Independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett doesn't offer health insurance to his campaign staff.

Independent gubernatorial candidate Christopher Daggett is stretching his limited campaign resources by not providing health insurance to his campaign staff, and by paying them not as employees but as independent contractors -- - a move that saves him some money because he does not have to pay a payroll tax. 

Full-time campaign staffers for Jon Corzine and Christopher Christie receive health benefits and are paid as employees, representatives of both campaigns told PolitickerNJ.com.

Daggett's campaign justifies the way he pays employees as a necessary sacrifice given the race's vast fundraising disparities.  According to the latest reports filed with the Election Law Enforcement commission (ELEC), Daggett has raised $1.1 million to Christie's $9.6 million and Corzine's $16.8 million.  He had only $109,000 on hand. 

"Chris Christie is not in Jon Corzine's league and we're not even in Christie's league," said Daggett spokesman Tom Johnson, referring the campaigns' cash totals.   

But paying full-time campaign staffers as independent contractors can bring campaigns into a gray legal area.  Even for full-time employees, Daggett is not required to purchase health insurance.  But he would have to pay payroll taxes that go towards state unemployment fund and the federal Social Security and Medicare systems.  

VITALE:  GOVERNOR CORZINE’S HEALTH CARE REFORMS
LEAD THE NATION FOR CHILDREN & WORKING PARENTS.
JOINS PORT READING MOM IN DEMONSTRATING ITS SUCCESS

(WOODBRIDGE) – Senator Joseph Vitale today joined Diana Dydak, a widowed Mother of two living with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, at her Port Reading home along with other Middlesex County residents to recognize Governor Corzine for his leadership in distinguishing New Jersey as a national leader in health care reform.

VITALE BILL TO HELP COMMUNITIES FUND CLEAN WATER PROJECTS BECOMES LAW

Residents throughout Middlesex County Will Reap Benefits From the Funding

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale was signed into law last week to help local communities throughout the state finance infrastructure projects to improve water quality and deliver safer drinking water to residents. The funding, which will also benefit communities throughout Middlesex County, is provided through New Jersey’s Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program, now in its 22nd year.

“The Environmental Infrastructure program has long been a win-win for our residents,” said Sen. Vitale (D-Middlesex). “By providing low interest loans to our communities, taxpayer money is saved, and the end result is safer and cleaner water for New Jersey’s families. I’m pleased that we’ll be able to provide a healthier way of life for residents throughout the 19th district through this funding.”

VITALE-WEINBERG BILL TO REQUIRE HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE FOR AUTISM TREATMENT SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which requires New Jersey health insurers to provide coverage for screening for autism and other developmental disabilities as well as any medically-necessary occupational, physical and speech therapy, was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“If a treatment or therapy exists which can make life easier for autistic children or the developmentally disabled and their caregivers, insurance companies have a sacred responsibility to provide access to that treatment,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “Researchers on the cutting edge of their fields are discovering new things about autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities every day. We need to put the latest proven therapies within reach of those families who will see the greatest benefit, and we need to give autistic kids and the developmentally disabled a chance to achieve their maximum potential.”

No matter what Republicans say, there's nothing wrong with being deliberative about choosing a running mate, according to state Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge).

"If Chris Christie took 10% of the amount of time that Governor Corzine has taken for selecting a lieutenant governor to try to come up with ideas to fix this state, maybe he'd be a credible candidate.  But he hasn't, and he's not," said Vitale.

Vitale's comments came after entrepreneur Randal Pinkett, a former Rhodes Scholar and winner of "The Apprentice," kept himself in the running for lieutenant governor at a press conference today despite pushback from some fellow Democrats and newspaper editorials.

After weeks of speculation, Jon Corzine has apparently come to a decision and is expected to hold a press conference on Saturday.

Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains), the Republican State Chairman, poked fun at Vitale's comment.

"Did Joe Vitale just say that a man who today was fifteen points ahead in the polls wasn't a credible candidate?" he said.

If Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is successful in his bid to replace Richard Codey (D-Roseland) as Senate President in November, Senate Democrats will have to decide who will replace Sweeney as Majority Leader.   And if Sweeney challenges Codey and loses, he could face a fight to keep the job he has now.  Either way, there could be a contested race for Senate Majority Leader.

Less than two years ago, Sweeney narrowly won the #2 Senate leadership post, defeating Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) by a 14-9 vote after Bernard Kenney (D-Hoboken) did not seek re-election.  Sarlo had Codey's strong endorsement.

Sweeney won by assembling a coalition of six South Jersey Senators, along with support from Democratic Senators in Middlesex and Union,  and Sandra Cunningham (D-Jersey City),  Brian Stack (D-Union City), and Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck).  Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth) was Sweeney's kingmaker; he helped deliver five votes on the day of the election.

But Sweeney would not necessarily have the same coalition against Codey as he did against Sarlo.  He does not yet have the votes of Cunningham, Stack, Weinberg, and Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge), although Theresa Ruiz (D-Newark) is probably with him.

State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge) and Assemblyman/Republican State Chairman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) will debate health care in Washington, DC tomorrow.

The two will engage on the issue at the House’s Subcommittee on Health legislative hearing tomorrow at 1pm.  The subcommittee is chaired by New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch)., who invited the two legislators.

“We've done a lot to improve and enhance health care at the state level in New Jersey so a reasoned debate on the issue could be informative," said Pallone, a leader in Congress on health reform. "The states can only do so much but we can still learn from them as we pursue reforms to the nation's health system."

VITALE COMMENDS STATE EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO FAMILIES OF UNINSURED KIDS

Outreach Will Help to Get Uninsured Children Enrolled in Family Care Program

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, a long-time advocate on behalf of the uninsured and author of the New Jersey Family Care program to provide health care coverage for uninsured individuals, said today that the State Department of Human Services’ outreach efforts to connect with the families of uninsured kids is a needed and welcome step to maximize participation in the program.

“For far too long, we knew that there were many uninsured children in New Jersey who could benefit from the Family Care program if we only made it easier for their parents to enroll them,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “By reaching out through income tax returns to identify kids who lack health insurance, and following up with a simplified express enrollment form, we can make sure these kids have access to quality primary care. This effort will maximize enrollment in Family Care by kids who need our help the most, and I commend the Department of Human Services for overseeing this massive outreach campaign.”

State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville) has provided PolitickerNJ.com with some detailed work product completed by his $3,000-a-year part-time legislative aide, John Inglesino.  According to correspondence and e-mails, Inglesino has helped Pennacchio with legislation involving the Council on Affordable Housing, legal questions concerning illegal alien inmates in the state's correctional facilities, the Transparency in Government Act, anti-discrimination and harassment policy, and the State Investment Council's purchase of Lehman Brothers stock.

An aide to Pennacchio says that Inglesino reviewed more than 500 pages of OPRA documents regarding Lehman Brothers and has had numerous meetings with the Morris County Senator to discuss legislation.

Earlier today, State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge) called on Pennacchio to release Inglesino's work product.

The chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee says former Gov. Thomas Kean would be better off raising private sector funds to fund state arts programs than threaten a lawsuit to force taxpayers to pay for it in tough economic times.

State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge), who served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, says that while the arts are important, “the ability to appreciate the arts is going to come as little consolation to a child who doesn’t receive adequate health coverage, doesn’t have a safe place to grow up, or doesn’t get a proper education.”

“Funding for our State’s priorities must be bottom-up, and we must fulfill our promise to keep kids safe and healthy before we can restore arts funding,” said Vitale.  “During this global economic crisis, we have to recognize that New Jersey cannot afford to fund every worthy cause, and must prioritize its funding.”

Vitale noted that Gov. Jon Corzine has proposed funding arts at a level that’s roughly $3 million less than last year, while still keeping $25 million in funding for projects in the proposed budget.

“Meanwhile, we’re struggling to fund every state priority, from health care to public safety to education,” said the Middlesex County Democrat.

“Governor Kean’s disappointment in the cut to arts funding is understandable, but ultimately, it’s a symptom of the stark fiscal times, not Governor Corzine’s performance.  If anything, the current Governor has done his best to preserve our priorities, and help alleviate the pain of cuts in other places of the budget,” Vitale said.  “While it might be easier to criticize from the sidelines, it’s much harder to govern when facing the economic realities that this Governor has had to face.