Morning News Digest: July 9, 2009

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.

Health care reform: Taking a shot at controlling costs

The term "gatekeeper" appears often in the endless debate over health care. It's generally employed to describe a bureaucrat who decides what sort of care a patient will receive. But the other day I listened as a public-spirited citizen invoked the spirit of the ultimate gatekeeper: St. Peter. (Mulshine, The Star-Ledger)

http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2009/07/health_care_reform_taking_a_sh.html

GOP poll finds voter appeal of President Obama may not help Gov. Corzine

With President Obama due in New Jersey next week to headline a re-election rally for Gov. Jon Corzine, Democrats say energized voters will view the president and the governor as a team. (Heininger, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/gop_poll_finds_voter_appeal_of.html

N.J. tax amnesty program totals record $725M

A record $725 million in delinquent taxes flooded the New Jersey treasury during a recent tax amnesty, including $379 million recorded in the final four days. (AP)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/nj_tax_amnesty_program_totals.html

No fare increase as NJ Transit approves $1.8B budget

NJ Transit today approved a $1.79 billion budget that doesn't raise fares, but also freezes some wages and requires furloughs. (Davis, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/nj_transit_approves_18b_budget_1.html

3 on list for council vacancy

The Borough Council is expected next week to fill the seat of a councilwoman who resigned for health reasons last month. (The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/50323157.html

Taypayers could see a $1,300 bill to pay off

EnCap debt Taxpayers will pay about $1,300 over 15 years if the borough council approves a state-sanctioned financing plan Thursday night to reimburse EnCap's parent company. (Clunn, The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/Taypayers_could_see_a_1300_bill_to_pay_off_EnCap_debt.html

Haledon pins hopes on stimulus funds for sewer repairs

For residents of the Roe Street Field area, a hard rain falling on their roofs means a tide of sewage rising in their basements. (Astor, The Record)

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

Gloucester County settles jail strip search suit for $4M

A $4 million settlement has been reached to end a lawsuit filed against Gloucester County, which claimed thousands of jail inmates were illegally strip searched while incarcerated. (McCarthy, Gloucester County Times)

http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-0/124711980781870.xml&coll=8

Delsea BOE to wait to decide teacher's fate

The Delsea Regional School District board of education met Wednesday to discuss the employment fate of a 41-year-old high school teacher here, charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old Delsea Regional student. (Romalino, Gloucester County Times)

http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-13/124711981181870.xml&coll=8

Title company owner faces federal fraud charges

A Mount Laurel man who authorities say scammed current and aspiring homeowners out of nearly $2 million is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia on Tuesday on charges of federal wire fraud. (The Inquirer)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20090709_Title_company_owner_faces_federal_fraud_charges.html

N.J. rules bail can be set higher for illegal immigrants

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled yesterday that bail can be set higher for illegal immigrants facing deportation to prevent them from dodging prosecution in the state (Henry, The Inquirer)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20090709_N_J__rules_bail_can_be_set_higher_for_illegal_immigrants.html

Ex-NJ police chief indicted on sex assault charge

A former police chief in New Jersey has been indicted on child sexual assault charges. (AP)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20090708_ap_exnjpolicechiefindictedonsexassaultcharge.html

Rail service to connect Secaucus, sports complex

By July 26, anyone close to most NJ Transit rail lines will be able to take the train to the game. (Higgs, Asbury Park Press)

http://www.app.com/article/20090708/NEWS03/907080365/-1/NEWS10/Rail+service+to+connect+Secaucus++sports+complex

Auto crash kills former Fairfield Township mayor

Former Mayor and longtime Committeeman Kennard Hildreth Jr. was killed late Wednesday morning in a tractor-trailer accident on Route 49 in Stow Creek Township. (Martins, Asbury Park Press)

http://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_f0c60f38-6c0a-11de-b93e-001cc4c03286.html

Atlantic City safety director would get extra power

The Langford administration introduced the prospect of a new public safety director Wednesday that would have almost unlimited powers over the city's police and fire divisions. But whether the the mayor will get what he wants is still unknown. (Clark, Asbury Park Press)

http://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic_city/article_b9b05a97-5cb6-5e9f-a993-4dd841c1f4f5.html

Borough closer to rehiring administrator

Officials here have moved a step closer to rehiring Ron Dobies as borough administrator. (Grant, Courier News)

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090709/NEWS/907090322/1003/newsfront/Borough+closer+to+rehiring+administrator

Racetracks, casinos at odds on 'racinos'

New Jersey's horse racing and casino gambling industries still have a long way to go in developing a collaborative strategy to meet the competitive challenges emerging in neighboring states. (Epstein, AP)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090709/NEWS01/907090344

N.J. denies firm's bid for Camden contract

The state Education Department has rebuffed an insurance firm's attempt to obtain a $13.5 million Camden school district contract. (Gidjunis, Courier-Post)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090709/NEWS01/907090350

Steele coming to New Jersey

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is coming to New Jersey on Monday to campaign with Chris Christie. (Friedman, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/31256/steele-coming-new-jersey

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.