Congressman Mike Ferguson sent out a press release [1] last Friday announcing his vote on a bill to improve port security. But the vote, which was 421-2, really didn't deserve a press release. Almost every member of the House voted for it, after all, so it would be more newsworthy if Ferguson had voted against it.
Until you realize that this release is intended to obscure the fact that Ferguson voted earlier in the day to weaken the bill in the fight against possible nuclear weapon attacks by terrorists.
An amendment was proposed which would have required scanning for nuclear materials at the point of origin, before the containers shipped to the United States. With fears rising the Iran could build a nuclear weapon, that North Korea has them already and that there are hundreds of unsecured nuclear devices in former Soviet republics, this would seem seem to be a no brainer.
But Ferguson sided with the Republican leadership and voted down this amendment in favor of scanning most containers when they are already in our ports. Instead of stopping potential nuclear bombs before they get here, Ferguson would rather we wait until they reach our home ports before checking.
As Ferguson's own press release notes:
Port Newark/Elizabeth, operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, form the largest port complex on the East Coast and are just outside Ferguson's 7th District, which includes portions of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties.
Ferguson could very well have sent out a press release which would have garnered media coverage if that's what he wanted: FERGUSON VOTES TO WAIT FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO REACH UNITED STATES BEFORE SCANNING, RISKING THE LIVES OF EVERYONE IN HIS CONGRESSIONAL DISRICT.
Taxation Director Robert Thompson, Deputy Director Harold Fox and Assistant Director for Compliance David Gavin were suspended (with pay) yesterday, pending the results of an ethics inquiry. The investigation, which includes twelve other Treasury employees who will remain working, concerns gifts of meals, Broadway shows, spa visits and other ammenities given to the officials by OSI Collection Services Inc., who have a state contract to collect delinquent taxes.
In an attempt at compromise, Rutgers University President Richard McCormick has proposed structural changes allowing Douglass College to keep elements of its identity but still fold Douglass, Livingston, Rutgers and University colleges into one arts and sciences school. Assemblywoman Linda Stender, who sponsored an Assembly resolution in support of Douglass, called the president's report "a step in the right direction."
A pilot program testing new container security measures has begun in the ports of Elizabeth and Newark. Black box sensors would be able to determine if containers have been opened and can detect ratation or carbon monoxide. Last year, a record amount of cargo, more than $132 billion, was transported by container to the ports system in New York and New Jersey.
Governor Corzine yesterday announced direct appointments for County Board of Elections all across Our Fair State; the list is here.
Just when you thought your teenager couldn't get any more sullen, the High School Proficiency Assessment exams have begun for high school juniors across the state. Good Luck!
We're number five! Kansas research firm Morgan Quito Press has been ranked Our Fair State the fifth most liveable in the US, behind New Hampshire, Minn., Iowa and Vermont, based on its ranking of 44 factors. We also have both the 7th and 8th most weird street name in the US, according to a www.thecarconnection.com poll; Unexpected Road in Buena Vista took the higher honor, while Shades of Death Road in Warren County took eighth.
U.S. District Judge Jose Linares also said the state will not be privy to documents the company gave to a federal committee reviewing the deal. Linares said the state "needs to show an immediate need for those documents."
...
The Bush administration agreed Sunday to the company's request for a 45-day investigation of the deal's potential security risks; the judge on Wednesday said that review should be sufficient.
"The very action now is taking place," said Linares, who added that if the review does not take place, the state could reargue its case.
U.S. District Judge Jose Linares is scheduled to hear New Jersey's lawsuit requesting an investigation of the deal to allow United Arab Emirates-based Dubai World Ports to take over of some U.S. port operations, including operations at Port Newark. Gov. Jon S. Corzine is also seeking permission to inspect documents given to a federal committee reviewing the deal. Of course, Bush's mind is made up and says his position isn't changing.
The citizens' group Stop Renewal Of Oyster Creek will get the public hearing they wanted on the safety of the of a metal liner that helps keep radiation in the reactor core. The nuclear power plant is licenced through 2009 and seeking to renew its licence until 2029.
Yesterday the Democratic State Committee agreed to pay a record $255,000 fine, levied by the State Election Law Enforcement Commission, for being late in reporting of contributions during the end of the 2001 election year. Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D- Union) said the mistakes were caused largely by an overwhelmed computer system; the Democrats raised a record $28 million during that election year.
Assemblyfolk Bill Baroni, Jennifer Beck and Linda Stender urged Rutgers University to retain Douglass College as a separate institution and not to combine it with the University's other colleges. Assemblywoman Stender has drafted a resolution to that effect, AR131. The companion bill, SR26, is scheduled for a committee vote on Thursday, while Douglass grads and students plan a rally at the statehouse.
The NJ Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state's standards for water clean-up at sites polluted by industry. Federal Pacific Electric Co. had challenged the standards in court, saying they violated the 1997 Brownfield Act, but were shot down. Score one for the environment!
The National Alliance on Mental Illness gave Our Fair State a C for its services to the mentally ill. They noted former Gov. Codey's improvements to the system during his time as governor, but said they are simply good starting points. The nation as a whole recieved a grade of D.
The child-care industry in N.J. had a direct economic impact of $2.55 billion in 2005, according to a report released yesterday by the New Jersey Child Care Economic Impact Council. The impact is more than the revenues of the agriculture, scientific research and development, and hotel industries in New Jersey, and employ more people than many industries such as telecommunications, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and transportation.
There was one winner in last night's $267 million Mega Millions drawing, and the ticket was sold in... Ohio. Better luck next time, NJ lottery fans.
Cino Says United States Navy
Should Take Over Ports
Cino Says National Security Paramount
Michael J. Cino Congressional Candidate in New Jersey's 5th Congressional District states that the United States Navy should step into the Port Deal, exercising eminent domain on the basis of National Security Concerns, and take over all the ports covered by this transaction.
The Attorney General should then be directed to properly compensate the current seller in this transaction.
The United States Navy would then have a new ports from which we can DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE OUR HOMELAND SECURITY.
"The Sailors in the Navy are already on this Nation's payroll. How hard is it to have the Navy expand its role in Port Security? Commodore John Barry would not believe any of this - he would be shaking his head," Cino stated.
Commodore John Barry, of Irish descent, was recently recognized by the United States Congress as the First Flag Officer of the United States Navy - Michael J. Cino is a Candidate in the June 6 Republican Primary in New Jersey's 5th Congressional District which includes Northern Bergen County, Sussex, Warren and Upper Passaic Counties.
Corzine has asked that state and federal lawsuits be filed to prevent the sale of our ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates::
[T]he Port Authority of New York & New Jersey will seek to terminate its lease with Port Newark Container Terminal, a current operator at Port Newark. Under the terms of the lease, the type of transaction engaged in with Dubai Ports World requires prior written approval from the Port Authority; none was sought and none was given. The lawsuit will be filed in Superior Court in Essex County.
Also:
Corzine also directed Attorney General Zulima Farber to file a lawsuit in federal court based on the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, which gives independent sovereignty to the states. As part of the suit, the state will assert its independent authority and obligation to protect New Jersey citizens and the Port of Newark.
Tom Kean, Jr finally spoke up against the port deal. He says that "the security of the people residing in the surrounding communities should not have to wait for congressional action when the State of New Jersey can act decisively to protect the security of our residents." Sounds to me like he's trying to steal the thunder from Menendez' legislation to block the port deal, which he announced four days ago. Still, Kean suggests that Corzine may be able to void the lease aggrement:
Section 48 of the lease Between the Port Authority and Port Newark Container Terminal, the subsidiary of P&O that operates the terminal, entitled "Right of Termination/Ownership and Control," would appear to give the port authority the ability to void the provisions of the lease if the transaction is contrary to public interest.
If Bill Frist and Congress do not follow Senators Clinton and Menendez' lead to block all such port deals, this is an option that the state should definitely consider.
Senators Menendez, Clinton, Lautenberg and Boxer sent a letter to Bill Frist urging him to consider legislation that would prevent the sale of our ports to foreign governments.
In the letter, they wrote: “This sale will create an unacceptable risk to the security of our ports. We therefore request that emergency legislation we are introducing to ban foreign governments from controlling operations at our ports be slated for immediate consideration when the Senate convenes on February 27.�
Today, Frist said that if the Bush administration does not reverse course on the decision to sell the ports, he will ask the Senate to act:
"If the administration cannot delay the process, I plan on introducing legislation to ensure that the deal is placed on hold until this decision gets a more thorough review."
Senators Lautenberg and Boxer today announced that they will co-sponsor legislation being introduced by Menendez and Clinton to prevent the sale of ports to foreign governments.
Earlier this week, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (John Snow, Alberto Gonzales, Condoleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, et al) approved the sale of six major U.S. ports (including New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia) to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates.
"(The UAE) has allowed terrorists to pass freely through their own country...Why in the world should we let this rogue government control ports in the United States."
Senator Menendez agreed:
“Our ports are the front lines of the war on terrorism. They are both vulnerable targets for attack and venues for smuggling and human trafficking. We wouldn’t turn the border patrol or the customs service over to a foreign government, and we can’t afford to turn our ports over to one either.�
He and Senator Clinton are introducing a bill that would prohibit foreign companies from controlling our ports. To anyone concerned about national security, it's common sense, but this administration would rather sell our national security to the highest bidder behind closed doors and hope nobody notices. They have absolutely no shame.
If you're curious to see some more of UAE's impressive resume, jump down below the fold.
