This is too funny: candidate Lautenberg wants review of how NJSEA handles VIP tickets
By Wally Edge | July 21st, 2008 - 1:59pmU.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg sought to end a brewing political firestorm today cancelling a campaign fundraiser at Bruce Springsteen’s Giant Stadium concert on Friday – just one day after The Record broke the story that the Senator’s re-election campaign had cut a deal with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to buy forty premium tickets held back by the state agency for VIP’s and political insiders for $108 per ticket and reselling them to donors at $1,500 each.
The Lautenberg campaign blamed the cancellation on the NJSEA, which rescinded their commitment to sell them the tickets – and in full spin mode, called on the sports authority to “re-examine its practice of reserving tickets, in order to ensure that its tickets are available to all New Jersey residents, not just to VIP’s,” according to a published report.
But a source who formerly worked at the NJSEA says that Lautenberg has requested tickets for his personal use over the years from the same pool of premium seats, as have some key members of Lautenberg’s campaign team.
The Record also reported that GOP State Chairman Tom Wilson criticized Lautenberg for seeking tickets from the NJSEA after helping them receive federal funding for rail connections and road improvements. “His request for a special favor from the NJSEA to help his campaign looks like an old fashioned quid pro quo,” said Wilson.
Wake-Up Call
Morning News Digest: March 19, 2010
Christie vetoes 5 service contracts approved by Turnpike Authority Governor Christie on Thursday vetoed five professional services contracts that were approved by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority a month ago. The governor’s office said Christie exercised his eighth veto because the contract fees ranged from...
Wally Edge
Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) put out a statement today accusing GOP congressional candidate Jon Runyan of “hiding from the press while trying to privately impress party bosses, and taking advantage of thousands of dollars...
The passing of Warren Wilentz means that David Norcross becomes the earliest nominated U.S. Senate candidate currently living. Wilentz was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1966 against Clifford Case, and Norcross was the Republican U....
The national political environment favored the GOP in 1966. It was the mid-term election of Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the war in Vietnam had just begun to divide the nation. In New Jersey, Republican Clifford Case was...
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo issued a press release today urging the State Assembly to pass pension and health insurance reform bills, but did not mention in his 574-word that the person blocking the legislation, Assembly Speaker Sheila...
Two Republicans will formally announce campaigns for Congress this evening against Democratic incumbents: John Runyan, a retired NFL star who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, is challenging freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), and Diane...
Contributors
This is going to be a budget that is going to be unlike any other you’ve probably seen in NJ in at least the last 20 years and maybe... more »
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
It's impossible to support consolidation of government services and also support COAH.S1 paints with a broad brush and thus will miss some fine points. COAH paints with... more »
Governor Christie seems to have played the rotten fiscal cards he inherited fairly well. As reported by the Star-Ledger, he is proposing to cut school aid by more... more »
As part of his solution to New Jersey’s current budget deficit, Gov. Chris Christie announced that, effective yesterday, he will not allow any additional parents to enroll in FamilyCare,... more »
Do I love Governor Chris Christie’s budget proposal? Of course not. Who would? I’m sure he doesn’t like it, but that’s not the point, is it? How could you... more »
The budget speech given on Tuesday by Governor Christie clearly illustrates his priorities – including disproportionately shifting the tax burden away from businesses and the wealthy, and... more »
On Rebate Issue, Christie Will Win. The leading New Jersey Sunday newspapers yesterday confirmed that Governor Chris Christie will propose in his FY2011 budget the... more »
You’ve got to hand it to Christie; he calls it as he sees it. I don’t mean the newly crowned Governor, Chris Christie, but his nine-year-old son, Patrick. ... more »
Anyone involved in governing and administrating a town or county in New Jersey understands the economic problems outlined in The Star-Ledger editorials of February 28 and March 1. The... more »
It is widely anticipated that Gov. Chris Christie’s first budget message, to be delivered on March 16, will show the harsh reality of New Jersey’s bleak financial outlook. No... more »
In keeping with the commitment I made to you in the November election, I am looking at every possible way to cut wasteful government spending and relieve your tax... more »
Republican Playbook: Fear, Scorn & Partisanship -- Instill fear. Sow uncertainty. Create doubt. Demonize. These tactics may be the unfortunate norm for campaigning, but they are bad – if not... more »
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice. Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention. Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
I have to genuinely wonder if this legislature will go down as the most taxing legislature in the history of the state of New Jersey surpassing the legislative actions... more »
Now that the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
March 18, 2010 Stop screaming. You’ll wake up the neighbors.If you're a local town mayor in New Jersey and you think that screaming about the impact Christie’s budget... more »
Limited government principles and fiscal conservatism are philosophically sound, because they preserve the people’s natural rights and they prevent government from overspending, over borrowing and overtaxing. For more than... more »
New Jersey is in severe financial crisis because for years elected officials have been able to make irresponsible and short-sighted decisions without any restraint. Future governors may... more »
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »
On the day of his inauguration, Governor Christopher Christie inherited a gaping $2 billion hole in the state’s budget and swiftly set about the people’s business in meeting our... more »
Most Active Stories
Latest from Twitter
RasmussenPoll Obama: Strongly Approve 23% Strongly Disapprove 44%, Approval Index: -21... matches low... ttl approval 45%... http://tinyurl.com/preztrack
Mar 19th, 2010 9:42 am
JoshuaHenne I firmly believe @GovChristie couldn’t last one week teaching in any school in New Jersey, at any grade from K-12.
Mar 19th, 2010 9:23 am
Mar 19th, 2010 9:21 am
RasmussenPoll 56% Oppose Medicare cuts in health care plan... 70% of seniors opposed... http://tinyurl.com/RR1225
Mar 19th, 2010 9:18 am
NJGOP Health Care Judgment Day May Still Be Approaching, But The Coming Story
On Election Day Has Already Been Written http://bit.ly/bPB8Hg
Mar 19th, 2010 9:06 am
NJGOP Washington Times: Turner: Our Lawbreaking Congress http://bit.ly/c7dDlg
Mar 19th, 2010 9:05 am
NJGOP Washington Times: Editorial: Hiding the true cost of Obamacare - Washington Times http://bit.ly/auKJba
Mar 19th, 2010 9:04 am
NJGOP American Thinker: Chris
Christie's New Jersey Revolution http://bit.ly/aglgMz
Mar 19th, 2010 9:04 am
njassemblydems ASSEMBLY SET TO ADVANCE TWO NEW PENSION & BENEFIT REFORM BILLS & CONSIDER FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVE TO THREE OTHERS http://bit.ly/baRrei
Mar 19th, 2010 8:52 am
Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day
“She has already chosen the interests of the insurance industry over the health care needs of working people, she took millions from Wall Street as the economy went into a meltdown, and now she wants to purchase a job in Congress at a time when so many have lost their jobs because of the actions of big bankers and others." -- Monmouth County Democrats spokesman Mike Mangan, on Republican Diane Gooch, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone.
- PolitickerNJ.comPoll
What grade would you give Gov. Chris Christie on his address to the Legislature on the state budget?
A
46%
B
8%
C
13%
D
9%
F
24%
Recent Press Releases
Press releases are submitted by PolitickerNJ users, not by staff. They do not represent the viewpoint of PolitickerNJ.com.
Mar 18 2010
Mar 18 2010
Mar 18 2010
Mar 18 2010
Mar 18 2010
Whelan Bill To Protect Seniors From Misleading Securities Salespeople Approved In Commerce Committee
Mar 18 2010
JASEY, VOSS & MORIARTY BILL TO CREATE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM CLEARS ANOTHER ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
Mar 18 2010
Mar 18 2010
Glass Houses
Ummm.... I have to agree with Wilson on this one.
But, I'm sure Wilson took some free tickets to events when Christie Whitman was Governor.
Ticket Revenue
One day, when George Norcross stands trial for Crimes against Humanity, I would be interested in buying a ticket to sit in the back of the court room.
Let the ticket money go to paying down the state's debt.
What an A.H.
I got my hand caught in the cookie jar, so now let's just blow up the whole cookie jar.
Is there no honor among thieves?
So let me get this right...
Lautenberg, who is in a position of authority, seeks and accepts a special favor from the NJSEA, who need Lautenberg to get the money to build the rail link to the Meadowlands, and the NJSEA is at fault for bending the Lautenberg's totally inappropriate behavior??? Either he thinks we're all stupid or he's a lot more senile than we imagined. I bet this turns out to be one of those stupid little things that blows up into a really major deal.
So let me get this right...
Lautenberg, who is in a position of authority, seeks and accepts a special favor from the NJSEA, who need Lautenberg to get the money to build the rail link to the Meadowlands, and the NJSEA is at fault for bending the Lautenberg's totally inappropriate behavior??? Either he thinks we're all stupid or he's a lot more senile than we imagined. I bet this turns out to be one of those stupid little things that blows up into a really major deal.
So let me get this right...
Lautenberg, who is in a position of authority, seeks and accepts a special favor from the NJSEA, who need Lautenberg to get the money to build the rail link to the Meadowlands, and the NJSEA is at fault for bending the Lautenberg's totally inappropriate behavior??? Either he thinks we're all stupid or he's a lot more senile than we imagined. I bet this turns out to be one of those stupid little things that blows up into a really major deal.
The Boss???
I'd figure Frank for an Eddie Cantor fan... I hear Frank really likes to bump some Jay-Z or 50 Cent on the road... it's not the Notorious B.I.G, it's Seriously O.L.D... hey Frank, stick with the "hoop-and-stick" crowd...
It is beyond ridiculous!
I do not know why Frank put himself in such a mess, but it is clear to me that this old man lost all control of his campaign. It must be his forgetfulness, but a seating US Senator should not be involved in ticket scalping for a rock concert. Frank should rather be involved in respecting ethical and moral rules that he is supposed to follow. Blaming the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority for all of this is clearly mean and desperate.
I think Frank should resign from his office.
People Calling Other People "Stupid" Who...
...post the same comment three times (then don't delete the excess) are of questionable intelligence themselves, no?
From Frederick Douglass
True....but
True, it is annoying when people don't erase the comments that are accidently posted multiple times. But that does not change the fact that either the Senator thinks we (residents of New Jersey) are all stupid, or he is more senile than anyone expected.