
The State AFL-CIO today formally endorsed state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18) for governor at its conference in Atlantic City.
“New Jersey State AFL-CIO conference delegates voted overwhelmingly today to endorse Senator Barbara Buono for governor,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech (pictured). “Senator Buono has a consistent and clear record of supporting New Jersey’s working families. She is the only candidate who understands that in order to grow our economy we need to work from the bottom up – ensuring access to a quality education, family-sustaining jobs, and economic opportunities to achieve a middle class lifestyle.
“Despite enormous sacrifice on the part of New Jersey’s middle class, property taxes are up nearly 20%, unemployment is the highest in the region, the Governor vetoed a minimum wage increase, and many public schools remain in disrepair,” he added. “Our endorsed candidates understand that it is not fair to ask middle class families to sacrifice for an economic recovery that leaves them behind. Instead they believe that supporting workers and communities is the key to a sustainable and true recovery.”
A full list of the organization’s endorsements in this year’s legislative races appears below:
Read More >The union battling to prevent the state from privatizing parts of the Lottery operation suffered a setback in court today.
Superior Court issued a ruling denying the Communications Workers of America’s bid to stay the implementation of the contract being awarded to the private company the state hired. The court said the CWA had not shown there would be irreparable harm.
Read More >U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6), a candidate for U.S. Senate, applauded the legal challenges filed last Friday and Tuesday objecting to Governor Chris Christie's decision to hold a special election on October 16th for the vacant United States Senate seat.
"The Governor's original decision to call for the special general election three weeks before the regularly scheduled general was simply outrageous," Pallone said in a statement.
Read More >NEW BRUNSWICK – Gov. Chris Christie maintains high job performance ratings, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Wednesday.
On the one hand, Christie has a 70 percent approval rating of his job performance, and breakdowns are strong in various political leanings: Republicans (87 percent), Democrats (85 percent), and independents (88 percent).
However, the poll shows some division on partisan issues of the economy and taxes.
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When Jersey City Mayor-elect Steve Fulop assumes the oath of office he will have a 7-2 city council.
In tonight's runoff election, Fulop increased his majority on the council with two independents who are not Fulop's enemies filling the balance.
Assemblyman Sean Connors (D-33), a former Jerry Healy loyalist who ran with the Fulop Team, lost to newcomer Michael Yun.
Read More >EDISON – The thing about Middlesex is that it’s not Essex, where earlier today the Democratic Party’s most powerful personage embraced the re-election of Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
But it’s close.
After all, Christie defeated Jon Corzine here in the 2009 gubernatorial election and that was before the Woodbridge mayor welcomed Christie for a tour of his town the day after the Republican won the governorship, and before Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chairman Joe Spicuzzo had to resign his chairmanship to answer corruption charges, the media exposed a troubling web of PACS backed by the county organization, Monroe Mayor Richard Pucci gritted through a comptroller’s report that he’s pulling in too much cash for his directorship of the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, Edison Mayor Toni Ricigliano lost the line in her re-election bid and rebranded herself as an independent, and East Brunswick Mayor Dave Stahl changed parties to run for the 18th District state Senate seat.
Trying to grin through the mummy wraps of a time and headline-ravaged party organization, which at least could make the case that its most visible party player is running against Christie, not endorsing him, the committee tonight at the Pines Manor turned to Kevin McCabe of Woodbridge to serve as the organization’s new chairman.
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Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg today slammed Democrats who this week endorsed Gov. Chris Christie, saying while they are entitled to their beliefs, they should be excluded from Democratic political sessions.
Weinberg said elected officials owe it to their constituents to be true to party ideals.
“Democrats who endorse Republican Governor Chris Christie are repudiating their party and are being less than true to the people they were elected to represent," Weinberg said. "In fact, they should be excluded from our party political sessions. There is a difference between bi-partisan cooperation on policies and surrendering the basic beliefs and core principles that are so important to Democratic voters and our belief in what government can and should do."
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Secretary of State Kim Guadagno issued a final decision late today in which she affirmed on all counts the June 18 decision of Administrative Law Judge Edward Delanoy, ordering that Alieta Eck be placed on the ballot for the August 13th United States Senate special election primary.
Read More >Sources: Prieto, Schaer possible Oliver successors As long as Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) makes a play for a third term in leadership, political insiders have the expectation, in the name of balance, of the north maintaining its hold on the speakership. PolitickerNJ http://www.politickernj.com/66579/sources-caucus-hearing-prieto-and-schaer-potential-successors-oliver A boost for...
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BY BOB BOWSER To the citizens of the great city of East Orange, I am eternally grateful that you have allowed me to serve as your Mayor for the past sixteen years. As a community of concerned citizens, you have been willing participants in... Read More >
“I haven’t made up my mind whether to do that." - Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-34) on whether she will seek a third term as speaker.
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