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It’s Monday, and as Gov. Chris Christie hopes of leaving this week’s GOP convention as his party’s vice presidential nominee have evaporated, it’s a good time to take a look back at last week’s winners and losers in state politics. Then read on for news on pensions, the investigations of police-involved shootings and if another NJ politician should be giving up any dreams of joining his party’s 2016 presidential ticket.
Quote of the Day: “I’ve worked with the governor and I know one thing: once he gets into a position, which he is in — he got the bill he wanted from Democrats — you’re going to have a problem,” – Senate President Steve Sweeney, on trying to find a compromise solution to generate revenue for the Transportation Trust Fund.
Sweeney: Pension Amendment Threatened by TTF Standoff
One of New Jersey’s top Democrats predicted Friday that a constitutional amendment to mandate quarterly pension payments could be endangered by the continuing standoff in the legislature over how to fund the ailing Transportation Trust Fund. Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3), the sponsor of the legislation that would put that amendment to voters in the form of a ballot question, said at the State House that the state cannot afford to both implement Governor Chris Christie’s favored TTF plan and pay its public pension obligations in a timely way.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read on
Democrats Announce Bill to Change Investigation Procedure in Fatal Police Shootings
In response to two recent police shooting deaths and the deaths of five police officers at a resulting protest, three state Senate Democrats announced new legislation Friday to take investigations into such deaths out of the hands of county prosecutors. The bill, sponsors said, is meant to allay concerns over potential conflicts of interest between county prosecutors and police departments.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read on
One Down, One to Go: Booker’s VP Odds
One of the world’s largest oddsmakers, Bookmaker.eu, today released their odds on Hillary Clinton’s upcoming VP selection.
Politicker Staff, PolitickerNJ Read on
The Jersey Guide to Surviving Cleveland
With the Republican National Convention (RNC) starting on Monday, PolitickerNJ decided to put together a list to help our Jersey brethren feel more at home in the Buckeye State.
Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJ Read on
DiGaetano: BCRO Working to Eliminate Inherited ‘Red Ink’
New Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman Paul DiGaetano has had a busy week. On Wednesday, the chairman welcomed Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno to Bergen for a fundraiser. On Thursday, the group held a second fundraiser—a beefsteak dinner at the BCRO headquarters—that drew over 350 attendees. According to DiGaetano, both events were successful and both are part of his efforts as chairman to right the financial situation for the BCRO.
Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJ Read on
Yudin: DiGaetano’s Claims That BCRO Has Debt are False
Former Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO) Chairman Bob Yudin reached out to PolitickerNJ following a recent article that included newly elected Chairman Paul DiGaetano’s claims that the BCRO had been left in debt after Yudin’s departure from the office of chairman.
Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJ Read on
What 2 former N.J. governors say about Dallas, Clinton emails, Christie’s roads crisis
The following exchange between former New Jersey governors Brendan T. Byrne and Tom Kean took place via telephone last week.
Star-Ledger Staff Read on
What political pros are saying about Christie after Trump jilted him
Gov. Chris Christie had a rough week.
Despite being the first 2016 Republican candidate to endorse Donald Trump for president and stoutly defending him after making comments about a federal judge that were what Speaker of the House Paul Ryan called “the textbook definition of racism,” the governor was nonetheless passed over as Trump’s running mate.
Claude Brodesser-Akner, NJ.com Read on
Bringing Christie’s decline into focus
Four years ago, critics heaped scorn on Chris Christie for selfishly promoting his own résumé in the keynote speech at the Republican National Convention instead of touting the virtues of nominee Mitt Romney.
Charles Stile, The Record Read on
Hudson County extends immigration program, advocates ‘disturbed’
Hudson County has agreed to continue participating in a program allowing county correctional officers to identify and arrest undocumented immigrants – and advocates who oppose the program are not happy.
Nancy Benecki-Hawkins, The Jersey Journal Read on
Republican National Convention 2016: Extra eyes on Christie, N.J.?
When they cast their 51 nominating votes for Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention, New Jersey’s delegation will have a direct link to the presidential hopeful through their honorary chairman, Gov. Chris Christie.
Mike Davis and Karen Yi, Asbury Park Press Read on
Harrison: We should have listened to Florio
Jim Florio was the elephant the room. The former New Jersey governor, seated beside me for three hours, listened intently at a seminar last week sponsored by NJ Spotlight, at which representatives of the state’s largest public employee unions, issue experts, and representatives of Governor Christie’s pension and health benefits reform commission tackled potential solutions to the state’s pension crisis.
Brigid Harrison, The Record Read on
If not Christie, maybe Giuliani as Trump’s Attorney General?
The Auditor didn’t expect a call back from “America’s Mayor,” but sure enough, the cell phone rang, and seconds later, coming through it was that familiar, authoritative East Flatbush twang that could only belong to former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.
The Auditor, NJ.com Read on
NJ delegates arrive in Cleveland for RNC
New Jersey’s delegates to the Republican National Convention began arriving in Cleveland Sunday, eager to officially elect their presidential nominee.
Mike Davis and Karen Yi, Asbury Park Press Read on
