Poll: Booker, Lonegan have huge leads
TRENTON – Prepare for Booker vs. Lonegan. At least that is the finding Wednesday of the latest Quinnipiac University Poll, which foresees Newark Mayor Cory Booker and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan squaring off in the U.S. Senate race. PolitickerNJ
http://www.politickernj.com/67521/poll-lonegan-and-booker-have-huge-leads
African American clergy back Booker
African American clergy from throughout New Jersey gathered at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark today to endorse Newark Mayor Cory Booker for U.S. Senate. PolitickerNJ
http://www.politickernj.com/67515/african-american-clergy-members-back-booker-us-senate-contest
Latest from The Back Room
Political consultant has competitors abuzz
An Ohio-based political consulting firm that at least one competitor likened to a “cult” has set up shop in New Jersey this election season, working in the 2nd Legislative district. PolitickerNJ
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/political-consultant-has-competitors-abuzz
Latest from State Street Wire
Alternative college tuition system would be studied
TRENTON – Funding higher education in New Jersey is drawing more legislative attention. PolitickerNJ
Sign up for a free trial of State Street Wire at http://www.politickernj.com/freetrial
Weiner expects to have Bloomberg’s vote
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has thus far remained mum on his favored candidate for mayor, but Anthony Weiner is pretty confident he’s got it locked down. PolitickerNY
http://politicker.com/2013/08/anthony-weiner-expects-to-have-bloombergs-vote/
Tech magnates bet on Booker
The conference room in the Mountain View, Calif., headquarters ofLinkedIn was packed with the stars of Silicon Valley. Top executives of Facebook, Google and Twitter gathered around a table; the billionaire Sean Parker looked on from a back row. The guest of honor: Cory A. Booker, the mayor of Newark. NY Times
NJPIRG wants stronger measures to protect against chemical accidents
In response to recent chemical accidents in New Jersey, Texas, and Louisiana, the New Jersey Public Research Group is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect residents.A study released by the group Tuesday titled, “Danger In Our Backyards: The Threat of Chemical Facilities to Millions,” finds as many as twelve million Garden State residents live near a high risk New Jersey chemical plant. 101.5 FM
http://nj1015.com/njpirg-calls-for-stronger-measures-to-prevent-chemical-accidents-audio/
Defense Dept. lags in dealing with sex assault
In 2010, the parents of a Texas high school student told an Air Force officer they were concerned a recruiter was sending their daughter inappropriate text messages, showing up at her work and spreading rumors. Politico
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/defense-department-sexual-assault-reform-95262.html
Booker: Super mayor or self promoter?
In one week, voters in New Jersey go to the polls in a special primary election for a U.S. Senate seat. NPR
Wall Street rules a conundrum for Christie
Getting reelected as New Jersey governor is the easy part for Chris Christie. It’s keeping the job while raising money for a presidential race that threatens to complicate his national ambitions. Politico
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/chris-christie-wall-street-95256.html?hp=f2
Obama: Putin slips into Cold War mentality
BURBANK, Calif. — President Obama on Tuesday repeated the White House’s line about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to grant NSA leaker Edward Snowden temporary asylum: he’s “disappointed.” Politico
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/barack-obama-vladimir-putin-95268.html?hp=l1
Romney warns against government shutdown
WOLFEBORO, N.H. — Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney jumped into the debate over the GOP’s future Tuesday night, warning congressional Republicans against forcing a government shutdown in their quest to stop President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/mitt-romney-government-shutdown_n_3716055.html
RNC threatens debate ban over Clinton programs
The Republican National Committee chairman says he’ll try to block presidential primary debate partnerships with NBC and CNN if the television networks don’t cancel planned Hillary Clinton documentaries. Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-05/rnc-pledges-debate-ban-over-network-clinton-programs.html
New suit to be filed in train derailment
WOODBURY — First responders are planning to file the latest lawsuit claiming Conrail was negligent in the aftermath of a train derailment and chemical spill in southern New Jersey last year. Asbury Park Press
http://www.app.com/viewart/20130807/NJNEWS10/308070023/New-suit-filed-south-NJ-train-derailment
Oliver refuses to sit back and wait
Sheila Oliver broke barriers in 2010 when she became the first African-American woman ever chosen as speaker of the state Assembly. Now she wants to become the first woman to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate. Record
http://www.northjersey.com/news/NJ_Senate_candidate_Oliver_refuses_to_sit_back_and_wait.html
In N.J. nearly one in three speaks another language
Nearly one-third of New Jersey residents speak a language other than English at home, while just more than 10 percent of Pennsylvania residents do so. Inquirer
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/Nearly_1_in_3_NJ_residents_speak_other_languages.html
Two top managers replaced at Essex psychiatric hospital after critical inspection
The medical director for the Essex County Hospital Center was fired and the acting hospital director reassigned last month following a damaging inspection report that found psychiatric patients were left alone in restraints for hours and staff had failed to properly sterilize medical equipment and administer medication safely. Star-Ledger
Congressional budget battle on tap for fall
U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews hopes the looming fall budget showdown between congressional Democrats and Republicans will result in a compromise that not only averts a government shutdown and debt default, but also brings an end to broad federal spending cuts known as the sequester. Burlington County Times
Opinion
State’s legal brief on gay marriage ‘nonsense’
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration filed a brief last week defending the state’s 2006 Civil Union Act, which grants gay couples all the benefits of marriage yet bars them from actually getting married. Frank, Slate
The darker reason Bezos may have bought the Post
The first and only time I’ve seen Jeff Bezos up close was in 2004, at the White House Correspondents’ dinner. If I remember correctly, and I think I do, he was being led into theVanity Fair-Bloomberg after-party by Roxanne Roberts, a longtime writer for the WashingtonPost’s Style section. A skinny, balding, fidgety fellow, he seemed a bit out of place in a black tie and a tux, smiling awkwardly as he shook hands and chatted with the capital’s power brokers and visiting celebrities. Cassidy, The New Yorker
Christie mum on voting rights decision
Tell-it-like-it-is Governor Christie has been noticeably tight-lipped about the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that dealt a blow to the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against minorities at the ballot box in the segregated South. Stile, Record
http://www.northjersey.com/news/Stile_Christie_mum_on_voting_rights_decision.html
