Morning News Digest: January 6, 2012

By Missy Rebovich

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Passaic County reorganization meeting turns into Pascrell rally

The ceremony honored the winners of county elections, but the war drums beat relentlessly under the currents of peace.

"Welcome to Pascrell country," grinned Passaic County Democratic Committee Chairman John Currie. "I will be counting on you, and we will be reaching out to you, and we will need you from now until June 5th. It's important for this great city for Bill Pascrell to be here for as long as he wants to be."  (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/53621/passaic-count...

 

 

Breaking: Judge rules Mosquera did not meet residency requirement

A District Court judge has ruled that 4th District Assemblywoman-elect Gabriela Mosquera did not meet the residency requirement to hold office, creating a vacancy.

Judge George Leone ruled that because Mosquera had lived in the 4th Legislative District for just 11 months at the time of her election she is not eligible to hold office. The ruling will not alter the make-up of the Assembly for the start of the upcoming term, but Mosquera will be required to run in a special election in November.   (Isherwood, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/53618/breaking-judg...

 

 

N.J. attorney-general nominee sails through hearing

Jeffrey S. Chiesa, a longtime colleague and confidante of Gov. Christie, eased through the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday morning on his way to being confirmed as New Jersey's top law enforcement officer.

Chiesa, who was unanimously approved by the committee for confirmation as attorney general, is to face a full Senate vote Monday. Last month, Christie appointed Chiesa as acting attorney general to replace Paula Dow, who is headed to a judgeship.

The senators at Thursday's hearing asked a few questions but mostly praised Chiesa as fair, intellectual, and apolitical. As Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R., Passaic) said, "No one hates you, which is shocking."  (Katz, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20...

 

 

Christie administration divvies up its Race to the Top winnings

Now that New Jersey has finally won some federal Race to the Top money, how exactly does it plan to spend its long-sought check for $37,848,434 (more or less).

In the application approved by the federal government last month, the Christie administration spelled out how where every dollar would go, down to the fringe benefits for staff and the $1,000 pricetag per computer.

The grant was awarded in the third round of the competition, after the state lost two previous bids, including one on a technicality last summer that ultimately cost former education commissioner Bret Schundler his job. Only states that bid before could try again, and ultimately all nine won some money, although a lot less than awarded in previous rounds. They also could only apply the grant to programs they had proposed in previous applications. The final figures remain fluid, especially given that the funding is spread over five years.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0106/0119/

 

 

After last-minute changes, lawmakers poised to vote on Urban Hope Act

With one voting day to go before the end of the session, New Jersey legislators scrambled yesterday to finish up a controversial bill that could spur some private construction of new public schools in three low-performing districts.

The initial Urban Hope Act called for Newark, Camden, and Jersey City to participate in the pilot program that would allow nonprofit organizations to apply to the district and the state to build new so-called "renaissance schools." Each district could get up to four new schools.

But by afternoon, a tweak of the language took Jersey City out and put Trenton in. And by the end of the day, even Newark wasn't a lock, since its state senator was calling for it to be removed from the bill altogether.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0106/0043/

 

 

NJ school board members didn’t do a background check

More than 350 local school board members in New Jersey face losing their jobs or even going to jail for not completing a criminal background check required under a new law.

Board members were required to complete the background check by Dec. 31.

The Star-Ledger of Newark reported that 165 charter school board officials and 189 non-charter school board members failed to submit the background check in time.

Under legislation passed last year, they are required to resign their positions immediately and could be charged with a fourth-degree crime if they refuse to step down.  (Associated Press)

http://www.app.com/article/20120105/NJNEWS10/30...

 

 

Rothman: No Democratic Party money for primary

More bad news for the North Jersey congressman whose district is being merged: Rep. Steve Rothman says no money will flow from Washington to help fund his intra-party primary fight against another incumbent Democrat.

Rothman says the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told him it will sit out the primary campaign between him and Rep. Bill Pascrell.

Rothman tells The Associated Press he decided to challenge Pascrell after a rejiggered congressional map split up his district.  (Delli Santi, Associated Press)

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

 

 

Pascrell courting the labor vote in primary fight with Rothman

The battle for endorsements in the 9th Congressional District continued Thursday as Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. released a list of 21 labor officials who have backed him in his Democratic primary fight with Rep. Steve Rothman.

Pascrell drew support from labor officials mostly in the building trade unions, but also from officials representing letter carriers and transit workers.

Several union officials on the list said they normally skip primaries but felt compelled to weigh in on this race, which pits two veteran congressmen with similar voting records seeking to represent the redrawn district, which includes parts of Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties.  (Ensslin and Jackson, The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/bergen...

 

 

N.J. environmental bill may violate federal law, EPA says

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said late today that portions of a bill pending before the state Legislature to delay and, in some cases, circumvent protections for New Jersey’s drinking water supplies would lead to more pollution and may also violate federal law.

EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck said in a letter to lawmakers that the bill (A4335), as it is currently written, could have "significant adverse impacts on water quality in New Jersey" and could "undermine years of comprehensive planning" if approved Monday.  (Baxter, The Star-Ledger)

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

 

 

New Jersey lawmakers wrestle with how wide to cast net in civil suits for child sexual abuse

A bill that would allow victims of child sexual abuse to sue for damages long after the alleged assaults occurred moved a step closer to passage in the Assembly on Thursday.

The bill would remove the two-year statute of limitations on civil suits for victims of child sexual assault, and broaden the pool of those victims could sue to include the abuser's boss, company, or affiliated nonprofit organization.

Although the bill would require that victims sue only those who were "willful, wanton, or grossly negligent" in their action or inaction with respect to the abuse, some legislators worried that the language was too broad and could lead to lawsuits against those who had no idea abuse was happening.  (Farrell and Katz, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20...

 

 

Senate committee passes bill, would make political fundraising illegal on public property

Political fundraising on all public property would be illegal under a bill that cleared a Senate committee today.

The bill (S3166) expands a law that prohibits candidates for state office from raising money in state buildings, applying it to all candidates for any public office and their representatives on all public property.

State Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) authored the bill in response to a series of Star-Ledger stories over the summer documenting widespread nepotism and patronage within the Elizabeth Board of Education, along with tens of thousands in political contributions collected from teachers, administrators and other employees.  (Friedman, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/Senate...

 

 

Off-track betting measures advance: Vote set Monday

New Jersey is giving the whip to its stalled effort to increase off-track wagering on horse races.

Two state government committees approved a bill Thursday that would let up to 12 bars or restaurants set up off-track betting centers. They also approved another bill that would give holders of off-track permits that are not yet built six months to decide whether to go forward with those plans or lose their permits.

Final votes for each measure are scheduled for Monday.  (Parry, Associated Press)

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

 

 

Assembly urged to limit teen tanning

Health organizations launched a last-ditch push Wednesday to urge the state Assembly to pass legislation banning anyone younger than age 18 from using indoor tanning beds.

The proposal had been listed for a vote Dec. 15, but was not called, and it is not on the list of bills scheduled to be considered Monday by the Assembly at its final meeting of the legislative session. Bills sometimes are added later, and such supplemental lists are common before a final session.

Bills that are not passed by noon Tuesday can be reintroduced in the new legislative session, but must start the process again from the beginning.  (Symons, Gannett)

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

 

 

Under new N.J. bill, personal injury lawyers would have to wait 30 days before contacting accident victims

State lawmakers want to give accident victims a head start over ambulance chasers with a bill that would punish lawyers and other professionals who write to them within 30 days of an accident.

The measure (A4430) was approved 6-0 by the Assembly Judiciary Committee today and is expected to be taken up by the full Senate and Assembly on Monday.

Currently, lawyers, doctors, chiropractors and other health care workers are barred from soliciting victims in person, by phone or online for 30 days — although the bill’s sponsors say the law is largely unenforced, if at all.  (Friedman, The Star-Ledger)

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

 

 

Proposed bill would let wineries ship directly to Garden State customers

New Jersey residents are one step closer to being able to buy wine directly from Garden State vineyards and have it legally shipped to their doorsteps.

An Assembly panel gave the go-ahead Thursday for a bill permitting small wineries -- those producing less than 250,000 gallons a year -- both in and out of state to ship wine to New Jersey residents. It would also allow in-state wineries to sell to the public directly from their vineyards and shops.

If passed by both houses and signed by the governor, the bill (A-4436) would make New Jersey one of 38 states that allows direct shipping of wine to residents, a list that includes New York but not Pennsylvania, according to the Wine Institute, a lobbying group for California wines. Previous versions of the bill have been in the works since 2008.  (Knox, NJ Spotlight)

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0106/0058/

 

 

Proposed business court hits a snag

Despite heavy support from representatives of big business and big law for New Jersey to establish a business court, state judiciary officials were able to hold up the initiative Thursday, saying it’s unnecessary and would waste money.

The proposed business court would have similar limited jurisdiction that exists here in the tax court. New York and Delaware are among the states that have business courts.

At an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing, bill sponsors said the idea of New Jersey having a court set up to specifically handle commercial and corporate matters has been kicked around for 14 years.  (Jordan, Gannett)

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

 

 

November school elections bill moves forward

A bill that would allow New Jersey school elections to be held in November cleared an Assembly panel Thursday, the last day of scheduled committee meetings before the current lame duck session ends.

The legislation has been promoted by its sponsors as a property tax reform measure because it would move the school elections from April to November, when voter participation is generally higher.

The bill – which cleared the Assembly Budget Committee during a Thursday afternoon meeting — would also allow school districts to avoid putting their budgets before voters if spending stays within the 2 percent cap on levy hikes that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2011.  (Reitmeyer, The Record)

http://blog.northjersey.com/thesource/1886/nove...

 

 

No easy solutions for the solar sector

The solar sector yesterday won long-sought backing from the legislature for a bill that would ramp up the installation of solar systems in New Jersey, but it probably amounts to a Pyrrhic victory.

The legislation (S-2371), which is in position to be approved by both houses on the final day of the lame duck session on Monday, probably will not be signed by Gov. Chris Christie -- even if it passes both houses -- according to proponents and opponents.

If that happens, it leaves the solar sector without a clear answer as to how the state will stabilize an industry that has witnessed one of the primary means of financing solar installations -- credits earned by owners of solar systems for the electricity they produce -- drop dramatically in price over the past six months, a decline some fear could lead to a collapse of the sector.  (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0106/0034/

 

 

In act of defiance, democrat stalls Obama choice for court

When a Democratic president nominates a federal judge from a state with two Democratic senators — and the Senate itself is controlled by Democrats — a speedy confirmation hearing typically follows.

But in an unusual case of intraparty defiance, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey is holding up President Obama’s nomination of a judge to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the only time a Democrat has tried to block one of Mr. Obama’s judicial nominees.

Mr. Menendez would not comment. But the nominee, Patty Shwartz, has been in a relationship for more than two decades with the head of the public corruption unit for New Jersey’s federal prosecutor. And that unit investigated the senator during his 2006 election fight, an inquiry Mr. Menendez has long contended was politically motivated.  (Zernike, The New York Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/nyregion/sena...

 

 

Incentive bills advance as end of legislative session looms

A series of bills affecting New Jersey businesses advanced in the Legislature on Thursday, a necessary step if they are going to be passed during the last day of the legislative session on Monday.

The bills included a measure that puts employers that report business income as personal income on the same footing as corporations in pursuing a variety of business incentive programs, as well as the creation of a “business court” to handle business contract cases and a new subsidy for urban supermarkets.

The Assembly Budget Committee passed several of the bills, with Democratic members highlighting the job-creation potential, while Republican members questioned whether the bills should be passed outside of the annual budget process.  (Kitchenman, NJBIZ)

http://www.njbiz.com/article/20120105/NJBIZ01/1...

 

 

Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital closing is rocky, employees, patients’ families say

With six months to go before Gov. Chris Christie's administration is expected to close the Sen. Garrett W. Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital, patients' relatives and long-time employees of the public facility told a Senate panel today there aren't enough suitable beds in nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities to handle the demand.

Hagedorn, located in Glen Gardner, stopped admitting patients is early October. Patients from central and west Jersey who have needed to be institutional care have gone to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany.  (Livio, The Star-Ledger)

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

 

 

ADP report indicates sharp uptick in private-sector employment

Roseland-based Automatic Data Processing released its December 2011 employment report Thursday morning, indicating the largest jump in employment in the report's history.

But Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisors LLC, which co-authors the monthly report, said the dramatic increase comes with several asterisks.
According to ADP, private-sector employment grew by 325,000 jobs from November to December across the nation. Service industry jobs grew by 273,000, and goods-producing industries saw payrolls increase by 52,000 employees, including 22,000 in the manufacturing sector.  (Caliendo, NJBIZ)
http://www.njbiz.com/article/20120105/NJBIZ01/1...

 

 

Pot center to appeal township’s rejection in court

A Westampton Township board had voted, 5-2, against a proposal to open a medical marijuana operation inside a vacant former factory after an emotionally charged evening hearing that ran nearly into Thursday.

Surrounded by his lawyers, planners, and medical experts, William J. Thomas, the chief executive of Compassionate Care Foundation, packed up his papers.

"Oh, yeah," he said when asked if the nonprofit would appeal to Superior Court.  (Hefler, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20...

 

 

Port Authority chief rips suits to regain free tolls

The head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey criticized a pair of lawsuits Thursday that were recently filed by retirees seeking to restore free E-ZPass benefits.

Executive Director Patrick Foye said he had requested that New York and New Jersey tax authorities investigate whether the retirees owed taxes, interest, and penalties on the free benefits they received until the program was discontinued last year.

"This case, which involves Port Authority pensioners suing to enjoy a toll-free retirement, is offensive to me," Foye said in a statement. (Henry, Associated Press)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20...

 

 

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Horse racing betting pilot program advances

The Assembly Gaming Committee released bill A4285, which will enable the New Jersey Racing Commission to set up a pilot program providing temporary licenses to mostly North Jersey bars, restaurants, and other businesses serving alcohol to provide electronic wagering terminals to make horse-racing bets.  (Hassan, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/53608/horse-racing-...

 

 

EPA issues toxics report for N.J.

If you thought New Jersey air and water had become dirtier, the EPA agrees.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued its 25^th annual report on the amount of toxic chemicals released in 2010 to the land, air and water by industrial facilities in New Jersey.  (Staff, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/53595/epa-issues-to...

 

 

Budget committee approves $1 million Sayreville flood project

Assemblyman John Wisniewski, (D-19), Sayreville, was able to garner panel approval for his $1 million funding bill for Sayreville flood control. He was rebuffed by the committee two weeks ago, but state Sen. Brian Stack, (D-33), Union City, changed his mind this time, lending the seventh and passing vote for A3138.

Republicans on the committee voted against the bill again, and several sources in the Statehouse said this bill is ultimately headed for a veto by Gov. Chris Christie.  (Carroll, State Street Wire)

http://www.politickernj.com/53594/budget-commit...

 

 

From the Back Room 

 

 

Tri-state group is first Tea Party outfit to endorse Romney

The Independence Hall Tea Party PAC, a tri-state (DE, NJ, PA) regional group, announced today that its 27-member Board of Delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse Mitt Romney for President, becoming the first Tea Party group in the nation to formally endorse Mitt Romney.

"Over the past several weeks, a consensus has been building among our Board of Delegates that Mr. Romney is the most electable Republican candidate," said PAC President, Don Adams. "We, as a Tea Party PAC, have set winning the White House as our number one priority in 2012. We believe Mr. Romney is the one candidate who can win the Republican nomination and defeat President Barack Obama in November.  (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/tri-state...

 

 

Opinion

 

 

State Democratic chairman hopes to broker truce in Rothman-Pascrell fight

State Democratic Party Chairman John Wisniewski is trying to arrange a sit down with Congressmen Bill Pascrell and Steve Rothman with hopes of persuading them to “avoid an unnecessary primary race.”

“My hope is that we can find a way to avoid having a primary that pits one outstanding Democrat against another outstanding Democrat that will ultimately result in the expenditure of a considerable sum of money that not be available to challenge Republicans,’’ Wisniewski said Thursday outside a State House committee room.  (Stile, The Record)

http://blog.northjersey.com/thesource/1882/stat...

 

 

The taking of Pascrell 1, 2, 3 – not so fast

It was mighty cold Tuesday morning outside the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton. Inside, the heat was on. Bill Pascrell Jr. was ready to rumble.

The incumbent Democrat from Paterson whose 8th District was carved like a Thanksgiving turkey in last month’s redistricting meetings will now face the political fight of his career in the new 9th. Instead of battling a Republican in November, Pascrell will face off against fellow Democrat, and perhaps former friend, Steve Rothman in June.

Rothman’s 9th District was equally sliced and diced: About half went into the new 5th District and half into the new 9th. Rothman’s home in Fair Lawn is in the new 5th. It was expected that he and Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage, who lives in the new and old 5th, would compete. Rothman decided he would rather move than fight.  (Doblin, The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/columnists/doblin/do...