Author: bill.mooney

Weekly Advance: Week of May 20

By Bill Mooney | May 17th, 2013 - 5:44pm

TRENTON – The fiscal year 2014 budget talk is about to get serious.

On Monday, with six weeks to go in the fiscal year, updated revenue figures will be presented to the Senate Budget Committee by the Office of Legislative Services and the Treasurer.

Then on Tuesday, the Assembly Budget Committee will hear the same presentations.

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Pensions and Benefits Review Commission acts on four bills

By Bill Mooney | May 17th, 2013 - 10:59am

TRENTON – The Pension and Benefit Review Commission recommended the Legislature Friday not enact three of four bills before it.

It recommended enactment of a bill addressing so-called “divorce from bed and board,’’ but gave a thumbs down to bills dealing with autism coverage, pay hikes above actuarial assumptions, and coverage regarding certain workers called up for military duty.

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NJPP report says 400,000 low-wage workers would benefit from minimum wage hike

By Bill Mooney | May 16th, 2013 - 10:01am

TRENTON – Later this year voters in New Jersey will have the chance to approve a hike in the state’s minimum hourly wage from $7.25 to $8.25.

Opinions are divided over what the fallout from such a vote would be.

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NRG settles lawsuit with N.J., Conn., over coal-fired power plant in Pa.

By Bill Mooney | May 15th, 2013 - 3:35pm

TRENTON – A power company has announced it will stop using coal at a power plant in Pennsylvania, settling a lawsuit with New Jersey and Connecticut.

NRG Energy announced Wednesday it will cease using coal at two units generating electricity at its facility in Mount Bethel, ending a lawsuit that dates to 2007.

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Coalition urges scrutiny of utilities' $8B rate hike proposals

By Bill Mooney | May 15th, 2013 - 1:20pm

TRENTON – A coalition of consumer and business groups called Wednesday for scrutiny of $8 billion in proposed energy utility rate hikes.

The N.J. Coalition for Affordable Power, whose members represent constituencies as diverse as AARP and the Chemistry Council, accused power companies of using Superstorm Sandy as an excuse to sidestep traditional rate-hike processes, increase profits, and burden ratepayers such as senior citizens struggling to survive in a post-hurricane New Jersey.

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Petty's Run: History preserved

By Bill Mooney | May 14th, 2013 - 2:50pm

TRENTON – State and Mercer County officials cut the ribbon Tuesday on the $1.8 million Petty’s Run archaeological site adjacent to the Statehouse here.

Fifes and drums played as lawmakers and Cabinet officials dedicated a project that celebrates more than 300 years of history.

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Menhaden quota bill advances

By Bill Mooney | May 13th, 2013 - 3:32pm

TRENTON – The Assembly Agriculture Committee took steps Monday to regulate menhaden fishing.

A4036: This bill, passed unanimously, would establish regulations, including establishing geographical boundaries, times and dates for fishing.

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Bill to limit DEP authority to reduce fishing quotas advances

By Bill Mooney | May 13th, 2013 - 3:10pm

TRENTON – The Assembly Agriculture Committee released bills today dealing with income tax credits for farmers and fishing and trapping quotas and regulations.

A3840: This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection from reducing, on its own authority, any fishing quota that has been established for New Jersey by a federal or regional fisheries management entity. It advanced 4-1 with Republican Parker Space opposed.

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Civil Service 'banding' proposal criticized as doorway to cronyism

By Bill Mooney | May 13th, 2013 - 12:58pm

TRENTON –The basic issue of fairness and public access to government jobs was the subject of a hearing today before the Assembly State Government Committee.

The hearing – featuring testimony from labor, lawmakers, veterans and others - was spurred by a decision recently by the administration to alter Civil Service Commission rules affecting how jobs are filled and how workers are promoted.

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CV'd: Wrongful imprisonment compensation bill

By Bill Mooney | May 9th, 2013 - 4:57pm

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie vetoed conditionally a bill to increase compensation for wrongful imprisonment.

In turning back S1219, he referenced one provision of the bill in which someone who pleads guilty to a crime it turns out they did not commit would still be eligible for compensation for wrongful imprisonment.

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Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: May 17, 2013

  Morning News Digest: Friday, May 17, 2013 By Matthew Arco     Smith intends to fight for HCDO seat as Bernie Kenny's name re-emerges in Fulop era   Mayor Jerry Healy’s loss Tuesday night inevitably triggered intra-party discussions about consequences to the Hudson County...

Op-Ed

Time to have the talk we hope to avoid but can’t

By Tedford J. Taylor No topic is a less likely conversation-starter than our eventual deaths. Still, there is a lot to talk about. When polled, about 90 percent of people presented with end-of-life scenarios prefer the prospect of dying at home with... Read More >

Reassembling the American Dream

Preserve our open space and farmland

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Contributors

Jay
R. Lassiter
Chris Christie's recent "Lab Band" weigh-loss surgery scoop remains the talk of the nation.... more »
Donald
Scarinci
(5-15-2013) Interpretation of Election Laws Should Further Aims of Democracy - Five Hoboken residents, obviously orchestrated, filed a lawsuit raising concerns about Carmelo Garcia’s eligibility... more »
Alan
Steinberg
Au Revoir, PolitickerNJ.com         Recently, I have been writing fewer columns as a contributing columnist for PolitickerNJ.com.  The reason:  I am busily involved with writing a new book.  The... more »
Nakia
White
Women in Politics In 2013 men still earn disproportionally more than women, on average 30%... more »

Quote of the Day

Quote of the day

“You represent the grit and tenacity that make Jersey City special. Thank you for believing in this great American experiment called democracy.” - Jersey City Mayor-elect Steve Fulop, to supporters at his victory party last night.

- PolitickerNJ.com
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Poll

Grade Assemblyman John Wisniewski's chairmanship of the Democratic Committee
A. He was fearless; an attack dog and relentless party organizer
5%
B. Wiz was good, but not great.
14%
C. He was fair. I got tired of all the emails.
18%
D. Barely passing marks for an uninspiring leader
27%
F. He seemed more in it for himself than the Democratic Party
36%

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