Morning News Digest: June 9, 2009

By Editor | June 9th, 2009 - 6:54am
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GOP candidate Christie, Gov. Corzine spar over deal with union

Political sparks flew today over a revised state worker contract as Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie traded blows over whether Corzine's agreement with New Jersey's largest state worker union amounted to "timid" leadership. (Heininger, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/06/go...

Gov. Jon Corzine, officials break ground on transit tunnel to NYC

The nation's largest public works project officially began today when state and federal officials ceremonially broke ground in Hudson County on a second passenger rail tunnel under the Hudson River. (Larini, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/06/go...

Drunken-driving bill requiring ignition interlocks approved by N.J. Assembly committee

A bill that would further penalize drunken driving offenders was cleared today by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. (Fuchs, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/drunkd...

N.J. Assembly panel considers involuntary commitment bill

An Assembly committee today will discuss a controversial bill allowing families to force a mentally ill and potentially dangerous loved one into an inpatient treatment facility. (Livio, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/06/nj...

N.J. Assembly committee moves bill on sex offender living restrictions

An Assembly committee today approved a bill that would allow towns to prohibit released sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers and playgrounds. (Fuchs, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/nj_ass...

Judge to decide vote on Passaic County GOP chair

It’s up to a state judge to decide if Passaic County’s politically torn Republican Party will meet Tuesday evening to elect a chairman. (Cowen, The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/passaicpolitics...

E-mail: Drug lobbyist targeted Menendez to help with importation bill

“URGENT,” shouted the subject line on the drug-industry lobbyist’s email. (Jackson, The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/njpolitics/Lobb...

South Jersey's 1st retail biodiesel pump open

Legislators and local officials gathered here Monday at an Exxon gas station for the grand opening of the first retail pump to distribute biodiesel fuel in South Jersey. (Dailey, Gloucester County Times)

http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/ne...

Event to marry minds of police, residents

An evening of music, games and better understanding between the community and the police department is set for Wednesday night. (Murray, Gloucester County Times)

http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/ne...

Veterans start service as sheriff's officers

Lou Tomassone of Atco has vivid memories of his service as a turret gunner in a cavalry unit in Tikrit, hometown of Saddam Hussein. (Colimore, Inquirer)

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

Bill to amend Megan's Law advances in Assembly

A bill to allow municipalities to restrict where convicted sex offenders may live was approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee yesterday by a unanimous vote. (Lu, Inquirer)

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

GOP's Christie blasts NJ governor over union deal

The GOP nominee for governor in New Jersey blasted Gov. Jon S. Corzine for cutting a deal on furloughs and wage freezes with the largest public worker union, saying he would not honor the agreement if elected in November. (Delli Santi, AP)

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/stat...

Watchdog picks his battles with towns over public records

Armed with nothing more than a college degree, time on his hands because of a successful business and an intense desire to see bullheaded officials exposed, John Paff is a rebel with a cause and a litigator without a license. (Serrano, Asbury Park Press)

http://app.com/article/20090608/NEWS03/90609032... Middle

Township school board suspends business administrator

The township Board of Education on Monday night voted to support the suspension of Business Administrator Walter F. Landgraf, who was placed on paid leave last week. (Ianieri, Asbury Park Press)

http://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/ar...

Federal assistance will give Central Jersey more low-income housing

State officials last week announced $40 million in federal tax-credit assistance to spur economic development and create hundreds of low-income housing units across the state. (O'Brien, Courier News)

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090608...

NJ's first all-Spanish GED testing center ready

New Jersey's first Spanish-only GED testing site is set to open this month. (AP)

http://mycentraljersey.com/article/20090608/STA...

Cherry Hill holds tax rate

Local property owners will see no increase in municipal taxes under a preliminary levy approved Monday night. (Smeltz, Courier-Post)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/200906...

New clinic in Camden will serve veterans

Hundreds of veterans, political leaders and community members attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday for a new Veterans Affairs clinic here. (Davies, Courier-Post)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/200906...

Salem GOP Chairman to step down

Salem County Republican Chairman Paul Reed will step down tomorrow night after serving three years as head of the GOP in New Jersey's least populous county. (Friedman, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/30401...

Rothman places Weinberg in 'elite group' of Democrats

When asked if they would publicly recommend a candidate for lieutenant governor to Gov. Jon Corzine, most politicians demure, arguing that ultimately the governor has to decide on his own. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/max/30411/rothman-p...

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: February 9, 2010

Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...

Wally Edge

This is how you get re-elected
As New Jersey braces for another snowstorm, noteworthy is Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo’s website, where residents can use “Snow Plow Sal” to monitor the movements of snow plows to determine when their street will be plowed.  Hamilton also has...
Sweeney may void Codey redistricting pick
Just before leaving the Senate Presidency, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) appointed Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins to the Congressional Redistricting Commission.  Now his successor, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is considering making his own...
Leading up to the Sarcone vs. Matthews vs. Richardson Senate race of 1963
Mark Anton, the Chairman of the Suburban Propane Gas Corporation, was a half-term Republican from Essex County who was elected in a 1953 special election after Alfred Clapp, who had mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the GOP gubernatorial election...
Conaway drops bid for Dem Chairman
Assemblyman Herbert Conaway (D-Delanco) has dropped his bid for Burlington County Democratic Chairman, notifying party leaders by letter this weekend.  That leaves Gary Haman as the leading candidate to replace Alice Furia, who took over last...
Separated at Birth: Dennis Robinson and Bryan Christiansen
New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority President Dennis Robinson may be the new Bryan Christiansen, the embattled Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority (PVSC) Executive Director.  Robinson is using public funds to pay a politically connected...
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Contributors

Robert
Torricelli
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
Jeff
Michaels
A new Governor and Legislature offer the perfect opportunity to re-think the Trenton status quo and for experienced observers and practitioners to offer their best ideas on improving the... more »
Steve
Adubato, Jr.
 I grew up in a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey where gambling was part of every day life.  Many of my relatives gambled.  The guys gambled on games, and... more »
Alan
Steinberg
Due to a highly inappropriate breach of etiquette by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United... more »
Carla
Katz
When life is bad---natural disasters, families losing homes or jobs, an attack on our country, health crises--people come together and do things that are inspiringly good.  After the... more »
Michael
Patrick Carroll
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
Michael
Kempner
The agenda has been ambitious.Jobs.  Homeland security.  Iraq.  Afghanistan.  Healthcare.  Energy.  Banking.   Taken together, the Obama Presidency has all the makings of a compelling story -- action, adventure, emotion,... more »
Richard
J. LaRossa
The new regime pushes the only conservative off the Budget Committee.   This is a direct result of pressure from a certain Republican County Chairperson who was hired by Garden... more »
Dr.
Joseph R. Marbach
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
Joey
Novick
A  few years ago, my brother Paul gave me a birthday present of Tim Russert’s book, The Wisdom of Our Fathers. Great book. Read it cover to cover. Or skim... more »
Murray
Sabrin
New Jersey's spending and borrowing spree over the past three decades is coming home to roost.  State debt has increased 700% under both Republican and Democratic administrations, and spending... more »
Anthony
M. Bucco
On January 11th New Jersey’s 213th Legislature ended its session, followed the next day by the commencement of the 214th Legislature, with newly elected officials being sworn into office,... more »
Julio
Tavarez
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
Rafael
Román Martel
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »