Morning News Digest: August 21, 2012
By Missy Rebovich
Christie: Comeback still going strong
Gov. Chris Christie said a recent disappointing jobs report aside, that the New Jersey comeback is still going strong.
The governor’s comments came Monday after last week’s lackluster jobs report that showed unemployment in the Garden State edged up 0.2 percentage points to 9.8 percent.
“I pick my words very carefully,” Christie said. “I have said … that the New Jersey comeback has begun, … not that the New Jersey come back has peaked.”
The governor touted that the state has added private sector jobs in nine of the last 11 months. He said he was not concerned by the report and called it shameful that Democrats were quick to use the numbers to blast the governor’s policies. (Arco, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/59175/christie-comeback-still-going-strong
Christie calls Akin’s ‘legitimate rape’ comment ‘asinine, ridiculous’
Gov. Chris Christie left no doubt how he feels about the “legitimate rape” comments made by a Missouri congressman.
“It’s absolutely an asinine, ridiculous statement by the congressman,” Christie said during a press conference today. “He should be ashamed of himself.”
Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, who is seeking a U.S. Senate seat, in discussing his opposition to abortion, made comments that if a woman is being raped, she somehow can prevent getting pregnant.
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” he said.
The comment has generated nationwide criticism.
“I find it reprehensible,” Christie said today. (Arco, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/59178/christie-calls-akins-legitimate-rape-comments-asinine-ridiculous
Christie mum on keynote content
Gov. Chris Christie says he’s excited to give the keynote address at the Republican National Convention next week.
The governor declined to give reporters on the Asbury Park boardwalk any insights into his big speech next Tuesday, but said he’s excited to get down to Florida.
“I’m excited,” Christie said. “It’s a great opportunity for me personally and it’s a great opportunity for the state.” (Arco, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/59179/christie-mum-keynote-content
Nominations filed
Today, Gov. Chris Christie filed the following nominations with the State Senate. The Governor’s nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/59181/nominations-filed
Gov. Christie talks about being passes up for vice presidential pick
Gov. Christie was flying home from Montana, after raising money for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, when he got an e-mail from the man himself.
Call me when you land, Romney told Christie.
“So when I landed, I called him,” Christie said Monday. “He told me that he decided to go in a different direction for vice president, asked me if I would be willing to do the keynote address [at the Republican convention]. I told him that I would be.”
That was Aug. 10, the night before Romney announced U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate. (Katz, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Christie drafting GOP keynote speech
Gov. Chris Christie says he’s excited , but not nervous , about giving the keynote speech at the Republican National Convention, but he wasn’t giving any hints Monday about what he plans to say.
The rising GOP star did say he was on his seventh draft of the address, which he’s scheduled to give at 10:30 p.m. Aug. 28. And, he said he’s been sharing drafts and soliciting feedback from a handful of intimates besides his immediate family who know his voice and can tell him if he’s strayed.
“That’s what I care about more than anything else , I’m more looking to them to say, does this sound like me,” said Christie, 49.
The governor, just back from a week’s vacation, fielded questions about his role at the convention for the first time since being tapped for the top speaking slot by presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. (Delli Santi, Associated Press)
New Jersey Republicans hoping to cash in on Christie keynote
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is hosting an intimate gathering to congratulate Governor Christie following his keynote address at the Republican National Convention in Tampa next week.
The price of admission?
A mere $25,000, which is the maximum an individual, corporation or political action committee can contribute to a state political party.
The “After Session Reception” is being held at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island Aug. 28 from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
The event is limited to 50 attendees, according to an invitation the NJ GOP sent out. The invitation encourages those who can’t attend the event in Florida to still make a donation to, “help Governor Christie continue the New Jersey Comeback.” (Hayes, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/New_Jersey_Republicans_hoping_to_cash_in_on_Christie_keynote.html
Christie’s senate fight
Gov. Chris Christie has traveled the country stumping for presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney, but a race closer to home is personal.
On one side is his close friend, state Sen. Joe Kyrillos, whom the governor introduced to his future wife. The two rose through the Republican Party ranks together.
On the other is one of the governor’s most powerful political opponents, Sen. Robert Menendez, whom Mr. Christie launched an investigation against in 2006 while serving as U.S. Attorney in Newark. (Haddon, The Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444443504577601782053907906.html?KEYWORDS=christie
Rabbi Shmuley gets boost from big GOP donor
Billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, among the top donors to the Republican machine this election, is also now the top giver — along with his wife — to the New Jersey congressional race of the reality-TV rabbi, Shmuley Boteach.
Mr. Adelson, who runs the Las Vegas Sands international gaming empire, and his wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, who runs the Adelson drug clinic, have each given $250,000, or $500,000 total, to a new independent super PAC called the Patriot Prosperity PAC, according to people close to the Adelsons and the PAC.
Patriot Prosperity is supporting Mr. Boteach, who is running as a Republican, against eight-term Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. in a newly redrawn district in northern New Jersey. (Mundy, The Wall Street Journal)
N.J. Senate passes job initiative
Lawmakers who had mixed feelings about a job-creation bill in 2011 unanimously backed the plan Monday, as they search urgently for ways to address New Jersey’s historically high unemployment.
Angel investors in technology start-ups could get tax breaks through a proposed program that Christie vetoed in 2011, Senate Democrats argued Monday, in the first volley of a political blame-game about the state’s 9.8-percent July unemployment rate.
Republicans, most of whom voted for the angel-investor measure last year but then refused to override Christie’s veto, unanimously supported it Monday. (Fletcher, The Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/166824756_N_J__Senate_passes_job_initiative.html
N.J. Senate OKs bill that would protect people who call 911 to report drug overdoses from arrest
Under a bill passed by the Senate on Monday, people who call 911 to report a drug overdose would be protected against arrest or prosecution.
The bill, called the “Good Samaritan Emergency Response Act,” already passed the Assembly 67 to 8. The Senate approved it, without debate, by a vote of 21 to 10. It now heads to Governor Christie to sign into law or veto.
The law would protect “a person who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose” from arrest or prosecution related to the drug abuse by treating the person’s actions as a “mitigating factor in a prosecution for other drug-related offenses.” It gives the same protection to the drug users themselves. (Linhorst, The Record)
N.J. Senate postpones vote on bill ending time limit on filing alwsuits in sex abuse cases
A Senate vote on a bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault victims to sue their abusers was postponed Monday when its sponsor decided there weren’t enough votes to support it.
With six senators missing during Monday’s session, which was held in the middle of the Senate’s summer break, Sen. Joseph Vitale said he was worried the bill would not have garnered the 21 needed to pass.
“When I polled the members — and I polled both sides of the aisle — I didn’t quite get to 21,” said Vitale, one of the sponsors of the bill. He plans to put it back on the Senate’s agenda in September, he said. (Linhorst, The Record)
Moody’s: Hospitals face heavy risk without Medicaid expansion
In a recent industry report, Moody’s Investor Services confirmed what many nonprofit hospital executives feared after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act — more financial risk is on the table, as states are able to opt out of the Medicaid expansion.
The expansion would have offset some of the reimbursement cuts slated for the Medicaid and Medicare programs by adding to the number of newly insured patients created by the act. In the Moody’s report, the court’s decision to limit the expansion blunts one of the ways the law would be credit-positive for hospitals. (Caliendo, NJBIZ)
http://www.njbiz.com/article/20120820/NJBIZ01/120829973/Moodys:-Hospitals-face-heavy-risk-without-Medicaid-expansion
Horizon announces expansion to patient-centered care model
To continue its push to transform primary care practices in New Jersey from a doctor-does-all model to team-based coordinated health care, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has expanded its patient-centered medical home program to reach 154,000 members through 145 practice locations.
“We’ve more or less doubled the number of participating members and practices up to July, with the intention to add another 20 practices on November 1,” said Jim Albano, vice president of health care services for Horizon. “I think it’s important for us to continue to communicate that we are still focused on adding more to the program and we are still committed to the concept.” (Eder, NJBIZ)
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Senate OKs bills affecting guide dogs, organ transplants, premarital agreements
The Senate passed several bills today by either unanimous or nearly unanimous votes. (Mooney, State Street Wire)
Angel investor tax credit bill passes Senate
The Senate passed a bill that would benefit so-called angel investors but put a dent in the state coffers. (Mooney, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/59162/angel-investor-tax-credit-bill-passes-senate
From the Back Room
Mejia and Balmir charge up coordinated campaign for Dems
Analilia Mejia has been named Latino and Labor Base Vote Director, and T. Missy Balmir has been named African American Base Vote Director of New Jersey’s 2012 statewide Democratic Party coordinated campaign. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/majia-and-balmir-charge-coordinated-campaign-dems
Opinion
The impact of the Todd Akin comments on the presidential race
President Obama’s reelection campaign has been negatively impacted by the defection of a substantial percentage of married women voters to the Romney-Ryan ticket. Economic issues have constituted the main factor in this exodus of a key Obama 2008 constituency, although a majority of single women have remained in the Democratic camp.
This defection of married women has significantly reduced the gender gap that was such a key factor in the victory of the Obama-Biden ticket in 2008. The President’s strategists believe, however, that they have been given a huge gift in this regard this past Sunday by the comments of Congressman Todd Akin (R-Missouri) regarding the right of rape victims to choose to have abortions. (Steinberg for PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/alan-steinberg/59183/impact-todd-akin-comments-presidential-race
