24T14:40:00.002-04:00

A haz-mat team was sent to New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadango's State House office in Trenton today after white powder was found on a staffer's desk. The substance appeared mixed in with mail that had been delivered.

A short investigation led a State Police spokesman to say the powder was "confirmed to be baking soda."

New Jersey has good reason to take situations like this very seriously. Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks letters containing anthrax were sent to lawmakers and news groups and were routed through a Hamilton, N.J. post office. Anthrax-laced letters with a Trenton, N.J. postmark took the lives of five people.

Gov. Christie Plans First Official International trip

2011-10-24T11:59:00.003-04:00

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie met today at the State House in Trenton with Dr. Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. Both Christie and Oren grew up in New Jersey. The Governor says he and his wife have decided that their first foreign travel as Governor and First Lady will be to Israel next year most likely in April.

Christie says, "There's a great, great, great long-term connection between New Jersey and Israel and I intend to make that as strong as I can."

Oren said his high school football team was a rival of Christie's school, but Christie's team always won. The Ambassador highlighted the similarities between New Jersey and Israel by explaining that they are virtually the same size and population, but he pointed out that New Jersey doesn't have tens of thousands of rockets on its borders and hostile nations all around. He expressed thanks for New Jersey's long standing support of Israel.

"Occupy Wall Street" Protest still going in Trenton, NJ

2011-10-11T17:35:00.003-04:00

Last week only about 3 dozen protesters brought the "Occupy Wall Street" movement to Trenton across the street from the State House. That's a pretty weak turnout by anyone's definition, but we can't say that this is not a passionate group.

Roughly a dozen protesters are still camping out and waving signs. Trenton is not exactly known for being the safest city in New Jersey after the sun goes down, but that's not deterring those who are still sticking around.

They don't seem to be getting much of a return for their investment of time. The press is now all but ignoring the protesters and even the cars that pass by, for the most part have stopped honking their horns in support.

One security guard asked me today what the remaining protesters are doing to stay clean. She said maybe it's time for them to "Occupy Showers."

Whether you agree with the 99%-ers or not, you have to admire the stick-to-itiveness of those still raging against the machine.

NJ Governor Christie’s History of “No!”

2011-10-03T14:06:00.001-04:00

The hot topic nationally and in the State of New Jersey recently has been the possibility of Garden State Governor Chris Christie throwing his hat into the Republican primary ring for President.

For quite a while Christie has been consistently saying he will not run in 2012. He’s hasn’t officially ruled out a run in 2016. Sources say Christie is being pressured by GOP bigwigs to reconsider a run next year and that he is actually thinking about it.

Christie’s history of denying he’s interested in occupying the White House has been widely documented, but to give you an idea just how long he’s been hounded by the questions give a listen to the sound below. It is from October 10, 2010, exactly one week shy of one full year ago. He also shoots down the notion of running for Vice President.

Click here for the Governor's "no."

Are Criminals this Stupid Only in New Jersey?

2011-09-22T17:03:00.002-04:00

Police in Bridgewater, New Jersey say they have arrested a 24-year-old man who is being charged with selling illegal drugs to an undercover cop three times in a little over a month.

Shaun Scannell was arrested last week for allegedly selling pot and magic mushrooms to an undercover officer. Police claim that on August 11th, Scannell was busted for selling marijuana and mushrooms to an undercover officer and before that on August 4th, he was arrested for selling just pot to (you guessed it) an undercover officer.

If he's guilty, this is probably not just a case of a criminal with bad luck. He's lucky he's not charged with felony stupidity.

Scannell didn't travel the state selling drugs and just happen to get snagged by three undercover officers. He was arrested by the same undercover officer all three times and each time he was selling that same cop drugs just 1,000 feet from the same high school!

A judge released Scannell on his own recognizance.

IS NJ GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE A THUG AND A GANGSTAH?

2011-09-13T20:04:00.001-04:00

Some opponents like the leaders of the teachers union or state workers might say New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is a thug and a gangster because he ushered in public employee pension and health benefit reforms. They would not be saying it in a complimentary way.

There are surely Christie supporters who would also call the Governor a thug or a gangster, but they would be saying it in the good way, the way rappers say it about themselves or others they like. Christie’s in-your-face style is pure Jersey and a lot of people think that’s a good thing.

Whether you’re a friend or foe of New Jersey’s Governor, you can head to the Jersey shore and stop at some boardwalk shops where you might find the shirt pictured here. Perfect for the holidays!

FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE

2011-09-01T21:59:00.002-04:00

FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE

I am one of thousands of New Jersey JCP&L customers still without power as a result of Hurricane Irene. My house draws water from a well, so no electricity means no water. Still, my wife and I are among the more fortunate because we have the resources to stay in hotels until the power is restored. I say “hotels” (plural) because we check into and out of a hotel every day. We do this because we can’t get a human being on the phone from JCP&L to give an estimated as to when we can reasonably expect to have power again. We check out hoping that power will be back that day. We’ve had to stay in different hotels because on two occasions, the hotel we checked out of in the morning was fully booked later that day. We would have stayed checked in if somebody from JCP&L would actually give us personal and not computer automated information.

I sent JCP&L an email today asking for a projected power restoration date and got the following automated computer email response……….

“FirstEnergy has received your inquiry. We will respond to your message within 48 hours. If you need to contact us about this request, please reply to this e-mail, including the Request Number in the Subject line or call your FirstEnergy Contact Center. Thank you for visiting FirstEnergy's Web site.”

I then emailed Lee Solomon, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. I wasn’t asking for any preferential treatment. I simply wanted him to add my situation to his file of displaced and dissatisfied JCP&L customers. He very quickly responded to me and many others who also contacted him. That email read as follows……….

“I received your e-mails regarding JCP&L’s performance, or lack thereof, during the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and at other times. I have reviewed all of them, and I am appalled by what you describe.

I am sorry that some of you inferred from the article in the Star Ledger today, that I was “apologizing” for JCP&L. As a former prosecutor, I am always reluctant to reach conclusions before the evidence is gathered, and reviewed. As a former judge, and as a Commissioner in a quasi-judicial position, I may not make a determination until the evidence is in, and a record established. Nevertheless, I have expressed your feelings, and mine to Tony Alexander, President and CEO, First Energy Corp. (the parent company), and Don Lynch, President, JCP&L.

While my main interest, at this time, is seeing to it that electric service is restored to all residents as quickly as possible, we will investigate and review thoroughly the conduct of all utilities, and their parent companies during this crisis. This process will be noticed, and public. If adequate preparations were not made in advance of the storm, or adequate resources not dedicated to deal with its aftermath, we will determine that and hold the utility(ies) accountable.”

I then received another email from JCP&L. This one finally provided a possible restoration date. It read as follows……..

“Thank you for utilizing FirstEnergy's Customer Care website for your account needs. Your electric outage has been reported. Unfortunately, due to the severity of storm damage throughout our service territory, we are unable to provide specific restoration times by address. We estimate that the majority of our customers will be restored by Friday night, September 2nd, with the remainder throughout the weekend.”

I get it that Hurricane Irene was a devastating natural disaster, but I believe that during and after such emergencies is when actual JCP&L human beings should be available to speak to the human beings who desperately need information. In my experience, the opposite has been true in this case.

Interesting Times in New Jersey and a Wild Ride

2011-08-30T13:25:00.002-04:00

Late Saturday night through early Sunday afternoon Hurricane Irene hammered New Jersey's coast and flooding inland has left hunmdreds of thousands still without power. Covering Governor Chris Christie before, during and now after the storm has been non-stop and actually exciting.

After sleeping for two hours Saturday night I arrived at the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center a little before 4am on Sunday morning. 9 hours later I found myself in a Blackhawk helicopter traveling with the Governor to tour flood impacted shore areas in Cape May, Atlantic, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. I was providing radio pool coverage. Aside from the fact that another reporter threw up on me, it was an awesome ride.

Yesterday, I was in the Governor's motorcade to tour the flood ravaged town of Manville. I was providing pool coverage again. If you ever get the chance to travel in a Governor's motorcade, I highly recommend that you do it. Traffic doesn't exist because everybody has to get out of your way. It's a pretty sweet deal.

Talking to those who have had their homes destroyed is difficult. Meeting and speaking with people who are living in shelters is not fun either. It's my job to file stories on the people and their perdicaments, but I'm also a human being who can and does sympathize.

I can also empathize with those who are still without power or water. My house has been dark and dry since 2am Sunday. As of this writing I still have no power or water, but what I do have is some cool stories to tell and a real, first-hand understanding of how much many people are suffering as a reult of Irene's wrath.

TOURING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER SITE

2011-08-24T15:33:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I had the remarkable opportunity to tour the entire World Trade Center site including the underground 9/11 Memorial Museum which is set to open September 11, 2012. In the week leading up to the 10th anniversary I will be sharing a new story on the site every day, taking you to the outside memorial, the underground museum, up to the top of the building and more. Video of the tour will also be posted on this website on or about 9/11/11 and it is truly amazing, not because I had anything to do with it, but because getting an inside look at how the World Trade Center site appears today is important. If you watch the video closely you will also notice that I ran into film director Spike Lee at one point during the tour. I'm told I missed seeing Robert De Niro by just a few hours.

In less than three weeks the eyes of the world will be on the 9/11 Memorial ceremonies at the World Trade Center site. The new 1 World Trade Center currently soars 80 stories into the sky in lower Manhattan. When work is completed in late 2013, the structure will stand 105 stories high and boast 2.5 million square feet of prime commercial real estate. 1.6 million square feet have already been purchased. Powerhouse publishing firm Conde Nast has already taken 1 million square feet.

Over 3,000 workers are going around the clock and the building is rising at the rate of one floor per week. On my tour of the World Trade Center site Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni told me, "The key is to set goals and then meet them." He says the goals being set are almost always met far in advance of their target dates.

On this coming Sunday, September 11, family members of those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks have been invited to a ceremony at the outdoor memorial park beneath 1 World Trade Center. Those expected to be on hand include: President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New Governor Andrew Cuomo, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and former New Jersey Governor Don DiFrancesco.

Baroni says the 1 World Trade Center project is unlike any other. He explained, "We understand the challenge of building 1 World Trade Center is met with the fact that the original Twin Towers were attacked by terrorists not once, but twice, first in 1993 and then again in 2001. So we're building a building that we know will be a target for bad people across the world."

"There's no specific threat, but we just know given history that this is something that is certainly going to rise to the level of iconic places in New York," said Baroni as we looked down from a platform on the 71st floor. "We've built this building to be the strongest office building ever built both in outer steel and concrete shell and in inner concrete core."

A typical concrete sidewalk in America has the strength of 2,000 pounds per square inch. At 1 World Trade, the cement is 14,000 pounds per square inch. Each foot of steel on the outside of the building is 3,000 pounds a foot.

Finding a Positive in America's Credit Rating Downgrade

2011-08-10T13:40:00.002-04:00

Last Week, Standard and Poors downgraded the United States' debt rating. For the first time in history the United States credit rating has been downgraded from AAA to AA+. The announcement sent Wall Street into a tizzy particularly because it came on the heels of the debt ceiling debate in Washington that brought the country to the brink of its first-ever default.

The downgrade has to be 100% bad news right? Wrong, according to Dr. James Hughes, the dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning anbd Public Policy at Rutgers Univeristy in New Jersey.

Today, Hughes passed along something he'd just heard from another economist who said, "Let's have another downgrade. It just created a tremendous increase in value for U.S bonds because of the uncertainty that's been created. The paradox is; the whole world wants U.S. Treasury bonds now. It's a safe haven and part of the reason is the downgrade."

NJ Governor Christie bill signing.........take two

2011-08-02T16:33:00.004-04:00

Last Thursday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was headed to Doyle Farm in Hillsborough for a 10:30am press conference. He was going to sign a land preservation bill. He started having trouble breathing on the way. He was hospitalized for hours. Christie says he had an asthma attack.

Tomorrow, the Governor is planning to go to the same farm at the same time for the same reason. I sincerely hope he doesn't suffer another attack because they can be frightening, but if he does it might be a good idea to pick a different farm the next time.

POSSIBLE PROOF THAT NEW JERSEYANS AREN'T RUDE

2011-08-01T15:54:00.002-04:00

Residents of the great Garden State often get a bad rap. Not just for the TV shows featuring mobsters, housewifes and people from New York passing themselves off as Jeseyans living down the shore.

When I travel inside the country or abroad and meet people they are usually very nice. When they find out I'm from New Jersey they are often surprised because I'm actually polite. Most people from New Jersey are, by the way. Now comes more prooof.

A bank in Northeast Jersey was robbed this morning. After taking the money from the teller, the thief said, "Thank you." Now that's polite.

Admittedly, the act of robbing a bank isn't exactly courteous, but taking the time to say, "thank you," was polite and a nice touch.

There is one caveat......The FBI and local police haven't caught the suspect yet. When and if they do, it might turn out he's from New York. I'd bet the farm he's not from Philadelphia though.

Michael Aron Returns

2011-07-26T11:48:00.002-04:00

Michael Aron has been named vice president of News and Public Affairs at the Foundation for New Jersey Public Braodcasting. Best known as the veteran State House Correspondent with the now-defunct NJN, Michael is known as the "Dean of the State House Press Corps."

On the Record and Reporters Roundtable will also be returning on the new NJTV with Michael as host. Times and dates to be determined.

Welcome back Mr. Aron.

ONE SIMPLE QUESTION ONE QUICK ANSWER

2011-07-21T16:02:00.002-04:00

I'd like everyone who reads this blog to answer one question for me. Don't think about it. Just type in your answer as quickly as possible. Think of it as a word association-style exercize. You know what word association is. You've seen it hundreds of times on TV and in movies or if you're struggling with personal issues maybe you'vc done it before for real in a psychiatrist's office. Instead of giving one word and asking for your first thougt, I will ask one question.

What is the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about New Jersey?

If you listen to NJ 101.5 FM on Monday (7/25) you'll know why I asked the question. You can also listen online at nj1015.com.

I hope you participate and if you do, thanks very much.

NJ GOVERNOR CHRISTIE.......HE'S BAAAAACK

2011-07-18T16:24:00.003-04:00

New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie has been absent from the State House in Trenton for two weeks. Most of that time was spent vacationing with his wife and four kids. While Christie was gone, Democrats in the State Senate tried unsuccessfully to override 28 of the Governor's State Budget cuts. Tomorrow, Assembly Democrats have planned a budget committee hearing to examine the impact of Christie's cuts.

Today, Christie held a press conference to announce his plans to restore $139 million in state aid to distressed cities. He was asked about the Democrats' activities while he was gone and he answered in typical Christie-style.

"I understand. It's an election year and they (Democrats) need something to talk about," said Christie. "They can't go out and say, 'Vote for Democrats because the Governor's kept the budget under $30 billion for two years in a row, not raised taxes on anyone in New Jersey, increased edcuation aid to an all-time high, increased aid to hospitals. Vote for democrats.' They gotta have something to say so, that's the soup de jour."

Never one to mince words, Christie wrapped up his comments on the topic by saying, "Part of the job of being the adult supervision in the building is to remain calm when others lose their head and we remain calm."

YEP....THIS HAPPENED IN NEW JERSEY

2011-07-05T14:56:00.002-04:00

Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican used his line-item veto power to slash funding out of a Democrat-sponsored State Budget. Among the program cuts are those that provide funding for medically fragile kids, AIDS patients, the blind and disabled, Medicaid prescriptions, distressed cities and more.

Democratic State Senate President Steve Sweeney was and is livid. Over this past weekend he was quoted as calling Christie "a rotten bastard" and then "a rotten prick."

After having a day to reflect, Sweeney summoned the State House press corps to his office, but he definitely did not say he was sorry.

"Possibly, maybe I shouldn't have used the strong language, but I don't apologize for it," said Sweeney. "Could I have gone over the top? Probably I did, but I don't apologize for it."

Sweeney says Christie called him over the weekend, but he didn't answer the phone or return the call. He says right now is not the time for he and Christie to have a conversation. The Governor is currently vacationing with his family in Idaho.

Christie's communication director did release a statement saying Sweeney's comments were disrespectful to the office, but the Governor will continue to work with the Senate President.

ASK THE GOV. TONIGHT

2011-06-28T13:14:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow, the New Jersey State Senate and General assembly are scheduled to vote on a Democrat-sponsored $30.6 billion State Budget. Tonight Governor Chris Christie will be at NJ 101.5 FM's Ewing studios to take your questions live.

1-800-283-1015 is the call-in number.

Expected topics include, the budget, the public worker pension and health benefits reform bill Christie is signing today, a Democrat-sponsored millionaires' tax increase, New York's new law allowing same-sex couples to marry and what's next for New Jersey.

The show airs live from 7pm-8pm EST.

SWEENEY: NO VOTE ON GAY MARRIAGE MY BIGGEST MISTAKE

2011-06-20T21:19:00.000-04:00

While making his case yesterday for his public employee pension and health benefits reform bill, New Jersey Senate President called not voting “yes” on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage the biggest mistake of his political career. He abstained from voting at all.

Click here to hear in his own words.

LANDMARK DAY IN NEW JERSEY TOMORROW

2011-06-15T19:17:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow morning at 9am, public employees and their union leaders are scheduled to hold a massive rally in front of the State House in Trenton, New Jersey. They are protesting a public worker pension and health benefits reform bill that they claim would strip them of the right to collectively bargain. Sound familiar? Some estimate the crowd could swell to 30,000 or more.

At 10am, the State Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is expected to take lengthy testimony on the bill and by all accounts approve it sending it to the full Upper House for a vote at a to-be-determined date. The Assembly Budget Committee is scheduled to consider its version of the legislation Monday.

Tempers are flaring. Tensions are running high and the rhetoric has been ratcheted up to the extreme. New Jersey isn't Wisconsin, but we're starting to get a feel what it was like recently in the Badger State.

NJ GOVERNOR CHRISTIE ON WEINER-GATE?

2011-06-09T13:29:00.001-04:00

In a wide ranging press conference in his outer office in the State House in Trenton, New Jersey this week New York reporters tried in vain to get Governor Chris Christie to weigh in on the “Weiner-gate” story.

Embattled New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, 46, has admitted sending explicit photos and messages via the Internet to about a half-dozen women over the past three years. He vowed at a news conference on Monday to remain in office, and one lawmaker who spoke to him on Wednesday said Weiner indicated he still hopes to ride out the furor and remain in Congress.

Click here to hear Christie deflect the question several different times as it was asked several different ways.

BIG MEETING CONFIRMED BY A PACK OF 7-YEAR-OLDS

2011-06-01T11:59:00.002-04:00

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican is meeting today with State Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, both Democrats to try and hammer out an agreement on public worker pension and health benefits reform.

A rumor circulated this morning that such a meeting might take place in Christie's office, but nobody could or would confirm it. I headed downstairs with Associated Press reporter Angela Delli Santi to stakeout the Governor's office. We had no clue if we were wasting our time until a group of 7-year-olds on a school trip tour of the State House tried to get in to see Christie's outer office. They came right back out and told us they had to leave because the Governor had a very important meeting with two lawmakers. Thanks kids.

Christie Vs. Obama?

2011-05-24T17:19:00.001-04:00

Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie addressed the State House press corps about a landmark Supreme Court decision that will force the state to spend an additional $500 million on school aid for New Jersey’s 31 poorest school districts. There is plenty of news to find on that subject on this website along with video and audio, but to change things up a bit it is interesting to note that Christie was asked only one question that was off topic.

Last week a report surfaced that said President Barack Obama’s Administration was conducting opposition research to try and dig up some dirt on Christie if the Republican Governor were to change his mind and decide to take a run at the White House in 2012. Click here to listen to Christie’s response…….

ARE YOU BUYING THIS "END OF THE WORLD" NONSENSE?

2011-05-20T11:37:00.003-04:00

I've gotten 31 emails today asking me why I'm not doing stories about the end of the world predictions for May 21st. Really? I first thouht a bunch of people are just kidding, but I think most of them are serious.

What should I report exactly? Some fringe people think the world will end while most people don't?

BTW, It's noon eastern standard time so it's already May 21st in parts of the world and I haven't heard anything is amiss.

The so-called "holy man" who is predicting this is in a no-win situation anyway. If the world ends he's not around to say "I told you so." If the world doesn't end tomorrow, he's out of a job.

There you go everybody.....my "End of the World" story.

IS DOHERTY RUNNING OR NOT

2011-05-11T18:32:00.003-04:00

Today, as he unveiled a new school funding formula proposal for New Jersey, State Senator Mike Doherty mentioned that he would be doing town hall meetings throughout the state to drum up support.

Many state legislators looking to step up to the national scene see well-publicized town halls as a good way to go. Doherty was asked if this means he's planning to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Menendez in 2012.

"No," laughed Doherty, "but I am running for State Senate re-election."

He later said, "My politcs and policies are better than Bob Menendez's."

Stay tuned.

ASSEMBLYMAN BRAMNICK A FUNDRAISER? IS HE JOKING?

2011-05-05T15:17:00.002-04:00

Republican Assemblyman Jon Bramnick says he will take his show on the road for GOP legislative candidates to help raise campaign cash leading up to this November's election in which all 40 seats in the State Senate and all 80 seats in the General Assembly are up for grabs.

When Bramnick says, "show" he means it literally. In addition to being a member of the General Assembly, Bramnick is also an attorney who currently holds the title of "The Funniest Lawyer in New Jersey." Insert your own joke here.

The Assemblyman pledges to help any Republican who asks for his aid in raising campaign cash. He promises a funny and clean show.

A QUOTEWORTHY DAY IN NEW JERSEY

2011-04-26T17:01:00.002-04:00

In another of his Town Hall meetings today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie once again called the Democrat-controlled State Senate and General Assembly the "Do Nothing Legislature." He also warned that Democrats are all about taxing the people of the Garden State. He said, "If I let my foot up on these people on taxes they're coming after you next."

Christie also criticized the Senate for its inaction on "Tool Kit" bills which he claims will reduce property taxes. The Senate has a voting session Thursday and there are no "Tool Kit" bills on the agenda.

State Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Democrat says the legislature has already passed the bills that would save money and, "The rest are garbage." He says he won't bend to Christie's will by posting "Tool Kit" bills he feels are worthless. Sweeney said, "This is someone who thinks he can bully me like he bullies everyone else. He's not going to bully me into doing things that have no benefit."

Also today, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, a Republican who is also the Secretary of State ruled that Olymipic gold medals winner Carl Lewis did not meet the residency requirements needed to run for State Senate in New Jersey. Bill Tambussi, the attorney for Lewis says he'll appeal tomorrow. He also dropped this gem, "When Carl Lewis was winning gold medals for New Jersey he was New Jersey's favorite son. When he decided to run against this (Christie) Administration he became a notorious carpetbagger."

WHAT WOULD YOU ASK GOVERNOR CHRISTIE?

2011-04-20T12:21:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow night (4/21) New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will make his monthly appearance on Milennium Radio's "Ask the Governor" program. What one question would you ask Christie? Post your questions here and I'll make sure that host Eric Scott has the questions.

"Ask the Governor" airs Thursday, April 21 at 7pm EST. It can be heard on NJ 101.5 FM on your radio dial or you can log onto www.nj1015.com and view the webcast.

If you'd like to personally ask the Governor a question the call-in number is 1-800-283-1015.

NJ GOV SAYS “BATTER UP” BUT ITS DEMOCRATS SWINGING AWAY

2011-04-14T19:29:00.002-04:00

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Wednesday lashed out at State Senator who is a frequent critic for collecting a pension and salary at the same time. The GOP Governor said the media should "take the bat out" on Democratic Senator Loretta Weinberg, whom he said deserved a "hypocrisy award" for saying that he was slow to criticize another politician who was collecting a salary and pension for the same job.

Christie called Weinberg the "queen of double standards" for taking a $49,000 lawmaker salary as she simultaneously draws about $40,000 a year in pension benefits.

To be exact, here’s what Christie had to say to the State House press corps, “I mean, can you guys please take the bat out on her for once? Here’s a woman who knows she did it, yet she comes to you and is pining … ‘Oh! My goodness! How awful this is! What a double standard!’ But she’s the queen of double standard.”

In a written statement Weinberg said, “Governor Christie used the words ‘take a bat out on her,’ in his admonishment of the press corps to make hay over my pension. Frankly, considering I’ve devoted my entire legislative career to fighting for the rights of women – including battered women – I think his words continue to show the level of insensitivity and poor judgment that the Governor has demonstrated on women’s issues since getting elected. I doubt that the Governor will apologize to me personally regarding this latest attack. He has proven himself to be far too thin-skinned and stubborn to admit when he’s wrong on an issue. But I hope for the sake of women who’ve had to fear for their lives and their safety that he apologizes for his poor choice of words. However, I won’t hold my breath.”

Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender said, “The governor’s statement Wednesday to New Jersey’s assembled press corps was a tasteless and disgraceful example of the most powerful elected official in the state directly advocating for violence against women. The Governor will likely attempt to explain away his statement and lambaste myself and reporters for ‘overreacting’ but the fact remains that words – especially when spoken from someone in a position of power – carry a significant weight.”

Democratic Senator Joe Vitale said, “While the Governor may have been speaking in hyperbole, he needs to recognize that his words have impact, and he should apologize for the use of a phrase which seems to condone the use of violence against women. On a personal note, I’ve known Loretta Weinberg to be a strong advocate on women’s issues and a tireless fighter for the public good. She will no doubt use this opportunity to once again urge the Governor to stand up for women in the Garden State.”

State Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Democrat also came to Weinberg’s defense. Click here to listen to Sweeney’s response.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIX IT UP OVER PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS

2011-04-05T14:40:00.001-04:00

During a roundtable discussion today on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s proposed budget cuts and his plans to overhaul the Medicaid system, things got very heated between Democratic Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and Republican Assemblyman Jay Webber.

Watson Coleman fears the cuts will negatively impact the state’s most vulnerable people. Webber thinks she’s stretching it a bit.

Click here to listen to the exchange.

MILLIONAIRE'S TAX MYSTERY

2011-03-28T14:35:00.002-04:00

More than a few top Democrats in the New Jersey state legisalture are advocating for the re-institution of a "Millionaire's Tax" increase. State Senator Shirley Turner has introduced two measures in the Upper House. The first would legisaltively increase the tax rate on income earned exceeding $1 million from 8.97% to 10.75%. The second is a resolution that would ask the voters if they'd like to amend the State Constitution to raise the tax at the same rate and dedicate the revenue generated to a property tax relief fund. While many Democrats talk openly about including the wealthy in the "shared sacrifice" Governor Chris Christie is demanding it seems the Senate Democrats are not going out of their way to rally behind Turner's "Millionaire's Tax." njsenatedems.com lists all Democratic members of the upper house and posts press releases of recent bill introductions. Curiously absent is a press release for Turner's "Millionaire's Tax" legislation.

CHRIS CHRISTIE WAS WRONG AND WE HAVE THE PICTURE TO PROVE IT

2011-03-25T14:43:00.001-04:00

New Jersey’s Democrat-controlled legislature constantly criticizes Governor Chris Christie saying his policies, methods and proposals are wrong. Supporters believe Christie is always right. The events of last night prove he can be wrong. The evidence cannot be disputed.

Arizona crushed Duke last night 93-77 in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. In his March Madness bracket Christie picked the defending national champion Blue Devils to win it all again. Wrong.

In the interest of full disclosure and because it’s a win for me, my pick (Kansas) is still alive while my wife’s pick (Wisconsin) got bounced last night. I now have definitive proof that she can also be wrong, but my wife doesn’t run the State of New Jersey, just our house.

KEEPING UNION WORKERS OUT OF NJ’s STATE HOUSE

2011-03-21T15:44:00.001-04:00

KEEPING UNION WORKERS OUT OF NJ’s STATE HOUSE

It appears to some that State House officials used an arcane and largely unknown policy in an effort to keep public employee union members from gaining entrance to the Capitol building today.

Click here to listen to State Senator Loretta Weinberg explain what she thinks happened and what should be done…..

IT’S A LITTLE LATE FOR THIS BILL ISN’T IT?

2011-03-14T15:01:00.002-04:00

The current State workers' contracts expire on June 30, 2011, and officials from Governor Chris Christie's administration officially began bargaining this past Friday. Still, for some reason, today the full Assembly is expected to approve a measure sponsored by Assembly members Thomas Giblin, Linda Stender and Wayne DeAngelo calling on the Christie administration to immediately start collective bargaining negotiations with union representatives.

Giblin explains, "Collective bargaining has a long and proud tradition in New Jersey. At a time when we're seeing workers' rights trampled in this country, it's important that this process remain a two-way street. The administration should begin engaging in good faith at once to ensure fairness in the workplace."

It bears repeating, the collective bargaining process actually got under way three days ago. Asked why this bill is still necessary Giblin responded, “It's just another step to encourage that the legislature wants to see this resolved in an amicable fashion. I think it was prompt of the administration to set up these hearings and these dates, and I view it as a positive. I think all sides want to see employees treated right. We have a tremendous amount of obstacles as far as the budget is concerned and we can't put our head in the sand anymore."

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS ISN’T ALREADY A LAW?

2011-03-10T16:27:00.000-05:00

The rape of a woman is an unspeakable crime and those convicted of doing it should face the harshest possible punishment. I’ve recently learned of something that is an insult to any woman who has been criminally violated. There is a loophole in federal law that could result in a rape or sexual assault victim receiving a bill for their own rape kit. Are you kidding me?

A bill sponsored by State Senator Diane Allen preventing rape victims from being billed for forensic evidence collection related to their assault cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today. There is no reason this legislation should not be included in the next full voting session and there’s no excuse if it isn’t.

There’s no better way to state it than the way in which Allen does when she says, "In no other crime do victims see an invoice for services related to evidence collection by law enforcement, and sexual assault should be no different. This type of crime is the most traumatic event any woman could ever live through. It is cruel of anyone to send a bill for the exam needed to catch the attacker, and this legislation prevents that from ever happening in New Jersey again."

REPEALING THE NEW JERSEY “MARRIED WOMEN’S PROPERTY ACTS?”

2011-03-07T16:50:00.000-05:00

When a set of laws is called the “Married Women’s Property Acts,” you’ve got to figure they are good for women. In New Jersey’s case, maybe not. At least, not anymore. The laws allow married women to own, control, and dispose of property. They were first enacted in the 1800’s and represented an advance for women’s rights at the time. Prior to the statutes’ enactment, the common law had imposed restrictions on married women’s legal and property rights.

The repeal of the “Married Women’s Property Acts” was recommended by the New Jersey Law Revision Commission in its November 2007 report, which described the statutes as “a demeaning relic.”

State Senators Loretta Weinberg and Jennifer Beck feel these statutes are no longer needed, as there is no question today that married women have equal rights to property. The New Jersey Constitution and the “Law Against Discrimination,” guarantee equal protection to all citizens. Weinberg and Beck are co-sponsoring a measure to repeal the “Married Women’s Property Acts.”

The legislation also would eliminate two other statutes. You might find it difficult to believe that they’re still on the books, but they are. They’re called “Bar by consent to ravisher,” and “Immediate marriage if arrested upon criminal charge. ” Below is the exact wording of the current statutes………..

Bar by consent to ravisher; “If a wife after being ravished, consents to the ravisher, she shall be disabled and forever barred from having her jointure or dower, unless her husband is voluntarily reconciled to her and permits her to dwell with him, in which case she shall be restored to her jointure or dower.”

Immediate marriage if arrested upon criminal charge; “If a person is arrested upon a criminal charge, involving an accusation of bastardy, rape, fornication or of having had carnal knowledge of an unmarried female, and the accused person consents to marry such female, any licensing officer is authorized to immediately issue a marriage license.”

IS NEW JERSEY AT WAR WITH ILLINOIS?

2011-03-04T12:44:00.001-05:00

Recently New Jersey Governor Chris Christie traveled to Chicago in an effort to lure Illinois-based companies to the Garden State. He bashed Illinois’ business tax policies while touting positive changes in New Jersey’s business climate. New Jersey has also begun airing commercials in Illinois delivering that same message.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is not taking kindly to Christie’s aggressive recruiting and he is none-too-happy with a New Jersey Governor taking potshots at Illinois. Quinn has started airing his own ads essentially saying Christie’s full of hot air. The advertisements are appearing in New Jersey newspapers. They point out New Jersey’s low business tax climate ratings and provide contact information for government business offices in Illinois.

Christie was just asked his reaction to the Illinois ads. His answer is very short and extremely to the point. Click here for Christie’s response.

CHRISTIE FOR PREZ QUESTIONS CONTINUE

2011-03-02T12:48:00.002-05:00

Today, at a town hall meeting, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie once again shot down talk of running for President in 2012. Last week in Washington Christie told a crowd that he already knows he could the Presidential election.

The New Jersey State House press corps has been hearing this talk for months. Every so often a network or national reporter who does not cover Christie every day as we do, parachutes in and asks the obligatory "Are you running for President" question.

It's actually gotten kind of comical. There are times when one of the State House press corps will ask simply because the answers Christie gives are funny. What is also funny is when a journalist from the outside comes in and earnestly asks the Governor if he's running. They ask it as if it's never been asked before and they're breaking some new ground. I don't fault anyone for asking the question if that's what they've been directed to do and I truly look forward to Christie's responses because while the answer is always "No," he delivers it in a unique way each time.

ED COMMISH…..WILL HE OR WON’T HE?

2011-02-28T15:19:00.000-05:00

New Jersey Education commissioner-designate Chris Cerf is scheduled to go before the Joint Committee on Education tomorrow afternoon. The panel’s chairman, State Senator Ron Rice says it’s unclear if Cerf will actually show up, but he hasn’t been given an indication that he won’t. If he doesn’t, Rice is threatening to use Senatorial courtesy to block Cerf’s confirmation.

Cerf is on the hot seat. As first reported in the Newark Star Ledger, Cerf was the co-founder of a for-profit, private company hired by a private Newark firm looking to change Newark’s schools. Cerf insists he didn’t make money.

MLLIONAIRE’S TAX PART-TWO?

2011-02-23T15:11:00.000-05:00

MLLIONAIRE’S TAX PART-TWO?

Last year, Governor Chris Christie vetoed the Democrat-sponsored “millionaire’s tax” before the ink on the bill even had a chance to dry. An override attempt failed. Yesterday as Christie delivered his Fiscal year 2012 State Budget Address, State Senator Shirley Turner quietly introduced a new millionaire’s tax bill.

Turner’s measure would increase the rate of the New Jersey gross income tax for taxpayers with taxable incomes exceeding $1,000,000 in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. The bill provides for adjusted income taxation at the following bracket at the following rate: over $1,000,000 is adjusted from 8.97% to 10.75%. The legislation seeks to permanently impose the tax rate at this $1,000,000 income bracket that was temporarily imposed during taxable year 2009.

Under Turner’s bill, the gross income tax revenue collected from the "millionaires'" tax increase would be dedicated to annual real property tax relief to be provided directly to real property taxpayers. All income tax revenue collected from the increase in the gross income tax rate imposed on taxable income in excess of $1,000,000 will be deposited in a subaccount in the constitutionally established Property Tax Relief Fund. All revenue derived annually from the tax rate increase is pledged to be used annually for direct real property taxpayer relief. This subaccount, to be known as the Direct Taxpayer Property Tax Relief Fund, is the revenue and budget account that will ensure that direct tax relief continues to be funded from this source.

Turner is the sole sponsor of the new millionaire’s tax bill and there is not an Assembly version of the legislation yet.

Christie has vowed not to raise any taxes in this year’s budget. Watch below what happened last year when the first millionaire’s tax bill was passed

NEW JERSEY AND THE “NEW NORMAL”

2011-02-22T20:44:00.002-05:00

NEW JERSEY AND THE “NEW NORMAL”

In his State Budget Address Tuesday afternoon, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said, “As a result of the decisions we started with a year ago, we have changed the paradigm. We have established a "New Normal."

In the New Normal, we will shape the budget to make it more sustainable each year, and address priorities that will make New Jersey more successful each year.

We will no longer blindly fund commitments that prior legislators and governors have made. Regardless of whether they were wise, and regardless of whether they yielded programs that even work.

In the New Normal, we can and will stop old commitments, so we can set new priorities to meet New Jersey's 21st century challenges.

Last year's budget, fiscal year 2011, was the beginning of this change. We set priorities and we funded them, in amounts we could afford. We reformed many programs that needed reforming. And we began to refuse to fund what wasn't an absolute priority.

This year's budget continues that model. It is not a budget that funds each and every program at the same level as last year. Instead, we've done something novel. We've actually identified key priorities and put together a budget that funds them.

Now, here's what's crazy about this new bottom-up approach to budgeting: We are simply doing what most people assumed state government had been doing all along.

This is the New Normal in Trenton. The old way of budgeting is over. Today marks the line in the sand that separates the way things used to be, and the way they are going to be. And we will not be going back.”

Tough to argue with that, right? Wrong! In essence, Democratic State Senate President Steve Sweeney is saying, “The new normal? Please, give me a break.”

To hear Sweeney’s take on the new normal click here.

THE DONALD? THE PRESIDENT?

2011-02-16T16:02:00.002-05:00

There is an actual movement to draft New York developer and TV personality Donald Trump for the 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination.

A decorated Iraq War veteran has formed a grassroots, all volunteer organization. He's seeking half a million citizens signatures.

This is for real. Check out the website at drafttrump2012.com.

NJ GOV ON FIRED QURAN BURNER

2011-02-15T21:01:00.003-05:00

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says he doesn't object to New Jersey Transit firing a worker who publicly burned pages from the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Christie said today he knew transit worker Derek Fenton was going to be fired, but said it wasn't done on his orders.

A lawsuit filed on Fenton's behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union claims the firing violated his constitutional right to free expression. NJ Transit says Fenton violated the agency's code of ethics.

Lawyers for New Jersey Transit disclosed during a court hearing last week that Christie and several of his top aides were on a list of people with information concerning the decision to discharge Fenton.

To hear Christie’s entire public comments on the issue (all 19 seconds of them) click here

UPDATE ON ASSEMBLYMAN BARNES

2011-02-10T15:13:00.003-05:00

Assemblyman Peter Barnes who collapsed early today while I was interviewing him has left the State House with his staff. As a member of the Assembly Environment Committee, he wanted to stay and take part in the panel's scheduled 2pm hearing but was, for all intents and purposes directed by chairman John McKeon to go home and see a doctor.

I wish him well and a speedy recovery and certainly hope it is nothing serious.

ASSEMBLYMAN COLLAPSES MID-INTERVIEW

2011-02-10T12:44:00.003-05:00

Just minutes ago Assemblyman Peter Barnes collapsed as I was interviewing him about his resolution to amend the constitution to ask voters if they'd like set minumum standards before the state can privatize some services.

The Assemblyman became disoriented as I spoke with him and I asked him several times if he was okay. He said "yes," but then fell into me before falling backwards and fainting. A staffer was able to make sure the Assemblyman did not hit his head. We put hium in a chair where he alternated between being lucid and unresponsive. He told me hadn't been to the doctor for a while, is not taking medication and did have breafast this morning.

State Troopers and a nurse were called in and they helped the Assemblyman until the ambulance arrived. The Assemblyman refused to go to the hospital.

A PRE-POLLS POLL

2011-02-09T15:27:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow Quinnipiac University will release a poll asking voters if they support or oppose layoffs, furloughs, wage freezes and pension reductions for public employees. It also asks New Jerseyans their thoughts on merit pay for teachers, limiting teacher tenure, school vouchers and charter schools. Finally, Garden Staters give their thoughts on a "Millionaire's Tax" and cutting school aid.

Monmouth University-Gannett New Jersey Press Media also releases another poll tomorrow. This one asks Jerseyans if the "Christie for Governor" buzz and all of the national attention Chris Christie is getting are impacting his job performance.

I already have the results of both polls, but I'd like to get your thoughts on these topics.

Your can hear the actual poll results tomorrow morning beginning at 5am on NJ 101.5 FM or at nj1015.com where you can also read the results.

CHRISTIE BLASTS LEGISLATURE FOR AVOIDING THE “BIG THINGS”

2011-02-07T20:51:00.000-05:00

CHRISTIE BLASTS LEGISLATURE FOR AVOIDING THE “BIG THINGS”

Today, Governor Chris Christie issued a press release saying, “Since returning from the winter break, it’s clear that when left to its own devices the legislature is slow, ineffective, and downright impotent when it comes to taking action on the big issues facing New Jersey today. Despite promises from the Senate President to move quickly in the New Year to take up shared services reform and pension and benefits reform, there has been no movement – no bill, no hearing and no vote. Where is the action?

There are about 5 months left before the legislature adjourns for the summer to focus (we all assume) exclusively on the November election. Until then, there are many pressing issues facing New Jerseyans which the Governor outlined in his State of the State and at subsequent town hall meetings. The public will not allow the political season to begin in February and squeeze out an agenda that focuses on pension and benefit reform, education reform and the remaining tool kit bills (that the legislature has had since May of last year and yet has only managed to act on 5 of the 20 bills).”

Christie then lit into the Legislature and used today’s committee agenda to make his point.

Click here to listen………….

TREASURER REFUSES BUDGET COMMITTEE INVITE

2011-02-01T19:24:00.002-05:00

New Jersey State Treasurer Andrew Sidmon-Eristoff was invited by Assembly Budget Committee chairman Lou Greenwald to testify Thursday morning before his panel. Greenwald was hoping to get the latest budget figures in advance of Governor Chris Christie's Budget Address which is scheduled for February 22.

The non-partisan Office of Legislative Services will present it's estimates, but the Treasurer has declined his invitation to testify although he did testify last year.

Greenwald says, "I hope the Treasurer's decision to decline this invitation doesn't indicate an antagonistic change in tenor toward this committee. I also hope he reconsiders his decision and decides to join us in this vital conversation."

74th Annual "Walk" to Washington

2011-01-26T14:54:00.002-05:00

The 74th annual New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce "Walk to Washington" is tomorrow. Nobody actually walks from the Garden State to D.C.. Legislators, lobbyists, reporters and various other hangers-on take a train to Washington. They network on the way down. Attend dinners when they get there and some stay out late enjoying the night life.

The trip used to be a booze-fueled free-for-all. The cars were packed and not every man on the trian was what one might call "appropriate" when it came to interacting with the women.

Things have changed......due to the economy and ethics concerns for some the train cars are less crowded and far less women take the chamber train at all instead opting to take a separate train. Alcohol remains a constant. Some things never change.

GOV. CHRISTIE USES A STAIRMASTER……….TO MAKE A POINT

2011-01-19T15:10:00.001-05:00

What could New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a “Stairmaster” and the state’s education system possibly have in common? Click here and listen to Christie explain it

CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

2011-01-18T14:17:00.002-05:00

Since 2005, Assemblymen Jon Bramnick, a Republican and Gordon Johnson, a Democrat have been pushing for passage of a resolution encouraging New Jersey residents to treat each other with respect and civility. Today, Bramnick is renewing the call.

Bramnick says, "It's been six long years since this resolution was introduced. The time is right for the legislature to take up this important issue. We could only benefits from a calm and respectful discourse as we strive for bi-partisanship on important reforms for our state."

What do you think?

NJ MAYORS POLLED ON NEW 2% PROPERTY TAX CAP

2011-01-13T18:28:00.000-05:00

For the 12th consecutive year, over two hundred mayors offered their views on several major policy areas in response to the State League of Municipalities Annual Legislative Priority Survey. Their responses to specific issues provide direction and will assist the League Executive Board and staff during what could be a critical year for municipalities and property taxes.

Property taxes, the 2% cap, sharing services, and the costs that affect taxes are foremost on Mayors' minds as they are preparing their 2011 budget. The 2011 budget is the first municipal budget subject to the 2% cap. Accordingly, when asked what action(s) they will likely take to meet the 2% cap the Mayors ranked them as follows:

1. Share Services

2. Increase Fees

3. Reduce Services

4. Concessions from Employees

5. Deferral of Capital Improvements

6. Increased Health Care contribution from employees

7. Lay-offs

8. Reduce staff from Full-time to Part-time

9. Furloughs

10. Eliminate Services

11. Salary givebacks from employees (tie)

11. One-time revenue (i.e. sale of public property) (tie)

13. Examine Consolidation with another municipality

14 Initiate Accelerated Tax Sale

CHRISTIE'S STATE OF THE STATE ENTOURAGE

2011-01-10T18:16:00.002-05:00

Regardless of political party it is considered an honor to escort a Governor into the Assembly Chambers when he or she is about to deliver a State of the State Address. Tomorrow, Chris Christie will be making his first State of the State speech.

Leading Christie in will be Assembly GOP Leader Alex DeCroce and Assembly Republican Conference Leader Jon Bramnick. On the Democratic side of the Assembly Mila Jasey and Elease Evans have gotten the nod. For the State Senate Republicans it will be Gerry Cardinale and Dawn Marie Addiego and the Senate Democrats are offering Linda Greenstein and Donald Norcross. The list, like all things in Trenton is subject to change.

Quote of the day from State Senator Ray Lesniak walking down the hall towrad the Senate chambers regarding his bill to overhaul the Council on Affordable Housing, "It's in God's hands now! I mean Chris Christie's hands."

A TRAGIC LOSS FOR NEW JERSEY

2011-01-04T19:22:00.002-05:00

Veteran State House reporter Dusty McNichol passed away today at the age of 54. He was a brilliant journalist, a true gentleman and a real friend. Dusty was part of a Pulitzer Prize winning team while at the Newark Star Ledger and until today he was working the capitol beat for Bloomberg News.

Nobody knew more about state budgets than Dusty. I've been in budget briefings with him since 2002. The press corps was a lot larger back then and we all had questions about the complicated issues that make up a budget, but when Dusty started to ask a question not only did we defer to him, we shut up and listened closely because we knew whatever he was about to ask was going to be the most important question.

Dusty would ask technical questions using jargon that had me longing for a thesaurus, but when I read his story the next day (and we all did) it was written in a relatable way that anyone could easily understand and digest. That's a rare talent.

Whenever I would appear on the weekly "Reporters Roundtable" television program on NJN I was always happy if Dusty was on the panel too. His insights were remarkably informative, but more often than not he would finish his comments with a sly remark and a cat that ate the canary grin that said, "let's not take all of this too seriously."

The press learned of Dusty's passing after we returned from an hour-long press conference with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. We got back to our offices thinking we've got a lot of work to do, but as soon as we all read the sad email our moods changed. About a dozen or so reporters stood in my office for a while and just kind of looked at one another. We were thinking more about Dusty than we were talking about him.

Dusty was a great person and the best journalist in New Jersey and I would have said those things yesterday if someone had asked. I could have said them to Dusty yesterday too when he was standing in my office shooting the breeze about things I can't even remember but wish I could.

Rest in Peace Dusty. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your wife and son.

POETIC JUSTICE FOR AWOL NJ GOV?

2010-12-29T12:00:00.002-05:00

Last year, for the first time in its history New Jersey elected a Lt. Governor. The new office was created because of the state's history with State Senate Presidents serving lenghy tours as acting Governors. The idea was to make sure a second-in-command was always readily available.

This Sunday into Monday a severe coastal storm dumped upwards of two feet of snow in parts of the Garden State. Some motorists were stranded for more than half a day in 5-feet-plus snow drifts. Not only is Governor Chris Christie on vacation out of state, so is Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. Senate President Steve Sweeney is serving as acting Governor until tomorrow night.

Several key Democrats (Sweeney is not among them) have been complaining that Christie and Guadagno both knew the storm was coming, but decided to leave anyway. Does it really make a difference?

In his political style Christie has been likened to a bulldozer, but he's not an actual bulldozer that can help remove snow from highways that are blocked by abandoned cars. It's almost 2011 and we have just about every means available in terms of making sure the lines of communication are open so does it matter that the Governor is not physically here?

Sweeney says every available DOT worker was out, a State of Emergency was declared and the National Guard helped with equipment. How would things have been different or better if Christie or Guadagno were here?

If you are looking for some ironic twist for Christie consider this; at 7:30 this morning it was 34 degrees in Trenton, NJ. The Governor is vacationing with his family at Disney World. At 7:30 this morning it was 29 degrees in Orlando.

ASK THE GOV TONIGHT

2010-12-21T17:17:00.003-05:00

Governor Chris Christie will in in-studio at our flagship station (NJ 101.5 FM) tonight from 7pm-8pm for his monthly "Ask the Governor" appearance. He'll answer questions from host Eric Scott, callers, emailers and those of you who take part in our live inter-active blog.

The program can be heard and viewed at nj1015.com. The inter-active blog can be found on that site as well.

If you would like to ask the Governor a question directly, call 1-800-283-1015.

ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION IN NJ?

2010-12-13T18:21:00.002-05:00

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a republican is demanding that any civil service reform bill include a provision to allow towns to opt out of the system entirely. Today, the State Senate and General Assembly approved a bill that does make it easier for muncipalities to fire public employees and it does help cut the red tape for towns seeking to share services or merge, but it does not include an opt out clause.

The bill passed both houses along party lines without a single republican voting in favor. Democrats say allowing towns to stay in the civil service system protects against abuse and ensures that public workers don't have to worry about losing their jobs if a mayor of a different political party wins an election. Republicans say there is no proof that employees are being hurt by partisan politics in the over 300 towns that are not currently in the system.

Christie has threatened to conditionally veto the bill leading some insiders to speculate that he will do just that and then call the legislature into a special session to hammer out a deal through the holiday season. The Governor insists that real reform is needed to help mayors stay under the new two-percent cap on property tax increases which goes into effect next month. Stay tuned.

SHOULD NJ'S BEAR HUNT CONTINUE?

2010-12-10T13:22:00.001-05:00

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a hunter, but I have many friends who are and I have no philosophical problem with hunting. For the first time in five years New Jersey is in the midst of a six-day bear hunting season.

State officials say there have been too many cases of bears getting too close to humans and their homes. Last week, DEP authorities pegged the bear population at around 3,500.

As of this moment (1:25pm on Friday) 477 bears have been killed in the hunt. Tomorrow is the last day of the hunt, but it is also the only weekend day of the hunt and many are worried that the tally could rise significantly.

Do you think the hunt should be halted now or do you think it should continue for one more day? Please give reasons for your response. Thanks

IS NEW JERSEY'S IMAGE REALLY CHANGING?

2010-11-24T13:51:00.002-05:00

New Jersey's tough talking Governor Chris Christie is often called a "rising star" in the Republican Party. He campaigned across the country for GOP candidates and most of them won. He's becoming a regular on the national Sunday morning news programs and was a pretty funny guest last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Things are going very well for Christie right now. We should remember though that rising stars and shooting stars look a lot alike, but while one shines for a long time the other fizzles out pretty quickly.

Obviously, I don't know Chris Christie's fate, but I do plan to test out one of his theories next week. The Governor says New Jersey's image is improving by leaps and bounds. Typically when I go on vacation out of the country I don't tell people I'm from the Garden State when they ask because I've heard every joke and insult thousands of times. Sometimes I say I'm from Nebraska and I think once I said I was from Montana.

Next week I will tell people I'm from New Jersey! I informed the Governor's office about my planned litmus test and was asked to get back to them with my observations. I will do that and I actually hope Christie is right because I'm not interested in somebody asking me which exit I'm from or telling me how horrible the Soprano series finale was.

WELL, THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WAS WEIRD

2010-11-22T19:25:00.000-05:00

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was in New Jersey today to talk about the expansion of the, “If See Something, Say Something” campaign which design need to help ensure citizens know how to identify and report indicators of terrorism and other threats. The press conference at the Trenton train station turned into a debate over the new scanning and pat-down procedures at U.S. airports.

“There is a continued threat against aviation involving those who seek to smuggle powders and gels that can be used as explosives on airplanes,” says Napolitano. “The new technology is designed to help us identify those individuals. This is after many layers of security. It’s not the only layer of security in the air environment that we have.”

Napolitano says she has undergone a pat-down and explains, “It’s only a small percentage of passengers who get patted down, nonetheless I think we all understand the concerns that Americans have about. It’s something new.”

The procedures are evolving says Napolitano and they are likely to be altered, but adds, “Will they (passengers) see a difference in the short term? I can’t guarantee that and the reason is because our #1 goal is to make sure that the passengers’ security is protected.”

The press conference was repeatedly interrupted as depot announcements were aired over the loud speakers at a crazy-high volume forcing Napolitano and U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg to stop and wait until the announcements were over. This led one columnist to say, “This press conference was as well planned out as the pat downs and scanners.”

After the press conference another reporter who shall remain unnamed made an interesting observation. He (or she) said it’s great that we have to go through hoops to get on a plane but if we want to stand five feet away from the Homeland Security Secretary from the most powerful country in the world all we have to do is flash our press credentials.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR NJN

2010-11-16T17:55:00.002-05:00

The entire staff of New Jersey Network got layoff notices today. The layoffs will not happen if the network can find some funding from a source or sources which will no longer include the State of New Jersey.

In his State Budget, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called for providing state funding only through January 1 for NJN. The subsidies run out in 45 days.

I watch NJN news when I can and occassionally appear on one of the networks programs. I'd be sorry to see it go under particularly because I've gotten to know many of the reporters and other employees. I like and respect them as colleagues and wish them the best of luck.

LISTEN UP AND THEN TALK TO YOUR KIDS

2010-11-15T16:51:00.002-05:00

A strict anti-bullying bill was the key issue addressed by the State Legislature in Trenton, New Jersey today. The new measure would require school officials to be trained in recognizing and dealing with incidents of bullying. Annual reports will have to be submitted to the State and each school district will be graded.

In Spetember, Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi killed himself after he learened that a romantic encounter he had with another man was video-streamed on the Internet by his roommate. That tragedy has given the new bill some momentum and a lot of supporters.

Give a lsiten to the harrowing stories that were told in testimony today. They were told by emotional survivors of bullying and the even more emotional parents of kids who could no longer endure the daily torment.

To listen, go to www.nj.gov. Click on "Legislature" and then click on "View or listen to prior proceedings." Once you get to that spot click on the Senate or the Assembly Education Committees for November 15, 2010.

Should you choose to hear what these people had to say, ity might be a good idea to talk to your children to see if they're being bullied. It is a real problem that tragically for some becomes a matter of life or death.

NO CHRISTIE SPEECH AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

2010-11-09T16:12:00.002-05:00

Every year, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities hosts a multi-day conference in Atlantic City. Hundreds of elected officials at every level of government turnout for workshops, seminars and networking.

Typically the highlight comes when the Governor addresses the League at its Thursday luncheon. Cabinet members, Senators and Assembly members are paraded in one-by-one after grand introductions and they take their spots on the two-tiered dais.

This year, Governor Chris Christie, a rising national Republican star will not be on hand to give the speech. Christie is known for his rousing speeches and many insiders are disppointed that he will not be addressing the crowd.

As it stands now, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will be giving the speech instead. This will be Guadagno's first high-profile address as New Jersey's second in command and it could be a defining moment because the press always covers the event thoroughly and the speech is traditonally a big newsmaking event.

BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN WRITING BALLOT QUESTIONS FOR NJ’S SENATE PREZ

2010-11-03T19:48:00.004-04:00

Yesterday New Jersey voters approved a ballot measure to bar lawmakers from raiding state workers' benefit funds. The constitutional amendment was the only statewide ballot question. There was no organized opposition to the measure, which would end a common practice in the state.

State Senate President Steve Sweeney was one of the sponsors of the measure. He admits he was very worried that it would fail because it was so difficult to understand as a ballot question.

Click on the link below to hear Sweeney's thoughts on the passage of the constitutional amendment. It's only :42 seconds long so stay with it until the very end when Sweeney suggests a very radical punishment for the person or persons who authored the explanation voters read when they stepped into the booth.

Click here and listen to the audio.

VOTE IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT. IT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS

2010-11-01T15:58:00.002-04:00

Every year, right before Election Day people feel as though it's okay to tell you what to do. I've lost count of how many people today have said to me, "Make sure you vote."

I would never say that to anybody. I have no right to tell you that you should vote. If you're registered, it's your right and if you're registered, you're probably planning to vote and don't need me to remind you.

I would advise (but not demand) that everyone who does vote tomorrow should cast their ballots based on their knowledge of the candidates and the issues. I find it offensive when celebrities tell me not only that I must vote, but also which party I should for. I would never vote for someone based on the advice of some singer or actor.

VINTAGE CHRISTIE VIDEO AS HE KILLS THE ARC TUNNEL

2010-10-27T17:38:00.002-04:00

A planned trans-Hudson rail tunnel known as the Access to the Region's Core or ARC Tunnel is now officially dead. Citing cost overruns of possibly $5 billion dollars, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today killed the nation's largest public works project.

In a lengthy and open press conference Christie explained that the state simply doesn't have the money for the project and he refuses to saddle New Jersey taxpaters with even more debt.

Proving that he's almost always quick on his feet, Christie comically deflected a question about New York's refusal to help foot much of the ARC Tunnel bill.

Go to youtube.com and enter "Governor Christie: Live Free or Die." It's very short, less than two minutes, but worth it.

Also, Christie will be appearing on Millennium Radio's monthly "Ask the Governor" program tonight from 7pm-8pm EST. You can call in and personally ask Christie a question. 1-800-283-1015. You can also watch and listen live at nj1015.com.

A PRESIDENTIAL PRESENCE IN NJ’S STATE HOUSE

2010-10-25T19:49:00.001-04:00

He’s often been called a straight shooter, a tough talker and an excellent debater. He’s been known to travel the country firing up crowds with his speeches. There is no question he is Presidential material. That cannot be disputed and shockingly, he was actually in the State House in Trenton, New Jersey yesterday much to the surprise of many. I’m talking about the guy pictured here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avp5eCSGBy4

The 150^th anniversary of the start of the Civil War was commemorated yesterday in the Assembly chambers. Just wondering……wouldn’t it be a better idea to wait five years and recognize the 150^th anniversary of the end of the Civil War?

NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN NJ POLITICS

2010-10-21T19:17:00.002-04:00

This morning started out with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie once again ripping into Democratic leaders in the state legislature for not taking action on his 33-bill "tool kit" package that he says will help curb property tax increases. New Jersey has the highest average property tax bill in the nation. Christie is constantly berating Democrats for what he considers to be their inaction. Each day a press release from his office offers a countdown showing how many days are left until the new 2-percent cap on property tax hikes goes into effect.

Early this afternoon, Democrats had their shot. They claim Christie isn't providing the necessary fiscal estimates to help legislators decide if they even want to vote on his proposals. State Senate President Steve Sweeney said, "Enough with the garbage," of Christie grabbing headlines with over-the-top quotes. He says the Governor should stop traveling around the country campaigning for GOP hopefuls and stay home and help fix this state's problems.

Democrats then unveiled a bill that would not cap awards at 2-percent for arbitators who are settling contract disputes between municipalities and police and firefighter unions. Christie is demanding a hard 2-percent cap. Democrats say he's not going to get it and Sweeney also claims arbitration reform in any form won't save much for taxpayers anyway.

Today marks two weeks since Christie killed the Access to the Region's Core (ARC) Tunnel project which was the largest construction project in America. The Governor said the state can't afford the cost overruns that could reach $5 billion dollars. The trans-Hudson rail tunnel does not stop at a major station in New York like Penn Station. It would end in the basement of Macy's in Herald Square.

This afternoon, Assembly Transportation Committee chairman John Wisniewski released a statement saying he has internal Christie Administration documents showing a report that states the overall project remains within budget. That report came two days before Christie nixed the ARC Tunnel citing the cost overruns.

Last Friday, Christie had a closed-door meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood after which the Governor released a statement saying he would review options for two weeks and that brings us to tomorrow. It's not likely an announcement on Christie's ARC Tunnel decision will come tomorrow. Something like this is too big to waste on the Saturday newspapers, but with this Governor you never know.

CHRISTIE REPEATS, “I’M NOT RUNNING FOR PREZ!”

2010-10-18T13:06:00.003-04:00

He’s said it more than 20 times in my presence. He’s certainly said it more times when I wasn’t around, but New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was asked yet again today if he wants to run for President. A CBS television reporter asked the Governor his thoughts on a new website pushing a Christie presidential candidacy. Listen to his answer by copying and pasting the link below.

Left click here and listen to the answer.

CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT THE WORLD SERIES?

2010-10-14T14:37:00.000-04:00

Cablevision and News Corporation executives are engaged in an ongoing retransmission contract dispute. If the battle isn’t resolved before the October 15, 2010 deadline, thousands of cable customers from losing access to much-watched television stations.

If the dispute is not resolved by tomorrow, Cablevision customers may lose access to WNYW (NY channel 5), WWOR (NY channel 9) and WTXF (Philadelphia channel 29). In the interest of full disclosure, I’m not a cablevision customer, but many of my neighbors are. If the fight isn’t settled, a lot of those neighbors will want to come to my house to watch what I’m going to be watching, namely the New York Giants on NY channel 5 and hopefully the New York Yankees in the World Series.

It’s not that I don’t like my neighbors, it’s just that I don’t want them crowding up my living room and talking while I’m fanatically trying to root on my teams.

Two state lawmakers are now weighing in. Assembly members Linda Greenstein and Wayne DeAngelo are urging the two sides to hammer out a deal. Hamilton Township, New Jersey -- the largest town in Greenstein and DeAngelo’s 14^thLegislative District – is largely serviced by Cablevision.

“We are concerned that these customers are going to loose access to WNYW which will air the pending Major League Baseball National League Championship Series, NFL games (including the New York Giants), and eventually the World Series Championship. For many households living on tight budgets, their cable television programming is the most cost effective way for them to follow their favorite sports teams,” wrote Greenstein and DeAngelo in a letter to Cablevision and News Corporations chief executive officers.

THE BEST CAMPAIGN AD OF THE SEASON

2010-10-14T09:54:00.002-04:00

Gloucester County, New Jersey Democrats have produced what I think is the most entertaining campaign ad this year. It’s well produced, well acted, well written and very funny. I’d like your thoughts on it. To view the spot, go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9YyWsl2dyY

Or go to youtube.com and enter “The Gloucester County Millionaires Club Endorses Wallace and Nestore.”

I have absolutely no vested interest in who wins the races. I just like the ad.

POLITICS CAN BE A VERY DIRTY GAME

2010-10-12T21:49:00.000-04:00

Today, New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman Jay Webber filed an official complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) seeking an investigation into the John Adler for Congress and DeStefano for Congress campaigns in the wake of a news story that links U.S. Congressman John Adler and Camden County Democratic Committee (CCDC) staffers and operatives to a plot intended to plant a shill candidate in the 3rd Congressional District race.

DOES NJ 101.5 FM HOST DRIVE PUBLIC POLICY?

2010-10-07T18:00:00.003-04:00

The State of New Jersey recently lost out on $400 million in federal "Race to the Top" education grants due in part to an application error. Fired State Education commissioner Bret Schundler admits he made the mistake, but the Senate Oversight Committee still convened a hearing on the issue today.

Last week, the committee was granted limited subpoena power and Schundler was the only witness forced to testify today. He said under oath that another reason the state lost a shot at the money is because the application didn't have the backing of the teachers union. Originally the application did have the New Jersey Education Association's support, but a comproise on reforms was nixed by Governor Chris Christie.

Schundler says part of the reason the compromise was axed is because Christie didn't like hearing New Jersey 101.5 FM radio host Jim Gearhart criticize him and say he caved in to the union.

That statement bothered several senators who wondered why Mr. Gearhart was deciding policy for the Christie Administration. The Governor denies it by the way.

Video from the hearing as well as extended audio can be found on this website's main page and on www.nj1015.com

NJ’S MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROUND RULES

2010-10-07T09:26:00.000-04:00

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services released its draft rules today pending publication in the New Jersey Register outlining the registration and application process for patients, primary caregivers, physicians, cultivators and dispensaries to participate in New Jersey’s Medicinal Marijuana Program. The program was to start October 1, but after Rutgers University pulled out it stalled.

Here are the rules: Physicians must have a bona fide and ongoing relationship with qualified patients they are recommending for the program; Physicians are required to obtain informed consent from patients; ID cards are required of everyone in the program: Patients and caregivers, as well as owners, operators, board members, staff and volunteers of cultivation sites and dispensaries; Non-profit principals, board members, owners, operators, and employees of ATCs and primary caregivers are required to undergo criminal background checks; Alternative Treatment Centers have to document a plan for record keeping, inventory control and security that ensures the confidentiality of patient information and maintains the security of the sites and dispensaries have to provide educational materials and counsel patients on aspects of treatment including the risks and benefits of using medicinal marijuana.

Physicians will be able to register electronically with the Department later this month. After their credentials are verified, doctors will submit names of patients they are recommending for medicinal marijuana for debilitating medical conditions including cancer, MS, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, seizure disorders and Crohn's disease.

New Jersey is the 14^th state to implement the use of medicinal marijuana by qualified patients who are being treated for certain chronic debilitating conditions. In drafting the rules, the Department consulted with scientists and national experts, as well as, academicians, advocates and administrators in the 13 other states and the District of Columbia.

The registration fee for patients is $200 and will be valid for two years. Patients who qualify for certain state and federal assistance programs would pay a reduced registration fee of $20.

CHRISTIE TRAVELS AND THE PUBLIC RESPONDS

2010-10-05T18:17:00.000-04:00

Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had a morning campaign event in Iowa followed by seven such events in Illinois. Tomorrow, Christie has two events in Michigan. The Garden State Governor has become something of a national media darling and it’s not uncommon for popular Governors to travel around the country campaigning in support of fellow party members. Christie is an engaging public speaker and videos from his events clearly reveal he can “wow” a crowd. A new poll shows New Jersey residents aren’t all thrilled with Christie’s travel schedule.

A Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released today shows almost two-of-three New Jerseyans (64 percent) want Christie here, while one-in-four (24 percent) support his travels.

For the 22 percent of respondents who rate Christie’s job performance excellent, a majority (55 percent) say he should campaign, while 38 percent prefer he remain in state. Others disagree: of those who think he is doing a good job (23 percent), only 22 percent want him to campaign, while 64 percent say he should stay home. Of the 52 percent who say Christie is doing only a fair or poor job, nearly three-quarters want him to stay put and work on New Jersey issues.

About one-third (37 percent) of respondents say Christie’ national recognition makes them proud to be from New Jersey. The large majority (56 percent) say it does not. Support for Christie’s national campaign tour is apparently related to pride: 61 percent of those favoring his campaigning also say Christie makes them proud to be from New Jersey. Two-thirds (64 percent) of those who want him to stay home say the governor does not make them proud.

NJ'S LT. GOV GETS THE SPOTLIGHT AND SHINES

2010-09-29T17:07:00.002-04:00

Turns out New Jersey Governor Chris Christie isn't the only one in his administration who can captivate a crowd. Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno isn't too shabby and the crowd she had to win over today was the New Jersey Bankers Association.

After being introduced as a former organized crime prosecutor and the first female sheriff of Monmouth County, NJ, Guadagno walked to the microphone and said, "You all look at me and say, 'organized crime, sheriff, really?' Yes, I'm the warmer, fuzzier side of the Christie Administration. I kept my bullet-proof vest when I moved to Trenton just for days like today."

At the time of this morning's event, Christie was out of state. Guadagno said, "As I stand here today I'm the acting Governor, I'm the Lt. Governor and I'm also the Secretary of State so I like to say you know I'm a Republican because I collect one salary and no pension. Great job!"

She asked the bankers to let her know which companies might be thinking of expanding in the state, relocating to the state or mulling the notion of leaving the state, then she did something unheard of even by Trenton's State House standards......She publicly gave out her cell number number.

I thought about texting her while she was still mid-speech, but decided that was probably a bad idea. I still have the number so, I might change my mind.

CHRISTIE’S EDUCATION REFORM PLANS

2010-09-28T14:17:00.002-04:00

At 3pm today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is scheduled to unveil his education reform initiatives. Sources tell us they will include prohibiting raises based solely on seniority and banning graduate degree accumulation as the lone basis for raises.

Christie is also expected to convene the Task Force on Teacher Effectiveness to develop a system that elevates the role of student learning in evaluation and transparently assesses a teacher's performance.

The Governor's reform agenda will also create greater accountability in New Jersey's schools by empowering parents with access to data including student achievement in the classroom and teacher evaluations.

WHY WON’T THIS GUY HAVE THE DECENCY TO DIE?

2010-09-27T14:48:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, the U. S.Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on the circumstances surrounding the release of convicted Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdelbasset al-Megrahi from a Scottish prison more than one year ago. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) will chair the hearing, which will feature testimony from U.S. government officials with knowledge of the diplomatic and legal issues surrounding al-Megrahi’s release. There will also be experts in medical and North African politics who can provide insight into medical evidence and the Libyan government. Menendez is also spearheading an investigation into al-Megrahi’s release, which will be completed in the coming weeks.

Al-Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds by Scottish authorities in August 2009 because he was said to have less than three months to live due to prostate cancer. It is now 13 months later and Mr. al-Megrahi is still alive. BP representatives were invited to testify to help clarify the company’s involvement in al-Megrahi’s release, but so far have declined several invitations and failed to offer what Menendez calls, “a useful witness.”

The witness includes, but is not limited to; the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European Affairs with the U.S. State Department; the Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division with the U.S. Department of Justice; the Sr. Vice President for Translation Research & Chair, Department of Urology at the Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY; the Plitz Professor of Cancer Research, Departments of Medicine and Urology at Tulane Medical School; and the Managing Director of K2 Global Consulting.

AN ODD "CONFIRMED" EVENT IN ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO

2010-09-22T15:45:00.003-04:00

It is not going to take place at Area 51, but something rare will happen in Roswell, New Mexico tomorrow at 3pm. It won't be a speech from a creature from another galaxy, but what will happen is becoming alien to the New Jersey State press corps. Governor Chris Christie will have a media availability! At least that's what the Governor's schedule says.

Christie will be at the Roswell Republican Victory Office campaigning for GOP gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez and the schedule says there will be a media availability.

PENSION POLL TOMORROW

2010-09-21T14:14:00.002-04:00

A new Monmouth University-Gannett New Jersey Press Media poll will be released tomorrow asking New Jersey voters if they think Governor Chris Christie and Democratic legislative leaders are working well together and if they trust Christie and/or the legislature when it comes to reforming state government.

The survey also asks Garden Staters their opinions on what the State should do to keep its public employee pension and health benefits system solvent.

You can hear my stories on the survey beginning at 5am tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/22) on NJ 101.5 FM, any of our other Millennium Radio New Jersey stations or on the Internet at nj1015.com

FIND OUT HOW YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SPENDING STIMULUS CASH

2010-09-20T20:55:00.000-04:00

The Christie Administration recently applied for and was granted $268 million dollars in federal education funding.

The New Jersey Department of Education has released figures showing the allocation of the Federal Education Jobs Bill Aid to each district.

The information is posted on the Department's Web site using the following links:

1. A letter from Acting Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks: www.state.nj.us/education/news/2010/0920jobsltr.pdf

2. Guidance on how the federal funds may be spent: www.state.nj.us/education/news/2010/0920jobsguid.pdf

3. A list showing the amount of funds allocated to each district under the state funding formula: www.state.nj.us/education/news/2010/0920jobslst.pdf

Should This Guy Be Fired?

2010-09-15T14:15:00.004-04:00

September 11th.

While the date will always remain a solemn reminder of an attack on America where thousands of lives were lost, has nine years later morphed into a political agenda for some.

On Saturday, Derek Fenton, a 39-year-old man from Bloomingdale, NJ who had worked for NJ Transit for the last 11 years, staged a protest at the site of a proposed mosque near Ground Zero, tearing out and burning pages from the Quran in protest of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

On Monday, Fenton was fired from his job as an assistant train coordinator after photos of his protest appeared in a newspaper. The official word from NJ Transit, through a statement from the agency, is that Mr. Fenton was fired for violating NJ Transit’code of ethics.

While calling the actions of Fenton "self-centered and irresponsible," New Jersey Senator Ray Lesniak (D-Union) said that they do not reflect on his ability to do his job.

“We need to keep our heads while others are losing theirs,” said Senator Lesniak. “Mr. Fenton needs a good talking to by community and religious leaders, not a one way ticket to unemployment.”

While it may be political theatre, freedom of speech gives them the right to protest.

Senator Lesniak noted that the first amendment stands as a protection for politically or socially unpopular expressions, even more than it does for popularly-held beliefs. He pointed to the 1989 Supreme Court decision in the case of Texas vs. Johnson, in which Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan wrote, “If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable."

“While we have every right to disagree with intolerant and misguided speech, we have no right to prohibit such speech,” said Senator Lesniak. “Mr. Fenton’s actions were irresponsible, but should be protected under our Constitution.”

PEDOPHILE-FREE ZONES CLOSER TO LAW IN NJ

2010-09-14T14:52:00.000-04:00

In 2009 a state Supreme Court decision invalidated 118 local ordinances that sought to create “pedophile-free zones” within communities. The Court cited the fact that Megan’s Law, which it held was the primary source of state law dealing with sexual offenders, is silent on the subject of restricting where registered sex offenders may live, and thereby preempted the ability of towns to enact local ordinance.

The State Senate Law and Public Safety Committee approved a measure sponsored by senator Fred Madden that would allow a town to enact an ordinance that would prevent most sex offenders convicted of committing a crime against a minor from residing within 500 feet of a school, playground or child care center. However, towns could not create a zoning scenario that would essentially block an offender from living anywhere within the municipality.

“Communities that wanted nothing more than to protect their children were thrown a curveball by the Courts. By saying that the only impediment to allowing these local laws to stand was the lack of permissive, standardized language in state law, the Court essentially instructed the Legislature enshrine these zones in statute. This legislation would do just that,” explains Madden. He adds, “For many towns across the state, this measure would provide the ability to enact common sense, standardized ordinances that not only will keep children safe, but stand up to legal muster, but more importantly, for the families living in those towns, it would provide them priceless peace of mind.”

The bill also would prohibit locating school bus stops and child care centers near the residence of high risk sex offenders.

MUST-SEE GOV CHRISTIE VIDEO

2010-09-09T16:26:00.003-04:00

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's ongoing battle with the New Jersey Education Association has been in the headlines for months. The Governor has been careful to make clear that his problems are with the teachers' union, not the teachers, but that message might not be getting through to those who are supposed to be educating our children.

For anyone who has ever been yelled at by a teacher (for me it was nuns) there is a new must-see video of Christie putting a rude teacher in her place. Go to youtube.com and search for "Governor Christie Responds To Teacher During Town Hall."

You will be glad you checked this out.

RACE TO THE TOP CONTROVERSY WON’T GO AWAY

2010-09-08T15:16:00.000-04:00

On August 26, State Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono submitted a request to then-Commissioner Bret Schundler – for “all documents prepared, received, maintained, controlled or otherwise possessed by you, your employees or any independent contractors employed by the New Jersey Department of Education related to, discussing or describing New Jersey’s 2010 application to the U.S. Department of Education for The Race to the Top Funding.” The state’s deadline for responding under law was close-of-business yesterday.

At 4:27 p.m. yesterday, Buono received a two-sentence e-mail from the Department asking for an extension until Sept 16 to fulfill the request.

“However reluctantly, I will allow the Department the extra time it asked for, although it is hard to believe that all the information regarding Race to the Top has not already been collected and corralled and made easily retrievable,” says Buono. “The recent turmoil at the Department aside, it’s not as if we’re asking for years of records. But we will give them this narrow period of time to produce everything that can facilitate a full airing of the issues surrounding the state’s application.”

Buono says the information is intended to be part of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee’s Sept 23 hearing to determine the cause of a flubbed response to a question that cost the state 10th-place in the competition and $400 million in federal education aid. The committee will review the materials and work to ensure that, going forward, similar applications are handled with proper and adequate oversight before being submitted.

The information sought under the request is due close-of-business Thursday, Sept 16.

NJ ED DEPARTMENT ALMOST SCRAPPED “RACE TO THE TOP” APPLICATION

2010-09-07T21:40:00.002-04:00

State Education Department officials tell an Assembly panel that a clerical error alone doesn't explain why New Jersey finished just out of the money on $400 million in education grant. They say the state also lost points on its failed Race to the Top (RTTT) application for not having teacher support for merit pay and tenure reforms and for having antiquated data systems.

Today, the Assembly Appropriations Committee explored the mistakes that cost New Jersey $400 million in federal education grant funds. New Jersey lost 5 points for giving budget data for the wrong years. The state finished 3 points behind Ohio, which received federal funding. The state lost some points in the application review because it lost the endorsement of NJEA on certain reform ideas such as merit pay and allowing the firing of teachers based on poor performance and not a lack of seniority.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver is stunned that nobody could answer why the original paperwork was replaced with incorrect data. She says, "It's incredulous to me that you have five of the top decision makers in our State department of Education who know nothing……It's just incredulous to me that the top leaders of this department have no knowledge of anything."

When the state had to scrap its original proposal because of the NJEA’s decision not to support the plan, the entire application was almost scrapped. Assemblyman Herb Conaway asked Assistant State Education commissioner Willa Spicer what it meant to those involved that the application would have to be re-edited. She said, “It was a tough time because we had to first decide whether we would go on.”

Conway asked, “You actually considered whether or not the department could move forward (on the application)?”

“We considered how it could possibly be done. Yes,” responded Spicer.

Omitting the fact that changes were requested because the NJEA refused to support reform measures, Conaway asked, “Because the changes that the Governor was demanding at the time of you in the department jeopardized the application being submitted at all?”

Spicer said, “The commissioner wanted it done and we worked at it as hard as we could to get it done…..It was done.”

A DIFFERENT CHRIS CHRISTIE?

2010-09-02T15:44:00.001-04:00

Governor Chris Christie insists he fired Education Commissioner Bret Schundler because Schundler “misled” him about an application mistake that may cost New jersey hundreds of millions in education grants. Schundler said he never misled Christie and now says Christie is not being truthful about the incident.

“Misled” is one way to put it. The other (equally true) way to put it is that Christie is calling Schundler a liar and Schundler is now calling Christie a liar. These things happen in politics, but for the first time since taking office, Christie is not using the bully pulpit or taking on a public fight. He’s refusing to directly respond to Schundler’s accusation that he’s lying.

It’s not my place to say this is a good or bad strategy on Christie’s part, but I can say it is a wholesale departure from the Christie style of governing that the press corps has come to expect.

Today, when asked about Schundler’s remarks Christie said, “I don’t have anything more to say on that. I’ve said exactly what I’ve had to say on that topic and I don’t have anything else to say about it……I have told you exactly what went on in that conversation (with Schundler) and I’m not going to get any further or deeper into this.”

“I think my actions in this regard from the minute I’ve gotten into office forward speak louder than anything else and I’m just not going to get into any more of these specifics,” said Christie. “I think the things that have happened over the course of the last week are sad. They really are and it’s not what I wanted to happen……..I have great respect for commissioner Schundler’s passion for education reform and for his commitment to those issues and that’s why I picked him in the first place……..He and I had many other disagreements before this that everybody chronicled very, very carefully so it’s not like I was looking for an excuse to do something.”

Initially Christie said he was not going to fire anyone over the mistake. He admitted he was not happy about it and said Schundler wasn't happy about it either. Two days later Christie fired Schundler.

Christie said he was first told by Schundler that when the commissioner went in for a personal interview two weeks before the grant decision was made Schundler verbally gave the 08 and 09 state budget numbers that the application was seeking. Christie claimed the 08/09 comparison supports the state getting the full five points.

The following day Christie had a lot to answer for after the Obama Administration released a video tape showing Schundler and his aides were unable to answer questions about the error.

Yesterday, Schundler sent out an e-mail which read in part, "On Thursday, the Obama Administration released a video tape that proved (Christie’s) statement was untrue. The Governor was embarrassed. Rather than acknowledge his culpability for the false statement, he fired me - his Commissioner of Education - charging that I had given him and his staff bad information on the point in question. But I had not. I had given them correct information. The Governor's charge against me is false."

Again, as politely put as it may be it is clear Schundler is calling Christie a liar. Thus far, the Governor is not addressing that issue head-on.

HE’S FIRED, HE’S FIRED UP AND NOW SCHUNDLER’S FIRING BACK

2010-09-01T14:56:00.003-04:00

An easily corrected mistake on New Jersey's application for the highly competitive Race to the Top education grants might have cost the state $400 million. Last Tuesday, the federal government announced that nine states and the District of Columbia had won the coveted grants. New Jersey was the top runner-up.

The following day, Christie said he was not going to fire anyone over the mistake. He admitted he was not happy about it and said Education commissioner, Bret Schundler wasn't happy about it either. Two days later Christie fired Schundler.

Schundler says he never told Christie he fixed the mistake, but now the Governor says, "It is I think pretty clear at this point that the truth wasn't told…….It does not make me feel to have to say that someone mislead me…..Don't lie to the Governor. That's the message."

Today, Schundler fired off an e-mail to reporters with five separate attachments. One is a lengthy chronology of events from his perspective and the other four are supporting documents. In the text of the e-mail Schundler wrote, “I’ve held up distributing this chronology of events because I haven’t wanted the education agenda I support to be harmed by Governor Christie being weakened. But the Governor saying yesterday that I lied to him forces me to defend myself. You can quote from this chronology all you want. But please don’t call me for comment or ask me for an interview. I am sick of this thing and will let the Governor have the last word. Just know that what I’ve written here is the truth, and please provide an internet link to this material in your coverage so people can see it for themselves. I know most of you won’t be able to print or air all of this.”

The chronology all of which can be found on www.statehousesteps.com and www.nj1015.com under “Top New Jersey Story.” Here’s a small sampling of the scathing, must-read chronology, “Last Wednesday, while criticizing the Obama Administration during a press conference, the Governor made a statement in support of an argument he was trying to drive home. Unfortunately, the statement was untrue. I had stressed this point to him when he told me what he planned to say, right before the press conference began. I had also discussed the matter at length with his Chief of Staff and his Director of Communications the day before, so they knew the facts of the matter.”

“On Thursday, the Obama Administration released a video tape that proved the statement was untrue. The Governor was embarrassed. Rather than acknowledge his culpability for the false statement, he fired me – his Commissioner of Education – charging that I had given him and his staff bad information on the point in question. But I had not. I had given them correct information. The Governor’s charge against me is false.”

“(The) idea, that you simply admit making a mistake, obviously didn’t sit well with the Governor because the next morning, while I was at my office, I received a phone call from him. The Governor was on speakerphone and Rich Bagger was with him. The Governor said he was angry about the missing information in our grant application, but that no one was going to lose their job over it. He said he was about to do a press conference about the matter, and that he believed it isalways better to be on offense than defense, so he would accept responsibility for the error, and then go on offense against the Obama Administration. He was going to try to make the story about their picayune rules. He was going to say that I gave the reviewers the missing information, but the Obama Administration refused to give us the points we deserved, and that this showed they put bureaucratic rules above meaningful education reform.”

TIME TO MOVE ON FROM THE "RACE TO THE TOP" MESS?

2010-08-31T15:49:00.004-04:00

When he first addressed the State House press corps about the "Race to the Top" application error, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie partially blamed the Obama Administration for letting a clerical mistake stand in the way of allowing the state to have a shot at $400 million in federal education grants. Christie also said State Education commissioner Bret Schundler claimed to have corrected the error in a personal interview with federal officials two weeks before the grants were awarded. The Governor insisted he wasn't going to fire anyone.

Last Thursday the Obama Administration released a video that contradicted Schundler's claims that he fixed the mistake in the personal interview. The following day Christie fired Schundler.

Schundler claims he never told Christie he corrected the error, but Christie insists that he did and now says that's why Schundler was fired. The Governor said, "Don't lie to the Governor. That's the message."

Christie alkso says it's time to move on, but an Assembly committee is still planning to hold a hearing on the issue next week.

Do you think it's time to move on?

SCHUNDLER....WILL HE OR WON'T HE?

2010-08-30T14:06:00.003-04:00

Despite the fact that Governor Chris Christie fired Education Commissioner Bret Schundler over an application error that may have cost the state a shot at $400 million in federal "Race to the Top" education grants, an Assembly panel will still convene a hearing on the issue one week from tomorrow.

Assembly Appropriations Committee chairperson Nellie Pou says Schundler has been invited to testify, but he has yet to respond. Trenton's political establishment and State House insiders are all waiting anxiously to learn Schundler's decision.

Schundler did not go quietly. The day after the application mistake story was broken by the Newark Star Ledger, Christie blamed a mid-level education department staffer, the New Jersey Education Association and the Obama Administration. He claimed Schundler corrected to error in a personal interview with federal officials two weeks before the grants were awarded.

The following day, the Obama Administration released a video showing that clearly was not the case. On the tape Schundler and several aides can be seen and heard as they were unable to provide the information requested. Christie fired Schundler the next day, but Schundler now claims he never told Christie he corrected the error. Christie disputes that claim.

If Schundler does show up for the hearing, there will likely be some serious fireworks.

CHRISTIE TO APPEAR ON "ASK THE GOV" TONIGHT

2010-08-26T16:50:00.002-04:00

If you'd like to hear Governor Chris Christie explain how an application error cost the state a shot at $400 million in frederal "Race to the Top" education grants, tune into NJ 101.5 FM tonight at 7pm. You can also listen live at www.nj1015.com Christie will be in studio with host Eric Scott and the application screw-up (if that's what really happened) will most likely be topic A, B and C.

If you want to ask the Governor about it yourself, the number to call in is, 1-800-283-1015.

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER SITE

2010-08-24T23:45:00.003-04:00

Today I was given a private tour of the World Trade Center site. It was moving and rewarding. Videos and audio of the tour along with the news story filed for Millennium Radio News can be found after 5am tomorrow (8/25) http://www.nj1015.com/ and http://www.statehousesteps.com/

Videos from the tour that can be viewed tomorrow include an inside look at the rebuilding of 1 World Trade and the WTC memorial.

Exactly where is Ground Zero, literally? Thursday you will be able to see Bill Baroni, deputy exectuive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey pointing that out.

Friday, we'll put up a short video showing the "survivors' stairs," which will be on display in the underground WTC museum. These are the actual steps hundreds of people used to get out of the towers on 9/11. They remain relatively intact which is amazing when you stop to think about the purpose the "survivors' stairs" served.

The videos are short because there was so much to see and so little time in which to do the seeing. I found it interesting that today the first plants were put in around the memorial. Baroni says when people and victims' family members come for the 9th anniversary they will see, "There is life here. There is growth. We've talk about growth at the World Trade Center for years in terms of cement and steel. Now we're talking about real growth, life here."

The ivy planted today and the trees that will be planted this Saturday were shipped in from Skillman, New Jersey.

THIS NEVER HAPPENS IN TRENTON

2010-08-23T17:11:00.002-04:00

Today, the State Senate held a rare August voting session. The Upper House considered 16 bills. One that received final legislative approval and now heads to Governor Chris Christie gives the State Attorney General six months to study and report on the graduated driver's license program.

There has been some controversy over a new law that requires younger drivers to place decals on their license plates to make it easier for police to know if they're driving at the wrong time or if they have too many passengers in the car. Opponents claim the decals make teens targets for predators.

There were pension reform bills considered as well environment-related legislation. The amazing thing is; from start to finish the entire session lasted roughly 25 minutes. I don't know if I've ever seen so many lawmakers in one room who didn't feel the need to talk at length. About anything.

SCHOOL SUPERS GET SOME SUPPORT FROM LAWMAKERS

2010-08-19T17:28:00.000-04:00

Since taking office in January, Governor Chris Christie has been waging an ongoing war with the New Jersey Education Association. He’s been taking aim at union leaders and school administrators. Christie has criticized union chiefs for not being willing to give back a little to ensure the state’s pension and benefits system can stay afloat. He’s attacked administrators for having bloated salaries and prior to the most recent school budget elections he urged voters to reject budgets in districts where teachers refused to take a wage freeze. Not everyone agrees with Christie when it comes to school superintendents.

Assembly members Joan Voss and Ralph R. Caputo have introduced legislation that would reinstate career tenure for school superintendents. Under the bill, the current system of contract tenure for school superintendents would be replaced with career tenure. Any superintendents currently under contract would not be eligible to begin accruing career tenure credit until the expiration of the current contract and their subsequent rehiring by the local board of education.

Voss, vice chair of the Assembly Education Committee says, “Removing lifetime tenure for superintendents has had some serious unintended consequences. Superintendents now act more like free agents, moving from district to district when their contracts expire, negotiating new deals that have led to the bloated salaries and over-inflated, lavish compensation packages taxpayers are currently forced to fund.”

“Restoring career tenure could be a quick and easy way to combat the current superintendent mentality that, no matter how good the pay under an existing contract, a future contract will always be more lucrative,” says Caputo, a retired teacher and former school administrator. “That type of thinking has to stop. It’s harmful to taxpayers, who foot the bill, and it’s harmful to students, who don’t benefit from a top administrator focused their long-term educational well being.”

FIVE-PART PENSION REFORM SERIES COMING NEXT WEEK

2010-08-13T13:06:00.002-04:00

I'll be taking Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week off so I will not be blogging again until Thursday. My new State House colleague Stacy Proebstle will blog instead when she is able. I've worked alone in the State House for 8 years so, I've got it down fairly well. Stacy has only been here about a month and she's getting the hang of it quickly. I don't want the thought of having to blog be another thing on her plate when she's flying solo.

I did put together a 5-part series on pensions and benefits reform that will begin airing Monday and can be heard on NJ 101.5 FM and several other Millennium Radio New Jersey radio stations.

Now, I'm off.

Environment vs. Economy at Senate & Assembly Environment Committee joint hearing

2010-08-12T17:40:00.004-04:00

A joint panel of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee and the Senate Environment and Energy Committee chaired by Assemblyman John McKeon and Senator Bob Smith approved a multi-package of bills aimed at improving the health of Barnegat Bay.

Toms River Township Hall was packed today as more than 500 people including elected officials, stakeholders, and members of the public showed up to voice their concerns.

The package of four bills includes one that regulates fertilizer content. Another bill creates soil restoration standards. Two others regulate stormwater runoff, including one that would allow Ocean county to charge developers a fee to repair old storm basins.

The most controversial in the group is the fertilizer bill, which would establish a statewide fertilizer standard, the most stringent in the country. Under the bill, individuals would be prohibited from applying fertilizer within 10 feet of any water body in the state. It would also require the use of slow-release nitrogen in retail sale fertilizers. Additional requirements include training professional landscapers on the proper use and hazards of fertilizer application and prohibits application from November 15th through March 1st.

Environmental groups including the New Jersey Sierra Club, Save Barnegat Bay, the Surfrider Foundation and Clean Ocean Action support the fertilizer bill, which would help reduce nutrient pollution and improve water quality.

But fertilizer companies and retailers are concerned.

John Holub, President of the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association says the bill could hurt businesses. "The potential for the window becoming much smaller in the time when people can apply the product, that would definitely impact sales."

Nancy Sadlon, Executive Director of the NJ Green Industry Council says it would also impact fertilizer companies. "The 30% slow-release number being required by this bill impacts the ability to make a product that works."

Ocean County Freeholders had a different message.

Both John Bartlett and Gerry Little say they will not impose a new tax on constituents.

Freeholder Bartlett says this bill would authorize Ocean County to create a stormwater management utility with the ability to tax. "If they want to see this occur, than mandate it. You mandate it and then the state will pay for it. We will not create a new tax on our residents, we just won't do it."

Little agrees, "The legislation that they are proposing would impose a new tax of perhaps up to hundreds of millions of dollars. If the state wants this, the state should mandate and pay for it."

It is essentially a Catch-22 situation.

For decades people have been complaining that not enough is being done to protect, repair, and restore the dying Barnegat Bay. Yet some elected officials and industry leaders say they can't afford it, residents can't afford it, businesses can't afford it.

What is the price of a healthy watershed in New Jersey?

“Today, we are turning the tide to stop the degradation of Barnegat Bay and breathe new life into its waters. This multi-bill package gives us the tools we need to reduce further contamination of an ecological treasure that is an important economic driver for our state,” said Assembly Environment Chairman John F. McKeon (D-Essex).

SENATE HAS POSTPONED THURSDAY'S BUDGET HEARING

2010-08-10T14:39:00.003-04:00

State Senate President Steve Sweeney says Thursday's budget committee hearing will be re-scheduled. Senator Paul Sarlo, the panel's chairman was taken into surgery today to have his appendix removed.

A spokesman for the Senate Democratic Office isn't sure if Sarlo's appendix burst or if the doctors got it just in time, but he was immediately rushed into surgery. I wish the Senator well. I've had my appendix taken out too and the pain leading up to the surgery is not at all fun.

The budget committee was supposed consider several pension reform bills including one that would bar future employees of certain agencies and associations from joinjing the pension system, another that would cap payouts for public workers' unused sick days and vacation time and another to limit disciplinary appeals for public employees.

ALL QUIET ON WEST STATE STREET

2010-08-09T15:04:00.002-04:00

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is in the second week of his two week vacation. Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno has kept a pretty low profile in Christie's absence. This is the first time in New Jersey's history that a Lt. Governor is running the show because Guadagno is the first Lt. Governor this state has ever had.

Things will heat up Thursday when the State Senate Budget Committee convenes a hearing to explore more items in Christie's property tax-cutting "tool kit."

The panel will consider bills that would bar members of certain associations from enrolling in the state pension system, limit disciplinary appeals for unionized public workers and cap payouts unused sick days and vacation time.

NJ GOV HAS A NEW SPARRING PARTNER

2010-08-06T09:42:00.001-04:00

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has had and is still having well documented fights with various public employee unions. Today, a new feud may have emerged despite the fact that Christie is in the middle of a two-week vacation.

Following yesterday's Assembly Budget panel hearing, Assembly Democratic Budget Committee chairman, Lou Greenwald released a statement saying,“Governor (Chris) Christie may be content with his victory laps and confabs with the Queen of England, but this budget deficit clearly shows the impact of his failure to meet obligations such as funding pensions, property tax relief and school aid.” Governor Christie can try to solve problems by avoiding obligations and pretending they don’t exist, but that's like a family saying, 'We're going to tighten our belts and we're going to live within our means, but we’re not paying our bills.’ A family wouldn’t do that, and neither should the state.”

The response from Christie’s office came quickly. Press secretary Michael Drewniak said, “Assemblyman Greenwald held a mid-summer partisan dog-and-pony show today in which he again failed to take any responsibility whatsoever for his and former Governor (Jon) Corzine's failed stewardship over ballooning spending and tax increases which brought us to where we are today. This politically motivated show hearing comes from the same Assemblyman who once famously said that the Legislature needed the “courage to spend.”

Drewniak wasn’t done. He added, “Governor Christie's budget was balanced without tax increases – an accomplishment Assemblyman Greenwald could never claim over his years as budget chairman. Rather than make any difficult decisions at all, he urges restoration of budget cuts and increases in spending. He voted for Jon Corzine’s tax increases, and even proposed having towns levy their own income and sales taxes,” says Drewniak. “Today’s hearing – in which Assemblyman Greenwald professes concern about deficits – comes from the same legislative leader who sponsored a bill last week that would have added $100 million in spending without any funding source or budget cuts. New Jersey taxpayers want this budget mess that Governor Christie inherited fixed. They’ve had enough, and they’ve had enough of inaction, failed leadership and politically motivated show hearings.”

This could get entertaining.

How Governor Christie Spent His Summer Vacation

2010-08-03T14:32:00.004-04:00

Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Linda Stender called on their Republican colleagues in both houses to join with Democrats in supporting a critical vote to override Governor Christie's recent veto of a bill providing $7.5 million for women's health and family planning centers throughout New Jersey.

But before Tuesday's press conference, they played a short video entitled, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation;" a jab at Governor Christie who is currently on vacation with his family.

Senator Weinberg said, "The Governor likes to laugh and have fun, so I'm sure he would appreciate this."

One slide said, "God Save the Queen...especially if she needs healthcare in NJ." Governor Christie met the Queen of England on her visit here last month.

Another pointed to his tax break for millionaires as opposed to a $10 million tax credit for TV/Film Productions to stay in Jersey. Now shows like Law & Order SVU have said they will film elsewhere, taking $55 million with them.

Fist pumping Governor? A comparison slide showed Christie with his arm in a fist pump next to a picture of Snooki from the MTV show "Jersey Shore."

Finally, July 23rd. "The Governor vetoed bill providing healthcare for 136,000 men and women who rely on family planning centers."

The video suggests that Governor Christie has sat on the sidelines for most of the summer. So,what has he accomplished so far?

June 29th- Signs a $29.4 billion state budget, hours after Democrats provide votes needed for Legislature to pass it

July 13th- Signed legislation capping local spending and property tax growth at 2 percent a year

The Legislature has been meeting throughout the summer to consider other bills in the Governor's tool-kit to help rein in property taxes.

Governor Christie has said he likes to "get things done."

It's not like he's only been sipping margaritas poolside during June and July.

Weinberg is right, Christie does like to laugh and have fun, but I'm not positive he's going to appreciate this Powerpoint parody.

http://www.statehousesteps.com/pages/7833954.php?contentType=4&contentId=6582558