The Assembly GOP caucus on Tuesday morning will select a new Minority Leader in the aftermath of the death of Assemblyman Alex DeCroce.

Sources close to the process say that Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-21), Westfield, is the universal choice.

Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-26), Parsippany, reacted to a reading of a transcript of Gov. Chris Christie's remarks at a Koch brothers fundraiser in which he recalled going into the Republican caucus room and securing the support of its 33 members to back Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-37) in the event there was an uprising from within her own party. 
 
"I recall that to some degree," DeCroce told PolitickerNJ.com. "The only thing I would have done was to back her position. If they would have challenged, I probably would have supported her. If the caucus was going against her, I would have supported her. That's all I'm going to say on it."  

No man is an island, said John Donne, but Manville is an island right now.

In the aftermath of last night's storm, the former factory town is cut off, according to Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke. Manville was one town of many inland burghs affected by the storm.

In Passaic County, Paterson and Passaic City both got hit, Paterson probably harder.

"We flooded like crazy all over," said Paterson Mayor Jeffrey Jones. "This is not a typical situation by any means."

WESTFIELD – Tonight, Senator Tom Kean, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz will join the New Providence Business & Professional Association at 6pm for a discussion at the New Jersey Organ & Tissue Sharing Network in New Providence.  Business leaders and industry professionals are invited to meet the legislators to discuss New Jersey's economy, business growth and employment.

WESTFIELD - Assemblyman Jon Bramnick has introduced the "New Jersey Statesman/Stateswoman of The Year" award. The award, exclusively for high school seniors, will be given to a student who demonstrates aptitude in selflessness and dedication to helping others in their community. Teachers will have the opportunity to nominate a student who fits these criteria by filling out a short form explaining the student's attributes.

WESTFIELD – Assemblyman Jon Bramnick has introduced legislation that would make it a crime to impersonate an individual on the internet or by other electronic methods. The bill would make it a third degree offense if a person utilizes the internet or other electronic practices with the specific intent on threatening, intimidating or defrauding another individual. Internet impersonation has become more prevalent in recent years with the popularity of Facebook and other social networking sites. Recently, two Florida girls were charged with creating a fake Facebook profile of a classmate to humiliate her. In District 21, constituent complaints have increased on this critical problem. Among them, a mother reporting her daughter was harassed by an individual claiming to be her best friend.

WESTFIELD – Assemblyman Jon Bramnick has asked the Speaker to post Assembly Resolution 19, which encourages New Jersey residents to treat each other with civility and respect.  The bipartisan resolution, which was introduced in 2005, asks New Jerseyans and Legislators to join together to promote kindness and civility in our society.
 
 “It has been 6 long years since this measure was introduced,” says Bramnick, R-Union, Essex, Morris and Somerset.  “The time is right for the Legislature to take up this important issue.  We could only benefit from a calm and respectful discourse as we strive for bipartisanship on important reforms for our state.”
 
 

WESTFIELD - Senator Tom Kean, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz will host a discussion with local business owners on Wednesday, January 19 from 8:30 - 9:30am at Rockin' Joes in Westfield. All local business owners are invited to meet the legislators to discuss economic growth, job creation and issues with bureaucratic red tape and state government mandates.

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Gov. Chris Christie signaled from the stage in Gibbstown that all was not syncronicity back at the Statehouse when he told his audience, "I have to get up to Trenton to make sure everyone stays in line and stays in their lanes."
 
Getting out of South Jersey, the governor got on the phone with party leaders in the Assembly, in particular to try to corral Assemblywoman Alison McHose (R-Franklin) and Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris Twp.).
 
He leaned on Republican Conference Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), who said when he received the call, "If you see two SUVs parked outside, you'd better have a back door." 

In this case, Bramnick doesn't need one - potentially - as much as McHose and Carroll.
 
"This governor has taken more risks in fighting special interests in order to change the direction of the state," Bramnick told PolitickerNJ.com, when asked about his efforts to convince the lawmaker renegades to support the Christie budget of $29.4 billion.
 
Failure to land the legislators in Christie's corner would enable the Democrats to deal-make as a trade for the two additional votes the governor needs to pass the budget on the Assembly side. 
 
"For representatives not to be supportive of someone taking these risks is a major mistake," Bramnick said to arguments made by McHose and Carroll that Christie is giving too much aid to the cities to the jeopardy of their suburban districts. 

TRENTON - In what initially looks like a pro forma execution of the inevitable, the Democratic Assembly seeks passage of the millionaires' tax bill that - in his own pro forma execution of the inevitable - Republican Gov. Chris Christie said he would veto.

"We are fundamentally here to help men and women who can't afford to pay their property taxes," argues Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), chairman of the State Democratic Party, in the lead-up to the aye vote.

The session avoids the realm of pure kabuki when Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Twp.) objects to the bill as an object of debate separate from the budget, and as a murmur runs through the legislature about budget revenue projections falling far short, which could curtail the state's ability to generate $637 million from a tax uptick on millionaires.

In any event, Republican Conference Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) cautions the legislature about sending a chilling message to buisness owners, entrepreneurs and risk takers.

"A tax is a tax is a tax, and the people of New Jersey are tired," Bramick says. "All the rhetoric in the world is not going to allow this governor to send another tax to the people."

According to the Office of Legislative Services, in an effort to generate the $637 million for seniors and safety net programs, the bill would adjust income taxation from 8.97% to 10.75% for those estimated 17,800 people making $1 million and more.

Noting the governor's commitment to crushing the bill, Assemblyman Sam Thompson (R-Old Bridge) says of the Democrats' efforts, "Great political theater, I congratulate you."