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Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 09:30:00 AM EDT
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Wow. What a storm! Bergen County was hard hit with more than 87,000 residents still without power as of last night. Right here in Teaneck, things were pretty bad. Two of our residents were killed Saturday evening by a falling tree as they walked home from synagogue. A terrible tragedy for our community. We have more than 150 trees down and last evening were given a "boil water advisory" from United Water because of a power outage at their treatment facility. The first three months of the new decade have certainly presented us with challenges - the weather AND a new Governor (along with the job losses, the faltering economy, and property taxes).
And what a way to begin a new week. This morning the Judiciary Committee meets to question three of the Governor's new nominees: Commissioners of Banking & Insurance (Considine), Environmental Protection (Martin) and Health & Senior Services (Dr. Alaigh). I would guess this will be another full day event. My view of the appointees we have already interviewed and approved (Transportation, Education, Motor Vehicles, Attorney General, Human Services, Department of Children) is that this is an interesting group. Senator Nia Gill did a superb job questioning new Motor Vehicles Commissioner Martinez about his two prior (more than 20 years ago) DWI convictions. He was forthcoming in his answers. Sen. Gill finished her in depth questioning illustrating that sometimes these kinds of experiences end up having a positive effect on a person's life if they've learned from them. In fact, they might help make him a better administrator as he deals with the state's drivers. Let's hope the Republicans remember that in the future.
So in my view this appears to be a pretty eclectic group, and none thus far seem to have come through a local political organization. In fact, it appears that most did not really know Christie before they were nominated (perhaps with the exception of Attorney General Paula Dow). We'll see what we learn about the three new nominees today, and I know we will all closely watch how they collectively develop policy and work with the Legislature. More to come after today's group is questioned.
Tuesday, Governor Christie delivers his "almost" draconian first budget for which he has been trying to set the groundwork. I'm sure there will be enough pain to go around (unless you earn more than $400,000 per year, and then you will not be asked to sacrifice). Cuts in state aide to municipalities and school districts are a foregone conclusion. Let's see what that does to property taxes in our communities. How will he handle property rebates - remember that one from the campaign?
But let's stop beating up on our public employees - cops, fire personnel, motor vehicle workers, folks who clean bathrooms and empty garbage in the State House, teachers who give our children a pretty decent start in life, hospital and nursing home folks, crossing guards, cafeteria workers, etc. I voted for the pension reform bills and I do not believe any of them are very draconian. Public employees do have great benefits, and they are being called on to "share some of the pain". Having said that, I believe the Governor and our legislative leadership should lower the temperature here and try to build a little future cooperation for the things we might have to do together to deal with our severe budget problems.
This past week I was invited to speak before the Hunterdon DFA at a wonderful little rustic restaurant in Flemington. Other than getting lost in finding the place, it was a pretty fun experience (thank you Rosi). There was a nice turnout, and I think my job was to motivate these folks to keep up the hard work they are doing in a really "Red" county. Enjoyed seeing Wendy Berger who is running for local council; meeting the Hunterdon County Democratic Chairwoman; and the other local candidates there who were willing to give voice to important issues. I hope our new Democratic State Chair takes notice and supports in some way the Democrats willing to put their names on the ballot in some lonely places.
Yesterday, I spoke on health policy before the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. They are truly worried about the loss of physicians in their specialty here in New Jersey. Of the new graduates this past year from our medical school, only 7 surgeons decided to remain in New Jersey. These are issues we hope our new bipartisan Women Legislators caucus will be addressing in late spring. There's much work to do to in this area. Access to health care will become an even larger issue if we do not have a physician work force large enough to take care of our population.
Don't forget that Saturday is the Center for American Women in Politics "Ready to Run" conference at Rutgers. It's a great environment for women deciding to run for office or to participate in a campaign. I'll look forward to seeing some of you there.
Stay safe and keep your voices heard!
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Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 09:16:49 AM EDT
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Newsradio 1010Wins and the AP have sources that are leaking Christie's budget proposals. Highlights:
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is preparing to introduce a budget that suspends property tax rebates, cuts more than $1 billion in aid to schools and towns and skips a $3 billion contribution to the state pension system, legislative leaders said Sunday...
The budget proposes an $819 million cut in aid to school districts and a $445 million cut in aid to towns. Christie is expected to call for a 2.5 percent spending cap for schools and towns, but that constitutional amendment would have to be approved by voters and wouldn't likely take effect until 2012. If approved, spending above the cap would require voter approval.
Christie's budget spares the state's 65,000 union workers from layoffs and includes the 3.5 percent pay raise they are due July
No property tax rebates to anyone.
Another $3 billion payment to the pension fund will be skipped. Well, Corzine did the same thing but we now know the investment strategy is buy nothing when the stock market is low.
Contrary to Christie's campaign promises, higher ed gets a $170 million cut.
Christie thinks he will get $50 million from privatization.
If I'm not mistaken, a $29 billion budget is the same size as Corzine's 2010 budget, which would imply that Corzine will remain the only New Jersey governor to actually cut state spending.
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Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 09:15:00 AM EDT
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 Five Senate committees will meet today and the Assembly will hold a voting session with twenty nine bills on the agenda for consideration.
The Senate Judiciary will consider three nominations including Thomas Considine to be Commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance, Bob Martin to be Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection and Poonam Alaigh to be Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services. The Martin nomination has raised concerns from environmental groups and the Alaigh nomination has had people on the right up in arms.
The Economic Growth committee will consider Senator Lesniak's legislation that would change the way affordable housing is done in New Jersey. The State Government Committee has invited Catherine Starghill, Esq., Executive Director of the NJ Government Records Council to discuss the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The Environment Committee has seven bills up for consideration including bills dealing with the highlands and renewable energy.
Among the legislation up for consideration in the Assembly voting session is a bill that would convert property tax rebates to direct credits on the tax bill. Also on the agenda is a bill sponsored by Burzichelli to direct the State Commission of Investigation to look into the finances and operations of the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association. Still another bill would create a New Jersey Honor Guard Ribbon for the New Jersey National Guard. And then A-2420 eliminates the 10-day waiting period for certain shareholder actions not concerning mergers and acquisition activity governed by state law.
I'll put the full list of bills up for consideration below the fold. If you can't make it to Trenton, you can follow along live here.
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Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 09:09:55 PM EDT
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Promoted by Jason: Joey found another cut for the Governor. In yet another Executive Order sure to rile clock and calendar makers, Governor Chris Christie issued Executive Order 247, cutting back an hour a day from the days in New Jersey.
"This will save New Jersey residents 365 hours every year, and at least $7.25 per hour per resident ----roughly a total of $23,067,361,250.00 for our state coffers. That's a lot, I think," said the spokesman for the governor.
Democratic legislative leadership vowed to request the New Jersey Supreme Court to issue a stay to the Executive Order 247, and have the "Order only effect just Sunday, March 14," and "to get the hour back by the fall in November." This order particularly irked the Democratic leadership because of the governor signing the order to take place "between 2AM and 3AM" Sunday morning, "while New Jersey residents slept".
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 247
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey ("State") is confronting an unprecedented temporal crisis affecting all levels of government; and
WHEREAS, actual and anticipated time spent and utilized by the State continue to fall far below the amounts estimated in the Temporal Year 2010
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRIS CHRISTIE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
That ONE-HOUR per day shall be removed from the days in New Jersey, commencing Sunday, March 14th, 2010.
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Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 05:05:20 PM EDT
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I wonder if all the right-wingers ranting against Democrats and Frank LoBiondo for voting for a cap-and-trade bill know that New Jersey is already in a 10-state regional cap-and-trade agreement to limit carbon dioxide emissions.
On March 12, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative announced the results of the latest auction (PDF):
The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) today announced the results of the first quarterly auction of carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances in 2010. The auction, held Wednesday, March 10th, yielded $87,956,944.56 for investment in the clean energy economy.
All of the 40,612,408 CO2 allowances for the first three-year control period (2009-2011) offered in Wednesday's auction sold at a price of $2.07.
In a parallel offering, the RGGI states also auctioned CO2 allowances for the second three-year control period (2012-2014). A total of 2,091,000 of the 2,137,992 CO2 allowances for the second control period sold at a price of $1.86. Unsold allowances may be sold in future auctions according to each state's regulations.
Proceeds from all auctions held to date now total more than $582.3 million. States are investing proceeds to improve energy efficiency and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies, creating thousands of jobs.
I don't have New Jersey's share of the proceeds (Delaware made $2 million), but according to law New Jersey's share is invested as follows:
* 60 percent of proceeds to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) for end-use energy efficiency, combined heat and power, and renewable energy project loans and grants in the commercial, institutional, and industrial sectors.
* 20 percent of proceeds to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to support programs to reduce electricity costs or electricity demand for low- and moderate-income residential electricity customers.
* 20 percent of proceeds to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to support local government programs to implement greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures (10%) and programs to enhance forest stewardship and tidal marsh restoration that provide important opportunities to sequester carbon (10%).
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Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 03:18:29 PM EDT
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I just can't understand the Democrats in the state right now. Consider this piece from the Auditor today about the marginalizing of Joe Cryan::One of the key differences that has emerged resulted from Cryan's push to restore a tax surcharge on the wealthiest New Jerseyans. Cryan is advocating for the so-called "millionaire's tax" both on the merits (it would raise money during a budget crunch) and on the politics (it would give Democrats a chance to portray Gov. Chris Christie as tool of the rich and enemy of the working class). But Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester), The Auditor is told by key Statehouse sources, has told Cryan he doesn't support it and Christie would veto it. It makes no sense on any level. There is widespread support for a millionaires tax, including among the wealthy. Even Republicans are split down the middle on the issue. Cutting the millionaire's tax is an unpopular move, but it looks like Sweeney is about to give Christie a pass on it. So let Christie veto it and draw the contrast about who everyone is fighting for. I don't get the strategy on a practical or political level.
While millionaires get tax cuts, the working class faces higher bus fares, less funding for schools, and higher property taxes. If the Democrats aren't willing to show they will stand up and fight for the people that put them there and are taking it on the chin, why should those people keep fighting to put them in office? It's time for our leaders to stand up, not down.
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Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 02:10:28 PM EDT
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We wrote about the heat the new Burlington County Freeholder administrator Paul Drayton has been taking since his selection by the Republican Freeholder board the other day. Now the board is coming under greater scrutiny because of the choice, a close friend of Party boss Glenn Paulsen. Their unwillingness to be forthcoming and inability to admit they made a mistake has led the Courier to offer this take on what they are doing:The Republican majority on the freeholder board appears to be ignoring what's in the public interest in favor of what's in their partisan interest. The Courier wants the Freeholder board to cut their losses and let Drayton go, but the Republican Freeholders haven't been willing to take that step yet. The editorial called the selection of Drayton a "highly partisan pick, and a bad one given some of what we know." Not only is the selection questionable, but the process by which he came about deserves further scrutiny. The Republican Freeholders have been unwilling to make public the names of the people who interviewed for the position and the finalists only met with the Freeholder Director and Deputy Director. That's far from the transparency they promised the voters.
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Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 12:00:00 PM EDT
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 On the Record has Michael Aron having a conversation with Barbara Keshishian, NJEA President. In the discussion, she responds to Governor Chris Christie's tough rhetoric on teacher pensions/health benefits, budget cuts and possible administration tax.
 Over on Reporter's Roundtable, - they will talk about Governor Chris Christie's upcoming budget message, the Governor announcing he can't break the contract made with the state worker's union, and the Governor creating a commission to look at privatization.
Michael Aron hosted this weeks show with a panel including Nick Acocella of Politifax, Terrance Dopp from Bloomberg News, Matt Friedman with PolitickerNJ.com and now the Star ledger, and Charles Stile for The Record of Bergen County.
You can click on the images to watch the stream of each show.
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Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 09:45:42 AM EDT
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Warmies for the trees
In West Cape May a Mystery Knitter is sneaking up to trees and outfitting their trunks with knitwear. I thought you should know.
Still raining? Take it out on the peeps
There's a contest to Primp your Peeps, which I of course read as Pimp your peeps. Create a diorama, using marshmallow peeps. I would suggest perhaps a diorama of the governor's budget address, or maybe the governor-peep about to eat the rest of a package of peeps. Here's some from Washington Post's contest, totally worth sitting through the brief ad up front. If you do political peeps, we want the pictures.
We get more detail on the "tools" Christie promised for towns to hold down local property taxes
Gov. Chris Christie will propose a constitutional amendment limiting annual property tax increases to 2.5%, but for municipal, school & county property tax levies it would be a "hard" cap, without exceptions for rising health insurance costs or debt payments. Local voter approval would be needed to raise taxes higher than that. Plan is based on Massachusetts Proposition 2.5 (adopted 1980's), which critics say "resulted in cuts to valued services rather than simply calling forth greater efficiency from local governments." Of course, this has to get by the legislature.
Meet the "greedy" "bloodsuckers"
Not too many people say these things to their faces, but NJ pensioners feeling the harsh backlash going on in public forums.
Rutgers is cleaning house of old professors
I don't know any other way to put it.
N.J. tax revenue collections fall short by nearly $500M through last month
The state took in about $41.5 million less than expected for the state budget in February, keeping revenues 2.8% below target for the year.
Sen. Ray Lesniak's bill to replace COAH
Star Ledger calls it "deeply flawed" and urges that tomorrow's scheduled vote on it in Senate committee be postponed.
On time
NJ tax return checks won't be delayed.
The war on marijuana
Tom Moran on the expensive, and pointless drug war on a substance creating less havoc than alcohol does.
Joe Cryan kept out of key talks
The Auditor on an effort to make the Assembly Majority Leader the "black sheep" for his position on the "millionaire's tax," which by the way is the right onw.
A military mom's duty to her son, brain-injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq
Here's the article. And here's where you can donate to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Newark politics and message t-shirts
T-shirt FAIL.
Perth Amboy's non-partisan elections
Moving from May to November.
Harvesting wind
Sen. Steve Sweeney sees the $300 million marine terminal under construction in Paulsboro as a key to regional economic development and a place to manufacture wind turbines, which are big and heavy enough that it's hard to move them by road or rail. If they were made on the waterfront, they could be moved by barge and new jobs opened up for South Jersey workers.
E-mail invite sounded like offer you can't refuse
Charlie Stile on that "Godfather" political planning strategy session.
Open Space
Tough economic times means cutting back on county land preservation programs, to balance budgets and prevent tax hikes.
For Newark schools
A coalition of charter & district school educators, meeting regularly.
To earmark, or not to earmark
"Pork?" Or "member-directed spending"? Which view is better for New Jersey?
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Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 07:28:07 PM EST
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Zack Fink has a story about Lou Manzo, who has announced he will hold a press conference next week to accuse federal prosecutors of misconduct in building a case against him.
Toward the end of Fink's story, which he titled "Jack Shaw's last words," he has this exchange that occured after Manzo and Jersey City Political consultant were waiting in jail: When asked about the nature of the interrogation Manzo says Shaw told him "Guantanamo's got nothin' on these guys." Shaw died a week later,...an apparent drug overdose which Manzo believes was not intentional. According to Fink, Shaw told Manzo he had been interrogated for "several hours" the night before at a hotel room in Secaucus trying to get him to implicate Joe Doria, who still hasn't been charged. Even if you believe what Manzo is saying, I don't know how he will ever prove what he's saying because Shaw isn't around to corroborate the story. And it's not like Manzo will be able to clear his name in the court of public opinion, past a correction on the inside pages of a paper.
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