It’s Monday, and while a new week is starting, in Trenton the focus is still on the issue of funding the Transportation Trust Fund. This while Gov. Chris Christie expresses his condolences over the murders of police officers in Dallas, gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy looks to shore up support and former Gov. Jon Corzine returns to the spotlight.
Quote of the Day: “The people of New Jersey mourn with the City of Dallas and the Dallas law enforcement community. Brave police officers all across this country who protect us on a daily basis deserve to be supported by all Americans. We must unite as a country and recommit ourselves to law and order, safety for our citizens and respect for each other and reject the hatred and violence behind these attacks,” – Gov. Chris Christie, responding to the attack on Dallas police officers.
Bramnick Calls for Special Session on Funding the TTF
Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21) and Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-26) are calling for a special session to come up with a compromise on funding the Transportation Trust Fund with a gas tax. Negotiations between the state Assembly, Senate and the Governor Chris Christie came to a halt at the end of June.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more
State of the Race: Week of the Minnesota, Louisiana and Dallas Shootings
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump converged in their responses to two police shootings and one sniper attack on police this week after trading barbs over the real estate magnate’s business record in Atlantic City. Trump came out the worse for wear this week after Clinton’s appearance in New Jersey gained national attention and an ill-advised tweet led to allegations of anti-Semitism inside the Trump campaign.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more
Murphy to Travel to Israel
Phil Murphy, Democratic candidate for governor, announced today that he will be visiting Israel next week to meet with business and government leaders on ways to expand New Jersey’s economic, security, and cultural ties.
Politicker Staff, PolitickerNJ Read more
The NJ Return of Jon Corzine – via England
Former U.S. Senator and Governor Jon Corzine will teach an honors seminar for Fairleigh Dickinson University this summer. Corzine will teach the course “Global Issues” to 15 undergraduate honors students on the University’s campus in Oxfordshire, U.K., Wroxton College from July 10 – 16.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more
Christie on the Dallas Sniper Killings of Police
Governor Chris Christie issued the following statement on the tragic shootings in the City of Dallas:
Politicker Staff, PolitickerNJ Read more
Pallone Says He Cant’s Forgive Trump for McCain Comments
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6) won his congressional seat in 1988, four years prior to when Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton ran for the presidency and defeated incumbent George Herbert Walker Bush. In his first election, Pallone won his then Monmouth and Ocean-based district by about 14,000 votes, despite Bush beating Mike Dukakis by around 30,000 votes and winning New Jersey.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more
Anti-cop rhetoric and the Dallas Police Assassinations
The assassination of five Dallas law enforcement officers should shock and disgust us all. No society can be safe, no rights can be assured and no justice can be found in any place where police officers are intentionally targeted for murder.
Pat Colligan, PolitickerNJ Read more
No Group Should be Subjected to Targeted Attacks
I am heartbroken for the five police officers who were murdered in Dallas last night and for the other officers injured in this heinous attack. I can’t even begin to imagine the fear that family members of law enforcement confront every day of what their loved ones will encounter when they go off work. And yesterday, many families’ worst fears became reality.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more
N.J. gas-tax fight gets risky for legislators
New Jersey lawmakers are struggling to finance needed repairs and improvements to bridges, roads and rail lines — without causing trouble for themselves on the 2017 campaign trail.
Charles Stile, The Record Read more
N.J. governor’s race starts at GOP convention
This month’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland will not only serve as the official platform for Donald Trump to claim the party’s presidential nomination, it will also mark the unofficial start for next year’s race for New Jersey governor.
Dustin Racioppi, The Record Read more
Christie cancels Fair Lawn forum to campaign with Trump
Governor Christie has canceled a Monday forum in Fair Lawn where he was expected to promote his new school-funding plan to instead campaign with Donald Trump. Trump is scheduled to make a “speech on veterans reform” in Virginia Beach, Va.
Dustin Racioppi, The Record Read more
Trenton fiddles while bridges rust
Behold the Eighth Street Bridge that spans the mighty Passaic River from Wallington to the city of Passaic — a link between Bergen and Passaic counties. The aging bridge is rusty, crusty, worn out and fading fast. Life gets hard when you’re 101 years old.
Mike Kelly, The Record Read more
Donald Trump had years of troubles in Atlantic City
Donald Trump often boasts that he made a lot of money in Atlantic City, despite the repeated failures of his casinos there, but what he does not mention is his casino empire’s repeated run-ins with government regulators over broken promises and violations of casino rules.
Karen Yi, Asbury Park Press Read more
Booker: Police ‘under resourced’; Trump ‘stoking hate and fear’
The federal government is not providing police with enough help to do a difficult job while it wastes money in the war on drugs, and Donald Trump is “callously stoking hate and fear” at a time the country needs reconciliation, Sen. Cory Booker said Sunday on the NBC News show “Meet the Press.”
Herb Jackson, The Record Read more
Would N.J. drivers rather pay a tax per mile driven than one at the pump?
Would New Jersey drivers be willing to swap the state’s proposed gas tax hike for a pay-by-the-mile surcharge to fund major road and bridge projects?
Larry Higgs, NJ.com Read more
Newt Gingrich vs. Chris Christie as Trump’s VP pick: See how they stack up
The speculation game over who presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will pick for his running mate is in high gear as the Republican National Convention looms.
Matt Arco and Brent Johnson, NJ.com Read more
Transportation stalemate affecting long-term projects
As hundreds of large and small transportation projects grounded to a halt Friday due to the state’s inability to fix its depleted Transportation Trust Fund, several long-range projects with years of planning and studies behind them continue to languish.
Associated Press Read more
Christie facing decision on protecting diamondback terrapins
Gov. Chris Christie faces a decision on legislation to protect a native New Jersey turtle known for living in salty marshes along the coast and sometimes falling victim to auto traffic during the shore’s busy summer months.
Associated Press Read more