NJ Politics Digest: Christie Lines Up Support for RNC Chair Bid

With the Trump cabinet filling up, the news today is that Gov. Chris Christie is now eyeing a run to be chairman of the Republican National Committee. Politico first reported the governor's interest, and ABC News on Thursday night said the move is being encouraged by Trump's transition team, which sees the RNC post as a high-profile position for the Bridgegate-damaged governor that won't require senate approval.

 

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With the Trump cabinet filling up, the news today is that Gov. Chris Christie is now eyeing a run to be chairman of the Republican National Committee. Politico first reported the governor’s interest, and ABC News on Thursday night said the move is being encouraged by Trump’s transition team, which sees the RNC post as a high-profile position for the Bridgegate-damaged governor that won’t require senate approval.
That was good news for Christie on a day that state courts not only ruled against his administration’s efforts to change civil service rules, but also gave its nod to the concept of a legislative veto of executive action. There’s a new warning about the safety of ferries in case of terror attacks while Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is speaking out on a proposal to raise the state minimum wage but refused to comment on how she views a Christie Administration takeover of Atlantic City.

Quote of the Day: “The RNC chair doesn’t require Senate confirmation, which means he does not have to talk about Bridgegate for two weeks,” Seton Hall Political Scientist Matthew Hale, on one of the benefits for Gov. Chris Christie in pursuing the post of of Republican National Committee chairman.

Trump Transition Team Pushing NJ Gov. Chris Christie to Run for RNC Chair
The transition team for President-elect Donald Trump is encouraging New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to run to be the next chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Jonathan Karl, ABC Read more

Christie throws his hat in the ring for RNC chair
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expressing serious interest in the job of Republican National Committee chairman — and he’s getting an audience to make his case.
Alex Isenstadt, Politico Read more

Chris Christie wants RNC job via Trump: report
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expressing interest in the job of Republican National Committee chairman, Politico reported Thursday.
Bob Jordan, The Record Read more

Court: N.J. must hire, promote workers based on merit
In a defeat for Governor Christie’s administration, an appeals court ruled Thursday that he could not scrap exam requirements for hiring or promoting career public workers in state government
Salvador Rizzo, The Record Read more

N.J. adoption records will open in January
A deadline is looming for parents who gave a child up for adoption and want identifying information removed from the child’s birth certificate.
Lindy Washburn, The Record Read more

Middletown official’s home up for sheriff’s sale
Middletown Township Committeewoman Stephanie Murray’s home has been foreclosed on and is set for sheriff’s sale in the spring, though the Republican lawmaker said Thursday she had reached a deal with the lender to keep the property.
Russ Zimmer, Asbury Park Press Read more

Ferries could be terror targets, officials say
State security officials say that commuter ferries present a vulnerable target to terror attacks. But no such attack has ever struck a ferry to or from New Jersey. And ferry operators say they already have strict security measures in place.
Alex N. Gecan, Asbury Park Press Read more

Troubles With NJ Drinking Water System Easy To Spot, Costly to Correct
Here’s why it will cost billions of dollars to overhaul the state’s aging drinking-water infrastructure:
At least 20 percent of the system is more than 100 years old.
Tom Johnson, NJSpotlight Read more

Frelinghuysen named to powerful House post
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, the scion of one of New Jersey’s oldest political families who has served in the House for 22 years, was named Thursday night to be chairman of the House Appropriations Committee when the next Congress is sworn in in January.
Herb Jackson, The Record Read more

Environmental suits: How N.J. can safeguard the funds
When the Christie administration announced the first of a series of multimillion-dollar settlements with Passaic River polluters in 2013, local officials and environmentalists were elated that so much money was going to help restore one of the nation’s most contaminated waterways.
Scott Fallon, The Record Read more

TCNJ students say dorm’s namesake was a segregationist
A group of students at The College of New Jersey are petitioning the Ewing school to change the name of one of its residence halls after learning its namesake was a segregationist.
Associated Press Read more

Forgive student loans for closed Star Career Academy, senators say
Four senators are urging the U.S. Department of Education to forgive loans for students of a for-profit New Jersey-based college that suddenly shut its doors last month.
Rajeev Dhir, NJ.com Read more

Ocean County College to help students from shuttered Star Career Academy
Ocean County College is offering to help students displaced by the sudden closure of Star Career Academy, a career training school with a branch in Brick that closed last month.
Karen Yi, Asbury Park Press Read more

New class of Jersey City police recruits will do community work before academy, brass says
The city’s police department is expected to reach more than 900 police officers by late 2017 after a class of 30 recruits began its training Thursday.
Caitlin Mota, The Jersey Journal Read more

Guadagno: $15 minimum wage would mean self-service gas
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is back on the same page with Gov. Chris Christie when it comes to a $15 minimum wage.
Dan Alexander, NJ101.5 Read more

Here’s what 5 potential NJ governors think of the Atlantic City takeover
The state takeover of this city could be short lived.
The Gov. Chris Christie administration finally has control of the city’s finances for up to five years after a long battle against city officials. But a few candidates for governor are against the takeover, possibly giving Christie’s designee, Jeff Chiesa, until January 2018 to make decisions on behalf of the city.
Christian Hetrick, Press of Atlantic City Read more

Judge to hear motion for retrial in $8.45M discrimination suit against N.J. county
Hudson County is hoping a Superior Court judge will vacate an $8.45 million jury award to a Department of Family Services employee after she filed a discrimination lawsuit against the county.
Caitlin Mota, The Jersey Journal Read more

Morris clubs help decorate governor’s mansion
Two Morris County garden clubs were among those selected to help decorate the Governor’s Official Residence in Princeton for the holidays.
Daily Record Read more

Former school board member suing parents after pot post
A former board of education member who wrote on Facebook that some parents who oppose random drug testing “smoke pot with their kids” is suing a married couple for allegedly smearing her name, according to a lawsuit.
Anthony G. Attrino, NJ.com Read more

Police chief suspended over racial profiling email agrees to retire
The former police chief of Wyckoff who condoned racial profiling in an email to officers said he would give up any legal claims against the town as part of an agreement to retire.
Sara Jerde, NJ.com Read more

NJ Politics Digest: Christie Lines Up Support for RNC Chair Bid