Sunday, April 23, 2006 News Roundup

by: mariel2036

Sun Apr 23, 2006 at 10:51:15 AM EDT

State Republicans, as usual, are trying to attack Governor Corzine , by using the publicâ€™s displeasure of his proposed budget to gain support for their partyâ€™s candidates. Because Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state by 3 to 2 and the majority of independent voters in NJ vote democratic, it looks like the Republicans are taking any shot they think they can hit to try to turn the state red.

Less people are lighting up, so Governor Corzine is going to have a problem if he is trying to solve the stateâ€™s budget crisis purely by raising the tax on cigarettes. The Governor is proposing a 35-cent increase in the tax, which would create the total tax on cigarettes to $2.75 per pack. This would make NJâ€™s cigarette tax the highest in the nation.

The State Budget panel is warning DYFS that they wont be receiving any more money for the upcoming fiscal year. DYFS is requesting more money to fund programs such as mental health services, paralegals to help expedite adoptions and hospital services to help physically and mentally treat victims of abuse.

Newark mayoral hopeful Cory Booker could be facing a challenge from opponent, Ron Rice. Longtime mayor, Sharpe James, endorsed Rice last week. This endorsement could sway the voters, as Newark residents hold onto Jamesâ€™ opinion like gospel.

Speaking of Newark, the race for councilman in the North Ward has been extremely interesting to watch. Itâ€™s between current councilman, Hector Corchado, Anibal Ramos Jr and newcomer to Newark politics, Aracelis Sanabria Tejada, however, the ongoing feud between Corchado and Ramos has been dominating the majority of the press on the race.

Chathamâ€™s Board of Education approved $19.9 Million in construction contracts. The money appropriated is to help expand the middle school, two elementary schools and the athletic fields as well as field house.

Did you order your Blue Jersey tee shirt yet?

mariel2036 :: Sunday, April 23, 2006 News Roundup

Tags: Jon Corzine, DYFS, budget, cigarette, tax, Chatham, Board of Education, construction, contracts, Newark, council, Anibal Ramos Jr, Hector Corchado, Aracelis Sanabria Tejada, north ward, Sharpe James, Cory Booker, Ron Rice, (All Tags)

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Sunday, April 23, 2006 News Roundup | 2 comments

if less people are lighting up... (4.00 / 2)

...then less people will be getting sick. It won't belong before the economic benefits of the change in policy FAR OUTWEIGH any decline in cigarette tax revenues.

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Sun Apr 23, 2006 at 18:37:48 PM UTC