Promoted by Jason: Executive Order 20 rescinds Executive Order 12. Here is the NJ.com story as well. It looks from the order like the Governors office is trying to spin it as the work of the task force was completed, so we'll have to see what happens next.
Earlier today, we had posted about the current state of the fight over housing policy in New Jersey. We mentioned that oral argument was scheduled for Monday morning in Newark about the legality of Gov. Christie's Executive Order shutting down the Council on Affordable Housing. We just received word that Gov. Christie has, at the last possible moment, issued a new Executive Order rescinding the Executive Order, representing the first time that the Christie Administration has admitted that its grand expansion of executive power has gone too far.
The court has canceled the hearing on Monday pending filing by the Attorney General of a further motion explaining the Governor's new position.
We will keep you posted as this story develops. In the meantime, have a great weekend!
Ronald C. Rice: Message To Wavering Congressional DEMS: With this information, please grow a backbone and pass what we sent you to DC to do in the first place. Rep. Adler, we are watching, please don't let NJ and those that supported you when you supported President Obama down [snip]
Ronald C. Rice:... and that's why you can start calling his opponent Congressman Runyan. I rather have a Republican in that seat that I know is a an actual Republican than one that supports Obama and progressive politics to get elected and then acts like a Repug. Good riddance to him and all fair weather DEMS, we hardly knew ye all.
What the hell does it say about the re-election chances of the hard-won candidacy of Rep. John Adler, when an almost comically insubstantial candidate like Football Republican Jon Runyan can issue a testosterone-charged message like You can run but you can't hide as he did when he formally got into the race last night. And have it all be taken seriously. Which, it is - and should be - but only because of how Adler squandered his own chances, and poorly served the people who needed him most.
Runyan? Really? Burlington County voting records show he registered as a Republican November 10, 2009, 1 day before the news that he was his county's choice to lead the charge against Adler. Between 2000, the year Runyan registered to vote in Burlington, and 2008,
Runyan only voted in 5 general elections, sitting out 4. He has no record of money contributed to political candidates. Some football players are very smart - my father was - so this isn't about football-players-are-dimwits. But there's nothing in this guy's record or history that suggests he's even a particularly civic-minded citizen, let alone a man who should be deciding national policy.
And yet, this is who the Burlington and Ocean GOP (who are not as lost as last time) and the GOP in that little slice of Camden County have put their faith in to beat Adler.
And - wow - if that wasn't enough, it is Adler who's earning high praise from the Tea Party people. And now Americans for Prosperity, led in NJ by Steve Lonegan, is taking credit for Adler's stubborn refusal to enact health care reform, citing AFP-led rallies in Toms River and Marlton supporting Adler for not changing his vote.
Great. We've got Tea Party and AFP activists overjoyed with Adler, and the incumbent himself thumbing his nose at his party. And stronger politicians - like Newark's Councilman Rice - openly challenging him.
John Adler, you walked away from your responsibility to the people who needed you most in your District (Adam will have more on this) and played right into the hands of the far-right. I don't know who's going to knock themselves out for you this time, congressman. I do know quite a few people who were there for you last time, who will not be there for you again. Nicely played.
We thank Jason Springer for inviting us to post an update on the current attempts to legalize exclusionary zoning, the practice banned under the New Jersey Constitution in which municipalities use their land use laws to allow only expensive homes and office parks, while banning starter homes and apartments. We are regular readers of Blue Jersey, and appreciate the invitation to contribute.
First, we look at Ray Lesniak's effort to kill New Jersey's fair housing laws. These laws banning exclusionary zoning have allowed 100,000 New Jerseyans over the past few decades the opportunity to live in towns that wanted to keep them out (LINK). His replacement legislation, S-1 (LINK), would not replace this system so much as destroy it: under the bill, scheduled for a full Senate vote on Monday, any town in New Jersey could impose restrictions that would exclude creation of all homes affordable to working- and middle-class families.
The bill has gone through four very different, and progressively worse, drafts in four weeks, with the latest draft only becoming publically available more than a day after the committee voted. As the details of the bill have become apparent, civil rights groups, clergy, environmentalists, non-profit and for-profit housing developers, organizations working with people with special needs, and housing advocates have all strongly opposed S-1. Sen. Lesniak has not allowed many of these groups to testify at the three hearings on the bill. (LINK)
Why is Sen. Lesniak, a supposed progressive, becoming the main accomplice in Gov. Christie's drive to "gut" the state's fair housing laws? Follow us below the fold for our suggestions.
This is one of messages being sent by charter schools to the rest of New Jersey. And since this is one of the lucky areas that Governor Christie deems to be more equal than everything else (not to mention is precisely why Bret Schundler was his choice for Education Commissioner), look for more of our tax dollars to go to privately run schools with less say in how they are run.
We have just seen how charter schools are being favored since that budget is not being touched while public education funding is being cut by close to $1 billion this year. And in a continuing effort to dismantle one of the country's finest public school systems (see 2008's top 5 ranking and 2010's top 7 ranking for example), he is once again putting his foot on the throats of the teachers - not funding their pensions, demanding pay freezes or cuts and more contributions to their pensions to avoid massive layoffs. Because, you know, demoralizing teachers and overcrowding classrooms with less resources is a great way to make sure that our children are educated.
Meanwhile, the charter schools view this as their golden era - and aren't even waiting to push for more when everyone else but the "chosen few" are asked being told to take much less:
Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, founder of the LEAP Academy University charter school in Camden, said she sees better days ahead for charter schools with Christie at the state's helm.
---snip---
Specifically, state funding for charter schools needs to be more in line with aid to public schools and the state needs to reduce the "overregulation'' of charter schools, which she said are working with small budgets.
Well, isn't that special? Give privately run schools more public money to have less accountability so they can get more public funding is exactly what these charter schools are looking for. And with Schundler's love affair with private charter schools taking public money, coupled with Christie's views as well - expect the privatization of our education system to expand substantially - whether New Jerseyans like it or not.
Because, you know, they voted for change in November - which you can expect to hear over and over and over as Christie continues his reverse Robin Hood; giving more of our money to the super rich, the uber large corporations - all while dismantling the public education system and making it easier to pollute our air and water.
Tom Moran: And yet, you can't help but feel that he's about to make a career mistake. His detractors in New Jersey say he's always been too timid. And if he runs for cover now, his Democratic base back home might start to think of him as a skinny version of Runyon. Why vote for that?
Layoffs, including police and fire, and service reductions - that's what many munis are looking at right now. Says William Dressel of NJ League of Municipalities: "Mayors, generally speaking, are in shock at the magnitude of the cuts." Dressel says Christie's promised "toolkit" to help towns in areas like union negotiations won't help if the new laws aren't passed before the cuts take effect.
The governor's racing around the state on a victory lap, before he has a victory. He predicts the final budget the Democratic-controlled legislature agrees to will be "very close" to his plan. But he will not raise taxes on the wealthy or on businesses to offset $1 billion that unfairly hits poor and middle class people: "I don't care. I don't care about this rhetoric. They send it to my desk, it's coming back," says the governor. Wisniewski called it "clairvoyant," if not "presumptuous," for the governor to declare his plan practically passed on arrival.
Star Ledger: Deep cuts to N.J. schools are unavoidable without income tax surtax on the wealthy. Quoting: Now the trade-off is clear: In the name of small government, Gov. Chris Christie is moving to deliver a powerful punch to the jaw of New Jersey's public school system. His insistence on lower taxes for the state's wealthiest families is forcing deep cuts that will do real damage.
Christie leaves charter school budget untouched. Vows more and more charter schools are coming, despite the state's economic problems. Christie: " In fact, I've held charter schools harmless in this budget because you already pay enough."
Assembly Appropriations approves 5 bills changing state pension & benefits
Bills downgrading public worker pensions and health care benefits made it through Appropriations and are now headed to the larger body, with Christie itching, and promising, to sign them into law. Unions point to the many years the state skipped or greatly reduced payments, and say it's time lawmakers stop blaming government workers.
John Wisniewski on Christie's fare hikes
25% fare hike will be devastating to commuters & working families, says the Assembly Transportation Chair. But the impact goes further; higher fares means a rider from Woodbridge has less money to put back into local economy, money that never makes it into the coffers of NJ businesses. Multiply that by 10's of millions of monthly riders, it adds up fast and could result in NJ businesses cutting back on inventory, withholding raises, instituting hiring freezes, firing employees or even closing entirely.
Christie vetoes NJ Turnpike Authority contracts
Saying the deals - totaling over $5 million - were higher than those proposed by other highly-ranked firms competing for the same contracts, the governor vetoed contracts for supervision of construction services & environmental remediation projects.
The all-black-people-outta-here-Wal-Mart
Yeah, it looks like they had publicly-accessible phones hooked into their public address system. Wal-Mart: Save money. Live better. And get the hell out.
Kevin Riordan: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Burlington County Hot Air Committee (HAC). Please step off the drawbridge.
Warren Wilentz dies at 85
Gov. Brendan Byrne: "Warren Wilentz was from one of New Jersey's most distinguished families," he said. "Warren himself had an outstanding career, tragically cut short by the accident. He was my friend. He was a fellow prosecutor. He was a treasure."
"Since June, I have consistently expressed my serious reservations about the House and Senate proposals," Adler said in a statement. "While the final bill takes positive steps to provide insurance coverage for working Americans, I am not satisfied that the final bill will reform our health care system and prevent excessive increases in premiums for families and small businesses."
Three members of Congress have switched from their no vote last time to a Yes on this bill. The CBO estimate today said that the bill would save $130 billion over the first 10 years and $1.2 trillion over the second decade. It is estimated to expand health insurance coverage to 32 million more Americans. Adler even talked about the many positive things the bill does in his explanation for why he was voting against, but said it doesn't meat all his goals. Sometimes you have to get some of what you want now in order to be able to eventually get everything later.
I helped elect John Adler partly because he ran on his support for healthcare. This isn't the bill many would want, but its the chance we have to move the ball forward. And instead, he's standing in opposition. I haven't understood the political or practical calculations of that stance all along, but that's apparently above my pay grade. This vote by my Congressman is disappointing to say the least. The only thing that could make it worse is if they fall one vote short of passage. I'll put the email he sent to supporters about his decision below the fold.
Trenton was buzzing today after the press conference announcing the latest twist in the gay marriage equality debate. Here's a highlight reel, see for yourself.
"Kathleen Donovan has been a politician for three decades, so she should know the ramifications mass transit fare hikes and massive education funding cuts will have for Bergen County taxpayers and their children," McNerney said. "Ms. Donovan should join me in asking the Governor to reconsider his tax cut for the rich before they decide to make Bergen County's middle class balance the state's checkbook."
Instead of asking the Governor to reconsider, she said placing undo burdens on some people hurts everyone. She wasn't willing to stand up to her Governor, but the latest Christie proposal to get rid of the Blue Laws that keep businesses closed on Sundays in order to get the tax revenues has invaded the County Executive talk:
"Clearly, this is an issue that should and will be left to the voters," said Donovan, who has said she would vote against the repeal. Donovan has also noted that the courts have upheld a local Paramus ordinance prohibiting work of any kind on Sundays.
That response didn't end the issue as McNerney pressed further calling on Donovan to join him in demanding the removal of the proposal from the Governors budget altogether. The Blue Laws don't necessarily break down along party lines and while they don't make sense to many outside of Bergen County, there has always been a fight to get rid of them in the past. How much will Donovan stand up to her Governor in order to fight his plan? No doubt the Democrats will take every opportunity to raise the issue and make her stand up further than saying there should be a referendum. The Bergen County Republicans viewed this seat as an opportunity opportunity for a pickup, but Democrats have speculated the tide is turning as the Governor adds some extra hurdles in the race.
Are American political leaders so insecure that they need bombs bursting in air to give proof that our flag is still there? With two large wars in progress, and many more small to huge ones in our history, apparently the answer is "Yes." How little they learned from Vietnam and other past wars. The flag remains in place, their judgment not so much.
Americans have trod heavily through the Middle East with ever-changing goals, creating new enemies with each step. In Finkel: The Good Soldiers, about the war in Iraq in 2007-8, President Bush says our actions will permit "this country to survive and thrive as a democracy." A Colonel keeps saying, "It's all good." The soldiers say [extremely foul words.] The locals say, "If we talk to you, our neighbors will kill us." So much for victory.
Al-Qaeda and their partners are terrorist hoodlums who should be treated as criminals. Fighting them in Afghanistan is like Wackamole; they run across the border to Pakistan, and they already have sites in at least three other countries to which they can move. We have drones and Special Forces which, with local permission and local help, should be used to end these criminal activities - not a big, occupying army which is prey to hidden IED's and which depletes our treasury.
Achieving victory through war is illusory when we "nation build" and meddle in other countries. In Afghanistan in the '80's we supported the Taliban against Russia, then we pushed them back and installed a corrupt, inept government, then we lost interest and turned to Iraq, and now we are back with renewed effort battling the forces of evil. We likewise fought two wars against Iraq and played a role in their earlier war with Iran. So much for our victory efforts. Ultimately, it is the Afghan and Iraqi people who on their own initiative and in their own way will determine their future.
The press pays little attention to these wars. Republicans, some Democrats and our President are complicit in prolonging them. President Obama "surged" our troop level in Afghanistan and created a troop reduction date which later turned out to be ephemeral. If in Iraq there is extended wrangling over forming a new government or violence increases, our president might well be under pressure from Iraqi or US military leaders to extend the stay or not reduce troop levels. That is not what he campaigned on, and it is not what he should do. Forget Victory. NJ citizens and our Senators and Representatives should be adamant: "BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW."
