Under the Dome 3/9: Assembly and Senate Committees

by: Jason Springer

Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 12:04:00 AM EDT

The Assembly committees, along with hearing their regular slate of bills, will begin discussing how to distribute the Federal Stimulus funds.

The Assembly Budget Committee:The committee has invited state Comptroller Matthew Boxer to discuss federal requirements for oversight and transparency for money received through the stimulus package and actions the state may take to complement and augment these efforts.

The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee: The committee has invited state Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard to discuss efforts by the department to obtain federal stimulus money for, among other things, federally qualified health centers, senior nutrition services, the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants and Children , early intervention services, immunization programs and the adoption and use of health information technology.

The Assembly Higher Education Committee: The committee will receive testimony from Jane Oates, executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, on how the federal package will impact the state?s higher education sector.

The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee: The committee has invited state Community Affairs Commissioner Joseph Doria to discuss the impact of the federal economic stimulus plan on New Jersey as it relates to weatherization. The Committee will also take testimony on infrastructure and energy efficiency initiatives.

The Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee: The Committee will receive testimony from Doria concerning the effect of  the stimulus package on New Jersey's housing market.

The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee: The committee has invited the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to discuss expanded financing opportunities for economic development under the stimulus package and to provide a status update on the InvestNJ and Main Street Programs, as part of the state's economic stimulus efforts. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association will discuss tax incentive provisions contained in the stimulus package, and the committee will also hear from the Department of the Treasury on the expanded efforts of the Small Business Registration and Women / Minority-Owned Business Certification Programs.

In the Senate Judiciary committee, the confirmation of Jeanie Fox at the BPU will probably get the most news coverage. Senator Sweeney came out in support of her late last week. One bill that still isn't on the agenda is the pension deferral legislation, which the Governor will probably propose in the budget the next day. The Senate Community and Urban affairs will consider legislation that would give incentives for shared services and provide Disabled veterans a property tax exemption. The Senate Education committee will talk voting education and a bill that Requires school districts to report to DOE certain information on students removed from school pursuant to "Zero Tolerance for Guns Act."   The Budget committee has fifteen bills up including one that Requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish a 45-day State tax amnesty period. The Senate Commerce committee will hear a bill to lift restrictions on non-proft spending.

Beach to get Adler Senate Seat

by: Jason Springer

Thu Nov 27, 2008 at 09:42:53 AM EST

Beach, who also is co-chairman of the county party, will be asked to assume the 6th District Senate seat in early January, Donald Norcross, his fellow county co-chairman, said Tuesday.

"We don't have the exact date when John will be resigning," Norcross said, "but once he does, we'll convene the committee people from the 6th District and recommend that they pick Jim."

An interim replacement to the county clerk's position will be made by the governor, Norcross said, with input from himself and other county leaders.

"The governor will solicit input from a lot of people," Norcross said.

The discussion on replacing Beach as clerk is just beginning, Norcross said

Oh, Come On Already

by: huntsu

Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 01:44:46 PM EDT

Lawmakers in New Jersey are considering a measure that would add muscle to the policy on student steroid testing.

Student-athletes as young as 14 would undergo random tests for steroids under a bill being considered in the Senate Monday. Middle school students would receive instruction about steroid abuse.

Empowerment Over Entitlement In The 21st

by: Gina Genovese

Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 05:06:36 PM EDT

But to do this, simply put, I need your help.  Over the next five months, I hope I can count on the Blue Jersey community's support and counsel.  So I invite you all to check out my new website to learn more about my campaign and how you can get involved.

I know some here have asked why Democrats like myself think we can take on entrenched, well-funded Republican challengers in red areas and win.  It's a fair question, and one I'd like to answer.

Op-Ed: Running to Make a Difference

by: Gina Genovese

Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 04:23:36 PM EDT

I am running for the New Jersey State Senate from the 21st district to represent a new kind of politics.  My opponent positions himself as a reformer who stands for clean government, yet runs an extremely dirty campaign.  That paradox, is why too many people of New Jersey have lost faith in the political process.

I am a result of the grassroots movement created by Howard Dean.  His campaign stressed the importance of individual participation in a democracy.  I want to build on that concept of engagement.  This election is about empowerment, not entitlement.  I have worked hard to build a business and a reputation that is based upon empowering my students.  I will carry this same philosophy into state politics.  I want to engage residents in the 21st district who have never been politically active so their voices too, can be heard.

Most people in the 21st district know me from 24 years of guiding their children through their developmental years in my business Gina's Tennis World in Berkeley Heights.  I created a place where people congregate, socialize and develop self-confidence and self-esteem.  This has also been a primary focus in my work as an elected official in Long Hill Township.

I was very proud to have served as the first Democratic mayor of the Republican town, Long Hill Township in Morris County.  Most residents of my town know me as a leader who brings people together and acknowledges the contributions of individuals in our community.  Long Hill Township has continued to be supportive of me and has confirmed that my sexuality has no impact on my ability to serve.

As mayor and committeewoman in Long Hill Township, I organized an interfaith service for peace with various religious leaders in the area.  I developed and taught civics lessons in our local schools.  I cooperatively negotiated a reduction in the police force to save taxpayer dollars without reducing services.  I instituted a business economic forum to support the needs of local businesses.  I worked on both school and municipal budgets to understand the intricacies of how state funding impacts the bottom line.  I opened the budget process to the public so they could understand the costs of services in our community.  

Born into a working-class family and today the founder of a business in Union County, I know what it's like to make ends meet and I know what it's like to make payroll.  I have owned and operated Gina's Tennis World in Berkeley Heights since 1983.  The business began with 10 clients, and today has thousands.  Everyday through my business, while working with their children, I hear the hopes and dreams of the people of the 21st district.  

They inspire me to work for all the residents of the 21st district:  Democrats, Republicans, Independents, the unaffiliated and the uninterested.  I instinctively know how to bring people of various ideas, traditions, backgrounds and parties to the table to hammer out the best approaches to the problems facing New Jersey today.  

Last November we realized the importance of whom we sent to Washington.  This November, it is equally important whom we send to Trenton.  Work with me to build a team that will bring out the best in our state.  I want to lead others to be the best they can be, and together, we will move New Jersey forward.

Atlantic County Democrats to new Republican Senator/Mayor: Pick a seat, any seat

by: Jason Springer

Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 10:38:38 PM EST

James "Sonny" McCullough, a conservative who has spent eighteen years as Mayor of Egg Harbor Township, won Bill Gormley's State Senate seat tonight, defeating seven-term Assemblyman Frank Blee by a wide margin.

Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Ronald Ruff called on McCullough to step down as Mayor. "It would be inconceivable for him to take the oath of office to a second position at the very time the state legislature is trying to put an end to the practice of dual office holding," said Ruff.  "Why turn back the clock?"

Wayne Bryant Out, Dana Redd in for Senate

by: Jason Springer

Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 03:31:33 PM EST

State Sen. Wayne Bryant will not seek re-election and Camden County Democrats have decided to back Dana Redd for the post, according to a Democratic source. Redd, a two-term Camden City Councilwoman and Democratic State Committee Vice Chairwoman, has the backing of South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, and Congressman Rob Andrews. As the favorite to win a general election in the overwhelmingly Democratic fifth district, Redd would become the third African American woman in the Senate.

Bryant, who has made no formal announcement, is reportedly the subject of a federal probe and has been under considerable fire over the last two years for a series of part-time jobs.  He would would become he seventh Senate retirement this year.

Enough With Relief. We Need Reform.

by: nathanrudy

Fri Jul 28, 2006 at 12:00:20 PM EDT

Why?  Because the effort to reform the over-burdensome, anti-progressive and unfair tax system in New Jersey should not be left in the hands of people who need to seek reelection. 

People who want to be reelected must, almost by definition, avoid supporting legislation or solutions that will anger their electorate.  As a result these elected officials tend to back popular band-aid solutions instead of advocating wholesale, radical change.

This is not any individual legislator's fault, or either party's.  Republican (lower case r) systems require that legislators be at least in part responsible to their constituents, and that creates an inability to do great things except under extraordinary pressure.  You cannot find a grand, elegant and complete solution to the problem that will make 50 percent plus one happy.  The result is band-aids.

Lets Spend the 4th in a Special Session

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 03:36:28 PM EDT

Pursuant to my authority under the New Jersey Constitution, Article V, Section I, Paragraph 12 and Article IV, Section I, Paragraph 4, I am hereby convening Special Sessions of both Houses of the Legislature for Tuesday, July 4, 2006 at 9:00 a.m., and for each day thereafter, until such time as this call shall be revoked, in order to pass a balanced General Appropriations Law for Fiscal Year 2007 and to consider legislation that is related to the State budget. I have determined that the public interest requires these Sessions in order to expedite the enactment of a General Appropriations Law for Fiscal Year 2007 and thereby end the current state of emergency caused by the failure to enact such a law by July 1, 2006.

Apparently rather than spending the 4th of July celebrating the birth of our country, our Legislators will join together in Trenton to hear an  address from the Governor while they work to solve the shutdown of our State.

Earlier in the day, Speaker Roberts stated

From PoliticsNJ-he will permit a vote on Gov. Jon Corzine's budget if the Governor can provide him with a list of 21 Senators and 41 Assemblymembers who support it.  "If the Governor can demonstrate that legislative support is there, then I will post his sales tax bill in 24 h

**Update- You can see what the papers are saying here, here, here here and here.

Also, you can see the tally of the Democrats and where they stand on the budget for the Senate and Assembly.

(Digg this story)

Art is in the Eye of the Beholder

by: Thurman Hart

Wed May 03, 2006 at 10:39:28 PM EDT

The Republican Party in New Jersey has lost its way, and is wandering in the desert with no clue how to return to power.

Case in point:

listen to state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., the Republican who is challenging U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez this year.

Kean has been staging photo ops all over the state to criticize Corzine for proposing a penny increase in the sales tax. But unlike [Assemblyman Guy] Gregg, he will not identify a single spending cut to make up for the $1.4 billion in lost revenue. In fact, he opposes Corzine's plan to cut higher education spending by $169 million.

NJ Dems are already calling Junior "The Artful Dodger" over this kind of double-speak.  But "art" is in the eye of the beholder.

Damned Lies and Statistics

by: Thurman Hart

Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 06:33:54 PM EDT

It's screwed.

It's too easy to run a poll and too easy to run a bad one that tells you nothing. 

Here are the results of the three lates polls on the NJ Senate race:

Poll	Kean	Menendez
Public Mind	42	38
Rasumssen	43	35
Strategic Vision	34	32

So which one do you believe?

Tom Kean Jr. Votes To Raise Taxes

by: huntsu

Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 04:58:19 PM EDT

However, Junior appears to be a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to running as an opponent of higher taxes, since Wally at PoliticsNJ says on Tuesday Tom Kean Jr. voted to increase property taxes in his hometown of Westfield.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and State Senator Thomas Kean, Jr., both say they voted in favor of their local school budgets.

How much did Junior vote to increase the taxes in Westfield?  Well, here's the budget they were asked to vote on:

The budget now goes to voters, who must decide whether to support the proposed $68.2 million local tax levy at the April 18 school board election. The district's total budget for the next school year, including federal grants and debt service, comes to about $79.5 million.

The board's budget would raise the school portion of the tax levy by 14 tax "points," or cents per $100 of assessed value -- the same amount by which it was raised last year after voters rejected the board's proposed budget and the Town Council slashed about $700,000. The 14-point increase has remained steady since the board first introduced the budget two weeks ago.

The story says that's a 3.85 percent increase in taxes for every boy, girl, man and woman in Westfield.  All thanks to Tom Kean Jr. (and about 3,098 other people).

You can call Tom Kean Jr. at 908-789-2100 and ask him why it's OK for him to vote to increase taxes in Westfield, but it's wrong for Corzine to propose a tax increase in Trenton.

Or you can just ask him if he knows the definition of hypocrite.