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2012 U.S. Senate GOP check list
The list fluctuates, according to moods and sources, but the proximity of Gov. Chris Christie’s and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D-Hoboken) war wagons in Mercer County on Monday night and another election in the books, immediately and inevitably triggered GOP buzz about 2012 challengers to Menendez. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/42781/2012-us-senate-gop-check-list
Norcross: The fact that it was close speaks volumes
State Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) praised U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) for running hard and almost retaining his seat Tuesday night in a 1.5-2 percent loss to U.S. Rep-elect Jon Runyan – a loss that should not be read as a Democratic Party crack of doom, by any means, Norcross said. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/42786/norcross-fact-it-was-close-speaks-volumes
2 more eye Greenstein’s Assembly seat
The list of candidates looking to grab the soon-to-be-vacant Assembly seat in the 14th District just got a little longer.
Yesterday, West Windsor Councilman George Borek said he hopes to be considered for the legislative post, while former Mercer County Democratic chair Rich McClellan said he’s at least considering entering the fray. (Duffy, The Times)
http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-21/1288935969221870.xml&coll=5
Gov. Christie signs bill protecting unemployment benefits
Democratic-sponsored legislation designed to address abuses that lead to improper delay and denial or unemployment benefits for laid-off workers has been signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie. (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/economy/gov-christie-signs-bill-protecting-unemployment-benefits
Tea Party results diluted in high-density states as Christie fades at home
Tea Party supporters boasted of their 28 victories in U.S. House races. What the election results also made clear was that their appeal stopped at the border of the most densely-populated states and metropolitan areas. (Moroney and Dopp, Bloomberg)
Losing Democrats take solace in large margins of defeat
Losing an election by a large margin is not usually a source of comfort for politicians, but incumbent Democrats who were voted out in River Edge and Oradell this week said their resounding defeats showed that national anger at Democrats motivated voters in their towns. (Kindergan, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/106747028_Democrats_rationalize_losses.html
Christie moves to block school districts from circumventing his cap
While Gov. Chris Christie has made noise about demanding new salary caps for school superintendents, Englewood is reportedly negotiating a salary for its new superintendent of around $200,000. Somerville hired a new one at $175,000. Both exceed the caps for comparably sized districts. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/10/1105/0022/
Defunct tunnel project funds up for grabs
Transportation officials are scrambling to reexamine how to spend as much as $1 billion in federal highway funding that had been pledged for a new Hudson River rail tunnel but could now go to other projects throughout New Jersey. At least one state is already making a bid for other federal dollars once marked for the tunnel. (Rouse, The Record)
What comes after COAH?
The overhaul of New Jersey’s affordable housing system is going back to the drawing board.
The proposed law that abolishes the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and creates an entirely new system in its place is undergoing revisions, according to Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) and Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Union), both of whom recently introduced similar versions of the legislation. McDermott, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/10/1104/2355/
Christie to propose cutback of CCC’s authority over A.C.’s casinos
ATLANTIC CITY – The Casino Control Commission would lose much of its authority in a massive overhaul of Atlantic City casino regulations under draft legislation crafted by the Christie administration. (Clark and Fletcher, Press of Atlantic City)
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/alerts_breaking/article_f639bcf6-e85c-11df-9543-001cc4c002e0.html
NY makes bid for money marked for NJ rail tunnel
TRENTON, N.J. — New York is seeking $3 billion that the federal government had committed to the Hudson River rail tunnel that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie scrapped. (The Associated Press)
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP82e880a279564f89b91dd7f7db891664.html
From the Back Room
With apologies to Kiss, there is only one nation, Christie nation!
Now that the election’s over, Gov. Chris Christie will settle into New Jersey, and… (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/apologies-kiss-there-only-one-nation-christie-nation
Opinion
How will election impact New Jersey’s political landscape?
Obviously the national Congressional elections this week will have a huge impact on what goes on (or doesn’t go on) in Washington over the next two years. The Republicans will control the House, and the Democrats will maintain the slightest of margins in the Senate. (Aduato, New Jersey Newsroom)
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/commentary/how-will-election-impact-new-jerseys-political-landscape
Million-dollar question: What will survey accomplish?
This week, I finally went to see “Waiting for Superman,” the documentary about the failing U.S. education system. From the day it was announced that Mayor Cory Booker was getting $100 million for educational reform from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the movie has almost always been referenced when that money is mentioned. (Whitlow, The Star-Ledger)
http://blog.nj.com/njv_joan_whitlow/2010/11/million-dollar_question_what_w.html
