NEWARK - Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver (D-East Orange) says there is enough support in the Democratic caucus to back continuation of a millionaire's tax in New Jersey - a measure she supports. 

"When I think of the 46 members of our caucus, I think a majority would rise in favor of that," Oliver told PolitickerNJ.com tonight at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark), where Oliver was the special honored guest.

Oliver joined a packed house for Payne on the 22nd floor of the Newark Club this evening after meeting with Gov. Chris Christie as part of a budget preview session two days before Christie makes his budget presentation to the legislature. The Star-Ledger reported today that Christie on Tuesday intends to propose a constitutional amendment capping annual property tax increases to 2.5% at every level of government, according to sources. His proposed $29.3 billion budget is $2.9 billion smaller than last year's budget, the Ledger reported. 

Several Democratic Party politicians here said they fear limits on spending would result in layoffs to government workers at the local level - an unacceptable outcome in this economy.

Standing at a podium with the Newark skyline behind him when the speaker entered the room, Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo broke from praising Payne and asked Oliver in front of the whole crowd, "What's the news?"

NEWARK - U.S. Rep. Donald Payne wouldn't endorse anyone for mayor of Newark when given the chance today at Newark Liberty International AIrport, where he joined senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez to call for more airport security improvement.

"There's been much better communication between our offices now in the past year since the conflict," Payne said of the office of Mayor Cory Booker.

The referenced conflict was the 2008 South Ward district leader battle in which Booker tried to take down the elder statesman and ended up getting soundly whipped.

"Things have improved," Payne admitted.

Although old school Newarker Clifford Minor, Booker's challenger in the mayor's race, is courting Payne, it's unlikely the congressman will break from Booker.

No great personal affection or history binds the two men.

Two Democrats who served with former state Sen. Richard Bagger when he chaired the Assembly Appropriations Committee hailed him as a wise choice to co-chair Gov.-elect Chris Christie's transition task force on budget and taxes.

"What an impressive and talented guy," state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen), chair of the senate budget committee, said of the legislator turned top Pfizer executive who Christie today named to the transition post along with venture capitalist Robert Grady.

"When he left it was a great loss to the New Jersey Legislature," Buono added of Bagger. "We're lucky to have him back. It says something about Chris Christie that he wound find someone that both parties hold in very high regard. And he's a nice guy on top of that. A real gentleman."

Former Assemblyman Bill Payne (D-Newark), older brother of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark), also praised Bagger.

Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo just introduced U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark), who stands at the podium in the Prudential Center now.

"Joe DiVincenzo's done a great job in Essex County, putting Essex County first," Payne tells the crowd. "I'm fired up and ready to go."

Moments earlier, Payne wouldn't commit to DiVincenzo's re-election when asked by PolitickerNJ.com. 

"It's a little early for that, isn't it," he said.

At issue is DiVincenzo's participation in shoving Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) out the door earlier this fall, offering thee argument that Codey didn't have the votes to withstand Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford).

NEW BRUNSWICK - Obama's on the ballot Tuesday.

That's what U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark) told a group of black activists and Payne allies at a meeting of the African-American Political Alliance here aat the United Methodist Church on Saturday.

"This race has national significance," the veteran congressman told a room packed with 100 leaders and community activists. "The Republicans would love to say a Corzine loss is a referendum on Obama. If we lose Virginia, and then lose New Jersey, you can see the headline: 'Clean sweep by GOP: Obama on the decline.' They just can't wait to write that story.

"There's no way we're going to allow that to happen, right?"

"Right," the crowd called back.

Payne called up Corzine Deputy Campaign Manager James Gee.

"It's essential the - and they have all these fancy names for it - the base vote comes out," said Gee.

VERONA - Selling his record on healthcare today with the latest poll showing him trailing his opponent by nine points in a head-to-head, Gov. Jon Corzine said back chatter about a ham-handed reelection campaign encumbered by too many chiefs is a "non-story."   

"Maggie Moran and Tom Shea are running the campaign," said the governor, where he appeared at a park in Verona with lieutenant governor candidate Loretta Weinberg.

Throwing the floodlights up on their own healthcare record and "values," the pair slammed, by contrast, GOP opponent Chris Christie's markets-driven health care proposals against the backdrop of scene-shifting in Corzine-Weinberg '09.

Corzine has brought in former Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) spokesman Bill Maer and Democratic Party strategist Jamie Fox, but the governor insisted the upper eschelon hierarchy of the campaign remains unchanged.

NEWARK – The creeping disillusion Fred Linhares felt with the East Ward Democratic Party reached its denouement two weeks ago when the Ironbound attorney, Kean University professor and former municipal judge changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and filed to run for the Assembly in the 29th Legislative District. 

“I’ve been a registered Democrat my whole life,” said Linhares, 40, who served on the local bench from 1999 to 2002, when he hung up his robes to run for freeholder on a ticket with then-county executive candidate Tom Giblin.

That ticket famously lost to Joe DiVincenzo and his team, and when it comes to assessing the self-styled progressive Linhares, who admits he feels no heartfelt tug from the GOP and says he voted for Ralph Nader in the last three presidential elections, members of his former party generally point to 2002 as Linhares’s real turning point in politics.

“I’ve known Fred Linhares since we were kids, and I think he should have stayed as a judge. I respect everyone’s right to run, but he was a good municipal judge,” said Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark).

Former Assemblyman Bill Payne (D-Newark) will not seek his old seat in the 29th District this year, he told PolitickerNJ.com tonight.

“I’m still supporting Craig Stanley 1000%,” said the uncle of the former 28th District assemblyman, who last week formally kicked off his off-the-line challenge of Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville) and Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark).

“I’m interested in seeing what transpires with redistricting, but I’ll notify people to hold up on Bill Payne this time,” said the former assemblyman. “I want to be able to devote as much time to Craig Stanley as possible.”

NEWARK - Payne family patriarch, Former Assemblyman Bill Payne (D-Newark), backed up his nephew’s off-the-line challenge in the 28th District today, but said he has not yet reached a decision about his own comeback in the neighboring 29th District.

"I’m circulating petitions," Payne told PolitickerNJ.com.  I have another couple of days to give it some thought. I’m still weighing all the options."

The filing deadline to submit petitions to run for Assembly is 4 p.m., Monday, April 6th.

Two years ago, the Essex County Democratic Committee offered Payne a shot at reelection to his Assembly seat, but the veteran South Ward lawmaker and older brother and consigliere of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark), insisted on trying to move up to occupy the seat vacated by former state Sen./Mayor Sharpe James.

NEWARK – In what is more than a one-man crusade, even if its most significant political implication may be a test of the fighting shape of a respected political dynasty, and the future of an aging congressman, former 28th District Assemblyman Craig A. Stanley intends to launch his off-the-line election campaign tomorrow at noon at the corner of South Orange Avenue near the Garden State Parkway.

The nephew of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark), Stanley served for six consecutive terms before the alliance of Mayor Cory Booker and North Ward Democratic Party leader Steve Adubato backed an alternative district slate that included Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville) and Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark), both of whom are now seeking reelection with Booker’s and Adubato’s backing.