Morning News Digest: January 4, 2012

By Missy Rebovich

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Bergen County reorganization meeting becomes setpiece for Pascrell v. Rothman

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8) sat at the front of the chamber at One Bergen Plaza listening to U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman's (D-9) opening remarks on the occasion of the Bergen County freeholders' reorganization, an event that turned into a backdrop to Pascrell v. Rothman 2012.  

"Good evening, everybody," Rothman told the chamber. "Welcome to all visiting dignitaries. Welcome to Bergen County - the county I have lived in all my life, and where I look forward to continuing to serve."  (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/53533/bergen-county...

CNN: Santorum leads Romney by 5 votes with 99% of the Iowa precincts reporting

In pursuit of the GOP presidential nomination, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pa. Sen. Rick Santorum (pictured) were in a dead heat this morning with 99% of the Iowa caucus vote recorded. 

The incomplete results showed a 25% to 25% tie.

Santorum had 29,662 votes to Romney's 29,657 votes.  (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/53534/cnn-santorum-...

Potential candidates line up to challenge Rep. Garrett in 5^th District

It’s been nine years since New Jersey has had a woman representing the state in Congress.

Now at least one influential Democrat thinks it’s time for the state to elect another, and she is pushing Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) to challenge Rep. Scott Garrett, a conservative Republican, in the newly configured 5th Congressional District.

"Connie has not said yes," state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) said. "She’s still reviewing this, but I think it’s pretty obvious people, including me, think she would be a great candidate. As an added bonus it would be nice to have a congresswoman from New Jersey again."  (Friedman, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/sen_we...

David Larsen to challenge Rep. Lance in District 7 Republican primary

David Larsen, a businessman from Tewksbury, announced Tuesday that he intends to challenge Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th) in the June 5 Republican primary.

Larsen unsuccessfully challenged Lance in the 2010 primary. Lance is seeking a third term in Washington.

"I am committed to restoring the American dream for all," Larsen said. "This means establishing a campaign guided by true conservative principals, values and beliefs.”  (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/david-la...

Fast-tracked and rewritten bill could put some public schools under private management

First proposed by Gov. Chris Christie and since taken up by South Jersey Democrats, a plan that would open up select public schools to nonprofit or even for-profit management appears poised for passage in the final days of the legislature's lame duck session.

The proposed Urban Hope Act, at least in its current incarnation, is in part an attempt to speed the glacial pace of getting new schools built in some of New Jersey's poorest districts. The initiative may enlist the aid of the Schools Development Authority, which is often criticized for dragging its feet on projects.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0104/0022/

Food stamp demand rises in New Jersey

Hunger hurts, especially during the holidays.

This holiday season consumer confidence may have been at its highest level since the recession began in late 2007, but so was the number of families and individuals across the state who turned to food stamp benefits.  (Gladden, Gannett)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/201201...

More cash coming to help eliminate New Jersey’s food deserts

The struggle to eliminate New Jersey's food deserts -- urban neighborhoods where fresh fruit and vegetables are scare and obesity and diabetes are correspondingly common -- is getting critical assistance from two sources.

First, the state Economic Development Authority's New Jersey Food Access Initiative has gotten a loan and a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Second, legislation is before the Assembly that could divert funds from Urban Enterprise Zones to the EDA initiative.  (Fitzgerald, NJ Spotlight)

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0104/0034/

Time, or tolls? Doing the new math for New Jersey commuters

It sounds like a problem from a physics exam: Two drivers left a parking lot in East Brunswick, N.J., at the same moment on Tuesday morning. One swallowed hard and took the New Jersey Turnpike, paying tolls that had jumped 53 percent on New Year’s Day. The other took Routes 1 and 1/9, toll free.

Which one arrived first at their destination, the Dunkin’ Donuts inside the Exxon station on Jersey Avenue, near the entrance to the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City?  (Barron, The New York Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/nyregion/time...

Survey: Half of small businesses plan hires in 2012

Small-business hiring decreased slightly in 2011, according to a new survey, but small-business owners are cautiously optimistic they'll be able to reverse that trend next year.

A report by the payroll services firm SurePayroll found 50 percent of small-business owners expect to hire in 2012, and 56 percent said they'll likely raise wages for some or all employees. Two percent of respondents said they would reduce wages.  (Kaltwasser, NJBIZ)

http://www.njbiz.com/article/20120103/NJBIZ01/1...

Penn State, Immaculata scandals bring attention to proposed laws

Kevin Waldrip was 13 years old in 1964, the year he says he was raped by a priest in Newark.

But he didn’t tell anyone.

Not even when the priest, Richard Galdon, was finally brought to justice in the 1980s for molesting more than a dozen other Catholic school boys as a Boy Scout troop chaplain. Galdon was sentenced in 1987 to 25 years in prison.  (Bichao, Gannett)

http://www.app.com/article/20120103/NJNEWS/3010...

Immigrant detention agreement questioned by NJ union

A union representing correction officers at a New Jersey jail is criticizing an agreement between county and federal officials that establishes one of the newest immigration detention facilities in the nation.

Joe Amato, the president of Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 382, which represents officers at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, sent a series of letters to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. complaining that the agreement, signed in mid-December between the county and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, violates union provisions and is not being properly administrated by the county.  (Associated Press)

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20120103...

PSE&G wins special incentives for transmission upgrades

Public Service Electric & Gas once again has won special incentive rates to expand its high voltage transmission system, although a federal agency shaved the return it sought to earn on the nearly $1 billion project.

In a decision released on Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission awarded the state's largest utility much of what it sought to build the $895 million Northeast Grid Reliability project, which PSE&G and the operator of the regional power grid argued is necessary to maintain the electricity system.  (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0104/0008/

Lawsuit aims at toll fees

A former police sergeant for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is suing the agency after it eliminated free tolls for life for retirees, the second suit to be filed against the agency after the contractual benefit was eliminated in January 2011.

The lawsuit was filed in Morris County Superior Court last month and includes at least 400 Port Authority retirees who lost their Bridge and Tunnel Annual Pass, according to the complaint.  (Haddon, The Wall Street Journal)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240529702...

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State defends pursuit of NCLB waiver

The state Department of Education expressed disappointment today that the Education Law Center wants the federal government to delay a decision on New Jersey’s application for a waiver from No Child Left Behind.  (Mooney, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/53531/state-defends...

In wake of schools superintendents’ salary caps, increase in departures

Nearly a year after Gov. Chris Christie’s superintendent salary caps were put in place, one development – probably an unsurprising one – has occurred during that time: School chiefs have retired or resigned at a much higher rate than previously.  (Hassan, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/53528/wake-schools-...

ELEC wants DOE to postpone waiver decision

An organization that serves as an advocate for public school funding wants the federal Department of Education to postpone a decision on the state’s request for a waiver from the No Child Left Behind act.  (Mooney, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/53527/elc-wants-doe...