Gary Chiusano

Two Republican legislators continued the call for Gov. Jon Corzine to answer questions regarding his investments in a hedge fund with some connection to Texas Pacific Group (TPG).

"As Governor Corzine likes to say, facts are a stubborn thing. In this case, they point to conflict of interest in the governor's investments and a disregard for propriety in his financial dealings," said Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (R-Frankford).  "There are serious issues being raised that deserve more than the governor's flippant answers and dismissal of scrutiny.

Chiusano says that Corzine should divest himself of his TPG holdings.  Corzine maintains that is investment is with TPG-Axon, a hedge fund that is separate from TPG.  TPG says they have an internal fire wall to obviate a conflict between the two firms.

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-Colts Neck) says that Corzine's Atlantic City casino investments show a "clear conflict of interest and may be illegal."

"By refusing to disclose the details of his investments, Governor Corzine has shown he believes that the rules do not apply to him," Casagrande said. "He must tell the voters the truth to remove any appearance of an abuse of power or influence in our state's gaming industry."

Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (R-Franklin) is upset about a flyer from the Passaic County Republican splinter group GOP Strong that he says took a quote of his wildly out of context.

At issue is a flyer that accuses Assemblymen Scott Rumana (R-Wayne) and Dave Russo (R-Ridgewood) of refusing "to support a bill to prevent sex offenders from having their criminal records expunged."

The campaign piece includes a quote from Chiusano, a conservative, saying "to vote against this bill means you are allowing the expungement of sex crimes."

Rumana abstained from voting on the bill.  Russo voted no.  But Chiusano also voted no.

Chiusano said that the bill was actually in two parts: one that cut down the amount of time it took for certain types convicted criminals to have their records expunged, which he opposed, and one that excluded terrorists and child abusers from the new law.

Six legislators will face no opposition in the November general election, as long as no write-in candidate wins 100 votes in the primary: Democrats Joseph Cryan and Annette Quijano in District 20, Republicans Alison McHose and Gary Chiusano in District 24, and Democrats Joan Quigley and Vincent Prieto in District 32.  Cryan is the Democratic State Chairman, and Quijano is a freshman who won a 2008 special election following the resignation of Neil Cohen. None of these districts are politically competitive. 

Afraid of facing a GOP primary challenge, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R-Franklin) had indicated to Republican leaders that she would endorse former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie for Governor after the filing deadline - which was last Monday.  Sources say that the Christie camp, aggravated by McHose's delay, is no longer viewing her as a possible candidate for Lt. Governor.  It's possible that Christie would not have asked McHose to be his running mate anyway, but her neutrality has all but ended her hope of running statewide this year.

With an independent poll released this morning showing more New Jerseyans in favor of gay marriage than against it, three of the state’s most conservative legislators repeated their call for the issue to be put to a popular vote.

“Some people try to use these polls as a replacement for the democratic process in which every citizen has an opportunity to participate,” said Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R-Franklin) in a press release.  “A few hundred people answering a telephone solicitation is not a vote.”

Today's Monmouth University/Gannett poll found that 48% of respondents favored gay marriage, while 43% opposed it.  

McHose sponsored legislation in the assembly that would create a ballot question to amend the state constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.  Her district-mate, state Sen. Steve Oroho, is the prime sponsor of the senate version.  

Fourty-three percent of the poll’s respondents said they favored a ban like the one McHose proposes.  Fifty percent said they opposed it. 

Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (R-24, Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon) sent a letter today to Commissioner Lisa Jackson of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requesting that the Department publicly release its figures on the present bear population in New Jersey.

Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) won't vote "yes" for budget unless he can get passed $3.9 billion for schools construction. 

TRENTON - The vote on the budget today is expected to go along party lines in the Assembly, which means Democrats have the numbers to pass a $32.9 billion document over the objections of a Republican minority.

For at least one key legislator on the Senate side, however, his "aye" vote for the budget hinges on whether the governing body approves $3.9 in borrowing for schools construction in mostly poor school districts.

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.

Franklin Councilman Phil Crabb was elected to the Sussex County Board of Freeholders today without opposition.  He won a Special Election Convention to replace Gary Chiusano, who resigned following his election to the State Assembly. Republicans hold all seats on the Sussex Freeholder Board. 

Assemblyman Gary Chiusano has resigned his seat on the Sussex County Board of Freeholders.  Sussex Republicans must hold a Special Election Convention within the next seven to 35 days to select a new Freeholder.  Sources say that Franklin Councilman Phil Crabb is the leading candidate to fill the remaining year of Chiusano’s term.