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Morning News Digest: April 13, 2011
By Missy Rebovich
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Foundation that funded controversial Newark Schools reported to fund Cerf’s transition consultant
The Los Angeles-based foundation that has agreed to fund a consultant studying the state education system as part of Acting Department of Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf’s transition is the same foundation that paid a Cerf founded company for a report on overhauling the Newark School District. (Isherwood, PolitickerNJ)
Agosta files to run for senate in LD 38; Aslanian runs for Assembly in LD 37
Former Congressional candidate Michael Agosta of Fair Lawn has filed to run as a renegade Republican in the 38th District state senate race, while the man he conquered in last year’s GOP showdown to face U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) has rematerialized as an LD 37 Assembly candidate. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/46752/agosta-files-run-senate-ld-38
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie inclined to move primary to June
Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday he’s inclined to move New Jersey’s 2012 presidential primary to June to save money and avoid penalties such as losing delegates. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/04/12/gov-christie-may-move-primary-to-june/
282 candidates vying in primaries for state Senate, Assembly
A total of 282 candidates successfully filed petitions Monday to run in the June primary for the Republican and Democratic parties’ nominations for state Senate and Assembly. (Friedman, The Record)
Christie takes education reform plan to Lower Twp. as lawmakers in Trenton blast school-funding cuts
Gov. Christie took his education plan to the southern tip of the state Tuesday, renewing his call to push aside “bully” teachers’ unions, fire bad instructors, and allow students in poorly performing public schools to learn elsewhere. (Katz and Farrell, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Christie tells crowd at Cape May Airport he plans to make failing teachers re-earn tenure
Gov. Chris Christie brought his case for education reform to a cavernous airport hangar Tuesday, warning the state’s entire budget hinges on the issue. (Fletcher, Press of Atlantic City)
Increasing school funding formula would lower percentage of aid to N.J.’s poorest districts, analysis shows
Plugging more money into the state’s school funding formula would lower the percentage of aid sent to New Jersey’s largest, poorest districts, according to an analysis of the Department of Education’s budget. (Calefati, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/school_funding_formula_would_l.html
Insuring Chris Christie makes New Jersey inferior performer in bond market
Governor Chris Christie’s pledge to erase New Jersey’s budget deficit by disparaging public-worker unions has helped make him a national Republican star. Those who buy the state’s bonds are less impressed. (McDonald, Bloomberg)
Robert Menendez: Democrats must seize energy debate
The Senate Democrat who presided over the loss of six seats in 2010 says his party can make gains in 2012 by seizing the debate over gas prices, the budget and federal spending. (Goode, Politico)
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53069.html#ixzz1JOazhiUE
Analysis: Party endorsements weigh heavily on Statehouse races
Monday marked the deadline for legislative candidates to file paperwork to run for office, but in New Jersey, most winners already have been picked — mostly by other politicians. (DeFalco, The Associated Press)
Legislative races may be challenge for Tea Partyers
New Jersey’s Tea Party organizations are trying to make inroads in the state Legislature this year, when all 120 legislative seats are up for election (Mulvihill, The Associated Press)
Assemblywoman Denise Coyle moves from Bernards to Princeton after redistricting
Assemblywoman Denise Coyle’s filing to run for re-election indicates she has changed her address to remain in the 16th Legislative District. (Reed, Gannett)
Maywood Mayor will be running for Assembly
Mayor Tim Eustace of Maywood will be running for State Assembly in the 38th District. (Clark, The Record)
Asbury Park’s Reidy nominated to serve on state board
Gov. Chris Christie has nominated City Manager Terence J. Reidy to be a member of the state Local Finance Board in the Department of Community Affairs. (Shields, Gannett)
Restored school funding cuts would replenish far more than Abbott coffers
With the state Supreme Court a week from hearing new oral arguments in the Abbott v. Burke case, a nonpartisan legislative study detailed how full funding of the state’s school finance law could benefit suburban districts as much, if not more, than urban ones. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0412/2318/
Activists and DEP dispute proposed rule to allow waiver of environmental regulations
New Jersey environmental and labor groups Tuesday called on the Christie administration to withdraw a rule proposed by the state Department of Environmental Protection that they claim would hinder the environment. (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)
Mike Huckabee sides with CCM policy offering in-county tuition to illegal immigrants
A controversial County College of Morris policy allowing illegal immigrants to enroll at the lower, in-county tuition rate received some high-profile support Tuesday night from likely Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. (Jennings, Gannett)
Tax audit wrongly demands money from some NJ seniors
New Jersey has a program protecting low-income senior citizens and the disabled from rising property taxes. But there has been little protection from a state audit that has shaken some filers who benefited, including those fully meeting program requirements. (Jordan, Gannett)
Candidates who filed for June primaries
Following is a list of candidates who have declared for the Republican or Democratic party primaries in Passaic County and eastern Morris County. (Staff, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/119748659_Candidates_who_filed_for_June_primaries.html
Freeholder primary fights gear up in Camco, Burlco
Primary fights will decide freeholder candidates for both major parties in Burlington and Camden counties, with GOP voters also choosing three council candidates in Medford. (Staff, Gannett)
Atlantic City Council expected to vote on resolution opposing state takeover of development powers on Wednesday
City officials are preparing to formally oppose the state’s takeover of its development powers within the new Tourism District, calling the plan an “ill-intentioned assault” on the city and its elected officials. (Clark, Press of Atlantic City)
College cuts may rise by $2.5M
Bergen Community College could be forced to cut $2.5 million more from its next budget than expected because of what college President Jeremiah Ryan described as a “misunderstanding” between the college and County Executive Kathleen Donovan. (Gartland, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/119748999_College_cuts_may_rise_by__2_5M.html
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Revoked film tax credit not troublesome, Guadagno says; film projects increasing
A minor battle emerged last year over the Garden State Film and Digital Media Job Act, which was vetoed and failed to capture a two-thirds majority for override in March. (Carroll, State Street Wire)
Guadagno testifies on ‘overlooked’ Dept. of State
It’s a revenue horse pulling in over $40 million annually, but the Department of State “in many cases is overlooked,” according to Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald, (D-6), of Voorhees. (Carroll, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/46779/guadagno-testifies-overlooked-dept-state
Madden says committee will compile more data on physician disciplinary system
Sen. Fred Madden, (D-4), Gloucester, said Monday’s hearing into how New Jersey disciplines problem physicians left many questions unanswered. (Mooney, State Street Wire)
Consultant will help Cerf ‘transition’
A consultant who was connected to Wireless Generation, the consulting company connected to the failed federal Race to the Top application, will be paid through private funds to run acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf’s transition to full time. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/46776/consultant-will-help-cerf-transition
Greenwald scolds Cerf over incomplete answers
Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Louis Greenwald, (D-6), of Voorhees, told acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf Tuesday that “it’s inappropriate” that a list of questions that were given for him to answer were incomplete and turned in late, leaving little time to analyze and conduct a meaningful hearing. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/46757/greenwald-scolds-cerf-over-incomplete-answers
From the Back Room
Gusciora watch
It’s early and unofficial, but it appears that Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-15) of Trenton has weathered the worst punches of redistricting, according to the state Division of Elections. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/gusciora-watch
A little Good Humor?
Not only are the PBA and CWA planning a belated celebration for the August 2010 retirement of Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo at tomorrow night’s Freeholder meeting, but another surprise is in store, said one union rep. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/little-good-humor
Opinion
The face of the new legislature
Now that the primary candidate petitions have been filed, we can start to get a good sense of what the New Jersey legislature’s demographics will look like come January. And with few exceptions, the new face of the legislature will look a lot like the old one. (Murray, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/patrick-murray/46782/new-face-legislature
Abbott funding has done well for lawyers’ pockets but little for kids
Circle Wednesday, April 20, on your calendars and remember to pay close attention to news events that day. That’s when the state Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the latest round of lawsuits seeking to dump more of your money into failing schools. (Ingle, Gannett)
When pols collect pensions and salaries, too
What do you call it when an elected official files for retirement and starts collecting a state pension but doesn’t leave the job, receiving full salary as before, in addition to the pension? (Ahearn, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/ahearn/ahearn_041311.html
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