Mila Jasey

Political problems for the state's largest teacher's union continue to mount.  After going all out for Gov. Jon Corzine in the recent election, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) knows they have a potential problem with voucher-backing charter school enthusiast Gov.-elect Christopher Christie.  And in the Senate, it looks like Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), a protégé of Newark political leader Stephen Adubato, might replace Shirley Turner (D-Lawrence) as chairman of the Education Committee.  A fair assumption is that Ruiz will share Adubato's fervent support for charter schools. 

Turner could wind up a casualty of the contest for Senate President; she backed incumbent Richard Codey (D-Roseland), while Ruiz supported the likely winner, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford).

Christie's problem with the NJEA might be more than just politics - he appears to have different views on how to fix New Jersey's public school.  And he might have the upper hand, especially with a potential political ally running the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), who is expected to become the next Assembly Speaker, has not yet indicated who she will pick as the new Assembly Education Committee Chairman.  The incumbent, Joseph Cryan (D-Union), a strong NJEA supporter, is expected to vacate the post to become Majority Leader.  Oliver also has strong ties to Adubato - she is the Assistant Essex County Administrator (and Ruiz is the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Essex County Executive) - but statehouse observers say that Oliver is likely to pick a new chairman who would be supportive of the teachers union, a key player in the state's Democratic base vote.

Reportedly not under consideration to head the Education Committee is Joan Voss (D-Fort Lee), who spent forty years as a public school teacher and is now vice chair of the panel.  Voss, Democratic leaders say, lacks intellectual heft to take on the post.  Instead, Democrats could turn to Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), a Cryan/Oliver ally and the current chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee.  If Diegnan turns it down - the Middlesex County Democrat might want to stay where he is, considering the importance of Rutgers University to his district, the leadership might go with the highly-regarded Mila Jasey (D-South Orange), a former school board member but an ally of outgoing Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland), or Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Twp.), a member of South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross' political organization.

All nine Essex County Democrats in the State Assembly have endorsed Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) for Speaker.  Oliver now has endorsements from 35 Democratic legislators and likely winners of open seats, giving her a seemingly overwhelming lead in the race to succeed retiring Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden).

Oliver's rival, Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) has just two votes, her own and Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton), her running mate.

Among Oliver's supporters are John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Mila Jasey (D-South Orange), who are running mates and political allies of Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland).

Also backing Oliver are Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville), Albert Coutinho (D-Newark), Thomas Giblin (D-Montclair), Frederick Scalera (D-Nutley), Grace Spencer (D-Newark), and Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex).

"I am honored that our entire delegation is supporting Sheila Oliver for Speaker," said Essex County Democratic Chairman Phil Thigpen, "she will be a fighter for the taxpayers in New Jersey; her dedication to human services will insure that the individuals so often overlooked in government will now have a strong voice in Trenton.  I am so proud that Essex County is part of this historic election."

JASEY BILL ENHANCING AUTOMOTIVE ‘LEMON LAW’ PROTECTIONS NOW LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey sponsored to expand and enhance consumer protections offered under New Jersey’s motor vehicle “lemon law” was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

“With onboard computers operating nearly every aspect of most late model vehicles, even small factory defects can lead to big problems,” said Jasey (D-Essex). “To combat this and to enhance the safety and peace of mind of New Jersey consumers, we’ve updated our lemon law.”

A group of forty candidates for the State Assembly gathered on the statehouse steps to announce "Citizens for Assembly," a statewide group of legislative candidates formed by District 27 Republican Barry Funt to "return the Legislature to regular citizens."

The group have signed a ten-point platform, the "Common Sense Pledge.

"If elected, the citizen candidates on these steps would constitute a majority in the State Assembly; providing the leadership we need to change New Jersey," said Funt, who is challenging Democratic incumbents John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Mila Jasey (D-South Orange).  "Citizens for Assembly is an effort to remind New Jersey how important it is to elect legislators who represent regular citizens."

Funt called on voters to "to "become comfortable with the idea of voting differently than you may have in the past."

"You should know that supporting this group of candidates is not moving from one group of insiders to another. An overwhelming majority of the people up here with me are running for office for the very first time," Funt said.

LIVINGSTON, NJ -- Yesterday, Barry Funt and his Assembly running mate Mark Meyerowitz attended the North Essex Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Business & Industry Association's monthly Essex County and ELC Legislative breakfast in West Orange.

Funt and Meyerowitz spoke out on important economic issues, such as the degradation of the business environment in New Jersey and steps that can be taken to lower taxes and encourage new job creation.

As promised, incumbent Assemblywoman Mila Jasey was in attendance and addressed the group. Despite repeated confirmation of his attendance, Mayor/Assemblyman John McKeon refused to be in the same room as his Assembly opponents and decided at the last minute not to attend. Apparently John McKeon is too busy stumping for Jon Corzine to defend his record to his District's citizens.

"Since the beginning of our campaign, Barry and I have been calling for debates with our opponents, and Mila Jasey and John McKeon have not responded," Mark Meyerowitz said. "McKeon's last minute cancellation is disrespectful to the Chamber of Commerce and to residents of the 27th District. McKeon's failure to address his policies that have hampered New Jersey businesses is yet another insult to the business community," Mark added.

At the breakfast, Funt said, "A business manager who was responsible for increased expenses, plummeting revenues, loss of customers and employees and was also caught in a web of conflict of interests that called into question the ethics of the company would not have his contract renewed. That is John McKeon's record in the Assembly, and his contract should also not be renewed."

"Our business climate is the worst in the nation, and this is an issue of enormous significance to New Jersey's hardworking families and business owners. McKeon's disrespectful dismissal of this Chamber of Commerce event is evidence that he knows he has failed the business community, and he is relying solely on his special interest friends to secure his re-election. McKeon is not someone who represents us. The people of the 27th District deserve better. "

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WATSON COLEMAN / CRUZ-PEREZ / JASEY / EVANS / GUSCIORA & POU BILL ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by six Assembly Democrats to give counties the ability to establish grant programs to address homelessness was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

The law (A-3101) is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assembly members Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), Mila Jasey (D-Essex), Elease Evans (D-Passaic), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) and Nellie Pou (D-Passaic).

“The number of homeless, in New Jersey – especially women and children – is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure,” Watson Coleman said. “State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street.”

McKEON / JASEY / EVANS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

Law Signed by Gov. Corzine Promotes Redevelopment, Economic Activity

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John F. McKeon and Assemblywomen Mila M. Jasey and Elease Evans to improve neighborhood revitalization, create jobs and provide tax breaks to more businesses has been signed into law by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

The new law (A-2623) extends the Neighborhood Revitalization State Tax Credit program to areas adjacent to those approved for a preservation and revitalization plan, provided it doesn’t increase the eligible area by more than 25 percent.

“It doesn’t make much sense to limit the revitalization of New Jersey’s distressed cities just because one area of a struggling neighborhood does not fit within the lines on a map,” said McKeon (D-Essex). “This change decreases disparities between neighborhoods and extends tax breaks to even more businesses, promoting redevelopment and economic activity in these tough financial times.”

Assembly candidate Barry Funt

An Assembly candidate in a clearly uphill race has made an interesting proposal on campaign finance reform: don't allow incumbents to accumulate war chests by carrying over unused campaign funds, and limit fundraising to the year before Election Day.

Barry Funt, a Republican running against incumbents John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Mila Jasey (D-South Orange) in District 27, says that "continuous fundraising creates an unfair advantage and restricts regular citizens from challenging incumbents."  Funt wants candidates to return excess campaign funds to donors and donate the money to charity.

According to Funt, Assembly incumbents began the cycle with $3 million cash on hand, and added another $8 million during the primary.  Challengers, he says, have raised just $350,000 combined.  "Much of that money came from PACs, unions, and special interest groups whose political activity poses a serious conflict of interest," he said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         CONTACT: Chris Pordon

Friday, August 7, 2009                                          (609) 651-0748

 ETHICS REFORM BEGINS WITH ENDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

LIVINGSTON, NJ – Twenty seventh District State Assembly candidate Barry Funt today called on Mayor/Assemblyman John McKeon and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey to renounce their endorsement by the NJEA...

WATSON COLEMAN / CRUZ-PEREZ / JASEY / EVANS / GUSCIORA / POU BILL ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS CLOSER TO BECOMING LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation to give counties the ability to establish grant programs to address homelessness is closer to becoming law. The bill (A-3101) is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assembly members Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), Mila Jasey (D-Essex), Elease Evans (D-Passaic), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) and Nellie Pou (D-Passaic).

“The number of homeless, in New Jersey – especially women and children – is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure,” Watson Coleman said. “State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street.”