News Roundup & Open Thread for Monday, Jan. 9, 2012

by: Rosi Efthim

Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 06:50:00 AM EST

Christie brings a rant to New Hampshire

We'll post this video this morning. Tough guy with a microphone.

Analysis: NJ's Legislature's racial, ethnic makeup out of step with state's demographics

New Legislature that takes over Tuesday will look very much like the old one - and not much like New Jersey.

Rothman can still change his mind

Jeff Gardner makes the case that he should.

Governing New Jersey - Making Fundamental Changes in a Sluggish Bureaucracy

Legislators who seriously want to address NJ's longterm needs and find a better way to do it, should be considering this, from Deciminyan.

Christie signals he'll pick Supreme Court justices in line with him on school funding, who won't "grossly overstep their powers" as he says the court has by ordering more school funding

Christie doesn't much like the court-ordered state education funding formula that sends extra dollars to schools in poverty-stricken districts.

NJ Transit took $279 million loss on rail tunnel

NJ Transit took a nearly $300 million loss last year as a result of Governor Christie's decision to terminate ARC Tunnel, according to an audit of the agency's financial statements for fiscal year 2011.

Legal notice bill a sneak attack on N.J. newspapers, Ledger calls it "a tool to bully newspapers"

Newspapers are steamed about this bill, which would cut into their revenue, suggesting George Norcross is behind it, who hates the press for exposing the crude way he plays politics with big $$ and backroom threats, Oliver following orders, and Christie getting his unquestioning GOP drones to support it.

More Jerseynomics

Special Report: Did NJ property tax reform help most taxpayers? Looking at numbers, Star-Ledger says yes. But the cost is layoffs, furoughs, and sometimes deep cuts in service.

Ledger Live animates their post on rising NJ tolls. It's all about how Christie looks on Morning Joe (but you knew that already).

Christie "Town Halls" Wednesday & Thursday

Wednesday afternoon - Bridgewater.

Thursday afternoon in Voorhees.

Fracking causes Ohio earthquakes

Is New Jersey next?

Lame Duck

Last day mad scramble.

Today - Marriage Equality will be Steve Sweeney's S-1

No longer an abstainer, the Senate President is prepared to back, and to push same-sex marriage. Gov. Christie remains an obstacle, but New Jersey itself is ahead of him on this issue.

B minus for Christie in Year 2

That's Asbury Park Press' grade.