Morning News Digest: April 11, 2012
By Missy Rebovich
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O’Toole, Donovan to address Korean community on Kwon’s failed nomination
Sen. Kevin O’Toole, (R-40), Cedar Grove, will address members of New Jersey’s Korean community this week to discuss Phillip Kwon’s failed bid for the state’s high court.
O’Toole will be joined by Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan, according to a Senate Republican news release, which explained that the purpose of the event will be to address the community “following the disrespectful treatment” of Kwon during the state Supreme Court nominee process. (Staff, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/56107/otoole-donovan-address-korean-community-kwons-failed-nomination
Irvington Council people back Smith in CD 10
Irvington East Ward Councilman Quinzell R. McKenzie and Councilwoman at Large Lebby C. Jones today threw their support behind Mayor Wayne Smith, backing him in his quest to become Congressman of the 10th Congressional District.
“Wayne Smith has demonstrated his intelligence, courage, compassion and conviction for the residents of the 10th Congressional District,” Smith’s colleagues said in a joint statement. “While he has served our township well as mayor for the past 10 years he has distinguished himself as a leader to residents throughout New Jersey and particularly urban residents in his role as president of the New Jersey Urban Mayor’s Association.” (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/56087/irvington-council-people-back-smith-cd-10
Christie stands by his decision to cancel trans-Hudson tunnel
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey defended on Tuesday his decision to cancel a train tunnel long planned to relieve increasing congestion across the Hudson River, saying it was a matter of principle.
Responding to a report by the Government Accountability Office that found he had overstated the cost of the tunnel to New Jersey, the governor also derided the tunnel plan, though he had said when he canceled the project in October 2010 that he believed in its merits. While the tunnel would have expanded the number of subway lines available to those who commute to Pennsylvania Station in New York City, he characterized it on Tuesday as a dead-end to a department store. (Zernike, The New York Times)
Christie back on national stage
Governor Christie took another tax-cutting budget victory lap on Tuesday, pitching his economic recovery message to an audience outside New Jersey.
The Republican governor offered many of his usual themes — that he convinced Democrats to cut spending and bring employee benefits under control and now he’s nearly coaxed them into cutting income taxes.
But his speech in New York was different in one key area: Its audience. (Reitmeyer, The Record)
Gov. Christie: Nation turning into ‘people sitting on a couch waiting for their next government check’
Gov. Chris Christie today warned an audience of national Republicans that the country is in danger of becoming a “paternalistic entitlement society” where people sit on the couch, “waiting for the next government check.”
Christie spoke at a day-long conference on tax policy in New York hosted by former President George W. Bush, who nominated Christie to be U.S. Attorney in 2001.
Christie spent most of his 30-minute speech on New Jersey budget issues, but brought up national policy toward the end. He said it is the least optimistic period he’s ever seen for the nation. (DeMarco, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/gov_christie_nation_is_becomin.html
Christie to meet with NJ Jewish leaders
Days after returning from a trip to Israel, Gov. Chris Christie will meet Wednesday with Jewish leaders in New Jersey.
Christie was in Jerusalem during Holy Week for a trade mission and tour. He then traveled to Jordan with his family before returning home on Sunday.
The governor traveled with a delegation of 13 business and religious leaders. He met with top Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Shimon Perez. (Associated Press)
Sen. committee boss: Christie’s delay on pricing N.J. higher ed reorganization is ‘insulting’
The head of the Senate Budget Committee called it “insulting” that the Christie administration has yet to put a price tag on his sweeping makeover of the state’s higher education system while still insisting the plan gets approved by July1.
In January, Gov. Chris Christie endorsed a reorganization plan that calls for Rowan University to take over Rutgers’ Camden campus and for Rutgers to absorb parts of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Piscataway. The governor says he wants all the required approvals in place by July 1, including possible legislative approval. (Renshaw, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/senate_committee_boss_christie.html
Jefferson president to lead Rutgers?
The outgoing president of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia will apparently become the new leader of New Jersey’s flagship public university.
Rutgers University officials had refused to say who the school’s new president would be, saying only that the appointment would be considered Wednesday during a special Board of Governors meeting.
However, the Newark Star-Ledger reported that a photo of Robert Barchi was briefly uploaded Tuesday to the Rutgers media-relations website. It was removed after a Star-Ledger reporter inquired about the photo, which carried a file name that said “Barchi approved.” (Associated Press)
Tunnel to nowhere: New rail tunnel at least a decade away
While Democrats and Republicans traded charges yesterday over Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to cancel the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) rail tunnel that would have been the nation’s largest public works project, the bottom line is clear: No new rail tunnel will be built under the Hudson River for at least a decade, and the new tunnel will end up costing a lot more money when it is finally built.
“Arguing over whether the ARC Tunnel would have cost $11 billion or $14 billion doesn’t get us any closer to building the new rail tunnel we need,” Thomas Wright, executive director of the non-profit Regional Plan Association, said in frustration yesterday. (Magyar, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0410/2334/
Dems, college execs try to satisfy merger foes
High-level Democrats and top college officials have been meeting privately to discuss how Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to realign three New Jersey universities can be tweaked so it’s more acceptable to opponents.
Several people with direct knowledge of the meetings tell The Associated Press that Senate President Stephen Sweeney, South Jersey Democratic Party boss George Norcross and Rutgers President Richard McCormick attended the sessions. The people spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss private conversations. (Delli Santi, Associated Press)
Merger of NJ universities moves closer, despite lack of any details
New Jersey legislators are going to be asked to approve a restructuring of higher education in the state without knowing how much it is going to cost, even though one college president said to do it right will take a “very significant investment.”
Still, the plan to split up the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and move parts of it to other higher ed institutions is moving forward. Rutgers is said to now be in discussions with Rowan and officials from Gov. Chris Christie’s office over its most controversial aspect — the proposed merger of Rutgers’
Camden campus into Rowan — in a way that opponents find acceptable. (O’Dea, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0410/2247/
Higher ed chief put on hot seat
Lawmakers on the Senate budget committee grilled New Jersey’s higher education secretary Tuesday about the price of a proposed reorganization of the state’s public university system, and expressed their frustration about yet another hearing with few detailed answers.
In one of many needling exchanges from Democrats on the committee, Sen. Nellie Pou, D-Paterson, said she couldn’t fathom how the task force recommending the overhaul could fail to include a fiscal analysis. (Brody, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/146939645_Higher_ed_chief_put_on_hot_seat.html
First $110M of Grow New Jersey tax credits receive EDA backing
A retail headquarters, defense contractor facility, wine company office and distribution center, and a pharmaceutical research and development facility were the first four applicants approved for tax credits under a new state program.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority board today approved a total of $110 million in tax credits under Grow New Jersey, which is targeted toward businesses that are both investing money in the state and either adding or retaining 100 jobs. (Kitchenman, NJBIZ)
NJ officially welcomes first three accountable care organizations
New Jersey on Tuesday saw the official launch of three Medicare accountable care organizations: regional consortiums that team doctors and hospitals to improve patient healthcare and reduce wasteful spending — and share in any savings realized by the federal government if the ACO succeeds at those goals. (Fitzgerald, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0410/2102/
Fine Print: New teacher evaluation guidance
What it is: The Christie administration last month sent out notice of more than $2 million in grants for school districts to join the state’s teacher evaluation pilot now underway to develop a statewide system for 2013-14. Last weekend, it sent out additional guidance for the 10 districts already in the pilot, breaking down how student performance should fit into teachers’ grades in this first year as well. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0410/2356/
Report grades N.J. on preschool efforts
New Jersey continues to lead the nation in providing high-quality preschool to low-income children, but has lost ground on ensuring that all at-risk children receive this early start to learning, according to a national report released Tuesday.
The report — The State of Preschool 2011: State Preschool Yearbook — found that New Jersey moved up to second nationally for its enrollment of 3-year-olds in high-quality preschool. (Staff, Gannett)
Obama eligibility challenge unlikely to succeed in N.J.
A long-shot, multistate effort to find a judge willing to say President Barack Obama is ineligible to be America’s chief executive looks unlikely to succeed in New Jersey.
Attorney Mario Apuzzo, representing two state residents who challenged Obama’s spot in the June primary, tried a bevy of arguments in the course of a three-hour hearing Tuesday, ranging from a study of Colonial-era attorney St. George Tucker to whether the last name used on Obama’s kindergarten registration in Indonesia casts doubts on his identity. (Symons, Gannett)
Firm seeks more time for OK on wind turbines off coast
Fishermen’s Energy, the company likely cl
osest to placing wind turbines off the coast of New Jersey, is seeking more time to file an amended application with state regulators after harsh criticism of its initial proposal by consultants.
The extension request by Cape May-based Fishermen’s Energy is to be taken up Wednesday by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. (Duffelmeyer, Associated Press)
Racetrack pick challenged
The unsuccessful bidder in the private takeover of Monmouth Park racetrack is challenging the state’s selection of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association as the track’s new operator.
Hackensack native John Brunetti, the owner of Hialeah Racetrack in Florida, will make his case to New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority officials at a hearing on Monday.
In a filing sent Monday, Brunetti objected to what he called the Horsemen’s Association’s “exploitation” of the bidding process late last year once real estate executive Morris Bailey walked away from a tentative deal to operate the track. (Brennan, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/bergen_politics/146939585_Racetrack_pick_challenged.html
Newark’s Booker says Devils owner Vanderbeek betrayed city
Newark Mayor Cory Booker says the New Jersey Devils betrayed the city by failing to fulfill commitments that helped the National Hockey League team get $200 million in taxpayer money for a new arena.
Booker last week called Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek, a former Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. executive, a “high- falootin, high-class huckster and hustler” who came to Newark with “a mouthful of promises and a pocketful of lies” after an independent arbitration panel granted the team $2.7 million a year in disputed parking revenue. (Kurilof and Regan, Bloomberg)
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Corrections commissioner talks of reduced OT, personnel and inmate levels
The Department of Corrections commissioner told the Senate Budget Committee today that his department has reduced overtime, personnel, and inmate population while coping with aging facilities over the past fiscal year.
Commissioner Gary Lanigan told lawmakers that the state reduced overtime by $13.3 million and 333,000 hours, and that the fiscal year 2013 budget projects a savings of $15.4 million by eliminating 135 positions through attrition. (Mooney, State Street Wire)
Rutgers’ name may not be lost, says McCormick
If the proposed merger of Rutgers-Camden and Rowan University were to eventually happen, the Rutgers name may not disappear.
Richard McCormick, president of Rutgers University and the chairman of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, indicated during a Senate Budget hearing this afternoon that talks might be ongoing to ensure a merger would not come at the cost of losing the Rutgers name. (Arco, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/56099/rutgers-name-may-not-be-lost-says-mccormick
EDA 2011 report: Over $882M in incentives, tax credits
The 2011 annual report from the Economic Development Authority shows that there was greater investment overall and that two programs meant to spur economic development were heavily used, particularly in the state’s urban areas.
The EDA finalized more than $882 million in financial assistance, business incentives and tax credits for various businesses, non-profit organizations and towns, according to the annual report. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/56098/eda-2011-report-over-882m-incentives-tax-credits
From the Back Room
Elkis named Menendez state director
Karen Elkis, a longtime aid to U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez has been named the senator’s state director, replacing Mike Soliman who has taken over as Menendez’s campaign manager in the upcoming reelection bid.
Elkis has worked as South Jersey Director for U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg during the 1980s and later for U.S. Senator Jon S. Corzine until he left for the Governor’s office in 2005. She has been with Menendez since he was first appointed and then elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006. (Isherwood, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/elkis-named-menendez-state-director
Codey to endorse Rice in CD 10
State Sen. Richard Codey (D-27) is poised to endorse Newark West Ward Councilman Ronald C. Rice in the 10th Congressional race, according to a source close to the senator. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/codey-endorse-rice-cd-10
Opinion
Credibility issue rises for governor
You won’t find it written anywhere in the fine print, but read the federal government’s report on the canceled Hudson River rail tunnel, and you could reach this conclusion: Governor Christie needs to bridge a credibility gap.
The 29-page General Accounting Office report never mentions Christie by name, but it offers a blunt counter-narrative to the self-congratulatory, “I-protected-state-taxpayers” sales pitch that Christie uses to justify killing the nation’s largest public works project. (Stile, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/146939695_Credibility_issue_rises_for_governor.html
