Jersey voters made history on Tuesday.  Most readers probably don’t realize it – that’s because most of the New Jersey press corps skipped the story.
 
Wasn’t the rejection of ballot questions -- although that was a reversal from past trends.

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Remember the earlier editorial rants against double dipping officeholders?

From north to south, the front pages have been filled with critics complaining about the legislature’s future ban on dual office holding, while editorials across the state echoed their disapproval.

Given the amount of ink dedicated to condemning the practice, the average voter probably expected to see political endorsements in support of the challengers.

Surprise, surprise – that’s has not been the case.

 

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I’m scratching my head as I read the Star Ledger’s editorial endorsement of Jennifer Beck over Ellen Karcher for state senate in the 12th Legislative District.

With only a pair of sitting legislators to choose from, the editors had a tough pick when selecting from two qualified and accomplished lawmakers.

What’s troubling is the Ledger's posture this election season to limit their endorsements to just a few races – one so far – despite the fact that all 120 seats are up for grabs.

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Good thing I’m not a betting person.

If you’ve been reading the Gannett dailies over the last couple months, the odds-on favorites would be this year’s legislative challengers.

That’s what we’ve been led to believe by the investigative reports exposing incumbents, headlines calling for reform, and the editorials lamenting the need for new faces. Read More >

Admittedly some political choices come down to the lesser of two evils.

Take Tom Moran's columns on dual office holding and his view of the "Bergen Reformers."   

It's pretty clear Tom opposes dual office holding.

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Kudos to Alan Guenther and Gannet for digging into the weeds of the farmland assessment program that allows wealthy property owners to reap huge tax breaks for selling a few trees or cords of wood.

 

Who knew Commerce Bank founder Vernon Hill was moonlighting as a farmer all these years to make ends meet?

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Missing from Friday’s Ledger and Record stories about the failure by the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to reopen an investigation into Sen. Joseph Coniglio was any mention of earlier promises by leadership to independently review the Legislative Code of Ethics.

BTW, recommendations were promised by June . . . that’s June 2007.

Hey, it’s tough to meet deadlines when constantly being distracted by subpoenas and agents rifling through your files.

The examination has seemingly disappeared into a news Black Hole.

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One from the Editorial Memory Recall (EMR) files…

Based on media coverage in New Jersey and across the country, you’d have to be deaf not to hear the political noise surrounding reauthorization of SCHIP, the government financed children’s health insurance program. 

Unless of course, you live in the Republican pockets of this state. Take Burlington County for instance.  Read More >

“His legacy will include all the students he taught and inspired,” noted Joe Cryan, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee on the loss of David Rebovich. Added to those sentiments were these by Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes: "As long as we take it upon ourselves to ask challenging questions and be forthcoming with our opinions, Dr. Rebovich will remain a powerful presence…”

In David’s memory, his last PoliticsNJ.com entry left both a challenge to political reporters and an opportunity to teach and inspire all of us.

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It not really about the “generous gift beneath the tree” as the Ledger headline suggested in its story about State Senator Ellen Karcher’s property being assessed as farmland (Oct. 5, 2007). It’s really about so much more.

Let’s start with the issue of Farmer Ellen’s incomplete financial disclosure: $515 in annual farm income may not be much to make hay about. That’s all the gross agricultural sales it takes for a seven acre property to qualify for the property tax reduction under State tax law. Still, the legislature’s financial disclosure statement does require all income be reported.

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