State House Bureau Blog

Sources: Pinkett Is The Pick!

2009-07-14T15:28:00.002-04:00

High level Democratic sources (one nationally and two within the state) tell Millennium Radio News that reality TV star Randal Pinkett is definitely Governor Jon Corzine's selection for Lt. Governor. Two say it could happen Thursday when President Barack Obama visits New Jersey to campaign for Corzine. All three say, "It's a done deal."

I WASN'T GOING TO BLOG BUT...........

2009-06-25T23:57:00.002-04:00

The $29 billion FY 2010 has passed both houses of the State legisalture. The Governor must sign it before midnight June 30. The Assembly argued about the budget for 4 1/2 hours. The Senate argued about it for just under 2 hours. I can't say they "debated" it because they didn't. In order for it to be defined as a debate one side would have to argue the merits and the other, the shortcomings. In the 6 1/2 hours of total argument, one question about the budget bill was actually asked of the measure's sponsor.

That's not a debate. What we heard and saw today was grandstanding, speech-giving and campaigning. Nothing more, nothing less.

There a reason for the title of this entry. The argument in the Assembly didn't drag on for about twice as long as it did in the Senate because the Assembly has twice as many members. It dragged on because, before speaking more than a dozen Assembly members swore, "I wasn't going to speak on the budget today, but........"

By the way, the Assembly passed the budget 45-34 and the Senate passed it 22-17 and guess what? Everyone in the building knew it was going to pass since before last Thursday. Everyone!

NJ GOVERNOR CORZINE CALLS FOR MORE PAINFUL BUDGET CUTS

2009-05-19T17:35:00.001-04:00

May 19, 2009. It was another tough day for any New Jerseyan interested in the State budget. Luckily for elected officials not many people pay attention. State Treasurer David Rousseau told the Assembly Budget Committee that Governor Jon Corzine now plans a one-year suspension of the property tax rebate program for everyone but senior citizens and the disabled.

That must have led to harsh questioning, right? Wrong. Not a single Democrat on the panel asked a question of Rousseau. Then again, why would they? Administration sources admit they briefed the Dems on the plan and there was absolutely no reason for them to stoke the fire.

Republicans (who had not been briefed) were also very quiet on the topic. They asked about a possible hospital bed tax (not included anywhere in the budget) and unpaid furloughs for state employees before even getting around to the property tax rebate issue. The entire hearing was over in less than an hour

One very high-level Corzine administration official was ecstatic with the way things went. He said, “We did a really good job of keeping the lid on that (the rebate program reduction) didn’t we?”

One Democratic member of the Assembly Budget Committee said just prior to the hearing, “The best thing about the Democratic Party in New Jersey is the Republican Party. They can’t do anything right.”

CAN NJ TRIM $30 MIL A DAY?

2009-05-08T11:43:00.001-04:00

Brian Levine is a former GOP gubernatorial candidate who is now backing Republican candidate Christie Christie. At a recent news conference Levine put New Jersey’s current budget woes in perspective. Levine’s analysis has real credibility because he’s not only a CPA, he’s also the Mayor of Franklin Township (Somerset County). He can crunch numbers and his township has a budget of roughly $60 million.

Here’s how Levine breaks down the current fiscal year’s State Budget and the numbers are stark……..

The FY 2009 State Budget deficit is roughly $1.2 billion. Levine says that means New Jersey has less than eight weeks to go before the end of the fiscal year and the state has to find $200 million a week to make sure it is not deficit spending which is illegal. Put another way, that’s $30 million a day between now and the end of June.

How are we going to do that?

STATE SHUTDOWN TALK IS STARTING IN THE STATE HOUSE

2009-05-05T16:44:00.002-04:00

New Jersey's non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) has circulated a memo with its latest state revenue estimates. OLS now estimates that revenues will be short $1.2 billion for the next two months and $2 billion less than what Governor Jon Corzine predicted in his budget address. April's income tax collection was $800 million less than expected - a 40 percent decrease from the year before. The memo reveals that OLS believes the two-year revenue shortfall, "may exceed, perhaps significantly, $2 billion compared to what was estimated in the Governor's Budget Message."

The murmurs have begun about the very real possibility of a State shutdown. It happened in 2006 when Corzine and a faction of Democrats in the Assembly butted heads over the Governor's plan to hike to State Income Tax from 6% to 7%.

The 80-member Assembly and the Governor are up for re-election this fall. Still, budget-balancing talk has turned to the possibility of slashing the popular proeprty tax rebate program, cutting state aid to towns and schools and maybe even hiking property which is the third rail of politics in an election year.

Democrats and Republicans alike are saying (off-the-record for now) that a shutdown of State government is going to be very difficult to avoid.

QUICK QUESTION ON FURLOUGHS

2009-04-09T17:59:00.002-04:00

For people who are resisting furlough days so fiercely, state workers sure seem to find it easy to take time off to go around the state and protest against them. Am I wrong about that? Is it just me who thinks this? Maybe it's because they're using paid time to picket against unpaid furlough days.

IT'S TOUGH BEING THE TREASURER

2009-04-07T18:11:00.000-04:00

The State’s revenue picture is bleak according to OLS Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, Dr. David Rosen. He tells members of the State Senate and the Assembly Budget Committees, "for fiscal year 2010, the Governor's budget anticipates a revenue decline of $339 million from fiscal year 2009- the OLS forecast is $223 million lower…so over the 2 years, OLS estimates $606 million less revenue than is assumed in the Governor's budget."

During testimony yesterday (4/7/09) a budget committee member mentioned to Rosen how tough it must be to be State Treasurer David Rousseau during these tough economic times. Rosen said, “Every morning I wake up grateful that I’m not the Treasurer.” Rosen probably really feels that way now because, also yesterday, Assemblyman Joe Malone asked Rousseau, “In your observation, do you feel New Jerseyans are overtaxed?” After a long pause, Rousseau responded, “No.”

Malone followed up by asking, “How do feel that the public feels about how they’re being taxed? Do you think the public feels they’re overtaxed?” Rousseau replied, “Oh, I think that anybody, everybody up there (on the committee) believes that they would like to pay lower taxes……..people would always like to pay less in taxes. We’d always like to pay less in taxes. We’d like to pay less for the car that we bought. We’d like to pay less for everything.”

Mourning Assemblyman Munoz

2009-03-31T17:42:00.001-04:00

At least for yesterday as it pertains to Governor Jon Corzine’s State Budget proposal, press releases from lawmakers and inflammatory or complimentary comments (depending on one’s party affiliation) were put on hold. Members of the legislature are mourning the untimely passing of Assemblyman Eric Munoz.

Assemblyman Munoz was well-respected by his peers and the press. He never worked aggressively to grab headlines. Quite the opposite is true. The Assemblyman was an accomplished surgeon who reluctantly stepped to the front of the line several years ago when medical malpractice legislation and tort reform were major topics. He was always accessible and never anything less than a well-informed gentleman.

Assemblyman Munoz will be missed.

BUDGET TESTIMONY YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST HEAR

2009-03-26T18:21:00.001-04:00

Newark resident Donna Jackson testified before the Assembly Budget Committee at the panel’s second public hearing on Governor Jon Corzine’s FY 2010 State Budget proposal. She testified all right. A snippet of sound from Jackson’s testimony will be on the New Jersey 101.5 FM website tomorrow morning (3/27) shortly after 5am. It is a must-listen. This is my 8th budget cycle and Jackson’s testimony is, by far, the most compelling I’ve ever heard. She articulately and seamlessly critiques Governor Jon Corzine, Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and north Jersey political powerbroker Steve Adubato. You will not listen to this sound file just once. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to it. This is what public testimony is all about.

To hear Jackson, log onto www.nj1015.com and scroll down to the box that reads “The Clips; Taking A Look Under the Gold Dome”

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE

2009-03-24T18:18:00.002-04:00

(3/24/09) Phillipsburg resident Tom Bruno was the sole member of the public to actually testify at yesterday's “public” Assembly Budget Committee hearing. He was the only person who wasn’t officially tied to an, agency association, alliance, coalition, committee, commission, council, institute, network or organization. Bruno does work for the state, but says he took the day off to testify as a citizen only.

Bruno waited just under six hours before finally getting his chance to testify. One other member of the general public was on the schedule, but she wasn’t called to testify until 5 hours and 40 minutes into the hearing at which time she was long gone. Was it worth the wait for Bruno? He says, “I don’t think that it really made a whole lot of difference. It did for me because I feel that I can’t complain about my legislators if I don’t take an active role in trying to convince them where I think they’re going wrong.”

Railing against wasteful government spending was the gist of Bruno’s testimony, but only six of the ten budget panel members were still there to hear him. He says, “That’s why you don’t see a lot of people here because nobody wants to spend the day sitting here and then be disrespected…….I think that’s disrespectful to the people that have put the time in to come here. I had to take mine own time from work to be here.” This should come as now surprise. Please check my blog from yesterday (3/23/09). I pasted it below.

(3/23/09) Public hearings on budget proposals literally go on for hours and hours and usually the usual suspects get preferential treatment. The same lobbyists and special interests who roam the State House halls every day are typically the ones given the opportunity to testify first as the “public” sits in the gallery waiting. One thing you should know going in; no matter how patient you are or how great a waiter you think you may be, these committees will test you. You could wait for hours, step out to use the restroom and come back to find your name was called while you were gone. You’ll get another shot, just not right away.

I’ve been attending these budget committee hearings for 8 years and I cannot tell you how many times a member of the “public” is called to testify 5 or 6 hours into a meeting. Many simply leave because they’re bored or convinced their name will never be called. If you are a member of the “public” and you plan to speak at one of these public hearings, bring a book, but leave your watch at home.

NOT-SO-PUBLIC BUDGET HEARINGS

2009-03-23T17:27:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow, (3/24/09) the Assembly Budget Committee and the State Senate Budget Committee will hold separate public hearings on Governor Jon Corzine’s FY 2010 State Budget. The Assembly panel will gather in the State House Annex. The Senate Committee will be at Montclair State University. These are public hearings so, here’s your chance to vent. However, be prepared to wait.

Public hearings on budget proposals literally go on for hours and hours and usually the usual suspects get preferential treatment. The same lobbyists and special interests who roam the State House halls every day are typically the ones given the opportunity to testify first as the “public” sits in the gallery waiting. One thing you should know going in; no matter how patient you are or how great a waiter you think you may be, these committees will test you. You could wait for hours, step out to use the restroom and come back to find your name was called while you were gone. You’ll get another shot, just not right away.

I’ve been attending these budget committee hearings for 8 years and I cannot tell you how many times a member of the “public” is called to testify 5 or 6 hours into a meeting. Many simply leave because they’re bored or convinced their name will never be called. If you are a member of the “public” and you plan to speak at one of these public hearings, bring a book, but leave your watch at home.

TIT FOR TAT IN TIMING OF NJ BUDGET SPIN

2009-03-19T18:38:00.000-04:00

Shortly after noon on March 19, 2009 New Jersey GOP State Committee released the following statement……..

“The reviews of Corzine’s budget are in and it’s clear that his plan is aimed right at the heart of the middle class. Jon Corzine attacks anyone who is critical of his plan as a partisan, but this video focuses on the way that newspapers reported the impact his budget will have on the middle class. Corzine’s plan to gut property tax rebates and eliminate the property tax deduction is going to mean real pain for the middle class families and people have gone from being disappointed to outright angry with Jon Corzine as a result. After years of higher taxes and broken promises when it comes to property tax relief, this budget is really the ultimate insult. Raising taxes in middle of the worst recession since World War II isn’t the answer,” said NJGOP Chairman Tom Wilson.

VIEW THE NEW WEB VIDEO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy5VSk5oTHM&feature=channel_page

Shortly after 3pm Corzine called the statement and video a “political attack in an election year.” Then, shortly after 6pm, the Governor released another statement that takes some wind out of the GOP’s sails. It read, “Governor Jon S. Corzine today adjusted his $29.8 billion budget proposal to include the restoration of the property tax deduction for all New Jersey taxpayers earning up to $150,000. The original proposal retained the deduction for all senior taxpayers, and this adjustment will restore the deduction for all other taxpayers earning up to $150,000.”

Trying to garner public support for his FY 2010 budget proposal from a middle class New Jersey family, Governor Jon Corzine trekked to the Eatontown home of Frank and Martha Kijak earlier this week. After some, coffee, cake and candid talk with the Kijaks, Corzine said he’s thinking about allowing residents who earn under $150,000 a year to claim the property tax deduction on their state income taxes. His budget plan currently calls for a one-year suspension of the write-off for everybody.One hour and 30 minutes before Corzine’s visit with the Kijaks, Republican State Senate staffers hurriedly put together and announced a conference call with another so-called middle class Monmouth County resident. Kathleen Dromerisk, a 54-year-old substitute cafeteria worker from Middletown wasn’t what you would call supportive of Corzine’s overall budget plans. As Corzine was heading to Eatontown, Kathleen was telling a gaggle of reporters that she can’t afford to live in New Jersey anymore and as soon as she can, she’s leaving for North or South Carolina.

CORZINE COUNTERS CONSPIRACY THEORISTS

2009-03-18T16:58:00.002-04:00

Word that Governor Jon Corzine is now re-thinking his budget proposal to impose a one-year suspension of the property tax deduction is being well received by many. Not everybody. Cynics are already crawling out of the woodwork to suggest that Corzine proposed the write-off suspension so that he could later scrap the plan and come off looking like a hero to middle class taxpayers.

We asked the Governor about that. He smiled as he answered, "That's a new theory. It's not a theory that I would subscribe to.........The idea that we would propose something as means to step back from sounds like it's coming out of somebody's political playbook as opposed to reality."

Are you a cynic? Do you think the Governor may have planned to axe the proposal all along?

As a side not, the Governor may have been smiling because the State Supreme Court decided not to hear the case in which the Republican State Committee chairman Tom Wilson was trying to force the release of e-mails Corzine exchanged with his former girlfriend and public employee union leader Carla Katz. The case dragged on for years and is now effectively dead which means Corzine won't have to answer too many questions about it while on the campaign trail. Then again, maybe he will.

TIMING THE BUDGET SPIN

2009-03-17T17:04:00.000-04:00

Trying to garner public support for his FY 2010 budget proposal from a middle class New Jersey family, Governor Jon Corzine trekked to the Eatontown home of Frank and Martha Kijak. After some, coffee, cake and candid talk with the Kijaks, Corzine said he’s thinking about allowing residents who earn under $150,000 a year to claim the property tax deduction on their state income taxes. His budget plan currently calls for a one-year suspension of the write-off for everybody.

One hour and 30 minutes before Corzine’s visit with the Kijaks, Republican State Senate staffers hurriedly put together and announced a conference call with another so-called middle class Monmouth County resident. Kathleen Dromerisk, a 54-year-old substitute cafeteria worker from Middletown wasn’t what you would call supportive of Corzine’s overall budget plans. As Corzine was heading to Eatontown, Kathleen was telling a gaggle of reporters that she can’t afford to live in New Jersey anymore and as soon as she can, she’s leaving for North or South Carolina.

TRENTON'S CREDIBILITY QUESTION

2009-03-16T21:55:00.000-04:00

A bill supposedly designed to give municipalities a financial cushion in an effort to help avert huge property tax hikes during the current recession has passed both houses of the legislature. The measure allows local governments to pay 50% of the full pension contribution amount required in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. Full pension contributions would again be required beginning in FY 2010. The bill would allow a local employer to contribute the full 100% pension contribution if so desired. This contribution would be deposited into the pension funds in the same manner as a normal pension contribution.

Not a single Republican in either the State Senate or the General Assembly voted for the bill. They claim it is bad fiscal policy despite the fact that it was a routine ploy the GOP frequently utilized while in control of the legislature. Democrats reminded their Republican colleagues about that fact, but also joined the GOP in lamenting the fact that the state’s unfunded liability for the pension system is at about $60 billion.

In the 2000-2001 legislative session a bill was passed to increase retirement benefits for active and retired members of the pension system. Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle still point to this bill as the main culprit to blame for the unfunded liability. 36 State Senators voted “yes” to that bill. 14 of them are still State Senators. Not a single State Senator voted “no.” 76 Assembly members voted “yes” to that bill. 31 of them are still members of the Assembly. One Assembly member voted “no” and he’s still a member of the Assembly. His name is Rick Merkt. He’s a Republican who is vacating his seat because he’s running for Governor. It is not likely that this nugget will help his gubernatorial run, but on this issue, he stands alone in terms of consistent credibility.

MIDDLE CLASS DEFINITION REMAINS ELUSIVE

2009-03-13T13:22:00.001-04:00

“Middle class is a broad range in New Jersey,” claims Governor Jon Corzine. “Median income is $67,000 so, it’s clear that people who are in that range are in the middle class…..We are very attentive to the middle class whether you define it as $50,000, $75,000, $100,000 or $150,000.”

There has been a lot of talk lately about what is and is not “middle class” in New Jersey. Governor Jon Corzine’s budget plan calls for eliminating property tax rebates for all but seniors, the disabled and households earning $75,000 a year or less. Corzine’s Treasurer, David Rousseau says most people are untouched by that, “It's basically the wealthiest 700,000, people above $100,00 that have any significant impact,"

Democratic leaders aren’t sure what middle class is either. Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts was asked to give an income range and he said, “It’s in the eye of the beholder. The numbers indicate that the median income in our state is $67,000 a year.”

Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman was asked the same question. She said, “I don’t think you can do a hard and fast commitment to a number because I think within incomes people have special needs and special issues………If the median income in New Jersey is $67,000 and somewhere around there is the middle class, then we are protecting property (taxpayers).”

ARE YOU RICH?

2009-03-12T19:48:00.000-04:00

There has been a lot of talk lately about what is and is not “middle class” in New Jersey. Governor Jon Corzine’s budget plan calls for eliminating property tax rebates for all but seniors, the disabled and households earning $75,000 a year or less. Corzine’s Treasurer, David Rousseau said Wednesday "Last year, about 230,000 non-senior homeowner households with incomes of between $50,000 and $75,000 received checks averaging about $1,000. Under this budget, this group will receive checks that average about $700………..the 2.5 million people making under $75,000 are barely touched, so 3.1 million of the roughly 3.8 million tax filers that we have in this state aren't touched…….it's basically the wealthiest 700,000, people above $100,00 that have any significant impact,"

One Republican lawmaker said if making $100,000 a year in New Jersey means you’re rich, then Rousseau should take a $41,000 pay cut and see if he still feels rich. Cabinet chiefs get paid $141,000 annually.

Democratic leaders aren’t sure what middle class is either. Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts was asked to give an income range and he said, “It’s in the eye of the beholder. The numbers indicate that the median income in our state is $67,000 a year.”

Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman was asked the same question. She said, “I don’t think you can do a hard and fast commitment to a number because I think within incomes people have special needs and special issues………If the median income in New Jersey is $67,000 and somewhere around there is the middle class, then we are protecting property (taxpayers).”

If live in New Jersey, let me know if you think you’re rich. If you’re reading this from outside of New Jersey, let me know if you’re wondering why earning $100,000 annually isn’t enough to make you rich.

AN ODDLY BUDGET RELATED ITEM

2009-03-11T18:32:00.000-04:00

New Jersey Assemblyman and former Perth Amboy mayor Joe Vas has been indicted on charges of bid-rigging, misappropriating expense funds, conspiracy and official misconduct. Vas was mayor of Perth Amboy in Middlesex County for 18 years, ending last year. He remains on the town's planning board and redevelopment agency. He's been a member of the state Assembly since 2004, where he sponsored 22 ethics bills on corruption, campaign finance and election reform.

The expenses fraudulently billed to Perth Amboy by Vas allegedly include almost $300 for refreshments for his father’s funeral, $153 for beachwear for himself and $1,400 in fees to send his son and a co-conspirator’s son to basketball camp.

The reason this is budget-related is that Vas in currently a member of the Assembly Budget Committee. That panel will soon be holding hearings to vet Governor Jon Corzine’s $29.8 billion budget proposal. Rumors are swirling that fellow democrats will be asking Vas to resign his seat.

CORZINE PROPOSES TRIPLE WHAMMY BUDGET

2009-03-10T20:26:00.002-04:00

Governor Jon Corzine didn't get very specific about tax hikes, funding cuts or anything else that could be considered bad news when he delivered his FY 2010 Budget Address, but he got specific enough for many political insiders to get very nervous. Corzine proposes eliminating property tax rebates for all but seniors, the disabled and those earning less than $75,000 annually. He also plans to slightly reduce State aid to municiplaities. To help pay for the rebate checks that will go out, the Governor says he's proposing, "Eliminating the property tax deduction next year on state income taxes for everyone but seniors."

These proposals in the aggregate could equal serious pain for many New Jerseyans. Those earning $76,000 wouldn't be getting a property tax rebate check at all. Because their town may be receiving less State aid than expected, they're property tax bill is likely to increase. These same families just over the $75,000 threshold also won't be able to get the few hundred bucks they're used to when they were able to claim the deduction. No rebate check + higher property taxes + no deduction = bad news for many.

Republican lawmakers were quick to pounce on the equation. Democrats are not thrilled with the Governor's budget proposal either, but they're saying all the right things and reminding the public that everybody needs to share in the pain.

WHO SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT A TOUGH BUDGET?

2009-03-08T15:13:00.000-04:00

The Governor’s office and all 80 seats in the Assembly are up for grabs this November. This year’s budget, like all others must be balanced and signed into law by midnight, June 30th. This means if voters don’t like any spending cuts or tax hikes they could stew for about 4 months before getting the chance to take it out on those they feel are responsible.

Eliminating property tax rebates for all but seniors and the disabled, 12 unpaid furlough days for state workers, a public employee wage freeze, a 5% surcharge on taxes paid by Jersey residents with incomes of $250,000 a year and up, increased taxes on liquor, wine and cigarettes are proposals that could be included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Address that Governor Jon Corzine will deliver tomorrow (3/10/09) before a joint session of the State Legislature.

Fairleigh Dickinson University political science professor Peter Woolley says voting for a difficult or unpopular budget might not be as harmful to Assembly members as many might think, but proposing one could hurt Corzine. He explains, "The local candidates, I think have less to fear than the Governor who is sitting on top of the flag pole……The Governor generally doesn't have as much latitude to blame the budget on other people as the members of the Assembly do."

Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Lou Greenwald claims he’s not concerned, “The full Assembly is on the ballot every other year…….I know people like to think it’s driven by politics. It’s not and if it was I wouldn’t be here.”

IF NJ'S POLITICOS ARE SO CORRUPT, WHY ARE THEY SO BAD AT IT?

2008-05-20T17:56:00.002-04:00

Former Assemblyman and Orange mayor Mims Hackett was already facing federal corruption charges. Yesterday (5/20/08), State Attorney General Anne Milgram filed official misconduct charges against Hackett. Some specifics regarding the new charges against Mims Hackett. This is directly from the AG’s press release. If you read carefully, you will see why no additonal comments are really needed.

The investigation began after Hackett’s former executive assistant in the mayor’s office alerted authorities about the questionable expense vouchers. Hackett’s former executive assistant reported that in March 2006 she walked into his office and saw him filling out “Guest Check” receipts with his left hand. Hackett is right-handed.

Hackett frequently submitted handwritten “Guest Check” receipts containing terse information, such as “3 Dinners Fish + Steak $165.17.” The receipts were filled out in similar handwriting, and the serial numbers of many of them are close in sequence, suggesting they came from the same receipt pad, even though they were submitted for meals in different cities, months apart.

In one instance, Hackett dined with a City of Orange councilman at the Palomino Restaurant in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Nov. 30, 2004, during a conference. Although the councilman paid the $202.02 bill for the table with his credit card, Hackett allegedly asked the councilman for an extra copy of the bill and submitted it to the city for reimbursement with his own expenses for the trip. The councilman also submitted the bill with his expenses.

Following the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City in November 2005, Hackett submitted the yellow customer copy of a carbon receipt imprinted with his American Express card for three dinners totaling $206.41 at “Lenney’s” in Atlantic City dated 11/18/05. The name “Lenney’s was handwritten on the receipt. He submitted the white merchant copy of the same receipt, with the date changed to 4/28/06, with his expenses for a conference in Memphis, Tennessee in April 2006. There is no restaurant named Lenney’s in either city and the expenses never appeared in Hackett’s American Express records.

THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END?

2008-03-27T16:57:00.001-04:00

The world is coming to an end? That’s news to me. I never said that, I’ve never implied that. Until Thursday, March 20, I didn’t know anybody thought that. In his testimony before the State Senate Budget Committee, David Rosen, budget and finance officer for the Office of Legislative Services was asked by State Senator Steve Oroho what he thought would be a worst-case scenario as far as revenues for the State. Rosen answered, “I’m not sure I’m prepared to do that right know. Let me think about that because I really didn’t think about it in those terms and I don’t want to glibly throw something off and have 101.5 say, you know, OLS thinks the world is ending.”

New Jersey 101.5 FM is one of 12 stations for which I file daily reports. Every budget story I’ve ever done has reflected both sides of the story. The day of Rosen’s testimony our network ran a package of my stories based on what Rosen and acting State Treasurer David Rousseau said the previous day to members of the Assembly Budget Committee. Every quote culled from the pair was verbatim and unedited.

Rosen’s comment about my flagship station was the topic of conversation on press row, at least it was when I was around. Senate Budget Committee chair Barbara Buono and State Senator Tony Bucco, also a budget panel member, both joked with me about it and assured me that Rosen was talking about the talk show hosts, not the news coverage.

I get it. This has been happening for 6 years. The hosts are with the entertainment/programming department and it is their job to stir the pot, drum up controversy and get listeners fired up and they have a lot of listeners. When I first took the job of State House correspondent for Millennium Radio New Jersey, members of the McGreevey press team would complain about what the hosts were saying and I would see what I could do about it. I figured out quickly that there was nothing I could do about it. My solution was to stop listening to my own station.

I’ve been at the State House long enough to get know most everybody and most everybody knows there is a difference in my company between the entertainment and news departments. Most everybody also knows I don’t listen to the station. For those who don’t realize this, I’ll say it again……I have no control over what the hosts say. Whatever it is they are saying, I can promise you that I didn’t hear it. I haven’t been to the studios of NJ 101.5 since U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and State Senator Tom Kean Jr. debated one another. I rarely talk to the hosts and see them even less frequently. I happen to like and respect all of them and I believe they are all very talented which is why they can claim so many fans, but anybody who has a problem with what the hosts are saying are free to call the studios and go on the air with them.

GOOD LUCK DEB HOWLETT

2008-02-21T18:35:00.003-05:00

Who said the Corzine Administration doesn’t know how to keep a secret? Every reporter on press row in the State House was stunned to learn Deb Howlett has signed on as Governor Jon Corzine’s director of communications. I’m told Deb didn’t let her Star Ledger colleagues know until about 20 minutes before the press release went out announcing it. Shock not-so-quickly turned to some saying Deb sold out. Having been offered more than a handful of government jobs including several with past Administrations (not this one!), I understand allure of money. Deb and anybody else for the matter, has every right to better things for themselves and their families. I’ve always admired and respected Deb and her work and I don’t expect that to change.

The above having been written, she is walking into a very tough job. Corzine’s relationship with the press would have to improve greatly just to rise to the level of awful. The relationship between a Governor and his or her communications director is very similar, in one respect, to that of an alcoholic and his or her AA sponsor. The sponsor can’t help the alcoholic if the alcoholic doesn’t want the help. Deb Howlett could offer the best advice ever, but I’ve been told by several people inside the front office that if Corzine has his mind set on a course of action any advice he gets doesn’t make an iota of difference.

At least Deb and Lilo Stainton (Corzine’s press secretary) come from the world of journalism and they understand us completely. That’s a start for Corzine. In May 2006, I was doing a story on how New Jersey prepares for the possibility of a State shutdown if the budget isn’t signed by midnight June 30th. I asked then-press secretary Anthony Coley and he said, “The State would never shut down.” I didn’t say it was going to shutdown, I simply asked, “What happens if it does?” Showing a staggering lack of insight into what makes reporters tick, Coley asked, “Why are you doing that story now? Why don’t you wait until late June and do that story when every other reporter is doing it?” Yeah, that’s what we do. We wouldn’t want to possibly be the reporter to get the story out there first. We get scoops and then tell all of the other reporters and then coordinate with them when we’ll all run the story. By the way, the State did shut down for a week and you might remember that because it was in all the papers.

Deb and Lilo are vast improvements, but ultimately it’s up to Corzine to decide if he wants to use the tools he now has at his disposal. And no, I'm not saying Deb and Lilo are tools in a cynical way.

DEMOCRATS GIVE UP THE MAJORITY

2008-01-24T20:14:00.000-05:00

The first State Senate Budget Committee hearing on Governor Jon Corzine’s Financial Restructuring and Debt Reduction plan was held Wednesday (1/23). The scheme includes an 800% toll hike schedule by 2022 and if approved, would be in place for 75 years. You might think freshman Senators sitting in on the first Budget hearing would be very interested in finding out all they can about the plan or at least giving the impression that they really care. Not so much, at least for one side of the political aisle.

By the time the hearing came to a close, State Senator Barbara Buono, the newly named chairperson of the panel was the lone Democrat left to hear what the public had to say. Democratic Senators, Steve Sweeney (Majority Leader), Joe Vitale, Brian Stack, Theresa Ruiz, Dana Redd, Sandra Cunningham and Shirley Turner were all gone. To her credit, Turner was at least still in the building and Ruiz evidently had to leave to attend an event for Hillary Clinton. Stack, Ruiz, Redd and Cunningham were all attending their first Senate Budget Committee hearing as members of the Upper House.

Some might argue that a five hour hearing is a bit too long. The GOP members of the panel all stayed until the bitter end.

Another side note from the hearing: Corzine’s chief of staff, Brad Abelow was getting grilled by Democrats and Republicans about why a bill backing up the plan doesn’t exist yet. Abelow repeatedly told them it is being vetted and will be introduced as soon as possible. When Turner kept prodding Abelow about why a hearing was scheduled without legislation to consider, Abelow finally said, “I didn’t call for this hearing, you did.” To which Turner responded, “I didn’t call for this hearing either.”

Buono scheduled the hearing, got as much out of it as possible, more than held her own in her first meeting as chairperson, said she learned a lot and that is really what she was hoping for.

VOTE FOR SALE? YOU DECIDE

2008-01-08T22:04:00.000-05:00

Monday, January 7th was Nick Asselta’s last day in the State Senate. He was unseated in November by then-Assemblyman and now-State Senator Jeff Van Drew. There was a voting session in the Upper House on Asselta’s last day in office. The Senators debated Governor Jon Corzine’s school funding formula proposal for two hours. Bernie Kenny who was named State Senate President for his last day in office opened the board and called for a vote. For three hours the bill was one vote shy of passage. The six Senate members of the Black Legislative Caucus (all Democrats) voted no meaning some Republicans had to be swayed. Asselta didn’t seem to need to be persuaded. Although many analysts feel the formula is bad for most of the school districts in Asselta’s south Jersey District, he immediately voted in favor of the bill and never wavered. Republican Senator Martha Bark has been identified as the GOP member who cast the deciding vote, but that might not have happened if Asselta hadn’t already gotten the tally to 20 with his Republican vote.

Why did Asselta support the school funding formula? Maybe he thinks it is a great plan. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall and knew it would pass eventually with or without him. Maybe he thought he owed the Governor a favor because Jon Corzine had agreed to get Asselta a new job as a commissioner with the State Board of Public Utilities. A job with great pay and benefits. A Corzine Administration spokesperson confirms an official nomination for Asselta was filed today (1/08). Even on the day of his State of the State Address Corzine found the time to nominate an outgoing Republican State Senator to one of the BPU’s top spots.