tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209930462011-09-19T20:39:28.378-07:00Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.comBlogger631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-5840679093749390632008-02-25T12:50:00.000-08:002008-02-25T12:58:47.184-08:00

Investigator details wasteful spending at NJ collegesCary Edwards, chairman of the State Commission of Investigation (SCI), told the Assembly Higher Education Committee that wasteful spending is rampant at New Jersey public colleges and universities and urged lawmakers to impose stricter oversight.New Jersey has 31 public colleges that enroll more than 385,000 students and will receive $2.2

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-867003720752717662007-05-05T07:09:00.000-07:002007-05-05T07:14:10.454-07:00

Returning to fiscal sense on homeland security Star-LedgerFriday, May 04, 2007Remember when the bulk of state homeland security money was doled out mostly to Democratic towns? Turns out that in the rush to stuff cash into town coffers, little was done to figure out how to spend it.Now a certain Democrat with a background in finance, namely Gov. Jon Corzine, wants the money back.The funds were

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-24817844704323459062007-04-22T08:46:00.000-07:002007-04-22T08:48:05.645-07:00

Lawyer lied to government to help hundreds of illegal aliensJonathan Saint Preux, an attorney specializing in immigration law, has pleaded guilty to falsely representing that his clients had lived unlawfully in the United States before 1982 so that they could qualify for legal residency under a 1986 federal illegal alien amnesty program. Preux admitted that the scheme which ran from 2004 to

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-11575924972227559142007-04-21T20:37:00.000-07:002007-04-22T13:45:21.818-07:00

Civil-union applicants jump 62 pct. but N.J. law is called flawed by gays After a landmark lawsuit in which seven same-sex couples argued they had the right to marry, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled in October that same-sex couples should be granted all the rights and responsibilities of married couples, but left it to the Legislature to determine the nomenclature for the unions.

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1141926522336242482006-03-09T09:36:00.000-08:002006-03-09T09:48:42.353-08:00

SCC alleges the price of school site inflated:Assemblyman and Union City Mayor Brian Stack along with political allies in his hometown helped coordinate the hasty construction of an apartment building that added more than $1million to the cost of property the state purchased for a new elementary school, state attorneys claim in new court documents.Attorneys for the state Schools Construction Corp

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1141672070530142662006-03-06T11:02:00.000-08:002006-03-06T11:10:41.893-08:00

N.J. paying for fiscal inaction: States that made tough choices during tough times have surpluses. New Jersey has a big gap.A report released by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services this week estimated that New Jersey would end the fiscal year with more than a $600 million surplus. Yet, Gov. Corzine has said the state is "pretty much broke" and has been bracing the public for tax

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1141597140091579172006-03-05T14:14:00.000-08:002006-03-06T11:08:42.380-08:00

When 2 jobs add up to 1 big pensionIn New Jersey’s Legislature 42 of the 120 lawmakers have two -- or three -- elected or tax-paid positions, a search of public and legislative records by The Star-Ledger found.After conducting an ethics review last year at the request of Gov. Richard Codey, Seton Hall professor Paula Franzese and former Supreme Court justice Daniel O'Hearn called for banning dual

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1141449075323095202006-03-03T09:09:00.000-08:002006-03-03T21:12:09.730-08:00

Cash-poor state, swelling payrollNew Jersey now has 84,458 state government employees, compared with 78,282 when Jim. McGreevey took office as governor in January 2002 promising leaner government. Most of the job growth has been in child welfare and motor vehicles services.More than half the increase - 3,722 workers - came in the Department of Human Services as part of the overhaul the Division

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1140216502382947772006-02-17T14:47:00.000-08:002006-02-17T15:43:51.400-08:00

$250G scam at Social Services:Kim M. Flowers, a social worker from the Salem County Board of Social Services in Penns Grove and five other people, including her sister were arrested Thursday and charged with stealing and conspiring to steal more than $250,000 from the Salem County Board of Social Services over a three-year period.Flowers, who began working in the Social Services Office in 2000,

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1139437338336860042006-02-08T14:21:00.000-08:002006-02-08T14:22:18.336-08:00

Witmer's" alleged offenses detailed:Middletown Schools Superintendent Dr. David Witmer was suspended for misappropriated nearly $23,000 worth of vacation and personal days and removing damaging information about himself from reports, according to administrative charges filed Tuesday with the state Department of Education. Last week the Board of Education suspended Witmer, 68, for 120 days without

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1139329747818018702006-02-07T08:28:00.000-08:002006-02-08T14:23:01.400-08:00

Ex-official at Paterson schools pleads guilty to taking bribes:James Cummings, the former Paterson schools facilities chief pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to two counts of bribery, making him the highest ranking official yet to be swept up in the ongoing corruption probe of the state's third-largest district. Cummings, 59, who headed the facilities office until 2003, admitted taking

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138727770121597822006-01-31T09:12:00.000-08:002007-05-05T07:17:36.781-07:00

U.S. Senate opens probe of UMDNJ:A U.S. Senate committee has opened an inquiry into allegations of serious fraud, corruption and mismanagement at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.In a letter to Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday, leaders of the Senate Committee on Finance -- which has jurisdiction over the federal Medicaid and Medicare programs -- said they were "alarmed and deeply

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138682428444823022006-01-30T20:36:00.000-08:002006-01-30T20:40:28.453-08:00

Corzine faces money fight:Gov. Jon Corzine faces a state budget between $5 and $6 billion in the hole, but as he works to close the gap, the biggest obstacle will be the spending habits of his own party’s lawmakers.Two years ago, then-Gov. James E. McGreevey proposed a $26 billion budget in March. By the time it was enacted in early July, it had swelled by $2 billion in spending added on in the

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138657722651564642006-01-30T13:45:00.000-08:002006-01-30T13:50:02.840-08:00

Democrats try again to fill Assembly seat:The Essex County Democratic Committee is holding a third special election for the 28th District Assembly seat after the committee's most recent election, held on Jan. 9 was called into question for not following bylaws.The seat is open because the late Assemblyman Donald K. Tucker was elected posthumously and the committee’s first replacement, Evelyn

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138653528836114162006-01-30T12:34:00.000-08:002006-01-30T12:38:48.846-08:00

Party leader and the debatable donation:A Union resident who hoped to develop a vacant property in the township said he gave then-Assembly candidate Joseph Cryan $2,000 in cash as a political contribution in 2001 -- a donation not reflected in the legislator's campaign finance reports. Cryan, now the Assembly deputy majority leader and a favorite to soon be named chairman of the state Democratic

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138643423992267672006-01-30T09:46:00.000-08:002006-01-30T09:50:24.000-08:00

COMMENTARY: Farber says she may need analysis:It's not often a politician admits she may need psychoanalysis, but that's what Zulima Farber told the Senate Judiciary Committee before it approved her nomination to be attorney general.Questions about her go beyond her highway hijinks. With no background in law enforcement, she also has some quirky ideas. When asked about the use of deadly force if

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138563279539571912006-01-29T11:33:00.000-08:002006-01-29T11:37:57.860-08:00

Gov. Jon Corzine’s Budget and Reengineering Government Transition Policy Group report states:The severe and complex budget problem posed by the State's pension and post-retirement healthcare obligations requires swift action. The State has unfunded liabilities in its retirement and health care programs that probably exceed $30 billion.In conjunction with reducing the gap between the assets and

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138561054587067492006-01-29T10:52:00.000-08:002006-01-29T11:41:15.443-08:00

After November’s election, Gov. Jon Corzine appointed 19 policy advisory groups to produce recommendations on a range of important policy issues facing the state. Each group has now released a report with their analysis and recommendations. Links to each report below:Agriculture Transition Policy Group Budget and Reengineering Government Transition Policy Group Child Welfare Transition Policy

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138477799306366582006-01-28T11:36:00.000-08:002006-01-28T11:50:52.430-08:00

Highlights of selected reportsThe following are highlights from transition reports to Gov. Jon Corzine containing policy recommendations on a range of issues, including budget, ethics reform, anti-terrorism efforts and child welfare.Each advisory group was asked to study a particular issue or topic, then report back to the governor by Jan. 17 on how he could best implement his agenda. The

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138476315526563202006-01-28T11:19:00.000-08:002006-01-29T11:44:41.986-08:00

New sales taxes cut from proposal:Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday released 19 reports from his transition team's policy advisers on some of the toughest issues facing the state, but stressed they are only suggestions, not the agenda for his administration.The final report from budget advisers drops some of the most controversial suggestions from an earlier draft: a proposal for phasing out the state

Paul Madisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138434325880243462006-01-28T00:11:00.001-08:002006-01-29T11:45:46.143-08:00

Newark official retires from troubled agency as audit report looms:Harold Lucas, Director of the Newark Housing Authority, announced his retirement yesterday, a week before the federal Office of Inspector General is expected to issue the results of an audit of the agency.The Authority has been under federal investigation since Lucas announced in September 2004 that 99 employees were being laid

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138383941126246862006-01-27T09:42:00.000-08:002006-01-27T13:16:59.466-08:00

Governor will push drug needle program:Gov. Jon Corzine will urge the Legislature to pass a law giving intravenous drug users access to clean needles and would consider using his executive power to force the issue if lawmakers fail to act.In his first major interview since taking office, Corzine yesterday said he believes needle exchange programs save lives and establishing needle giveaways in

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138383128454866792006-01-27T09:28:00.000-08:002006-01-27T09:32:08.466-08:00

Tax increases and job cuts urged for N.J.:Saying "pain will have to be shared," Gov. Jon Corzine's transition team is urging him to increase taxes, lay off some state workers and cut the pay of others to help get state finances under control. The report suggested expanding the sales tax to cover clothing; tanning, massage, limousine and cable services; and purchases from the Internet, including

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138385584135603912006-01-27T08:53:00.000-08:002006-01-27T10:15:37.066-08:00

Enlighten-NewJersey - Wake Up New Jersey Republicans:Ninety-two percent (92%) of New Jersey voters believe the state's budget problems are serious, and most would prefer that it be balanced by cutting services rather than raising taxes, according to a newly released Quinnipiac poll.Voters say 57 - 28 percent that they would rather cut services than raise taxes to balance the state budget.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138380810460147322006-01-27T08:51:00.000-08:002006-01-27T08:57:12.266-08:00

Enlighten-NewJersey - Report: New Jersey Is A Financial Basket Case“The fiscal health of the state of New Jersey has plunged perilously close to ruin”, begins a “politically explosive” report from Corzine's “budget and re-engineering government” policy group. The Press of Atlantic City obtained a copy of the report Wednesday.The report portrays a grim picture of state finances, estimating the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138379696939266412006-01-27T08:33:00.000-08:002006-01-27T22:10:17.040-08:00

Criminal charges may arise from SCC mess:The inspector general, whose analysis prompted sweeping reforms at the state Schools Construction Corp., told lawmakers yesterday it is possible criminal charges will be pursued against individuals or firms responsible for millions of dollars in questionable spending.Inspector General Mary Jane Cooper has been reviewing the $8.6 billion initiative to

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138306824997981352006-01-26T12:18:00.000-08:002006-01-27T09:02:35.716-08:00

Before leaving post, official fished for business:On one of his last days as chief of the state Department of Human Services, outgoing Commissioner James M. Davy stayed up late trying to drum up business for his brand-new consulting firm. Earlier that day, at a meeting in Trenton, he had promised county human services officials to push for $1.7 million in state child-abuse prevention grants they

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138305340485090222006-01-26T11:51:00.000-08:002006-01-26T12:12:12.703-08:00

A County Leader at the Core of a Pay-to-Play Fight:After the Democrats took control of Bergen County government in 2002, Neglia Engineering essentially switched allegiances, and upped the ante on contributions. In 2002, when the company gave the Republicans $7,200 and the Democrats $4,800, it received one contract for $90,000, according to public records.The next year, the firm gave the Democrats

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138302667175275102006-01-26T11:07:00.000-08:002006-01-26T11:11:07.183-08:00

U.S. attorney rips AG's office over corruption probeU.S. Attorney Christopher Christie unleashed a blistering attack on the New Jersey Attorney General's Office yesterday, accusing state investigators of botching a five-year corruption probe into South Jersey political boss George Norcross III so thoroughly that it could not be salvaged.The investigation into Norcross, a prominent businessman who

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138252968890483322006-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:002006-01-25T21:24:24.176-08:00

Michael Carroll - Connecting the Dots:On his first day in office, Governor Corzine bemoaned the state’s anemic economic performance. Quoth Hizonor:"To put it simply, we are growing too few jobs, losing high-paying, value-added jobs and replacing them with lower-paying service work. To meet this challenge we will embrace pro-growth and pro-business initiatives."There, he singled out former

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138245829900957342006-01-25T19:18:00.000-08:002006-01-25T19:23:49.916-08:00

Fired official gets paid "retirement":Carrie Johnson, the former Assistant Commissioner of the state Department of Corrections, reportedly fired in September for misusing inmate labor, is now receiving a $71,508 annual pension.Johnson, 58, was permitted to stay on the payroll for five extra weeks, secure an "early retirement," rather than a dismissal from her $116,277 per year position.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138238607634055862006-01-25T17:17:00.000-08:002006-01-25T19:25:31.586-08:00

Councilman applauded for apology:John Cryan, the newly elected Morristown councilman, who was arrested on Jan. 14 for assault and burglary, earned applause at a council meeting last night when he apologized and promised to seek counseling.A Morristown judge transferred the case to Superior Court last week, and Cryan said he is due in court on Friday to fill out paperwork. If Cryan is convicted,

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138233940115311972006-01-25T15:46:00.000-08:002006-01-25T16:31:39.470-08:00

N.J.'s rents found unaffordable for state's low-income tenants:"You have heard a lot about the affordable housing crisis caused by the skyrocketing cost of homeownership. However, just as important is the housing crisis for renters, who make up one-third of all households in New Jersey," said Susan Holman James, Housing Network president."Over half of the workers in New Jersey cannot afford to

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138229045228288742006-01-25T14:42:00.000-08:002006-01-25T14:45:52.603-08:00

Indicted A.C. school board chief staying put:Atlantic Count Board of Education President Cornell Davis rejected Tuesday a call to step down from his position by other board members, who charged Davis' recent indictment on bribery charges had humiliated the board.Davis was indicted by in December on two counts of bribery for allegedly seeking kickbacks from contractors to do work in the district.

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138227999668801552006-01-25T14:17:00.000-08:002006-01-25T14:26:39.676-08:00

Vas accuses opponent of campaign impropriety:Yesterday, Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas (D), who is vying for the Democratic nomination in the 13th Congressional District, criticized Assemblyman Albio Sires (D-33) for accepting casino money for his federal campaign while the Legislature was considering whether to ban smoking in casinos.In reports filed with the Federal Election Commission in

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138222817465406822006-01-25T12:56:00.000-08:002006-01-25T14:28:25.916-08:00

PoliPundit - Senate Race in NJ 2006:Well, the voters in NJ again will not have an opportunity to see the Democrat candidates campaign against each other in a primary. Frank Pallone has dropped out leaving Jon Corzine’s pick unchallenged. Maybe one day NJ will mirror Canada in voting for Republicans out of disgust for arrogance and corruption; but, unlike Canada, there seems to be no desire to

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138248612397097502006-01-25T12:32:00.000-08:002006-01-25T20:10:12.406-08:00

Smith to visit Oprah, discuss trafficking law:U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), appeared on Oprah Winfrey's television show today to talk about a bill he sponsored to strengthen and expand the nation's laws against human trafficking. President Bush signed the bill, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, into law earlier this month. Last fall, Winfrey encouraged her viewers to

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138220964022911632006-01-25T12:23:00.000-08:002006-01-25T12:29:24.033-08:00

DynamoBuzz - Albio Sires is Running for the Menendez Seat:As expected, former NJ assembly Speaker Albio Sires has announced that he will be a candidate for the US House of Representatives seat representing NJ's 13th district. This is the seat that's vacant now that Bob Menendez has been promoted to senator.Sires is a double dipper, serving as mayor of West New York and member of the state

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138143490081906062006-01-24T14:56:00.000-08:002006-01-24T14:59:26.766-08:00

Correction: New Jersey Attorney General Story:In a Jan. 23 story about the New Jersey attorney general's confirmation hearing, The Associated Press reported erroneously, based on information from the governor's office, that the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Zulima V. Farber 9-2. Instead, the vote was 8-2 with one member absent. New Jersey Government

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138122829789369832006-01-24T09:12:00.000-08:002006-01-24T09:14:50.606-08:00

Dynamobuzz - Governor Corzine: The First WeekHer [Zulima Farber] confirmation hearing was yesterday, and the senate committee questioned her for about four hours before her nomination was approved with only two "no" votes (Republicans Cardinale and Kyrillos voted "no"). Many have observed that Ms. Farber does not have much criminal experience on her resume. Given the rampant corruption in this

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138122710369522472006-01-24T09:08:00.000-08:002006-01-24T09:11:50.376-08:00

Enlighten-NewJersey - Manzo’s Property Tax Relief Plan:Based on a plan developed by the New Jersey Coalition for Property Tax Reform and refined by Assemblyman Louis Manzo (Hudson-D), the state would impose a 25 percent surtax on state income taxes to “to cut school property tax bills in half.”To mitigate the need for higher property taxes and to bring about parity in per student spending

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138085208762832412006-01-24T06:18:00.000-08:002006-01-23T22:54:44.483-08:00

Former Clinton staffer announces he's running against Garrett:Democrat Paul Aronsohn, of Ridgewood, announced Monday he is running for Congress against Republican Rep. Scott Garrett, who represents the New Jersey 5th Congressional District. The district is comprised of parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties.Aronsohn, 39, is a former staffer in the administrations of President Bill

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138083599578093282006-01-24T06:15:00.000-08:002006-01-23T22:19:59.586-08:00

Advocates call for state office to focus on immigrants' needs:The New Jersey Immigration Policy Network has called on Gov. Jon Corzine to create a statewide office on immigrant affairs, and to push a bill allowing immigrant children to be eligible for in-state tuition - about half the cost of out-of-state fees - at state colleges and universities. State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex County), said

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138073140892163852006-01-23T19:21:00.000-08:002006-01-23T22:49:08.526-08:00

The Auditor – Assembly Majority Leader and the Democratic State Chairman, Bonnie Watson Coleman:In the waning moments of Richard Codey's term as governor, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman made a plea for a pardon that would have cleared the criminal record of Kiburi Tucker, son of the late Assemblyman Donald Tucker (D-Essex).Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), the Democratic State Chairman,

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138061920756956302006-01-23T16:16:00.000-08:002006-01-23T16:18:40.766-08:00

Campaign financing going up and up across N.J.:New Jersey Candidates for municipal office have more than doubled their campaign spending over a decade, according to a report issued this month by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission.The report, titled "Local Campaign Financing: An Analysis of Trends in Communities Large and Small," also said municipal candidates spent more money in the

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138059747797784202006-01-23T15:40:00.000-08:002006-01-25T17:17:28.950-08:00

To Bryant, Corzine wasn't on the money:One of the legislators who objected to Gov. Corzine's inaugural lecture on ethics last week was State Sen. Wayne Bryant (D-Camden).With several government contracts and relatives in publicly funded jobs, Bryant is no stranger to the political spending Corzine wants to target.A $38 million local-assistance fund tucked into the budget last month is the latest

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138056311668319762006-01-23T14:41:00.000-08:002006-01-23T14:45:11.683-08:00

Before she's AG, past to be plumbed:Mims Hackett was a popular teacher and candidate for Orange City Council, when he was convicted of the abduction and beating of a man he suspected had broken into his home in 1975. Sentenced to a mandatory 30 years in prison -- a term the judge, prosecutors and police all called excessive -- his case became a cause célèbre. Newspaper columnists and community

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138047446020576352006-01-23T12:10:00.000-08:002006-01-23T15:04:58.326-08:00

Cinnaman - The Taxpayer's Guide to "River Dance":“Ere you consult your fancy, consult your purse.” - Benjamin FranklinTragically, there is no Franklin genius around now to rescue taxpayers who are about to be soaked by the Great Delaware River Dredging Dodge.Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell wants the river bottom dredged –from 40 to 45 feet -- so bigger ships can continue to feed the docks along

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138032969840654392006-01-23T08:13:00.000-08:002006-01-23T15:03:42.756-08:00

Nominee's hearing is Monday:A partner in the Roseland law firm Zulima V. Farber would be the first Hispanic to head the New Jersey’s Department of Law and Public Safety. At her confirmation hearing today, state attorney general nominee Farber is likely to be asked about her driving record, her sparse experience as a prosecutor, her solutions for the troubled office and her statements against

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138031760658859362006-01-23T07:54:00.000-08:002006-01-23T08:04:56.636-08:00

Keep an eye on contracts:The modus operandi for most school boards, municipalities and counties, is to do everything short of declaring settlement agreements national security secrets to keep the terms of the contracts out of public view.Why? Because if taxpayers were aware of what the contracts contained, were given a full accounting of how much their public servants were being paid, and knew

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1138032272359415262006-01-23T07:01:00.000-08:002006-01-23T17:19:48.336-08:00

A Limited Skill Set:Most college students today lack the literacy and math capability to handle common real-life tasks, according to a study by the American Institutes for Research. Given the cost of a college education, that's depressing and in today's highly competitive information economy, that's scary.The study evaluated three types of literacy: analyzing news stories and other prose, math

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137969658981883832006-01-22T14:39:00.000-08:002006-01-25T13:02:41.096-08:00

From House heavyweight to Senate lightweight, Menendez sworn in:Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), 52, said he hopes to introduce legislation soon to make college education more affordable for families, and to provide financial support for people who care for elderly family members in their own homes, two issues he said New Jerseyans repeatedly voiced concerns about to him.Menendez tells voters he also

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137967973338422282006-01-22T14:11:00.000-08:002006-01-31T09:19:18.223-08:00

President of UMDNJ is forced out:John Petillo will step down as president of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey next month in return for a severance package that will pay him $600,000, capping a year of scandal and turmoil at the school.In the past year, the university has been hit by almost-daily disclosures of mismanagement and abuse. The revelations began when The

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TigerHawk - A question for Jon Corzine:I expect that Corzine's tenure will be bad for business in New Jersey, and it will hurt my own income in some substantive way. But, and this is a huge but, he is our most recent best chance for cleaning up the endemic corruption in this state. Ordinarily, I would not expect a governor to do that, but if he has presidential ambitions -- which he must, because

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137958755904711202006-01-22T11:38:00.000-08:002006-01-23T15:05:33.563-08:00

Mister Snitch - Hoboken Makes the List:The "Top 100" series lists cities by a number of criteria …Hoboken made the 'Highest Percentage of Renters' and 'Smallest Houses' lists. Hoboken

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137958226767385532006-01-22T11:28:00.000-08:002006-01-23T15:06:16.986-08:00

The Political Dogs - Leaving The Welfare State:If you want to know what the liberals are thinking these days, look no further than New Jersey.New Jersey, despite years of a tremendously good economy, is in fiscal crisis. State government is running a huge deficit. Residents pay the highest property taxes in the country to support schools which … do not reflect the huge amount of money which is

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137958041849479932006-01-22T11:26:00.000-08:002006-01-23T15:06:50.936-08:00

Parkway Rest Stop - Howie:As soon as we heard that Howard Dean, the Chairman of the National Democratic Committee, was coming to the Garden State, we dispatched one of our PRS Operatives to Newark Airport to see if he could spend a few moments with Dr. Dean.He caught up with Dr. Dean as he waited for his limousine to be brought around.PRS: “Dr. Dean, welcome to New Jersey. I’m from PRS and I

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137957906071583862006-01-22T11:23:00.000-08:002006-01-23T15:07:30.956-08:00

NJ Conservative - What Happens If:What would happen if the Governor refused to enforce a decision of the State Supreme Court. What if the legislature and Governor just refused to either create legislation according to the edict of the court or to act to enforce one of its decisions.So why did the other branches of government allow the court to spend taxpayer dollars. I don't know. It seems to me

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137957764707424562006-01-22T11:21:00.000-08:002006-01-23T15:08:09.650-08:00

Enlighten-NewJersey - Deal for Stadium in New Jersey Gives Teams Reason to Cheer:We’ve written on this subject before, but the article in the New York Times - Deal for Stadium in New Jersey Gives Teams Reason to Cheer – reminds us why state run businesses are such a bad idea. And we mean any business – entertainment, real estate, stem cell research, manufacturing – you name it.One reason –

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Dynamobuzz - Newly Inaugurated NJ Governor:Corzine is asking Susan Bass Levin to be his commissioner for the Department of Community Affairs.Levin is part of the old regime, the McGreevey years, and she ticked off environmentalists everywhere by turning the Highlands Protection Act into the Leave No Real Estate Developer Behind Act by adding goodies to the bill that would give free reign to build

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Fausta's Blog - More on Boys and Books, and Science Illiteracy:Lazy teachers might find it useful to have the students spend time playing with "stuff" instead of actually doing a guided experiment where the teacher has specifically structured the activity to demonstrate a law of science. Small wonder that "students whose science education is heavily weighted toward the inquiry method will score

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137956693000077092006-01-22T11:03:00.000-08:002006-01-23T15:10:19.253-08:00

A Blog for All - The Train Wreck Continues:So why did transit workers vote down the deal made between the TWU and MTA?Benefits. Transit workers didn't want to contribute to the health care benefits like nearly every other private company and even a growing number of government jobs. MTA

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20993046.post-1137962428954228502006-01-21T12:38:00.000-08:002006-01-25T20:11:38.633-08:00

Welcome to New Jersey Review. My goal is highlight blog posts and news articles about New Jersey I find noteworthy and interesting.Becoming an informed citizen is essential, especially with our state at a critical financial crossroads:There's no serious disagreement that New Jersey's financial crisis tops the list of critical issues facing Gov. Jon S. Corzine and legislative leaders.Just before

Enlighten-NewJerseynoreply@blogger.com0