Addiego praises colleague for turning down judgeship

Assemblywoman Dawn Addiego (R-Evesham) said yesterday that she was “very proud of” her district’s state senator, Phil Haines (R-Springfield), for declining Gov. Jon Corzine’s nomination to a superior court judgeship last month.

“It was the right thing to do, and I think it sends a message,” said Addiego. “It’s a message that everyone’s not willing to play the political game.”

But Democrats think it is Haines and the Burlington County Republicans who are playing political games.  Although Haines said he declined the nomination on the grounds that he disagreed with Corzine’s lame duck push through of hundreds of appointees and nominees, Democrats argued that Burlington County Republicans merely wanted to avoid a special election for Haines’ seat.

Addiego disagreed.

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Courier-Post endorses incumbents in 8th

The Courier-Post has endorsed freshman GOP incumbents Dawn Addiego and Scott Rudder for re-election in the 8th district, but praised the Democratic challengers, Scott Brown and Debbie Sarcone, as being up to the job.

Haines, Addiego & Rudder Recognized as ‘Taxpayer Champions’

8th District Legislators Earned Perfect Scores for Being ‘Most Vigorous Defenders of the Taxpayer’

Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder all earned 100 percent grades and were named “Taxpayer Champions” when the New Jersey Taxpayers Alliance released its 2009 Taxpayers Legislative scorecard this week.

“The Taxpayers Alliance confirms our commitment to protecting the interests of taxpayers and assuring that tax money is spent responsibly and transparently,” said Assemblywoman Addiego. “New Jerseyans are fed up with Governor Corzine’s propensity to spend money and increase taxes and fees.”

(more…)

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Brown and Sarcone Denounce Intimidation, Assault by Medford GOP Boss

Brown and Sarcone Denounce Intimidation, Assault by Medford GOP Boss;
Demand Rudder and Addiego Call for Madosky's Resignation

(8th Legislative District) – Denouncing the strong-armed political tactics that attempted to prevent them from communicating with voters this past weekend, Democratic Assembly candidates Bill Brown and Deb Sarcone today called for a formal investigation into what they characterized as “blatant abuse of power, physical assault and intimidation” from Medford Republican Chairman Steve Madosky

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At law enforcement agencies' request, Assembly won't expel allegedly corrupt members

The United States Attorney’s Office and State Attorney General’s Office prefer that the Assembly does not start expulsion proceedings against its members who were recently indicted or arrested on corruption charges, according to Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden).  

“As you know, prior to any expulsion hearings, Rule 7:6 requires that the committee ‘serve written charges on the member, provide an opportunity for the member to be heard, to present witnesses, testimony and other evidence, to cross examine witnesses and to be represented by counsel,’” wrote Roberts (D-Camden) to Assembly members Dawn Marie Addiego (R-Evesham) and  Scott Rudder (R-Medford), who had requested in an August 1 letter that Roberts call an emergency legislative session to begin the process.   

“Given that our rules would require the formation of a parallel investigation to the ongoing criminal inquiry, I immediately consulted with the State Attorney General and the United States Attorney concerning the expulsion of these members and the due process proceeding required by our rules.  They advised that moving forward with the expulsion proceedings could significantly threaten their ongoing criminal investigation of these members and conveyed to me their strong inclination that I not move forward with any proceeding that could in any way hamper their investigation.”

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Brown and Sarcone: Change statute immediately that allows corrupt public officials to receive a taxpayer funded severance

In response to yesterday's public hearing in which Lumberton's Republican Administrator Dan Van Pelt was fired for his arrest as part of the latest corruption scandal sweeping the Garden State, Bill Brown and Debbie Sarcone today called for immediate legislation to change the statute allowing Van Pelt to collect 90 days of taxpayer funded salary.

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Burlco GOP legislators give Van Pelt's contribution to charity, but don't call on him to quit Lumberton job

Two Assembly Republicans are donating a $500 contribution they received in 2007 from the campaign account of Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt (R-Ocean) to charity.  Van Pelt was arrested yesterday on federal corruption charges.

Dawn Addiego (R-Evesham) and Scott Rudder (R-Medford) said they would give the funds to the Yellow Ribbon Club, which promotes welcome home events for U.S. soldiers and contributes to U.S. military hospitals.

"The last thing we wanted to do is return this money directly to Mr. Van Pelt's campaign account and then watch him attempt to use it for his legal defense fund like (State Sen.) Wayne Bryant tried to do in his corruption trial," said Rudder.  "It is our hope that by making this donation we can directly help soldiers and their families, and find some silver lining in an otherwise very dark day in New Jersey."

Addiego and Rudder have not said if they were asking the Republican-controlled Lumberton Township Committee, which is in their district, to fire Van Pelt as their Township Administrator.

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Addiego, Rudder: Grand jury decision affirms need to change NJ laws

Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder today vowed to work tirelessly in support of their immigration reform package after a grand jury failed to indict an illegal immigrant and unlicensed driver in the accident that killed a 27-year-old Evesham teacher.

 

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Addiego, Rudder ask Attorney General to help in Burlington County's war on gangs, crime

Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder are calling on Attorney General Anne Milgram to appropriate federal stimulus money to Burlington County municipalities to combat gang activity and rising crime.

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Sen. Haines up for judgeship

State Sen. Philip Haines (R-Springfield) is under active consideration for appointment as a Superior Court Judge, sources say, a move that could force a special election for his State Senate seat as early as this November. 

Haines, 58, served as a Burlington County Freeholder and County Clerk before winning an open State Senate seat in 2007.  The appointment, which would be made by Gov. Jon Corzine, is not subject to senatorial courtesy and would likely win swift approval.  Because the mandatory retirement age is 70, new Judges are typically not appointed after age 60.

Possible successors to Haines include: retiring Freeholder William Haines (who is not related to the Senator), Assemblywoman Dawn Addiego (R-Evesham), Assemblyman Scott Rudder (R-Medford), and former Medford Mayor Christopher Myers, who won 48% of the vote in his 2008 race for Congress against Democrat John Adler.  South Jersey Democrats are already mounting a serious challenge to Addiego and Rudder, who are freshman legislators. 

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Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: February 9, 2010

Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...

Wally Edge

As the new administration looks to reorganize the embattled Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority (PVSA), watch for at least two part-time $53,420-a-year lawyers to be on the termination short list: James Piro, a former Essex County GOP Chairman and...
The brother of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone has announced his candidacy for the Long Branch City Council.  John Pallone, who served as a Councilman from 1990 to 1994, said today that he would run with David Brown, the former Roselle Business...
A handwritten note left behind during a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting indicates that Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) would support a plan to require all current public employees to contribute at least 1.5% of...
As New Jersey braces for another snowstorm, noteworthy is Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo’s website, where residents can use “Snow Plow Sal” to monitor the movements of snow plows to determine when their street will be plowed.  Hamilton also has...
Just before leaving the Senate Presidency, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) appointed Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins to the Congressional Redistricting Commission.  Now his successor, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is considering making his own...

Contributors

Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
A new Governor and Legislature offer the perfect opportunity to re-think the Trenton status quo and for experienced observers and practitioners to offer their best ideas on improving the... more »
 I grew up in a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey where gambling was part of every day life.  Many of my relatives gambled.  The guys gambled on games, and... more »
Due to a highly inappropriate breach of etiquette by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United... more »
When life is bad---natural disasters, families losing homes or jobs, an attack on our country, health crises--people come together and do things that are inspiringly good.  After the... more »
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
The agenda has been ambitious.Jobs.  Homeland security.  Iraq.  Afghanistan.  Healthcare.  Energy.  Banking.   Taken together, the Obama Presidency has all the makings of a compelling story -- action, adventure, emotion,... more »
The new regime pushes the only conservative off the Budget Committee.   This is a direct result of pressure from a certain Republican County Chairperson who was hired by Garden... more »
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
A  few years ago, my brother Paul gave me a birthday present of Tim Russert’s book, The Wisdom of Our Fathers. Great book. Read it cover to cover. Or skim... more »
New Jersey's spending and borrowing spree over the past three decades is coming home to roost.  State debt has increased 700% under both Republican and Democratic administrations, and spending... more »
On January 11th New Jersey’s 213th Legislature ended its session, followed the next day by the commencement of the 214th Legislature, with newly elected officials being sworn into office,... more »
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »