Quote of the Day 
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Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 07:30:21 PM EST
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The problems of the broke unemployment fund have roots on both sides of the aisle, but the Christie Administration has focused on the actions of Democrats in recent years. The Auditor took a stroll down memory lane and found that people close to the Governor had a hand in creating the mess:But The Auditor has found a number of those controversial maneuvers were enacted when Republicans ran the Legislature in the 1990s, and Christie chief of staff Rich Bagger - then a state lawmaker - voted yes four times from 1992 to 2002.
Derek Roseman, spokesman for Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester), enjoyed this stroll through legislative history. "In Trenton," Roseman said, "politics is often like loading a mousetrap with dynamite: Even when making your point, you might accidentally blow up half your house." That revelation prompted a more subdued response from Christie's communications people saying that both sides created the mess and now everyone could join together fixing it. But lets see how long it takes before they go back to blaming all the ills of our state on the Democrats.
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Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 01:30:00 PM EST
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The smoking gun got a hold of some of the 550 complaints filed against NJ Toll Collectors in the last 18 months and some of them are eye opening. They've gotten the attention of Assemblymen Wisniewski and Moriarty, who want some answers about the complaints and customer service training for employees. Here's how Assemblyman Wisnewski characterized the complaints:"They range from rude to obnoxious to just unspeakable," I read some of them and that quote is pretty much right on. And then there was this runner up quote in response from the Transporation Commissioner:Simpson, who has been on the job for only three weeks, also was trying to learn specifics about customer service training. But he vowed that if motorists were abused by toll collectors and it could be corroborated, "I will personally rip the toll-taker out of the lane." The Assemblymen are asking for more stories to be emailed to them and said they may schedule hearings on the complaints. I use EZ Pass so I don't normally talk to the toll collectors, but it seems like I'm missing out.
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Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 01:39:42 PM EST
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The Philadelphia Inquirer continues the reporting on a disturbing story we began to share with you recently about alleged corruption within the Camden Police department that has caused people to be released without an explanation. There are so many disturbing stories and potential quotes to choose from in this piece, but I went with the one at the very end of the story on the consequences of it all:The hardest part, though, may be renewing confidence in the criminal justice system.
"If the police are no different from the thugs, who are we supposed to depend on when we need help?" Mills said. That's a good question. Granted, it's not all police. But that's similar to how all politicians fight the corruption meme because of the actions of a few. How do you restore the public trust when innocent people have been framed and served time for nothing more than being in the wrong place, at the wrong time to be busted by the wrong people.
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Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 01:21:27 PM EST
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This story in the Mercer County Community College Voice should not to be missed. A professor was teaching a State and Local politics class talking about how they would fix our budget problem. When the issue of double dipping came up, the Professor gave the example of the the county Sheriff, who can collect his salary as sheriff while collecting his pension in retirement at the same time.
A student in the class sent the Sheriff a text message regarding the comments, who then showed up with an aide at the class! After talking to the Professor outside and getting an apology in front of the class, we get this: Both Buckley and Grindlinger report Sheriff Larkin as saying, "This isn't over," on his way out of the classroom. According to Buckley, Larkin's aide, who was waiting outside the classroom, said as the classroom door was closing, "You're a terrible teacher, you should get your facts from a book." He couldn't have waited to voice his displeasure to the professor until after the class ended? I think the students learned more than they ever thought they would in that class after the interruption. The Sheriff just succeeded in making the story bigger by crashing the class.
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Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 03:56:44 PM EST
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The Governor is driving around the state assessing how bad things are and he's got some pointed words for truck drivers:The governor had harsh words for commercial truck drivers, urging them to slow down and "not drive like idiots" while traveling through New Jersey.
"We saw numerous accidents on the way down here (from northern Jersey), and we saw some commercial truck drivers driving like idiots," he said. "They need to stop, stop going so fast, stop driving in a stupid way. They endanger road crews who are working and other drivers on the road." Christie said he wants to travel to the counties before deciding whether to declare a state of emergency and that won't happen until at least tomorrow. By contrast, MSNBC says a state of emergency has already been declared for Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. If it's bad in your area and you don't have to go out, it's probably better to stay home. And if you do venture out, just be careful and take your time.
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Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 04:15:00 PM EST
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It's always something in Jersey City. The latest dust up is over a selection by the Mayor to serve on a City Authority. Councilman Steve Fulop criticized the pick made by Mayor Jeremiah Healy to put ex Mayor Gerald McCann to a position at the Incinerator Authority:"The idea that the City would hire a convicted felon to its payroll during the same time period that key members of the administration are being tried in Federal court is incomprehensible," said Fulop. McCann was Mayor from 1981 to 1985 and again from 1989 to 1992, when he was terminated from office following his criminal conviction. Fulop wants to withhold funding from the authority until Healy removes McCann from the position and that prompted this response:"I'm totally going to sue him. I'm going to make sure that every single nickel that he gets to run a campaign against anybody will be my nickel," said McCann. "...I'll have him in court for years. And since he's doing it as a political candidate, I will sue his campaign fund." McCann says some of Fulop's charges amount to defamation. Fulop didn't seem very concerned by the threat because he sent the article out as a tweet himself.
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Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 03:00:00 PM EST
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Solomon Dwek took the stand yesterday for the prosecution in the case of Former Jersey City Mayor Baldini and his testimony was eye opening, according to observers in the court. Within minutes of being questioned by the defense attorney, Dwek blurted this out and got testy when questioned on the legitimacy of evidence:"I was there -- and I performed." It has to concern the government that their key witness lost his cool on the first day of the trial. Bob Braun called his testimony "jaw dropping" and "almost absurdly funny." Dwek said he started bribing people as a teenager to get things he wanted. Other attorneys for those charged have to be licking their chops after seeing reports of how Dwek handled himself on the stand on the very first day. Dwek's credibility and how he holds up will be a key to the government making their cases.
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Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 09:17:03 PM EST
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A Christie spokesman responded to concerns raised by the NJEA about information contained in the transition subcommittee report this way:"We recognize some of the recommendations in the report are alarming to certain vested interests and constituencies ... but we're not here to maintain the status quo," said Christie press secretary Michael Drewniak. No one expects them to maintain the status quo, but that doesn't mean people need to accept the change they propose in whole because they've finally filled in the details. Some of the changes may be good and they should all be examined on their merits. But just because you propose change, doesn't mean it's better than what you currently have. Especially if the consequences of that change are worse than what you have right now.
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Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 05:53:56 PM EST
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Shortly after his swearing in yesterday as Governor. State Senator Shirley Turner urged Chris Christie to call a constitutional convention in order to examine ways to bring about tax reform:"It's clear that politicians lack the political will to effect meaningful tax reform,'' Turner said after Christie took office in Trenton. "Governor Christie should lay the groundwork immediately for calling a Constitutional Convention on Tax Reform where taxpayers and fiscal experts who aren't looking over their shoulders at the next election have a say in reforming the broken system we have now. With all due respect, tax reform isn't the only thing our politicians lack the political will to effect meaningful reform on Senator. We'll have to see if there is any response to her call or if they lack the will to respond to that too.
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Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 07:10:04 PM EST
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In the response of the New Jersey College Democrats to the vote on Marriage Equality yesterday, the President of the TCNJ College Democrats put things this way: (h/t to Jay Lassiter for pointing out)"I can only find solace in the fact that the next generation of Democrats, which overwhelmingly support marriage equality, will not balk at the opportunity to confer civil rights on their fellow citizens." It's inspiring to know that our next generation of leaders understand what our leaders today can't seem to comprehend.
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Sat Jan 02, 2010 at 03:48:30 PM EST
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The question of when a vote might come for Marriage Equality has been hotly debated recently. Following the comments of Speaker Roberts on New Years Eve that he wanted the Senate to go first, Senator Codey had this to say:"Obviously there's a lot of punting going on," he said. "Sounds like a ballgame, and somebody's got to decide who's going to take the kick."
Codey said he will talk with other senators, but added they may not be willing to vote because of a perceived lack of support in the Assembly. It's just a game they're playing with people's lives to avoid taking a stand. They'll say they can't have a vote because there is a perceived lack of support. But they won't make people go on the record and take a stand on whether they support or not because they won't call a vote. Many people have made statements along the way and have not lived up to their words, so how do you know where they truly stand until the chips are down. Since Dick Codey is one of the more integral players in the game, maybe he should take his own advice and decide to take the kick already. There are only a few players who can step up and make it happen.
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Mon Dec 28, 2009 at 03:15:21 PM EST
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In Dave Barry's Washington Post story about the lowlights of a downer year, he makes this note during the recap of July after talking about Sara Palin resigning as Governor of Alaska:"Elsewhere in state politics, the FBI arrests pretty much every elected official in New Jersey on suspicion of being New Jersey elected officials." Our corruption and Sara Palin were the highlights of July? What a bad year.
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Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 11:11:31 PM EST
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I thought this Washington Post article on Larry Kissell was pretty interesting, and it ended with a great candidate for "Quote of the Day:"
"It's sort of like which devil do you fear the most?" asked Gary Pearce, a longtime Democratic operative in North Carolina. "Are you more afraid of the party base or are you more afraid of the health-care reform opponents?"
Kissell picked the latter, and it may have been the wrong bet. Conservatives who oppose the reform effort are unlikely to vote for a Democrat regardless of how he votes, Pearce said, yet Kissell cannot win reelection without the support of his base.
"That's why they call them freshmen -- because they make freshmen mistakes," he said. "That's why a lot of them don't become sophomores."
You can figure out what this has to do with New Jersey.
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Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 10:03:43 PM EST
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Responding to a report about the increasing state debt, the Governor-Elect offered this response saying they would re-evaluate all future borrowing:"Any projections of future borrowing that is scheduled to happen after Jan. 19, if you're the investment bank on that, don't spend the fees yet," he said. "We're going to re-evaluate everything and make sure that we have folks look at it and tell me whether or not this is something that is absolutely necessary in light of that burgeoning debt problem." Apparently there are a few prominent obligations that will need review to name a few:The state expects to borrow $200 million in general obligation bonds this budget year and another $200 million for each of the next two years, according to a report prepared by the state Department of Treasury to be presented to lawmakers tomorrow.
New Jersey is on track to borrow $3 billion for transportation projects through July 2011 and $4.1 billion more to cover public school construction through July 2013, according to the report. Something clearly has to be done about our long term debt obligations, but I guess in the short term it depends how he defines absolutely necessary.
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Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 01:16:32 PM EST
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Newark Mayor Cory Booker puts up this message as his status on Facebook today, which has a good deal of meaning as our Legislators return to Trenton to consider legislation during the lame duck session:Leadership is not a position or a title, it is action and example. Now is the time for real leadership, not just people who want to hold a title while neglecting the responsibility that goes along with that title to stand up and be counted.
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Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 04:15:00 PM EST
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Talking about Chris Christie's speech before the League of Municipalities in Atlantic City, Former Governor Christie Whitman offered this observation in Charles Stile's column:"He's sending a message that he's willing to take on some of the sacred cows. And he needs to," former Republican Gov. Christie Whitman said. "But we'll see. Reality sometimes gets up and smacks you in the face." That's right, we will see what reality does to Christie's promises. While she's talking about Christie and his tough rhetoric about taking on just about everyone, that statement applies on so many different levels beyond just Chris Christie and what he has said.
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Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 04:30:00 PM EST
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During a panel discussion of former Governors in Atlantic City at the League of Municipalities yesterday, Brendan Byrne had this blunt take on Jon Corzine's candidacy:"He should have withdrawn. It wasn't the climate to re-elect anybody," said former Democratic Gov. Brendan Byrne said to laughter at the panel discussion at the second day of the annual conference of municipal officials. While I think it was an uphill climb from the start given the climate, I think the problems were complicated by another popular sentiment held by the panel, the fact that Jon Corzine just didn't give voters a reason to vote for him. Ultimately, it was a losing combination, regardless of which factor you think played the largest role in that result.
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Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 05:27:30 PM EST
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I hope our Legislators are paying attention to the reminder that Chris Christie provided about the fact that Jon Corzine is still Governor until January:He's going to respect the prerogatives of the people who voted on November 3rd, and I certainly respect his prerogative. It's a four year term. It's not a three year, 10 month term." Jon Corzine has said he will sign Medical Marijuana and Marriage equality legislation before he leaves office. It's up to the Legislature to make sure he can finish the job he has told the voters he will do. He still has two months left before his job is done. If they plan to do it at all in the near future, now is the time.
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Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 04:15:00 PM EST
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Following his attendance yesterday at the Blue Mass in Newark, Governor Corzine took a few questions and the last one he got from a reporter was, "why couldn't you excite your base?" Here's how he responded:"I don't know, maybe it's, it must be my beard."
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Sun Nov 01, 2009 at 04:21:58 PM EST
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In the polling memo for the latest Monmouth University poll numbers, we get this take from Poll Director Patrick Murray about what it all means:"This election will be defined by turnout like few others before it. Many Democrats are sitting on the sidelines and not considered to be likely voters at this point. They may be unenthusiastic about their governor, but can they be prodded to the polls for other reasons? If not, Christie may eke out the win," That about sums it up. At this point, it's all about who and how many people show up at the polls.
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