Alison McHose

As the press releases containing official responses to Gov. Jon Corzine's last budget address before his reelection rolled in this afternoon, two themes stuck out along starkly partisan lines.

Assembly Democrats repeatedly called it a "prudent," "tough" and generally fiscally responsible way to "position" the state for an eventual national economic recovery, which they've long contended is responsible for the state's fiscal straits.

Assembly Republicans disparaged the Governor's talk of drastic measures as the culmination of three years of not doing enough to curtail state government expenses, compounded by the fiscal practices of seven years of Democratic domination in Trenton and his own broken campaign promises.

Pat Schuber, 61, now a college professor, served as Bergen County Executive, Assemblyman, and Mayor of Bogota between 1972 and 2002.

Gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie dropped a major hint yesterday about his choice of a running mate if he wins the June primary: he said his Lieutenant Governor would chair the “New Jersey Partnership for Action,” leading an agency that will “create an effective infrastructure for economic growth.”  If Christie intends to have his LG play a key role in the state’s economic recovery – not necessarily a bad idea – then it could mean that he does not intend to pick an LG candidate based on geographical, gender, racial, or ideological balance.  Christie could be looking for someone out of the private sector, or someone with executive experience.

Could former Bergen County Executive William "Pat" Schuber come out of retirement to run for Lt. Governor?  Schuber is a friend of the former U.S. Attorney and of his top advisor, William Palatucci.  And while Schuber has been out of office for seven years -- something that could be turned into a positive -- he is likely to still have a following among independent voters in Bergen County that could be criticial to Christie's general election success.

McHOSE:  ASSEMBLY ACTION PLACES THE RESPONSE TO A CRSIS IN THE WRONG HANDS- Assemblywoman to ask for audits before proceeding -

Some Republicans think former State Sen. Richard LaRossa is preparing for another political comeback bid, this time as a candidate for State Assembly in the 15th district against Democratic incumbents Bonnie Watson Coleman and Reed Gusciora.  This week, LaRossa announced that he was filing an ethics complaint against Gusciora for sending out a political press release attacking GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin from his legislative office.  He also came to the aid of Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose after a Democratic staffer questioned her intellectual capacity.

State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), left, and Assemblywoman Alison McHose (R-Franklin).: Politicker photo

TRENTON - They think she’s getting a bum rap early because she’s a woman, and rather than languish on the sidelines, senators Diane Allen (R-Edgwater Park) and Jennifer Beck (R-Rumson), and Assemblywoman Alison McHose-Littell (R-Franklin) made a statement today of Republican unity on behalf of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Calling themselves "Palin’s Truth Squad," the three legislators stood up for the Republican nominee for vice president, arguing that Palin’s success and home state popularity contrast sharply with that of New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine.

"Look at her public policy on spending," said Beck. "Alaska is a more self-sufficient state. In his first year as governor, Jon Corzine raised spending. (In contrast), she is taking the right steps."

Former Gov. Thomas Kean and Scott Morrison of Camden County at the Hilton: Politicker photo

MINNEAPOLIS - From Hurricaine Gustav, to the Labor Day late night cruise with the Crowleys, to Bush cringe, to the Sarah Palin story, to the Blue Grille Bar in the Hilton, to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) and back to the Blue Grille, and back to the East, New Jersey Republicans led by State Chairman Tom Wilson forged a convention of small but diehard members. 

McHOSE/GREENWALD/VOSS BILL ALLOWING PARENTS
OF TWINS TO DETERMINE CLASS PLACEMENT NOW LAW

(TRENTON) - Bipartisan legislation Assembly members Alison McHose,  Louis Greenwald, and Joan Voss sponsored to give the parents of twins or other multiple-birth children the authority to decide whether their kids learn in the same classroom was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

McCain State Chair Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer): Politicker file photo

DENVER - New Jersey Republicans jeered Barack Obama’s choice for vice president in a Saturday afternoon conference call today, with state Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer) describing as "historic," presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Il.) decision to name Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) as his running mate.

"Yesterday, Sen. Obama picked someone who does not believe his own running mate is ready to be president of the United States," said Baroni, chair of the McCain campaign in New Jersey.

Citing a Democratic Primary debate exchange between ABC moderator George Stephanopoulos and then-presidential candidate Biden in which the latter said he does not believe the presidency is the proper venue for on-the-job training, Baroni focused on the freshman Senator Obama’s lack of experience.

"That’s not me saying it, it’s Joe Biden," said Baroni, echoing a McCain television ad that is now up and running in South Jersey.

GOP presidential candidate John McCain campaigns in New Jersey last February with Sen. Joe Lieberman: Getty Images Photo
Two pro-choice names floated as potential vice-president picks for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain have caused a lot of grumbling among conservatives nationwide, but some of the most ardently pro-life members of the delegation representing New Jersey at next month's Republican National Convention were circumspect on the prospects.

While McCain has pledged to run a "pro-life administration" if elected, his campaign has floated trial balloons about U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Thomas Ridge as possible Veep picks, both of whom are pro-choice.

While some pro-life delegation members would prefer to see a fully anti-abortion ticket, none were committed to casting a protest vote against a pro-choice McCain pick. Still, some of them cautiously suggested that McCain would be wise not to alienate the socially conservative wing of the party, including the evangelical voters who he's had trouble courting in the past.

"I don't from a tactical standpoint see the gain other than maybe he's trying to reach moderate Democrat voters and take them from Barack by putting Lieberman there," said Assemblywoman Allison Littell McHose (R-Franklin), a delegate who sits on the convention's platform committee. "But I think when you have a Republican base that would probably not traditionally vote for a guy like Lieberman, I don't know why McCain would need to do that."

Assemblywoman Alison McHose is mentioned as a possible GOP candidate for Lt. Governor in 2009: Getty Images Photo
Among the many names bandied about as potential Republican gubernatorial running mates next year is Assemblywoman Allison Littell McHose (R-Franklin), who represents the third generation of a Sussex County political dynasty.

Just before speaking at a news conference attacking the Clean Elections program that she took part in last year, McHose indicated that she was open to the possibility of running for the newly created position of Lieutenant Governor.

“I’d be flattered and would consider it. I’m not actively seeking to promote myself like some on the other side,” she said. “I’m a humble politician.”