Morning News Digest: April 15, 2011
By Missy Rebovich
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In LD 16, Coyle exits the race, plans to retire at the end of the term
After vowing to hit redistricting head on with a move to Princeton that would keep her in the 16th District, Assemblywoman Denise Coyle (R-16) of Bernards Twp. today announced that she is withdrawing her candidacy for re-election. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/46866/coyle-exits-race-ld-16
Sweeney seizes on Christie bat remark to unify fractured base
Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) of West Deptford today objected to Governor Chris Christie’s press conference comment Wednesday that the media should ‘take the bat out’ on Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37) of Teaneck. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/46859/sweeney-siezes-christie-bat-remark-unify-fractured-base
Christie calls Obama’s debt-reduction proposal ‘posturing’
Gov. Christie used the setting of a pharmaceutical conference Thursday to deliver what amounted to a Republican response to a speech this week in which President Obama criticized the GOP’s deficit-reduction plan. (Katz, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
NJ GOP brings in nearly $1M in first quarter
It’s a new year and Republicans are seeing green.
The chairman of the state Republican Party says it has raised nearly $1 million during the first quarter of the year. (DeFalco, The Associated Press)
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20110415_ap_apnjgopbringsinnearly1minfirstquarter.html?c=r#ixzz1JaNpvBW4
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N.J. Senate President Sweeney, Gov. Christie trade barbs over who’s to blame for tax hikes
After months of listening to Gov. Chris Christie tell audiences they should blame Democrats if their property taxes go up, Senate President Stephen Sweeney fired back today, saying the real culprit is the governor’s decision to slice state aid to towns and schools last year. (Renshaw and DeMarco, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/nj_senate_president_sweeney_ch.html
Christie courts Big Pharma, cites recent Bayer win
Gov. Chris Christie told executives of the pharmaceutical industry today he intends to forge “collaborative partnerships’’ with companies as part of his effort to nurture a more business-friendly environment in the state. (Todd, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2011/04/christie_courts_big_pharma_cit.html
Sen. Weinberg accuses Gov. Christie of insensitivity toward battered women
Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) said Thursday that Gov. Chris Christie’s comment Wednesday that the news media “take a bat out on her” for taking a $36,000 annual public pension while continuing to be paid $49,000 as a legislator shows insensitivity to women, especially the physically abused. (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)
Sweeney: Pass pension reforms, then pass state budget
State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney said Thursday that pension and health benefits reform must be passed before the state budget is adopted in June. (Method, Gannett)
New Jersey to save more than $300 million in Medicaid costs
The federal government has agreed to pay for half the state’s Medicaid program for low-income, childless adults through 2013, saving New Jersey more than $300 million. (The Associated Press)
Unfinished toolkit bills may not be adopted
Many unfinished proposals in Gov. Chris Christie’s so-called “property tax toolkit” appear unlikely to be passed by the Legislature, setting the stage for midterm election battles over responsibility for property tax hikes. (Symons, Gannett)
N.J. Assembly Budget Committee chairman calls proposed nursing home cuts ‘a mistake’
The chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee today called Gov. Chris Christie’s proposal to reduce the state’s $37.2 million reimbursement for nursing homes and specialty hospitals “a mistake” and said he wouldn’t support it when the budget is voted on in June. (Livio, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/nj_assembly_budget_committee_c_1.html
Unemployment increases in N.J.
New Jersey’s unemployment rate rose slightly last month even though the state gained 4,600 jobs. It was the second straight month with a jobs increase. (Staff, Gannett)
New school choices give students more room to roam
New Jersey’s modest start in opening up public school boundaries a decade ago is about to see a major expansion, with the state yesterday adding 56 more districts that can accept students outside their borders. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0414/1626/
New Jersey’s first lady looks to increase autism awareness
New Jersey First lady Mary Pat Christie toured the ECLC of New Jersey’s adult activity center, also known as the P.R.I.D.E. Center, Thursday morning to meet with students who receive help from the program that serves adults with autism and other special needs. (Staff, Gannett)
Union refuses to vote on job concession package meant to keep Meadowlands Racetrack open
A key union representing tellers at the Meadowlands Racetrack tonight refused to vote on a package of job concessions aimed at keeping the financially troubled facility open, a leader of the state’s harness racing industry said. (Spoto, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/union_refuses_to_vote_on_job_c.html
Thousand of New Jersey, regional residents opposed to natural gas drilling near Delaware River
Environmentalists said they delivered a record 30,000 public comments opposing natural gas drilling near the Delaware River to federal regulators Thursday. (Delli Santi, The Associated Press)
Agosta to run for state Senate
Fair Lawn Republican Michael Agosta announced Thursday that he will run a primary campaign to gain his party’s nomination for the 38th Legislative District’s state Senate seat, pitting him against Republican Freeholder Chairman John Driscoll, who also has announced a bid for the seat. (Staff, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/119899524_Agosta_to_run_for_state_Senate.html
Tea Party steeps itself in N.J. legislative races
William Eames, co-founder of the Hanover-based Morris Patriots, a Tea Party group with more than 350 members, hadn’t planned on running for state Senate last week. (Penton, Gannett)
New law targets drug activity
The corner of 5th and State in North Camden was at one time the drug activity epicenter of the city. (Murray, Gannett)
Langford says New Jersey treats Atlantic City like a prostitute
The state is the pimp and Atlantic City is the prostitute.
That’s how Mayor Lorenzo Langford likened the relationship between the two sides as the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority prepares to launch a new Tourism District within the resort, effectively stripping the city of some of its powers. (Clark, Press of Atlantic City)
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Citgo off the hook
A judge ruled earlier this week that the oil giant is not responsible for the $1777 million spent to clean up the Delaware River after a massive 2004 oil spill, the Associated Press is reporting. (Isherwood, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/46870/citgo-hook
New Jersey granted Medicaid waiver
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has granted the state’s request for a waiver that will save the state’s taxpayers more than $300 million in the coming three years. (Isherwood, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/46869/new-jersey-granted-medicaid-waiver
Three more years of federal monitoring for DCF, commissioner estimates
Under a close watch by the federal authorities, the Department of Children and Families will likely need two to three more years of monitoring, according to an estimate proffered by Commissioner Dr. Allison Blake. (Carroll, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/46864/three-more-years-federal-monitoring-dcf-commissioner-estimates
Opponents, supporters of proposed waiver rule testify before DEP
Environmental groups and business interests squared off against each other Thursday over a proposed Department of Environmental Protection waiver rule. (Mooney, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/46863/opponents-supporters-proposed-waiver-rule-testify-dep
From the Back Room
Congress passes federal budget
The United States Congress has passed the 2011 budget. (Isherwood, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/congress-passes-federal-budget
Little has less than $2,000 COH
n losing to incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone last year, Highlands Mayor Anna C. Little said she was a 2012 candidate and has certainly acted like one, making the circuit of Gov. Chris Christie events and keeping a visible profile. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/little-has-less-2000-coh
Opinion
Recent Eagleton polls on Christie are meaningless and irrelevant
I am not a pollster, so I have no expertise at judging the numerical accuracy of the recent Eagleton Polls regarding Governor Chris Christie. (Steinberg, PolitickerNJ)
7,000 scamming seniors
Politicians are easy targets. We blast them when they engage in hypocrisy by saying one thing and doing another. We have every right to be peeved when it comes to New Jersey elected officials collecting a pension while still being in elected office (the law never should have been passed allowing it) particularly when so many people in the private sector are worried whether their pension is going to be there at all when they really retire. (Adubato, Jr., PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/sadubato/46862/7000-scamming-seniors
Obama, Christie stumble with their bats
Governor Christie has repeatedly denied any intention of running for president in 2012. He has said he is not ready. He is right. (Doblin, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/columnists/doblin/doblin_041511.html
And they still continue the big lie
The Assembly must take turns at repeating the same garbage. Now it’s Assemblyman John Burzichelli’s turn. (Ingle, Gannett)
http://blogs.app.com/politicspatrol/2011/04/15/and-they-still-continue-the-big-lie/#more-15279
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