Wake-Up Call: Wednesday, August 13, 2008

With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Pindell Report: N.J. one of the most electorally competitive states

The Pindell Report, a new Politicker.com product released today, shows New Jersey as being one of the most electorally competitive states in the country. 

http://www.politickernj.com/editor/22202/pindell-report-nj-one-most-electorally-competitive-states

State to use $650M fund to cut its debt

After years of increases in state debt, New Jersey officials yesterday approved plans to make advance payments to reduce the balances in six loan accounts, a scaled-down version of Gov. Jon Corzine's proposal to cut state debt in half. (Dunstan McNichol, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1218602192192550.xml&coll=1

McCains seek votes and dollars

There were no rallies or public speeches as John McCain and his wife visited New Jersey today -- just private fund-raisers and a lunchtime diner stop by Cindy McCain. (Russell Ben-Ali, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/john_and_cindy_mccain_seek_vot.html

Obama absorbs Clinton's chief N.J. fundraising arm

WEST ORANGE - A group of onetime Hillary Clinton fundraisers today committed to raising dollars for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, according to a release issued by Richard McGrath, spokesman of the Democratic State Committee. (PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/max/22235/obama-officially-absorbs-clintons-chief-nj-fundraising-arm

Poll sees trouble for Corzine

TRENTON - New Jersey's U.S. attorney could give Gov. Corzine a tough run for reelection, according to a new poll.  (Associated Press)

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20080813_Poll__Corzine__Christie_race_for_governor_in__09_a_toss-up.html

Straight talk from Cindy McCain

RED BANK — Fresh from a fundraising breakfast in Rumson, Cindy McCain, wife of GOP presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, stopped in the Broadway Diner to talk to patrons and potential voters at lunchtime Tuesday. (Larry Higgs, Asbury Park Press)

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080813/NEWS/808130392

Myers, Adler want to curb oil imports

Chris Myers, the Republican candidate for New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District, says his energy platform will reduce dependence on foreign oil. (Bridget Smith, The Courier-Post)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080813/NEWS01/808130350/-1/newsfront2

State expands voting rights of deployed troops

As 2,800 New Jersey Army National Guard troops prepare to leave for Iraq, Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday signed legislation that will expand voting rights for military personnel and other voters overseas. (The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1218602226192550.xml&coll=1

Schools get new repair money

More than 100 schools in New Jersey's special-needs districts, including a dozen in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties, have been selected for repair work under a state initiative announced yesterday. (Maya Rao, Philadelphia Inquirer)

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20080813_12_South_Jersey_schools_get_new_money_for_repairs.html

Hope for state role in Peninsula

The state Economic Development Authority could play a big role in helping develop a big portion of the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor under a long-range plan being considered by the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority. (Ronald Leir, The Jersey Journal)

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/bayonne/index.ssf?/base/news-4/121860872576690.xml&coll=3

Former economic director deemed unqualified

TRENTON -- The city's former director of economic development did not have enough work experience to serve in his position, state officials have ruled. (Andrew Kitchenman, Trenton Times)

http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-5/121860037064580.xml&coll=5

County officials waive pay raises

Six top county officials are set to receive cost-of-living pay raises, while the county executive and freeholders said they are giving up their raises in recognition of the tough economic times their constituents are facing. (Meir Rinde, Trenton Times)

http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-14/121860036464580.xml&coll=5

Comptroller calls for auditing reforms statewide

New Jersey's town halls and school boards have overly cozy financial and political ties to the auditors who monitor their spending, severely compromising the oversight designed to ensure billions of dollars in taxpayer money is spent properly, the state comptroller said yesterday. (Dunstan McNichol, Newhouse News Service)

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/121860877876690.xml&coll=3

N.J. treasurer: Toll hike plan is dead

ATLANTIC CITY — Blaming media for leading the public and legislative opposition to Gov. Corzine's controversial toll road plan, state Treasurer David Rousseau this morning officially proclaimed it dead. (Gregory J. Volpe, Asbury Park Press)

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/NEWS/80812027

How was it all spent?

Elected officials plan to get to the bottom of how $800,000 was apparently spent without anyone on the township committee knowing about it. (Stephanie Brown, Gloucester County Times)

http://www.nj.com/news/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1218611417149730.xml&coll=8

Vineland council moves ahead salary hike

VINELAND -- City Council advanced an ordinance Tuesday night creating the city of Vineland's first-ever full-time Law Department. (Robert Press, The Daily Journal)

http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080813/NEWS01/808130316

Hackensack taxes spike

HACKENSACK -- The city is in robust financial health and, as a result, the municipal portion of property taxes will go up a modest $132 for an average home in the coming year, City Manager Steven Lo Iacono said. (Matthew Van Dusen, The Bergen Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/Hackensack_taxes_going_up_132.html

Questions arise over Hillside grant money

Hillside political opposition figures are asking township officials where the money went after $9,000 has not been accounted for from a $120,000 state Department of Environmental Protection grant to light Sanford Avenue Park. (Jason Jett, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/union/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1218602243192550.xml&coll=1

With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.