With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.
Obama support blossoms in New Jersey
The Obama campaign started small here, with handfuls of coffee house organizers lining up behind a grassroots operation called NJ for Obama in the face of a big party machine backing Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and an unpopular war in Iraq. (PolitickerNJ)
http://politickernj.com/max/21185/thumbnail-new-jersey-guide-obamaland-part-i
Budget agreement reached
Acknowledging that "change is hard," Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday signed a $32.9 billion state budget that features dramatic cuts — and then issued an executive order to curb future spending.
The governor said he takes no delight in enacting a budget that reduces spending $600 million below the budget adopted last year, a level he termed "historic." (Joe Donohue and Dunstan McNichol, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1214886942327450.xml&coll=1
A later date for open space
Gov. Jon Corzine said yesterday he expects to wait until fall before launching an effort to find more money for the preservation of New Jersey's open space, farmland and historic sites.
Environmentalists and key legislators are calling on Corzine to support a
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1214886998327450.xml&coll=1
The ACLU means business
TRENTON – The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey has filed a federal lawsuit against a Passaic County town alleging it has unconstitutionally prohibited people from posting political yard signs. (Associated Press)
One-sided debates
GLOUCESTER TWP. — Dale Glading, the Republican candidate for Rob Andrews' 1st Congressional District seat, debated an empty chair at the First Baptist Church in Blackwood Monday evening as the general election campaign got under way. (Richard Pearsall, The Courier-Post)
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/NEWS01/807010362
Stellaccio drops out
A Republican candidate for Gloucester County freeholder has dropped out of the race, citing "strong personal and political differences" with party leaders.
Frank Stellaccio, one of three Republican candidates running this year, said Monday that he did not want to be "controversial or negative" by discussing the specifics of his withdrawal. (Pete McCarthy, Gloucester County Times)
http://www.nj.com/news/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1214885424290700.xml&coll=8
The early days are critical
VINELAND — The new City Council has at least four years to do what they believe is necessary for — and enact change within — Vineland. Still, they recognize their first 100 days as crucial to the process, and they're planning accordingly. (Robert Press, The Daily Journal)
Clean sewers only require Corzine's signature
New Jersey is set to distribute $550 million in low-interest loans to help improve
The legislation would use state and federal money to help clean up stormwater and sewage systems, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. (Maura McDermott, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1214886981327450.xml&coll=1
Minimum wage won't cut it anymore
TRENTON, N.J. — There's a new call for New Jersey lawmakers to raise the minimum wage.
A worker advocacy group — The Raise the Wage Campaign — says $7.15 per hour is no longer enough. It's planning a Tuesday event in Trenton to announce the push for an increase. (Associated Press)
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-32/1214885989314690.xml&storylist=jersey
Political corruption law survives first test
NEWARK, N.J. – New Jersey's latest attempt to keep contractors from profiting by making political donations passed its first legal test yesterday. (Associated Press)
City hall leaders selected
VINELAND — A group of mostly familiar faces will be leading City Hall when control of municipal government changes hands today, Mayor Robert Romano announced Monday on the eve of his inauguration. (Robert Press, The Daily Journal)
http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/NEWS01/807010309
Fighting for the right to run
LITTLE FERRY – The county has cleared a former Little Ferry Council Democrat to run this fall as an independent candidate, denying a challenge filed by her former party. (Nick Clunn, The Bergen Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/Candidate_barely_cleared_to_run_as_Independent.html
New bill 'doctors' up medical service
Gov. Jon Corzine signed into law today a bill creating a $44 million fund to help provide medical services after a hospital has closed or is on the brink of insolvency. (Susan K. Livio, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/new_state_law_creates_44m_fund.html
Hawkins takes over
Eldridge Hawkins Jr. overcame five other candidates in a knock down battle for Orange mayor. Now the hard work begins.
Hawkins, 28, who is scheduled to be sworn into office in the Orange Middle School auditorium today at noon, faces some formidable challenges. (Kevin C. Dilworth, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1214887034327450.xml&coll=1
Roadmap to rejuvenation
BRIDGETON – Urban planners Monday revealed a preliminary draft of the city's new master plan, a docment that officials said they hoped would serve as a road map to economic revitalization. (John Martins, Press of Atlantic City)
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/182/story/195224.html
Activists fight anti-tree legislation
Somerset and Hunterdon counties' residents and environmental activists fighting to keep utility companies from clear-cutting trees are gearing up for another showdown with the state over vegetation management. (Nyier Abdou, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/somerset/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1214886921327450.xml&coll=1
With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.
