Bill Pascrell

A funeral for Roffie Pascrell, the mother of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), will be held at 8:45 AM on Wednesday at the Scillieri Funeral Home in Paterson, followed by  a mass at St. George's R.C. Church in Paterson at 9:30 AM. Visitation is on Tuesday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.  Mrs. Pascrell died on Saturday.  She was 95.

Cash on hand for candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from New Jersey.

Seth Harris of Montclair, who is President Obama's pick for Deputy U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Montclair resident Seth Harris, a Clinton Administration veteran, has been tapped by President Obama to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor under Secretary Hilda Solis.

Harris is a professor at New York Law School and was an official on the Obama transition team for labor, education and transportation. 

During the Clinton years he served as Counselor to the Secretary of Labor and Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy, according to an Obama Administration press release. 

Getty Images Photo

Kinnelon Democratic Municipal Chairman Roman Oben, at Giants Stadium in 1998.

Former NFL player Roman Oben is the new Kinnelon Democratic Municipal Chairman. Oben was named to the post by Morris County Democratic Chairman Lewis Candura this morning. The 36-year-old ex-offensive tackle played for the Giants, Browns, Chargers and Super Bowl XXXVII champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a twelve year professional football career. Currently a broadcaster, which may raise some interesting conflicts if Kinnelon Republican Municipal Chairman Larry Casha seeks equal time, Oben is also a former intern for U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell.

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) made it to the front page of the Star-Ledger and The Record today by asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate allegations that Ticketmaster blocked consumers from purchasing tickets to a Bruce Springsteen concert so they could re-sell them at a higher price on an aftermarket website they own.  Now two Democratic Assemblymen are trying to replicate Pascrell's media hit with their own copycat local version. Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) are asking the state Attorney General to launch its own investigation.  Could the Star-Ledger bite again?

Politico is reporting today that U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg and U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews are not on speaking terms after Andrews challenged Lautenberg in the 2008 Democratic primary.  “It’s going to take some time to get over this because how do you know that his word is his word?” U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. said of his House colleague, who reportedly had agreed not to run. 

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The New Jersey House delegation voted along party lines in support of President Barack Obama’s $89 billion economic stimulus package.  New Jersey’s eight Democratic Congressmen voted yes, while the five Republicans voted no.

Passaic County Clerk Karen Brown could face West Paterson Councilman Keith Kazmark in a contest for the Democratic nomination.

Passaic County Democrats will have a lot on their plate over the next few months as they decide who to run for two Freeholder seats and if they'll back embattled County Clerk Karen Brown for re-election.  Democrats expect two Freeholders, Sonia Rosado and James Gallagher, not to run again - at least in the case of Gallagher, not as a Democrat. 

Brown won the post five years ago when she ousted two-term incumbent Ronni Nochimson by a 54%-46% margin.  Nochimson, who was the last Republican to hold countywide office in Passaic County, switched parties in 2006 and has said he wants to run for her old job as a Democrat.  Brown has a strong ally in U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, but will have a tough time convincing Democratic County Chairman John Currie and some of the Democratic Freeholders to support her.

Woodland Park Councilman Keith Kazmark, who is the Elmwood Park Municipal Clerk, is also reportedly interested in running for County Clerk.  Kazmark is a former Democratic political operative with strong ties to party leaders across the county.

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), right, with Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park).

Veteran U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) today accepted a new assignment on the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.     

“I am honored and excited to become a member of the Health Subcommittee during such a critical time in the history of our nation,” Pascrell said in a press release.  “Health care is inextricably linked to the American economy and both stand at a tipping point that demands bold and immediate action in Congress.  With health care reform a top priority on President-elect Obama’s agenda, Congress has a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the economy by lifting the incredible burden that health care costs have placed on American families.”