Linda Greenstein

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS PRAISE RELEASE OF LANDMARK HOSPITAL SAFETY REPORT

Commend Governor for Posting 1st Report with Hospital-Specific Error Data

(TRENTON) – Assembly members Paul Moriarty, Linda Greenstein, Herb Conaway, Lou Greenwald and Nilsa Cruz-Perez today praised a new state report that for the first time details hospital-by-hospital medical errors. They urged New Jerseyans to use the report when making health care decisions.

DeANGELO & GREENSTEIN PRAISE HORIZON-CAPITAL HEALTH SETTLEMENT

(14th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT) – Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein and Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo today praised Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s announcement that Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Capital Health System have ended their insurance dispute.

CALABRO & HARVEY CALL CORZINE’S PLAN FOR HIGHER TAXES AND FEWER STATE WORKERS WILL BE A FINANCIAL DISASTER FOR THE 14TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

New Jersey Republicans admit that there is little possibility they'll turn over control of the Assembly this year, but they have hyped their chances in some sleeper districts where they don't typically compete.

Fundraising reports released today show that some money is being raised in those purported sleeper districts, but not much. 

In the 4th District, Republicans Domenick DiCicco and Eugene Lawrence have raised $69,887 - most of which comes from attorneys all over the country.  That's about half of the $134,473 incumbent Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Twp.) and newcomer Democratic running mate Bill Collins have raised. 

"Obviously District 4 is a place where we expect to do well," said Republican State Chairman Jay Webber.

Republicans haven't talked much about District 7, which is considered a Democratic district even though GOP Sen. Diane Allen (R-Edgewater Park) has won there five times.  But their Assembly candidates there - Leah Arter and Harry Adams - have raised almost $90,000 and have spent $77,263 (The Assembly Republican Victory committee took enough notice to donate almost $5,000). The two Republican candidates have $12,250 on hand. 

Chris Russell, a political consultant for Arter and Adams, said the campaign against incumbents Herbert Conaway (D-Delanco) and Jack Conners (D-Pennsauken) is "under the rader." 

"We know the district is difficult, but we figure the only way to put them is position is the old fashioned way," said Russell, who cited the candidates' aggressive ground game.   "If they're in position, we'll strike, and I think right now, they're definitely outworking Conaway and Connors on the ground."

Conners and Conaway have raised a combined $196,603 and have about $53,000 on hand. 

District 14 was supposed to be one of the Republicans' top races this year, but their recruitment efforts fell through after Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede dropped out at the last minute.

If the Assembly leadership elections go as expected, Joseph Cryan (D-Union) will give up the Education Committee chairmanship to become Majority Leader.   Democratic sources that Joan Voss (D-Fort Lee), the vice chair of the committee and a retired public school teacher, is not under consideration for the post.  One possible candidate is Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), who chairs the Assembly Higher Education Committee; that could clear the way for Pamela Lampitt (D-Cherry Hill), who works for the University of Pennsylvania, to take that slot.  But Diegnan gets that his panel is of importance to Rutgers University, which is important to Middlesex County Democrats.

GREENSTEIN BILL TO HELP SENIOR AND DISABLED RESIDENTS RETAIN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF NOW LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein sponsored to help senior and disabled residents retain their property tax reimbursement if they move is now law.

“This latest feature to New Jersey’s Senior Freeze property tax reimbursement program is a great way to help senior and disabled residents who just need a little extra help in this economy,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). “No one should be penalized or have their benefits delayed simply because they move to a new home.”

GREENSTEIN / VAINIERI HUTTLE BILL RAISING OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS NOW LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Linda Greenstein and Valerie Vainieri Huttle to promote awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer has been signed into law by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), a three-term Assemblywoman from Essex County, has the votes to become the next Assembly Speaker - the third most powerful position in state government.  She has a hard count of 34 (assuming all of the Democrats supporting her win in November), and a soft count of 36.  Oliver is positioned to become the first woman Assembly Speaker since 1965, the first from Essex County since 1973, and the first African American since 1975.

Late this afternoon, Oliver emerged with one significant endorsement: Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro).  Greenstein, a close political ally of Oliver's rival, Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), had professed her official neutrality as recently as 3:30 PM today.  Expect Watson Coleman, who has no endorsements outside her own district, to drop out the race.

Also, expect Greenstein's running mate, Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), to endorse Oliver soon.  DeAngelo had held back his endorsement at the request of Mercer County Democratic leaders, who were backing their home county candidate. 

Democratic sources say that Greenstein went with Oliver to save her post as Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair.  She would have certainly lost that job had she not gone with Oliver, but her relatively late endorsement does not guarantee her the chairmanship.  Sources say that Peter Barnes (D-Edison), a lawyer and the brother of the Hunterdon County Prosecutor, is also in contention to chair the panel.

The tally:

The Middlesex County State Assembly delegation has endorsed Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) for Assembly Speaker, County Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo announced today.

The four incumbents who live in Middlesex -- Peter Barnes (D-Edison), Joseph Egan (D-New Brunswick), Patrick Diegnan (D-South Brunswick), and Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) -- are backing Oliver.  So is Upendra Chivukula (D-Franklin), a Somerset County Assemblyman who represents part of Middlesex, and former Judge Craig Coughlin, who is the Democratic Assembly candidate in District 19.

John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) announced his support of Oliver last week, as did two Union County Democrats who represent part of Middlesex, Gerald Green (D-Plainfield) and Linda Stender (D-Fanwood).

"Assemblywoman Oliver is an effective legislator and has shown solid leadership during her tenure," said Spicuzzo. "We believe that she will do great job as the next Assembly Speaker."

Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) has taken such a big lead in the race for Assembly Speaker that Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) is having trouble finding colleagues willing to publicly support her candidacy.  The poster child for Watson Coleman's political failure may be Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), a friend and political ally who is noticeably on the sidelines.

On the Assembly side, the Democratic leadership fight heated up ten days ago when Middlesex County Democratic Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo announced that the Democratic Assembly delegation was "unanimous" in support of John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) for Speaker.  Greenstein had been included in Wisniewski's count because she resides in Middlesex and unanimous indeed means everyone. 

One day later, Greenstein said that she was not taking sides in a fight between the two county organizations that make up her legislative district.  Mercer County Democrats were backing Watson Coleman. Spicuzzo suggested that his intention was announce endorsements from districts 17, 18 and 19, and did not mean to include district 14. But an early draft of the Wisniewski endorsement release, obtained by PolitickerNJ.com, included Greenstein and carried a quote from her.