Morning News Digest: June 2, 2011

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Morning News Digest: Thursday, June 02, 2011

By Missy Rebovich

Try State Street Wire, Follow PolitickerNJ on Twitter and Facebook. Text “PNJ” to 89800 to receive alerts

 

 

Lautenberg savages GOP over McConnell’s Medicare remarks

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) told a roomful of seniors here today, “We want to send a message to the Tea Party Republicans in Washington: keep your hands off Medicare.”  (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/48220/lautenberg-savages-gop-over-mcconnells-medicare-remarks

 

 

Weinberg: ‘I would like to hear the governor say…I made a mistake’

It would end up like this.

After having to endure a full day of helicopter hand wringing, Gov. Chris Christie was in the torturous waning hours of his worst media event since that infamous snow storm debacle when his favorite radio caller appeared in the 10 p.m. time slot on MSNBC’s The Ed Show – and finished the job for a Democratic Party ever desperate to land a jab on the typically unflappable GOP governor.  (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/48248/weinberg-i-would-hear-governor-say-i-made-mistake

 

 

Christie taking $2,500 helicopter ride to son’s game may cost him support

Governor Chris Christie’s image as a cost-cutter may have started cracking the moment he boarded a state police helicopter to get to his son’s high-school baseball game, leaving New Jersey with a $2,500 bill.  (Young and Dopp, Bloomberg)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-02/christie-taking-2-500-helicopter-ride-to-son-s-game-may-cost-him-support.html

 

 

High-flying Christie draws fire in trip dubbed Coptergate

Gov. Christie often jokes that his favorite part of being governor is that the Lincoln Tunnel closes when he travels through on trips to New York City.  (Katz, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/nj/123005108.html

 

 

Officials defend Christie chopper use

The door remains open for Gov. Chris Christie to use state-owned helicopters for personal travel and political trips, with administration officials claiming Wednesday that there’s no extra cost when members of New Jersey’s first family are added to flights as passengers.  (Jordan and Symons, Gannett)

http://www.app.com/article/20110601/NJNEWS10/306010097/Officials-defend-Gov-Christie-chopper-use

 

 

2 Iowa visitors: Christie left door slightly open

It’s too early to say the Iowa GOP mission to draft in-your-face New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to run for president was unsuccessful, two team members said Wednesday.  (Jacobs, Gannett)

http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/06/01/2-iowa-visitors-christie-left-door-slightly-open/

 

 

N.J. Democrats near deal with Gov. Christie on pension, health reform

Democratic leaders edged closer to a deal with Gov. Chris Christie on pension and health benefit reform today, as Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said she may be open to changing public workers’ health benefits through legislation if the governor gives up more ground on his own proposal.  (Friedman and Baxter, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/nj_lawmakers_one_step_closer_t.html

 

 

NJ Senate panel to weigh combined primary election

New Jersey lawmakers are considering whether to stop holding a separate presidential primary election.  (The Associated Press)

http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=courierpostonline&sParam=36624437.story

 

 

New Jersey grants discharge permit to Oyster Creek

New Jersey environmental officials have granted a water discharge permit to the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, allowing it to continue releasing heated water back into the creek and out into Barnegat Bay.  (The Associated Press)

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/new-jersey-grants-discharge-permit-to-oyster-creek/article_7e852f92-8ca8-11e0-8f13-001cc4c002e0.html

 

 

N.J. Sen. Nicholas Sacco facing challenger in Tuesday’s Democratic primary

The contours of the 32nd Legislative District may have changed, but a familiar face is looking forward to continuing in the district’s state Senate job.  (Mestanza, The Jersey Journal)

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2011/06/nj_sen_nicholas_sacco_facing_c.html

 

 

Jesse Jackson tells Citigroup workers to ‘fight back’ in Jersey City

The Rev. Jesse Jackson appeared in Downtown Jersey City yesterday to protest Citigroup’s decision to lay off 276 workers at a subsidiary in Englewood Cliffs.  (McDonald, The Jersey Journal)

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2011/06/jesse_jackson_joined_40_activi.html

 

 

‘Fight on!’ Jackson exhorts public workers

Capping off two days of rallies around New Jersey, the Rev. Jesse Jackson traveled to the capital city yesterday to speak to public union members from the steps of the Trenton War Memorial.  (Fair, The Times of Trenton)

http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-23/1306993525157940.xml&coll=5

 

 

New Newark superintendent takes quiet first steps into restive city

The Rev. William Howard got the message midweek from the newcomer to Newark that she would like to come worship at his Central Ward church the following Sunday.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0601/2358/

 

 

Member might lose BOE seat

A $5 bag of heroin purchased 43 years ago might cost one man the chance to continue serving the community he loves.

That’s the predicament city Board of Education member Rasheed Abdul-Haqq faces this week after Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill into law creating tighter restrictions on eligibility to serve on New Jersey school boards.  (Spivey, Gannett)

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110601/NJNEWS/306010024/Member-might-lose-BOE-seat

 

 

Honeywell to flesh out proposal

Honeywell officials say they expect to go back to the Morris Township Planning Board in a couple of months after considering changes to a proposed development that includes townhouses and a hotel at their global headquarters.  (Koloff, Gannett)

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110601/NJNEWS/306010013/Honeywell-flesh-out-proposal

 

 

NJSIAA chief frets over budget concerns

Steve Timko knows “someday” is coming.

It’s just not here yet.

“It’s not next year,” Timko, the NJSIAA’s executive director, said in reference to the time when the organization might have to reduce or eliminate programs, or personnel positions, or both, to balance its budget.  (Anastasia, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/high_school/123005613.html#ixzz1O72sziAl

 

 

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Daily State House Schedule

 

 

Menendez says Ryan Medicare overhaul would hurt N.J. seniors

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said Wednesday that if the Republicans’ Medicare reform goes through, 40,000 private-sector jobs would be lost in the state and tens of thousands of seniors would pay millions of dollars more for wellness programs and prescription drugs.  (Mooney, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/48245/menendez-says-ryan-medicare-overhaul-would-hurt-nj-seniors

 

 

N.J. high-performing school districts listed

The following school districts have been certified for three years as high-performing by the state Department of Education, based on various factors.  (Hassan, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/48230/nj-high-performing-school-districts-listed

 

 

National recognition for two N.J. middle schools

Two N.J. middle schools are being honored for high achievement.

Bellhaven Avenue Middle School in Linwood, Atlantic County, and Mountain View Middle school in Mendham Borough were named 2011 Middle Schools to Watch.  (Hassan, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/48216/national-recognition-two-nj-middle-schools

 

 

In light of Christie helicopter use, Moriarty calls for action on ethics proposal

An assemblyman believes he already has on the table a piece of legislation that if enacted would help to curb incidents such as the governor using a state police helicopter to attend his son’s high school baseball game.  (Mooney, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/48224/light-christie-helicopter-use-moriarty-calls-action-ethics-proposal

 

 

Opinion

 

 

Christie’s female troubles

New Jersey political observers are aware that Governor Christie’s job rating has taken a tumble in the past month. All three pollsters who regularly track his “job approval” found similar declines in public opinion.  (Patrick Murray for PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/patrick-murray/48213/christies-female-troubles

 

 

Fiscal warrior Christie flies into enemy’s sights

The new AW139 state police helicopters allow troopers to rescue hikers trapped in ravines. They are used to spot suspicious activity around nuclear plants.  (Stile, The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/political_stile/123004763_Fiscal_warrior_Christie_flies_into_enemy_s_sights.html

 

 

Things you don’t see every day: Chris Christie & George Norcross in Camden

From the Dept. of Unlikely Pairings: Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic powerbroker George E. Norcross III will be speaking to the graduating class of the Community Education Resource Network in Camden on Friday.  (Roh, Gannett)

http://blogs.courierpostonline.com/roh/2011/06/01/things-you-dont-see-every-day-chris-christie-george-norcross-in-camden/#more-722

 

 

Actions belie Christie rhetoric

Tuesday wasn’t the first time New Jersey taxpayers gave Gov. Chris Christie a free ride for his personal business.

And it won’t be the last, given his history of lavish travel expenses and trips to benefit Republicans nationwide as well as his own political profile.  (Rosen, Gannett)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20110602/NEWS99/106020347/Actions-belie-Christie-rhetoric

 

 

Mainstream Republicans to suburban homeowners: Drop dead

The Associated Press reported earlier this week on an e-mail that state Senate minority leader Tom Kean sent out to the members of his caucus. The way the AP reported it, you might have gotten the impression that Kean was calling for the Republicans to finally stand up to the state Supreme Court and demand that suburbanites get a fair share of state property-tax relief funding.  (Mulshine, The Star-Ledger)

http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2011/06/mainstream_republicans_to_subu.html

 

 

Don’t limit arguments on House floor

The House voted down a ‘clean’ increase in the national debt limit last night, to the surprise of no one. 

Here’s a breakdown of the final tally:
Total vote: 97 yes / 318 no
Republicans: 0 yes / 236 no
Democrats: 97 yes / 82 no
NJ Dems voting yes: Rush Holt, Bill Pascrell, Donald Payne, Steve Rothman, Albio Sires
NJ Dems voting no: Rob Andrews, Frank Pallone (Jackson, The Record)

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/capitalgames/comments/debt_limit_arguments_on_house_floor/

 


Morning News Digest: June 2, 2011