Politicker.com won’t be publishing Wake-Up Calls on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Barring any breaking news, we’ll be back bright and early on Monday. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Corzine and Senate take aim at economy
Gov. Jon Corzine and the Senate yesterday took action on eight of the 11 bills that comprise his $245 million economic recovery package for New Jersey. (Tom Hester, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1227591420311770.xml&coll=1
Pension chief vows to map investments
Under fire from lawmakers who criticized their actions as too secretive, managers of New Jersey's pension fund will now disclose any emergency investments immediately, even if they fall below the $50 million threshold for public review, officials said yesterday. (Claire Heininger, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1227591370311770.xml&coll=1
Official: State underestimated scope of crisis
The state official in charge of New Jersey's hemorrhaging employee pension fund tried his best today to explain how the fund lost $16 billion over the last three months. (John Reitmeyer, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/politics/Official_State_underestimated_scope_of_crisis.html
Pension fund managers face panel
TRENTON — Stewards of the state-employees' pension fund on Monday promised greater communication with workers at a time when Wall Street's troubles are sapping retirement plans for legions of workers. (Gannett)
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20081125/NEWS01/811250356
Mercury at day care prompts bill to allow prosecutions
More than two years after state officials shut down a day-care center operating inside a former thermometer factory, a state senator yesterday introduced a bill to allow prosecution of anyone who intentionally or recklessly causes others to be exposed to health-threatening pollutants. (Jan Hefler, Philadelphia Inquirer)
BRYANT TRIAL
Historic takeoff, swift fall
LAWNSIDE — After his conviction last week on federal corruption charges and the scathing criticism that followed it, former state Sen. Wayne Bryant did what he has always done. (Richard Pearsall, The Courier-Post)
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20081125/NEWS01/811250352
ELECTION 2008
Ex-ACORN worker admits voter registration fraud
A 34-year-old Chester man arrested last month for alleged voter-registration fraud admitted his guilt yesterday in Delaware County Court. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Dems miss recount deadline
CLOSTER — Democrats hoping to break a Republican council monopoly have missed their chance to challenge a razor-thin election loss. (Serdar Tomgoren, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/35047879.html
Monmouth GOP sources bemoan mistakes in freeholder race
GOP sources in Monmouth County are complaining about party campaign tactics in the Monmouth County Freeholder race in which Democrat Amy Mallet of Fair Haven narrowly defeated Republican John Curley of Middletown. (PolitickerNJ.com)
http://www.politickernj.com/max/25691/monmouth-gop-sources-bemoan-mistakes-freeholder-race
NEWARK
Ex-aide in Newark admits he took bribes
The former chief of staff to the Newark city council president admitted in court yesterday he ac cepted $10,000 in bribes for himself and on behalf of Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith. (The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1227591363311770.xml&coll=1
Rice reserves judgment in Irvington case
TRENTON- Challenged by Mayor Wayne Smith and Team Irvington in his squeak-out, off-the-line re-election victory last year, state Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) said he hopes Smith did not authorize Keith Reid to accept a $5,000 bribe on his behalf – which is what Reid told a jury in Newark earlier today. (PolitickerNJ.com)
http://www.politickernj.com/max/25714/rice-reserves-judgment-irvington-case
FUTURE RACES
Lonegan ally takes aim at Christie
Steve Lonegan, principal prankster of the Republican Party's Antics Wing, is not intimidated by talk that Christopher J. Christie, the United States attorney for New Jersey, is pondering a run for governor next year. (Charles Stile, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/politics/35048114.html
Doherty and Karrow look for support in each others' counties
As the battle to replace outgoing state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) takes shape, the two declared candidates are beginning to make incursions outside of their home bases. (PolitickerNJ.com)
http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/25708/possible-three-way-race-lances-senate-seat
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Dem funds already ahead of GOP
The Republican Party in Gloucester County must start fresh with raising funds for next year's races, but the Democrats have a decent nest egg for 2009. (Pete McCarthy, Gloucester County Times)
http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1227589816274020.xml&coll=8
HUDSON COUNTY
Veto for cleanup ordinance
During his more than nineyears as the head of city government, former Bayonne Mayor Joseph V. Doria Jr. never vetoed a piece of city legislation. (Ronald Leir, The Jersey Journal)
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/bayonne/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1227597954179490.xml&coll=3
Arango takes Christie's joke in stride
Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango doesn’t want to see any member of his party indicted, but he did not take offense at U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s recent joke at the exp
ense of the Hudson County Republicans. (PolitickerNJ.com)
http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/25673/arango-takes-christies-joke-stride
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Monmouth freeholders may give their workers Friday off
If Monmouth County government grants Friday as a bonus holiday for its more than 3,500 employees, it will be following a decades-old practice — one the state discontinued last year in a controversial change. (Bob Jordan, Asbury Park Press)
http://www.app.com/article/20081124/NEWS/81124076
CHERRY HILL
Residents call for further budget cuts
CHERRY HILL — Faced with a municipal tax increase still projected in the 17 percent range, several township activists went before the council Monday with a blunt message: (Adam Smeltz, The Courier-Post)
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20081125/NEWS01/811250359
OTHER NEWS
Bill mandates coverage for kids' hearing aids
Health insurance companies would be required to cover the cost of hearing aids prescribed for children 15 and younger under a measure approved by the Senate yesterday. (The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1227591483311770.xml&coll=1
Milam's disabled parking fine going to trial
MILLVILLE — State Assemblyman Matthew Milam will stand trial rather than plead guilty to a charge he illegally parked in a handicapped space last month in the city's downtown. (Tim Zatzariny Jr, The Daily Journal)
http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20081125/NEWS01/811250315&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
