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News Round-up and Open Thread for Thursday, April 19

by: Sharon GR

Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 09:52:41 AM EDT

Three victims of Monday's shootings were from New Jersey: Matthew La Porte, 20, of Dumont, Julia Pryde, 23, of Middletown and Michael Pohle, 23, of Raritan Township. Our thoughts go out to their families at this difficult time. Flags in Our Fair State are to be flown at half-staff tomorrow in honor of the victims.

Monica Yant Kinney has a discussion of how Our Fair State's gun laws differ from VA's and other states.

Acting Gov. Codey has asked Bush to declare New Jersey a federal disaster area in the wake of continuing flooding. Many roads and bridges are still closed, and the Passaic is still running high and flooding homes. The IRS is giving us a break: Taxpayers affected by the storm have until April 26th to file.

NJ Transit fares will be going up on June 1. The fare hike is needed to offset a $60 million deficit. Rates are going up almost 10% and the morning "peak" period will be shortened by 30 minutes.

The State Commission of Investigation yesterday decried the state of our Charity Care system for the low-income and uninsured. The SCI investigated for a year and found no third-party accountability, fraud, and chronic underfunding. Acting Governor Codey says the state will review the SCI recommendations in order to overhaul the system.

State Senator Paul Sarlo (LD 36) is running unopposed, now that a judge has disqualified some signatures on opponent Republican Michael Guarino's petition.

The United States Conference of Mayors, led by Trenton mayor Doug Palmer, lauded S1115, a new energy bill which specifically includes language to help cities with their own energy efficiency plans. More information on the bill here.

Records of state funds going to West New York during Albio Sires' tenure as Assembly Speaker and mayor were subpoenaed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Sires has not been subpoenaed and has denied any wrongdoing.

Governor Jon Corzine is still on a ventilator due to intense pain from his broken ribs, and will probably remain on one for days. Required reading when he's able: the editorial in today's Times of Trenton, Slow Down, Buckle Up. However, some are defending the state trooper who was driving.

Former Governor James McGreevey is working for Kean University in Union and is teaching law and ethics in the Executive MBA program. I'm sure he has a lot to say on the matter.

There's a lot going on in the news of Our Fair State today. What do you want to talk about?

Sharon GR :: News Round-up and Open Thread for Thursday, April 19

Tags: News Roundup, Jon Corzine, NJ Transit, Doug Palmer, James McGreevey, flooding, Kean University, Dick Codey, guns, Albio Sires, West New York, Paul Sarlo, Michael Guarino, health care, (All Tags)

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News Round-up and Open Thread for Thursday, April 19 | 7 comments

is Jim McGreevey really teaching or is this a no or half show job? (0.00 / 0)

Is Jim McGreevey really teaching at Kean University or is this one of those no show (or half show) jobs? Is this yet another case of some politician, ex-politician, and/or connected individual sucking up state benefits and pension credits for doing nothing?

by: deme38 @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 15:29:18 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Technicality (0.00 / 0)

I think the folks who want to oppose Sarlo, need to organize a write-in campaign but quick. I know Sarlo has the money and the BCDO backing to win but kicking someone off the ballot by disqualifying just a few votes, is playing dirty - even by BCDO standards. Write in his opponent. Show that you mean to take your party back and wrest it from the hands of those who would disenfranchise you.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

by: carolh @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 15:36:43 PM UTC

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Take your party back? (0.00 / 0)

How is writing in a Republican taking the Democratic Party back? Guarino may be, in his own mind, a good Democrat. But good Democrats don't actively try to jeopardize Democratic majorities in Trenton. He should have either challenged Sarlo in the primary or filed to run in the general as an independent, promising to caucus with the Democrats if he won. But instead, he was running to give another vote to Leonard Lance and the NJ GOP.

Also, I don't know if BCDO had anything to do with Guarino's petitions being tossed, but if you have evidence you have of that being the case, by all means, show it!! People accuse Boss Joe of all sorts of things, and I know some of them are real, but no one ever makes a solid enough case. The deal with Weinberg makes me think his power has been greatly overstated.

But back to the main point - voting for Republicans (even party-switchers) isn't 'taking your party back'. It just helps Republicans.

by: Somewhere In The Swamps @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 18:27:35 PM UTC

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Sorry for my confusion (0.00 / 0)

Must be my pneumonia meds. I don't have evidence of foul play. I do think that Sarlo should have opposition to give the public a choice. Especially after Encap.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

by: carolh @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 21:06:09 PM UTC

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Pneumonia??? (0.00 / 0)

Get well soon! That's pretty rough.

I agree that everyone should have choices in their elections, but I disagree with your assertion that voting for Republican challengers does anything to take back the party.

by: Somewhere In The Swamps @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 21:34:35 PM UTC

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Thanks (0.00 / 0)

It's been a rough week. I'm starting to feel better and can talk again. I actually had to email folks because I lost my voice too.

I mistakenly thought the challenge was in the Primary - since I am so focused on the Primary for our race, that I did not realize the challenger was a Republican. I assumed the challenger was a Dem challenging him in the Primary. When I realized in embarassment my error, I said to myself. "Self - you need some rest."

I rested, but wished I had put on the news. The story of Virginia Tech was just so unbearably sad, I could not watch anymore. I only found out about the Tenafly bomb scare when I got to the Council meeting and the police chief filled me in.

The News crews knew about it before I did. The Schools Superintendent notified the News crews BEFORE running it by the Police Chief. Even NBC news checked with law enforcement before running with the Virginia Tech videos. Jeeesh. Thankfully we have a highly competent Police Chief, but I totally understand that curse - may you live in interesting times. I drove all around town this week with a fever looking at flood damage. Tomorrow, our school kids are staying home for fear of a bomb threat.

I'm having a little trouble sleeping tonite. It's kind of obvious, I guess.....

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

by: carolh @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 06:15:51 AM UTC

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