St. Patrick's Day News Roundup & Open Thread for Wednesday, March 17, 2010

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:16:00 AM EDT

Chris Christie's budget address

Full text. Or, courtesy NJN, Video.

5 ways Christie's budget plan can affect you.

Legislative Democrats & labor, unhappy. Legislative Republicans & business, happier.

A statewide scolding.

Indeed, Mr. Christie's budget would squeeze those with lower incomes by eliminating cash welfare for the able-bodied, imposing new $310 deductibles and doubling some drug co-payments for Medicaid patients, cutting state-financed school breakfasts and rental assistance and trimming the state's earned-income tax credit to 20 percent of the federal benefit, from 25 percent.

Tom Moran: N.J. Gov. 'Wrecking Ball' Christie swings budget ax, misses tax cut for wealthy.

Charlie Stile: We're guinea pigs in Christie's trickle-down experiment

Mulshine: Gov. Chris Christie's real budget message: Forget about property tax relief.

Star Ledger: Restore N.J. tax on the rich; Enact local property tax cap.

Asw L. Grace Spencer on the budget impact to Newark, and to the working poor. Characterizes the speech as "unnecessarily aggressive".

Sweeney questions tax cut to super rich

Finally.

Middlesex Democratic Convention

As expected, Linda Greenstein got the line for Senate to oppose Tom Goodwin who took the seat that used to be Bill Baroni's yesterday (video of his swearing in). But voting to choose their sheriff's candidate took a nail-biting 2 hours.

Want to determine the direction of your Party? Run for county committee.

Where was Gov. Chris Christie during the weekend crisis?

Charlie Stile calls out Christie for going MIA during the impact on his constituents from the floods, the loss of drinking water, and the power outages. Aerial shots of Passaic flooding.

World Trade Center prosecutor appointed first assistant U.S. Attorney in N.J

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced the appointment of J. Gilmore "Gil" Childers yesterday. He is a lifelong NJ resident.

Votes on 3 Christie cabinet nominees in Senate Judiciary

Thomas Considine, Poonam Alaigh, Bob Martin.

Can I get an Amen?

I'm sick of congressional Democrats acting as if they're not in the majority.

Rosi Efthim :: St. Patrick's Day News Roundup & Open Thread for Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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St. Patrick's Day News Roundup & Open Thread for Wednesday, March 17, 2010 | 6 comments

DEP delays perchlorate standard (0.00 / 0)

This release went out late yesterday:

The Department of Environmental Protection delayed adopting a drinking water standard for the chemical perchlorate, saying New Jersey should act after the federal government completes its comprehensive scientific analysis and makes its determinations on a national health-based standard.

by: Jason Springer @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 11:44:37 AM UTC

Courage of their Convictions (4.00 / 1)

Gov. Christie calls on N.J. to embrace an era of sacrifice.

OK.

Then the wealthier should also embrace the sacrifice. Numerous legislators have taken aim at his refusal to renew an income tax increase on the wealthy, those earning more than $400,000, that could raise $1 billion.

Our legislators should have the courage of their convictions to say that no budget will be approved unless the governor signs a renewal of the higher tax rate for the wealthy. $1 billion can fill a significant part of the gap and should be used to help those most vulnerable.

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." - Sen. Ted Kennedy

by: Bill Orr @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 12:34:52 PM UTC

The Governor's specious claim (0.00 / 0)

that cutting taxes on the wealthiest among us will create jobs is smoke and mirrors. It's class warfare, and his wealthy sponsors are making the rules.
The Governor has shown himself to be a proponent of trickle down economics, or golden parachutes for the wealthy and golden showers for the rest of us.
Cutting taxes for the wealthy created many jobs during the Bush cartel's reign. Too bad the jobs were in labor markets outside our borders.

Restore democracy and the Constitution for which it stands.

by: The Wizard @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 13:19:54 PM UTC

spineless Democratic senators (0.00 / 0)

Our Judiciary Committee members unanimously approved three nominations. At least in the case of Considine (Banking) and Dr. Alaigh (Health) the nominees had work experience in the fields for which they were nominated, even though they come from "big business" - Considine from Met Life and Dr. Alaigh from Horizon Blue Cross and pharma.

Bob Martin, however, had experience in energy and utilities, not environment, and in a recent interview said himself he had not expected to be nominated to head DEP. Indeed, the few words he had recently uttered provided ample warning he should not be approved. Senators can say we get who vote for, or proper deference is due to a governor's nominees. I say in this case our Democratic senators were spineless.

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." - Sen. Ted Kennedy

by: Bill Orr @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 13:24:55 PM UTC

I hate to be this way, but ...... (0.00 / 0)

does anyone else see any irony about this Governor asking, in essence, NJ residents to "tighten their belts"?

by: FormerBureaucrat @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 21:48:49 PM UTC

And looking at our prospective nominees for (0.00 / 0)

Banking and Insurance, Health, and DEP, an insurance executive, a former big pharma and health insurance "physician" and a former corporate business advisor, we all had better strap ourselves in because anyone who is a consumer of those industries (most of us) will be in for a real bumpy ride. What else would we have expected from this Governor?

by: FormerBureaucrat @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 22:00:18 PM UTC