Gov. Jon Corzine among Atlantic County Democrats on Sunday night.

EGG HARBOR - In a muscle-flexing exercise intertwining biography and budgeting during what the polls show to be a foundering tenure, Gov. Jon Corzine tore into Atlantic County on Sunday night and barked out strained-voice stanzas to Democratic Party troops.

“I need four more years to get the job done,” cried Corzine, building on the populist, polls-be-damned, tough guy address he delivered in Middlesex on Wednesday and again in Mercer yesterday to collect party support in both counties. 

The Atlantic County Democratic Organization also complied, lending its unanimous backing to the governor, who continued to defend his $29.8 billion 2010 state budget proposal Sunday, which Republican critics have repeatedly denounced as anti-middle class.

State Democratic Party Chair Joe Cryan, left, mingles with Northfield Councilman Jimmy Martinez and the Rev. Reginald Floyd, right.

EGG HARBOR CITY – When the better-known names faded, Atlantic County Democrats turned to two relative newcomers – Northfield Councilman Jimmy Martinez and Northfield attorney and Minister Reginald Floyd - who accepted their party’s nomination tonight at the Vienna Inn on the White Horse Pike.

By all accounts good guys in their party’s eyes, the pair nonetheless emanated “B” team presence after freeholders Alisa Cooper and Charlie Garrett and former Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeff Blitz made the rumor rounds as early favorites these last few weeks to face incumbent GOP Assemblyman John Amodeo and Assemblyman Vince Polistina in a South Jersey war - only to decide against running 

Republicans promptly pounced on the news coming out of Egg Harbor City tonight.

WHELAN-VAN DREW CASINO BILLS RECEIVE FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

Measures Would Relieve Regulatory Pressures off Casino Industry, Allow Casino Employees to Run for Local Office

TRENTON – A package of bills sponsored by Senator Jim Whelan, the Chairman of the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, and Senator Jeff Van Drew, which would remove archaic casino regulations which hamper economic growth and would allow casino employees to run for local office was approved by the Legislature today.

“As that national recession continues to worsen, the casino industry is among the hardest hit,” said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic. “We need to remove some of the regulatory barriers to economic vitality for the casinos, and we need to give casino workers a voice in their local government. These bills will help strengthen the economic well-being of Atlantic City’s gaming industry and ensure true representative government on the City Council.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Jim Whelan to create an avenue of legality for medical marijuana for those suffering from chronic and terminal diseases was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 22-16.

"If medical marijuana can ease some of the suffering of a patient who’s dying from a chronic, severe or terminal disease, state government should not stand in the way of that relief," said Senator Scutari (D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset). "This bill is about giving health care professionals options in treating their patients’ pain and suffering, and giving those patients a measure of dignity and comfort in facing a terminal disease. While we should rightfully maintain a tough stance on the recreational abuse of drugs, we must take a compassionate and humane approach to bringing relief to those patients who have nowhere else to turn."

"A number of healthcare studies have highlighted the benefits of marijuana use in treating severe and potentially fatal diseases, and the side effects associated with the treatment of those diseases," said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic, and a member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. "If this drug can bring relief where established methods of pain management have failed, we need to give doctors in this State the authority to prescribe it. We’re not talking about the legalization of pot, but rather about giving suffering New Jerseyans a small bit of comfort in what could be their final days."

WHELAN ASKS PINELANDS COMMISSION TO CONDUCT HEARINGS ON BOUNDARY CHANGES

NORTHFIELD – Senator Jim Whelan today released the attached letter asking members of the Pinelands Commission to conduct public hearings to educate affected residents on proposed changes to the boundaries of the Pinelands Management Areas.

WHELAN STATEMENT ON HIGHER EDUCATION RESTRUCTURING BILL APPROVED IN SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

TRENTON – Senator Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, and a sponsor of legislation to provide for the improved structure, financing and fiscal management of higher education in New Jersey, issued the following statement today on the bill’s unanimous approval in the Senate Education Committee:

“While today’s bill approval is a great step forward in giving our State colleges the tools they need to educate young minds, it would be an understatement to say I’m disappointed with the Assembly amendments regulating public-private partnerships.

WHELAN-VAN DREW BILL TO RELIEVE REGULATORY PRESSURES OFF ATLANTIC CITY CASINO INDUSTRY ADVANCES IN SENATE COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Jim Whelan, the Chairman of the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, and Senator Jeff Van Drew, which would remove some of the archaic regulations within the Casino Control Act which hamper the economic stability of the casino industry in Atlantic City was unanimously approved by the Senate Wagering panel.

WHELAN INTRODUCES BILL TO ENSURE LIFETIME WORKERS’ COMP BENEFITS FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES OF FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL

Measure Would Remove Statute of Limitations on Spouses to Bring Action When Benefits Are Cut Off

TRENTON – Noting that the lifetime benefits owed to the surviving spouses of law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty represent “a sacred contract,” Senator Jim Whelan today introduced legislation removing the statute of limitations for surviving spouses to bring action when workers’ compensation benefits are arbitrarily cut off.

State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union)

TRENTON- State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) wants to change terms for members of the state Senate from four to five years, and when he opens the item up to discussion on the Senate State Government Committee, state Sen. Whip Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex) goes in the opposite direction by broaching the issue of term limits.

“You can’t say New Jersey is a success story,” O’Toole says. “This committee has the opportunity to do something bold."

State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) doesn’t immediately align herself with O’Toole’s suggestion, but does question lengthening the terms of service of legislators.  She worries about creating even more insular elected offices.

“When you extend the term, you only let the incumbent continue that (natural incumbent) advantage,” Beck says.  “The way our districts are crafted now, it’s very difficult to overturn an incumbent. You have to have a safeguard that you’re not simply crafting a way for those in office to simply stay in office.”

State Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic)

TRENTON - The state Senate Committee today passed a bill that would give some towns the option of moving their nonpartisan elections from the second Tuesday in May to the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

The bill specifically targets towns with a population between 17,500 and 26,000 in a second class county or a population of 10,000 of fewer in any county.

State Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) moved the bill, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) seconded the motion, and state Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex) and state Sen. Nick Scutari (D-Union) joined them in voting in favor of the bill.