David Rible

TRENTON – Key Assembly Democrats this week said they would like to expunge at least two of the more controversial elements of Gov. Jon Corzine’s budget proposal: the one-year property tax deduction on income taxes and the request for property tax rebate freezes for non-senior homeowners making over $75,000 and reexamine alternatives.

“I’m not certain the property tax deduction will be in the budget when it’s done,” said Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville). “We have to try to embrace these things as temporary measures, but my own personal suggestion on how we get through this is we may have to borrow money to get the state through its current economic crisis.

“I know it’s near heresy to say that, and in normal times that’s true, but now we ought to at least seriously consider borrowing. Against the pension fund? Sure, at least examine it. There are a variety of vehicles we have.”   

TRENTON – However subdued his variations on this year’s most infamous catch phrase, “tough economic times,” members of both parties are prepared to hear Gov. Jon Corzine’s budget address tomorrow as a starter’s gun blast in the 2009 gubernatorial and legislative races.

Already exhilarated by Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Chris Christie’s argument that Corzine and the Democrats must accept responsibility for the state budget (which swelled from $25 billion to $33 billion in nine years) and not hide within the folds of an international economic crisis, the GOP wants to capitalize on a dismal tide statewide, which last year buried John McCain at the national level in a narrative of poor fiscal management by the Bush administration.

“It’s too late,” confirmed Assembly Minority Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) of Corzine. “You’ve been the governor. If the economy was doing great you would take credit for it. When it’s not doing well, you’re stuck with the hand you’ve been dealt. If the state ain’t getting better, end of story."

Presumably no longer able to rely on their most beloved if unwitting ally – President George W. Bush – to deepsix the Republican Party, New Jersey Democrats face a humbling nine point deficit in the gubernatorial contest, according to last week’s Fairleigh Dickinson Poll. 

Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton)

PHILADELPHIA - A lot of the talk on the train is what to do with the infusion of cash the state will get from the federal government if President Barack Obama's stimulus package clears the U.S. Senate, and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), working a battleground district this year, says the money needs to go to the improvement of infrastructure.

"Fifteen to 20 percent of your work force is made up of blue collar workers, and if you take that money and commit it to sewer and utility projects, roads and infrastructure, bridges, you're going in the direction of economic recovery," says DeAngelo, a union leader in Hamilton.

He concedes he's in a fight this year.

"I'm walking around with a target on my forehead," he says. "I'm their number one target."

Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall) laughs.

The Associated Press reported that Neptune Township Mayor Randy Bishop will challenge Rible and running mate Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R-Ocean), but it's not the high profile contest that most insiders predict will result when DeAngelo defends his seat this year. 

Former Neptune Mayor Randy Bishop, right, wiith ex-Gov. Brendan Byrne, is considering a bid for State Assembly in the 11th district.

Democratic sources say that Neptune Township Committeeman Randy Bishop, who was one of two openly gay Mayors in the state when he served in 2008, is mulling a bid for State Assembly in the 11th district this year.   The two Republican incumbents, Mary Pat Angelini and David Rible, are expected to seek re-election to their second terms this year.  

As former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie tries to make up his mind about whether or not to run for governor, state Sen. Sean Kean (R-Monmouth) and Assembly members Dave Rible (R-Wall) and Mary Pat Angelini (R-Ocean) are trying to nudge him into the race against incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine.

“Having served in the Legislature for six years, I have seen firsthand the urgent need for reform in New Jersey government,” said Kean in a release. “Chris Christie has demonstrated that he will not hesitate to take on the system that has made New Jersey increasingly unaffordable.”  Kean and his running mates pledged their support for Christie. 

“New Jersey is clearly headed in the wrong direction and that is why tens of thousands of people move out every year,” said Rible. “We need someone like Chris Christie in Trenton to lead the fight to make New Jersey more affordable and less corrupt.”

UNION – As former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie publicly mulls a run for governor, Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall) says he believes the Republican Party should rally around one candidate for governor before the June primary.

“We have to get unified,” said Rible, who didn’t discount the value of a GOP Primary fight, but also doesn’t want to see a bloodletting that could leave his party sapped by the time a candidate squares of with the muscle-bound war chest of incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine.

Of Christie, the former Wall Township police officer turned legislator, said, “He has a tremendous resume and good name ID. He’s not a far right conservative, and that’s good. I’m not sure New Jersey is looking for someone from the party’s far right.”

Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), campaigning last year with Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon.: Politicker file photo 

MINNEAPOLIS - Identifying in her hockey mom, small town mayor’s story the features of a universal American life, and exhilarated by her willingness to put her head down and charge after their rivals, members of New Jersey’s GOP delegation praised the acceptance speech delivered tonight by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, their vice presidential nominee.

"I know my constituents will be able to identify with her, a working mother whose family depends on two incomes," said state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union).

Since he first declared his hope two or three weeks ago that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would choose Palin as his running mate as a way of reaching base conservative voters, women, and blue collar America, Kean has consistently emphasized as a strength Palin’s distance from the ambitious political culture of Washington, D.C.

"This was someone who was picked because of her competence as governor, as opposed to her going out and seeking the office," the senator added.

Democrats view Belmar Councilman Matt Doherty as their best chance to pick up a seat in the Monmouth-based eleventh district, where the GOP has not lost since 1989. Doherty ran an aggressive and well-financed campaign for the State Assembly in 2005 against two Republican incumbents, but lost.

Assemblywoman Alison McHose and Assemblyman David Rible today in Trenton. 

TRENTON - A day after Gov. Jon Corzine and the Democrats launched what had the vibe of a pre "overwhelming victory" party, Republicans attempted a low-key, state-level counter-offensive here this afternoon at the height of the budget season.

While Democrats may be in the throes of Obama fever, "Jon Corzine is not terribly popular now," said Assembly Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), referring to the governor’s 38% job approval rating, according to Quinnipiac University.

Battling for some GOP respect, Bramnick announced the formation of the New Republican Policy Committee, which he hopes will be one of the features of a new-face Republican party. The move comes in an atmosphere in which the departing Republican president’s job approval rating is 22% and Obama leads presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain by six points.

In district 11, a last minute shot by the Democrats to make the Assembly contest competitive with a six-figure check translated in part into an attack ad targeting Republican David Rible of Wall Township.

Rible is running for the Assembly with Mary Pat Angelini of Ocean against Democrats John Napolitani of Interlaken and John Pirnat of Belmar.