NRA ad ‘reprehensible,’ Christie says

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie slammed the National Rifle Association today over the group’s controversial advertisement that makes reference to President Barack Obama’s two daughters.

(Matthew Arco; PolitickerNJ.com)

 http://www.politickernj.com/62472/nra-ad-repreh...

 The man who would be Kean: the senate minority leader’s 1985 road map to victory

In a Thursday memo to his Senate Republican Caucus, state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-21) said he sees a chance to regain the upper house majority by capitalizing on Democratic Party vulnerability.

(Politicker Staff; PolitickerNJ.com)

 http://www.politickernj.com/62479/man-who-would...

In Wall union hall, battered but hopeful Monmouth Dems embrace Buono candidacy

WALL – On the side of a highway in a wood-paneled IBEW hall, the Monmouth County Democratic Committee welcomed gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18), seemingly in defiance of a heavyweight sumo wrestling match between South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross III and state Sen. Dick Codey (D-27).

(Max Pizarro; PolitickerNJ.com)

 http://www.politickernj.com/62478/wall-union-ha...

Christie touts job figures

TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie said the job numbers that were released today, coupled with the increase in income tax revenues, shows that December was a good month in terms of economic news for New Jersey.

(Minhaj Hassan; PolitickerNJ.com)

http://www.politickernj.com/62470/christie-tout...

Christie on anti-Sandy aid; ‘They heard from me’

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie says he’s disappointed in Republican lawmakers who failed to support federal aid for victims of Superstorm Sandy – including the ones he worked to get into office.

(Matthew Arco; PolitickerNJ.com)

 http://www.politickernj.com/62469/christie-anti...

Latest from State Street Wire

Horseshoe crab bill held; divisional transfers from DEP to Agriculture discussed

TRENTON – Two bills dealing with administrative transfers of divisions and councils were held from votes at the Assembly Agriculture Committee today. They were up for discussion only.

(Bill Mooney; State Street Wire)

 http://www.politickernj.com/62465/horseshoe-cra...

Red light camera pros, cons examined

TRENTON – Lawmakers oversaw a wide-ranging discussion Thursday regarding pros and cons of red-light cameras.

(Bill Mooney; PolitickerNJ.com)

 http://www.politickernj.com/62451/red-light-cam...

Bill would increase penalties for unlicensed treatment of behavioral issues

TRENTON – People who treat various behavioral and mental health issues without appropriate licenses or certification could be guilty of a third-degree crime, according to an Assembly proposal.

(Matthew Arco; PolitickerNJ.com)

 http://www.politickernj.com/62440/bill-would-in...

Assembly Women and Children Committee releases caregiver tax credit bill

TRENTON – The Assembly Women and Children Committee released a bill, along party lines, that would provide a tax credit to caregivers of elderly family members.

(Minhaj Hassan; State Street Wire)

 http://www.politickernj.com/62439/assembly-wome...

 From The Back Room

Codey and Booker pow-wow

Two sources close to Newark Mayor Cory Booker say Booker is meeting with state Sen. Dick Codey (D-27) today to discuss Codey's potential run for governor.

(Max Pizarro; PolitickerNJ.com)

 http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/codey-and...

Balles LD 2 decision within two weeks

Atlantic County Sheriff Frank Balles is poised to announce his challenge of state Sen. Jim Whelan (D-2).

(Max Pizarro; PolitickerNJ.com)

http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/balles-ld...

Republicans raised much more than Democrats in

NJ last year, records show

TRENTON — Continuing a fund-raising tear that began with the election of Gov. Chris Christie, the Republicans’ "big three" political committees took in far more cash than their Democratic counterparts last year, state campaign finance records released Thursday show.

(Matt Friedman and Jenna Portnoy; The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/re...

Booker’s gun control initiative turns bullets into bracelets

NEWARK — Cory Booker is helping to make the gun issue fashionable.

(James Queally and Janelle Griffith; The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2013/01/booke...

Indicted Trenton Mayor Tony Mack will attend Obama inauguration despite travel restrictions

TRENTON — Mayor Tony Mack plans to attend President Barack Obama's second inauguration on Monday and is currently in Washington, D.C., an aide to the mayor said today.

(Alex Zdan; Trenton Times)

http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/01/tren...

Moratorium on fracking in New Jersey expires

The controversial practice of drilling natural gas out of bedrock by fracking is no longer banned in New Jersey.

(James O’Neill; The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/Moritoriu...

Montclair marijuana dispensary in demand

CLIFTON – For those Garden State residents with qualifying debilitating conditions, last month delivered the long-awaited relief they'd been anticipating when the Greenleaf Compassion Center medical marijuana purveyor opened for business.

(Tony Gicas; Clifton Journal)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/187411631_Montc...

Insurers may prove choosy with overhaul exchanges

The leader of the nation's largest health insurer warned Thursday not to assume widespread participation from his company in part of health care overhaul's coverage expansion that unfolds later this year.

(Associated Press)

 http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/insuranc...

Opinion

Doblin: Wayne LaPierre is peddling fear

THE FIRST Amendment guarantees the right of a U.S. citizen to drink a big glass of idiot and then deliver a speech on national television. The Second Amendment allows that same citizen to own a firearm. Wayne LaPierre is lucky to be a U.S. citizen; the rest of us who have to deal with this dangerous clown, not so much.

(Alfred Doblin; The Record)

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