Bill Baroni

State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) wants the Senate leadership to allow a vote on his proposal to immediately suspend indicted elected officials, saying that temporarily replacing officeholders accused of crimes until due process has been completed would be in the best interests of their constituencies.

"This bill balances due process -- not suspending an official until a grand jury of his neighbors has handed up an indictment -- with the overwhelming public interest in removing these indicted public officials from their positions," Baroni said. "This bill strikes a fair, reasonable balance that will go a long way to helping us end New Jersey's culture of corruption"

Baroni says that his bill would deal with someone like Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy), who has been indicted on state and federal corruption charges, but Vas has refused and continues to serve in the Legislature. 

There has been a public outcry for the resignations in Hoboken, Secaucus and Ridgefield, where mayors were arrested last Thursday on federal corruption charges.  So far none have resigned; neither have two legislators who were also charged, despite calls for their ouster by legislative and party leaders.  None of these officials have been indicted, and Baroni's plan would not kick in until a grand jury returned a formal indictment.

Senate Minority Leader ThoamsKean, Jr. (R-Westfield) said that two candidates with law enforcement backgrounds helps the Republican gubernatorial ticket.  

“What Chris Christie has been very clear on from day one in this process is he wanted someone who could have a working relationship with, who could bring their own skill sets to bear,” said Kean.  “I think [Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno’s] own experience in this regard – law enforcement or otherwise – is a tremendous asset.”

Kean referred to Guadagno’s “executive experience” as sheriff several times in a conversation with PolitickerNJ.com.  

He also said that Gov. Corzine’s selection process so far has mirrored his first term.

“It’s a very clear contrast to Jon Corzine, who has been the undecider-in-chief for the last four years,” said Kean.   

Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre

TRENTON - Fair Haven Mayor and private practice attorney Mike Halfacre figures he will probably need between $500,000 and $1 million to run an effective campaign against U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell Twp.) in this major media market called the 12th Congressional District, and hhe sees postive signs early in his effort to muster support.

"As I stand here today I've raised $35,000," said Halfacre, 42, standing on the State House steps at the second of two press conferences he held today to formally launch his bid for U.S. Congress, where he savaged the sitting congressman.

In an unsuccessful 2008 bid against Holt, Halfacre's Republican predecessor, Alan Bateman, raised as much over the entire course of his campaign, which landed him an ovr 20% loss.

Bateman told PolitickerNJ.com yesterday that he intends to again seek the Republican nomination in the 12th District but as he nurses $6,000 in debt from last year, Halfacre and his allies say at a certain point the former deputy mayor of Holmdel "has to stop tilting at windmills."

Barry Albin appears headed toward another fourteen years as a New Jersey Supreme Court Justice, after a four-hour hearing led to a 9-4 recommendation by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Albin has no apparent obstacles when the full Senate votes on his renomination on Thursday.  He was praised by GOP Senators for meeting privately meeting with Senators and for patiently answering their public questions.

Albin's nomination was never really in danger.  The real news is that the Judiciary Committee has changed the way judicial nominees are confirmed. The recent tradition of simply accepting the Governor's nominee -Albin was not asked a single question during his confirmation hearing seven years ago - appears to have been replaced by a group of Senators who take their constitutional responsibility of advise and consent seriously.

The Albin confirmation set off a small conflict between Judiciary Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) and Gov. Jon Corzine.  A Sarlo staffer, responding to an Inside Edge item wondering if the Bergen County Democrat was up to running the panel, blamed Corzine for taking too much time making appointments and then seeking to push them all through at yesterday's hearing.  The Judiciary Committee met for nearly nine hours and considered over fifty appointments in addition to Albin.

In beginning his questioning of state Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin, state Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) borrowed two analogies.   

“Are you an umpire, or are you a surgeon?” Baroni asked.

The umpire analogy came from a Roberts quote meant to emphasize the judiciary’s limited role of making sure everybody plays by the rules.  But Albin rejected it.  

“I’m not certain that the term umpire, when applied to a judge who serves in an appellate capacity, is an apt analogy.  In fact, Chief Justice Roberts was widely criticized for using that term.  That may more or less apply in a trial court setting, but for judges who are applying the constitution, construing the statutes, the term umpire I don’t thin is really an apt analogy,” he said.

Far from the three days they originally requested to interview state Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin, it looks like Republicans will get part of an afternoon.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, which has been meeting since 10:00 a.m., has a long agenda today, and they’re expected to address Albin’s renomination at the very end of it.  As of 1:35 p.m., Albin had still not testified, and staffers said the expected to have him on between 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 at the earliest.  

But state Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) said that the late start won’t keep him from questioning Albin thoroughly, even if the meeting runs past dinner.  

"I'm looking forward to a thorough and complete review of justice Albin's nomination. I'm prepared for a thoughtful discussion that our state constitution demands. And ill stay all night if we have to,” he said.

State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton)

TRENTON - Confronting a tableful of testifying labor backers who agree that the State Legislature should lean on Washington, D.C., to create universal healthcare, state Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) stepped gingerly.

The longtime labor-friendly lawmaker noted his support of the Paid Family Leave Act, which passed in the state Senate despite every Republican except Baroni voting"no."

But today he raised a question aimed at the underpinnings of the opposition party when he said, "Barack Obama opposes single-payer healthcare. Is he wrong?"

Laughter filled the chamber as people waited for the answer.

The senator followed up with a "just wondering" question about whether Obama's rejection of single-payer healtchcare means he is too conservative on this issue.

State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton)

HANOVER - There's state Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton), and he's excited about Chris Christie's impending - check, the AP just called it a few minutes ago - about Christie's victory.

"Chris Christie represents the mainstream of New Jersey voters," said Baroni, who didn't think Steve Loengan bumped Christie irreparably rightward in the GOP primary.

"What people need to understand is the election is in November," said the senator. "I disagree that Chris has been vague. He has talked about cutting income taxes and cutting corporate taxes. Chris Christie was supported by a broad and diverse Republican Party."

Lonegan's on the jumbo screen now telling his supporters "the people have spoken" and the Christie crowd applauds.

In two Mercer County races where gubernatorial candidates took sides, there was a split.  West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, who had the backing of Gov. Jon Corzine, decimated rival Charles Morgan, a Republican Councilman.  Hsueh won 70% of the vote.  In Robbinsville, Mayor David Fried was re-elected with 64% of the vote over Corzine's choice, Councilwoman Sonja Walter.  Morgan and Fried had the backing of Republican Christopher Christie.

Hsueh's landslide was helped with his new alliance with the local Democratic Party.  Sources say that Hsueh, an independent, has agreed not to endorse Republican candidates outside of local politics in exchange for Democratic support of his re-election campaign.

Hsueh has annoyed Democrats in recent years with his support of Republican Bill Baroni in races for the Senate and Assembly.  He has reportedly agreed to support Democratic incumbents Linda Greenstein and Wayne DeAngelo in their Assembly bid this year, and not to endorse Baroni in 2011.  Four years ago, Baroni backed Hsueh's re-election bid, while Greenstein helped then-Councilwoman Allison Miller.