How Gov. Phil Murphy Protected New Jersey Healthcare From Trump

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy outsmarted Trump and protected his state from the president’s attempt to sabotage Obamacare.


(From Now this News) 

Pallone Statement on SCOTUS Repeal of PAPSA and Sports Betting in New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2018


Washington, DC- Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s repeal of The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which will allow New Jersey to legalize sports betting.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling is a win for New Jersey and the rest of the country. PASPA was clearly unconstitutional, and the ban on sports betting has now rightfully been rejected by the Court. I have long believed that New Jersey should have the opportunity to proceed with sports betting. Now that the Supreme Court has struck down this unlawful and confusing law, it is time for Congress to move the GAME Act forward to ensure that consumer protections are in place in any state that decides to implement sports betting.”

Last year Congressman Pallone introduced the GAME Act, which allows states to legalize sports betting and online gambling if appropriate consumer protections are also in place. The GAME Act would provide states with the legal framework to adopt sports betting at their discretion.

Congressman Pallone has long advocated for the repeal of PAPSA and giving states the opportunity to legalize sports betting. In September 2017 he filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Petitioners in the case – the State of New Jersey and the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Inc. In that brief Pallone stated, “By ordering New Jersey to maintain prohibitions on sports gambling that its State legislature has considered and repealed before, Congress is coercing the State of New Jersey to govern according to Congress’s instructions. As this form of coercion is unconstitutional pursuant to the guarantees to the States in the form of the Tenth Amendment, this court should hold that PASPA is unconstitutional.”

Congressman Pallone has also been an advocate for Monmouth Park to have the opportunity to offer sports betting.

Murphy: New Jersey will stop using PARCC tests

If you have school aged children attending a New Jersey public school, you should be happy about this. PARCC testing has been a disaster and has taken valuable time away from classroom studies.

From WHYY.org:

Governor-elect Phil Murphy wants to end the use of the standardized Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers or PARCC test in New Jersey.

New Jersey started using PARCC assessments to measure student skills in the 2014-15 school year. Critics have said the tests force teachers to narrow their teaching to what is on the assessments.

At an elementary school in Asbury Park where he announced that Asbury Park School District Superintendent Lamont Repollet will lead the state education department, Murphy said it’s time to scrap those tests.

“We are asking Dr. Repollet to end the failed experiment that has been PARCC testing and create new, more effective and less class time-intrusive means for measuring student assessment,” Murphy said.

New Jersey Education Association President Marie Blistan said educators, parents, and students have raised concerns about the PARCC test.

"I definitely think that the entire testing system needs to be reviewed, and, absolutely, I question whether the PARCC test is the appropriate test to use in any way, shape, or form here,” she said.

During his campaign, Murphy said shorter tests should be developed with teacher input that would provide real-time feedback to teachers and students.

Letter: ELECTION RESULTS - VICTORY!

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:

Dear Editor,

The people of New Jersey won on Election Day. Not only did we get Ambassador Phil Murphy, an all around great guy, elected as Governor, we had many local victories too.

In Toms River, we enjoyed a Democratic victory with 3 of 4 Township Council Seats going to Democrats Daniel Rodrick, Laurie Huryk, and Terrance Turnbach. Congratulations to the local team!

Vin Gopal knocked out Republican incumbent Jen Beck in Monmouth County's District 11, to become the district's next State Senator. I know Vin Gopal will be a strong voice in Trenton for working class families.

We must all work together to undo the damage Christie did to New Jersey, and make the Garden State Progressive Again! Yes to legal cannabis, women's and LGBT rights! Hands off Assata Shakur! Black Lives Matter! Recognize Lenape Native Rights! Make Housing a Right! Free College! Free NJ Weedman! Expand Public Transportation! Support Unions!

Let's take a left turn in New Jersey Politics.

Rev. Dr. Eric Hafner
Toms River

Pallone Statement on GOP Tax Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2017


Washington, D.C. –Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement on the GOP’s revised tax proposal.

“The newest iteration of the GOP tax plan continues to threaten New Jersey’s working families by limiting state and local and tax deductions. The legislation also severely limits the Mortgage Interest Deduction, making it harder for New Jersey families to afford homeownership. 41% of New Jersey households file using these deductions and New Jersey deducts a total of $32.2 billion in state and local taxes each year, the third highest dollar amount in the nation. Taking away these deductions is simply unacceptable given the tax burden already facing New Jerseyans.

“I will never support a tax plan that makes it harder for working families to make ends meet, in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. I will do everything within my power to oppose the GOP tax proposal as it moves forward.”

Pallone Applauds Supreme Court Review of NJ Sports Betting Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2017



Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to review New Jersey's bid to allow sports betting at its casinos and racetracks.

“I applaud the Supreme Court for taking on this case and potentially resolving a long history of hypocrisy and unfairness in federal law. The citizens of New Jersey overwhelmingly support legalized sports betting and acted in a referendum to show that support. Both Congress and the Supreme Court should respect these actions. Rather than continuing to allow criminal and offshore entities to reap the benefits of illegal gaming, there is now an opportunity for the Supreme Court to allow the democratic process in New Jersey to appropriately regulate sports gaming.”

Congressman Pallone has long been a supporter of allowing sports gaming in New Jersey. Along with Congressman Frank LoBiondo, he introduced two bills that would provide for changes in the law that would allow sports gaming in New Jersey.

In May, Congressman Pallone sent a letter to Acting Solicitor General of the U.S. Jeff Wall strongly recommending that he endorse the review by the U.S. Supreme Court of the New Jersey sports betting case. He also released a discussion draft of a comprehensive gaming bill, the Gaming Accountability and Modernization Enhancement Act, or GAME Act, which allows states to legalize sports betting and online gambling if appropriate consumer protections are also in place .

Pallone Statement on “Morally Reprehensible” Trump Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2017





Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed budget.

“Donald Trump has presented himself as a champion of the “forgotten man,” but his budget wouldn’t just forget those Americans he promised to defend – it would eviscerate the programs and policies that help working families make ends meet.

“This Budget will make the richest richer and leave the vast majority of Americans worse off. In order to finance huge tax cuts for billionaires, Trump’s budget would cut more than $1 trillion in federal programs that help Americans who are struggling – including food and housing assistance, healthcare, and many other priorities. With dramatic cuts to Medicaid, New Jersey stands to lose tens of billions of dollars in funding that provides healthcare to the most vulnerable. Meanwhile, disease prevention and medical research is cut significantly, including a $6 billion cut for the National Institutes of Health.

“It also goes squarely after the middle class and those who aspire to reach it by proposing cuts to education, research and development, the earned pension benefits of federal workers, and veterans’ healthcare. It would gut coastal protection and investments in renewable energy, and it would reduce funding for Superfund and brownfields cleanup, all of which would disproportionally hurt New Jersey.

“This is a morally reprehensible proposal that would only take our country backwards. I will continue to fight against these reckless spending proposals, and will instead support priorities that will grow and support the middle class.”

Reps. Pascrell, Pallone Call for State Action on Mismanagement of Superstorm Sandy Funds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2016


Congressmen who called for audit showing mismanagement request State action to protect residents

MOONACHIE, N.J. – Today, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06) hosted a press conference in Moonachie, NJ calling on the State to respond to the findings of improper management, oversight, and disbursement of federal recovery dollars to Hammerman & Gainer Inc. in a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General OIG audit. The Congressmen also sent a letter calling on Governor Chris Christie to proactively address the documentation issues the HUD Office of Inspector General notes in its audit; ensure Hammerman & Gainer is held accountable for every dollar it improperly spent; and implement oversight programs to adequately administer future disaster fund contracts.



"We want answers for the folks who were left without homes," said Pallone and Pascrell. "We want answers because this federal funding was spent improperly. We want answers and we want action to ensure this doesn't happen again when the next storm hits New Jersey."

In January 2014, Reps. Pascrell and Pallone wrote a letter to HUD requesting they investigate the State’s contract with Hammerman & Gainer. The HUD Office of Inspector General conducted the audit because the contract involved a significant amount of funds, was critical to the implementation of three of the State’s disaster programs, and was terminated less than one year into the three-year contract. The audit concluded that New Jersey did not use federally accepted controls, overspent on real estate and labor, and dozens of expenditures were submitted without receipts or not authorized by compliance officers.

The HUD Office of Inspector General audit is available here.

Today’s letter can be found below:


Dear Governor Christie,

As you know, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report this week after investigating the State of New Jersey's contract with Hammerman & Gainer Inc. (HGI) to distribute Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds after Hurricane Sandy. In light of the revelations and recommendations included in the report, we are writing to express our strong concerns with the State’s oversight of this contract. Additionally, we urge you to fully account for CDBG-DR funds spent by HGI and ensure that HGI pays back any funds that HUD determines must be returned. New Jersey taxpayers should not be on the hook to repay federal funds because of HGI’s mismanagement or your Administration’s inadequate oversight.

As you know, Hurricane Sandy housing recovery programs are funded with federal CDBG-DR dollars provided through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which became law on January 29, 2013. These funds were to be spent on expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed storm-affected areas. However, throughout the Sandy recovery process, there have been numerous complaints of a lack of transparency in the selection criteria and distribution process of certain CDBG-DR funded programs in New Jersey.

In January 2014 we wrote a letter to HUD because we were concerned about this lack of transparency and accountability. More specifically, we requested that HUD investigate the manner in which New Jersey’s contract with HGI, the firm handling the largest Sandy recovery program, was terminated.

The HUD OIG report resulting from this request concluded that New Jersey did not disburse disaster funds to HGI in accordance with HUD and other federal requirements. Specifically, the report notes that your Administration “did not ensure that (1) disbursements met a national objective, (2) expenses were incurred after the contract was executed, (3) other direct costs were fully supported and the prices paid were fair and reasonable, (4) labor costs were fully supported, (5) travel costs were fully supported, and (6) disbursements were for costs that were reasonable and necessary.” The report highlights this happened because New Jersey “did not have adequate controls in place to administer its contract and monitor contract performance and was not fully aware of Federal procurement and cost principle requirements.”

As a result, we urge you to proactively provide HUD with the proper documentation necessary to demonstrate that the federal dollars paid to HGI were eligible, supported, reasonable, and necessary. Further, we urge you to ensure HGI is held accountable for any improper funds it was paid, not New Jersey taxpayers. Finally, we urge you to put in place adequate controls to administer future disaster recovery funds so New Jerseyans can swiftly receive the support they need to put their lives back together after an extreme weather event.

We fought hard to ensure that New Jersey got its fair share of federal disaster recovery dollars after Sandy, which is why it is disappointing that the State did not do all it could have to ensure these funds were spent in compliance with federal requirements. The New Jerseyans who struggled to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy deserved better. Thank you for your attention to this request, and we look forward to your response.

Double-Dippers Dominate NJ Sheriff Elections

Mark Lagerkvis:

Jim McDonald is weeks away from hitting a jackpot in New Jersey’s election sweepstakes as a new double-dipping county sheriff.

In January, he retired as Washington Township police chief at age 54 to draw a $94,000 a year state pension – and run for Warren County sheriff. He is unopposed on the November ballot after winning the GOP primary on a platform of “fiscal responsibility.”

McDonald is a sure bet to add a sheriff’s salary of $128,000 to his income next year, increasing his total annual take from public coffers to $222,000. He and his campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

“Public pensions are not really intended to be a way to change your lifestyle and double your income,” said Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Red Bank, a longtime opponent of double-dipping. “It was created to support you when you are no longer working.”

Currently, three-fourths of the state’s sheriffs – 16 out of 21 – take advantage of existing loopholes to draw county salaries while receiving pensions as law enforcement “retirees,” according to a NJ Spotlight analysis. In an upcoming election packed with sheriff candidates who are double-dippers or would-be double-dippers, those numbers are unlikely to change much.

The full story on double-dippers running for sheriff is online at http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/09/18/double-dippers-dominate-sheriff-elections-across-new-jersey/

NJ Spotlight’s current list of double-dipping sheriffs is posted at http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/09/18/the-list-new-jersey-s-16-double-dipping-county-sheriffs/

# # #
Mark Lagerkvist is a veteran investigative reporter who has worked for CNBC, News 12, Asbury Park Press, New Jersey Watchdog and other news outlets. His work has won more than 60 journalism awards, including honors from National Press Club, Scripps Howard Foundation, and Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE). He can be reached at Mark@Lagerkvist.net.

Lagerkvist: NJIT President's $5.3M Contract Tops New Jersey's Pay and Perks for College Chiefs

By Mark Lagerkvist


At $555,000 a year, Joel Bloom does not have the highest salary among New Jersey public college presidents. But counting his extra benefits and perks from New Jersey Institute of Technology, Bloom has a taxpayer-supported deal that’s second to none.

Bloom’s five-year contract with NJIT is worth roughly $5.3 million. And that doesn’t count the cost of his pension, health insurance, vacation time, sick leave and expense account – not to mention the car and driver provided by the Newark-based research university.

No other public officials in New Jersey receive the levels of compensation that many college presidents enjoy – not even Gov. Chris Christie or state Supreme Court justices, according to a NJ Spotlight analysis.

The little-known cornucopia of extras is detailed in employment contracts obtained by NJ Spotlight under the Open Public Records Act. For example, Bloom’s deal with NJIT includes:

• Performance bonus of up to 25 percent of his salary. Last year, it was $130,000.
• Annual “retention incentive” bonus of $120,000 to help ensure his loyalty to NJIT.
• Housing allowance of $85,000 a year
• Three-fourths of his salary for two years – $825,000 based on his current pay – as an advisor and figurehead with the title of president emeritus after he retires or resigns.

NJ Spotlight’s analysis of the contracts of New Jersey’s 30 public college presidents found:

• 20 have contracts that provide for annual bonuses based on performance or longevity
• 17 receive deferred compensation or contributions to annuities to supplement the public pensions.
• 17 receive free use of college-owned residences or housing allowances as part of their compensation packages.
• 23 are provided with the use of college cars or an allowance to cover the cost of their own automobiles.

The story is now online at NJ Spotlight – http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/05/22/njit-president-s-5-3m-contract-takes-top-spot-among-nj-college-chiefs/. Details on each college president – with links to their contracts – is posted at http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/05/22/the-list-all-the-presidents-pay-and-perks-at-new-jersey-s-public-colleges/.

NJ Watchdog: Tuesday's election won't solve state's fiscal woes

New Jersey’s statewide election on Tuesday is unlikely to break the governmental gridlock that threatens the state’s fiscal future.

On ballots, voters won’t find contests for any of the 40 seats in the Senate, where Democrats enjoy a 24 to 16 majority. Also not up for grabs is the governorship as Chris Christie hangs onto that office while pursuing the Republican presidential nomination.

Instead this odd-year election features races for the 80 spots in the Assembly, where there is a 47 to 31 Democratic advantage with two seats vacant.

In each chamber, the Democrats have enough of an edge to control all legislation, but they lack the two-thirds supermajority needed to override Christie’s vetoes without Republican help.

“I’ve vetoed 400 bills from a crazy liberal Democratic legislature,” boasted Christie during the September GOP debate on CNN.

As the two sides feud, the clock continues to tick toward an alarming catastrophe.

The debt for public employee pension and health benefits has reached a whopping $194.5 billion, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis of State Treasury records.

Meanwhile, the results of Tuesday’s election may be akin to rearranging deck furniture on the Titanic. A few seats may switch in the Assembly, but voters won’t get a chance for a full change – Senate, Assembly and Office of the Governor – until November 2017.

By then, it may be too late. At its current rate of growth, the debt for benefits would exceed $225 billion.

The full story is online at http://watchdog.org/245101/nj-election-fiscal-woes/.

NJ Watchdog: NJ debt nears $200 billion for benefits

By Mark Lagerkvist | New Jersey Watchdog

Guard your wallets, New Jersey taxpayers! The deficit in state pension and health benefit plans for public employees is fast approaching $200 billion.

The unfunded liabilities have reached a staggering $194.5 billion, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis of State Treasury records. The shortfall has increased by $19 billion – or roughly 10 percent – in the past year.

Here’s a breakdown of bad news that seems certain to result in higher taxes, decreased retiree benefits or both:

• New Jersey’s public pensions are underfunded by $113.1 billion. The state bears $80.5 billion of that burden. Local governments are responsible for the remaining $32.6 billion.
• State and local governments are also on the hook for $81.4 billion in unfunded health benefits for retired and active workers. The state owes $65 billion; the local share is $16.4 billion.
• The total shortfall is $194.5 billion – more than $60,000 per household. The figure is nearly six times higher than New Jersey’s total annual budget, currently $33.8 billion.
• At the present pace, those unfunded liabilities will exceed $210 billion next year.

“The situation is not only getting worse, but is fast approaching a point at which it will be beyond remedy,” warned the governor’s bi-partisan, blue-ribbon Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission in a report released in February.

The complete story is online at http://watchdog.org/237832/nj-benefit-debt-200b/.

Letter: Abolish Municipal Court System

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:




Dear Editor,

New Jersey’s Municipal Court system results in high expenses, unequal justice and political corruption due to the fact Municipal Court Judges, Prosecutors, and Public Defenders are politically-connected local lawyers hired to work part-time by the governing body (i.e. town council) of the municipality where the court has jurisdiction. They are expected to generate revenue.

The Municipal Court system should be abolished entirely and all petty disorderly persons, disorderly persons, traffic, parking, and municipal ordinance matters should be heard by full-time County Judges employed by the State Judiciary.

New Jersey should also extend the right to jury trial to all defendants facing the possibility of jail-time. Currently, there are no jury trials in Municipal Court. Yet a defendant can face up to six months in county jail on a charge, where a politically-hired Municipal Court Judge also acts as the sole finder of fact.

Jersey Injustice.



Eric Hafner
Toms River

Why New Jersey Is the Most Hated State

If you haven't read the Huffington Post lately you probably missed Jennifer Legra's blog post explaining why New Jersey is the most hated State in the nation according to a poll conducted by YouGov.

The bottom line as to why New Jersey is so hated by so many, is because the state and it's residents are awesome and others are jealous of all our awesomeness ! Whether it's the state's unique place in American history, it's many parks and farms, the tough "Jersey Attitude" (that so many of us project) or geological location, there are plenty of reasons not to like New Jersey if you're not from New Jersey.

Read what she has to say:

I was in newlywed type bliss having just arrived back home to New Jersey. Leaving the airport, I told my daughter to breathe it in, "Ahhh, do you smell that? Cologne and cigarettes." I was kidding of course; teasing the way one might tease your favorite cousin - with love and just the right amount of burn. A lady next to me heard me and chuckled, "Ha. I was just thinking the same thing. Jersey has a distinct smell." She wasn't talking about the refineries or the Turnpike (which is the only thing outsiders really know of NJ), she was talking about the familiar smell of home. This chick was from New Jersey, I knew it, because only a New Jerseyan would hear my joke, get it, and revel in it with me. I was home.

A day or two after our arrival, a recent poll by YouGov came out, identifying New Jersey as "the least liked state in America." Well, didn't that just take the wind out of my glad-to-be-home-in-NJ sails. Apparently, "New Jersey is the only state in the country which people tend to have a negative opinion of" to which I would say, "Nice going 'Jersey Shore' cast for depicting us as morons even though half your cast wasn't from New Jersey." But, hey, Jersey tomato - tomatoe. Since I was curious as to why New Jersey is the most hated state, I clicked further into the results and then investigated Jersey more on my own. After mulling it over a bit, I could see why we were the least liked state in America. Let's take a look...

AMERICAN HISTORY

Did you know that the first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden and that the first baseball game was played in Hoboken, not to mention the first brewery in America was opened here too. Baseball? Beer? Boooooring. Talk about an unAmerican waste of time. More recently, New Jersey has been known for Carli Lloyd, the athlete who pulled out a hat trick at the 2015 World Cup Final, who people are saying might be the best US performance in a title game? And I don't want to mention Tim Howard from the Men's 2014 World Cup Team who might as well be Superman in fear that I might bore you all to death. So, you know, "thanks" New Jersey for producing such mediocre talent. And did you know that silly things like electricity and recorded sound were invented in Thomas Edison's New Jersey laboratory and that George Washington's crossing of the Delaware and victory in Trenton, NJ was the first major victory and a turning point in the war. I mean, Freedom from the Brits, really, who cares?

PARKS AND FARMS

And get this, New Jersey, the 46th smallest state, has 36 state parks. Of the 24 states shown below, only 10 states (mostly the bigger ones) have more. But let's be real, what are parks good for? NJ also ranks high in the production of blueberries (our state fruit), peaches, and cranberries and almost all garden vegetables like the well known Jersey Tomato and Jersey Sweet Corn which come from one of the 10,000+ farms located in this tiny, dumb, park and farm friendly state. Yummy fruit and veggies? What a waste of perfectly good green space.

ATTITUDE

The YouGov survey says that people from New Jersey are "unusually likely to take a hard-nosed attitude towards life" but since it doesn't explain what they mean by this I looked up hard-nosed. It means "realistic and determined; tough-minded." So I'll read that as having a realistic, determined, and tough-minded attitude towards life. G*d damn it, New Jersey. Realistic, really? Get your head stuck high up in those clouds and stop being so rational. And while you're at it, stop being so freaking determined too. Who likes determination anyway? And tough... wait, I have a separate category for that one....

Continue

Letter: Flush Marijuana at New Jersey High Schools and Colleges

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:


Dear Editor,

New Jersey high school, community college and state college administrators should lead the way towards more sensible marijuana policies by simply flushing any alleged marijuana down the toilet and calling the student's parents (unless the student has a medical card), instead of contacting the police.

When police are contacted, ridiculous laws are enforced that the legislature has sought to repeal, but has been blocked by NJ State Dictator, Presidential Wannabe and target of federal criminal probe, Gov. Chris Christie. Students also lose access to federal financial aid as well as job and scholarship opportunities.

It's time to set new policies stating that, marijuana high times at New Jersey schools are a time that parents, not police are contacted, with no other penalty attached.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High's Jeff Spicoli would be proud. Maybe NJ Weedman could alternatively pick up (instead of flushing) the marijuana from the district to burn it?



Eric Hafner
Toms River

Open Letter to Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon : Pump Your own Gas

Dear Assemblyman O’Scanlon:

I recently read an article in the APP by Larry Higgs about your proposed bill to end self-serve ban. It quoted you as saying, "it is the right thing to do". Why is it the right thing to do?

I was under the impression that one of NJ's main goals was to create jobs and keep its residents employed. Once you take these jobs away they will not be recovered.

Below are just a few questions that I have for you. I would like to get your answers to these questions so that I can understand why “it is the right thing to do”.

What jobs have you created for the tax payers?
Wouldn’t it be a more efficient use of your time to work on creating jobs?
What will happen to these employees once you toss them on the unemployment line?
Will they go to State paid job training because you took their jobs away?
What will happen to our seniors and disabled who may be forced to pay the higher price?
How have you conducted research to determine that the citizens want to see this happen?
Why are you taking away a business owners right to conduct business the way he or she see’s fit?

I believe this is wrong for New Jersey and am looking forward to your answers to the above questions and your rationale as to not leave well enough alone.

Respectfully,

Inathe M. Saliani
Middletown, NJ

Letter: Make NJ 1st In The Nation

Dear Editor,

To promote tourism to New Jersey, our state should make our presidential primary the first in the nation.

People should be calling their state legislators to ask why we’re last and letting the folks in New Hampshire and Iowa determine our fate.

Change the New Jersey 2016 primary date to Monday, January 4th.



Eric Hafner
Toms River

Message From Senator Menendez Issued Via YouTube

NJ DEMS SLAM GOV. CHRISTIE FOR JOINING WITH GOP IN BLOCKING IMMIGRATION REFORM

For Immediate Release:
3/26/15

(Trenton) — Today, the Vice Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, Lizette Delgado-Polanco, issued the following statement slamming Governor Chris Christie's decision to join his Republican colleagues in an effort to block President Barack Obama's immigration reforms in court:

"Chris Christie's decision to join with other Republican governors in undermining President Obama’s much-needed immigration reforms is a deeply irresponsible, partisan act. New Jersey has a rich cultural heritage and relies on the work of immigrants to bolster our state and local economy. That Christie -- who has thus far refused to stake a coherent position on immigration -- would now seek to condemn hundreds of thousands of undocumented New Jersey residents to society's shadows is just the latest example of him trying to score political points with right-wing ideologues at the expense of New Jersey families and our common values. It's shameful to think that last year his second inaugural celebration was scheduled to be on Ellis Island."

According to Pew Research Center, New Jersey has the third highest percentage of immigrants relative to the state's population.

NJ Watchdog: New Jersey ranks worst in funding state pensions

Report: New Jersey ranks worst in funding state pensions

New Jersey is the nation’s biggest pension deadbeat, ranking last among states in funding public retirement plans, according to a study released today.

From fiscal years 2001 to 2013, New Jersey paid only 38 percent of its annual required contributions, or ARCs, stated the National Association of State Retirement Administrators report. During that 13-year span, New Jersey shortchanged its pensions by more than $23 billion.

The study also found:

• New Jersey was one of two states making less than half of its ARCs. The other outlier was Pennsylvania at 41 percent.
• All but six states paid at least 75 percent.
• The majority of states substantially complied with their obligations. The average retirement plan received 89 percent of its ARCs.

In New Jersey, pension underfunding under a succession of governors – Democrats and Republicans alike – has led the state to the brink of fiscal calamity.

The actual unfunded liability of the state retirement system exceeds $170 billion, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis based on official numbers from the state Treasury. That figure includes:

• $82.7 billion in unfunded liability for the pension plans of state workers.
• $53 billion in unfunded health benefits for state retirees.
• A $20.7 billion shortfall for the pensions of local public employees who collect retirement checks from the state.
• $13.8 billion to cover the post-employment benefits of those local workers.

The full story is online at http://watchdog.org/205505/nj-worst-funding-state-pensions/.