Reps. Pallone & LoBiondo: Bring Sports Wagering Out of Shadows for Future Super Bowls

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the nation gears up for Super Bowl XLIX next weekend, New Jersey Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-06) and Frank A. LoBiondo (R-02) have again introduced their bills to legalize sports-betting. The Congressmen called for action on their legislative proposals, arguing that legalized sports-betting will benefit New Jersey’s economy and crack down on criminal enterprises which operate off-the-book betting in the shadows.

"Increasing competition from neighboring states and the proliferation of off-the-books betting has left Atlantic City’s gaming operations at a disadvantage. Sports-betting can help give our famed resort town a hand up, providing yet another unique option for patrons in addition to the quality entertainment, dining, shopping and beaches. I'm pleased Congressman Pallone, our casinos, local elected officials and an overwhelming majority of New Jersey residents agree and hope that a bipartisan coalition in Congress can come together in support of legalizing and regulating sports-betting," said Congressman LoBiondo.

“New Jersey voters have spoken loud and clear: they want to be able to place wagers on sporting events legally,” said Congressman Pallone. “We know that sports- betting is occurring without regulation and that the revenues from it are going to illegal enterprises rather than businesses in New Jersey, like our casinos and racetracks. It is time to bring this activity out of the shadows and allow states to regulate it. I am pleased to join Congressman LoBiondo in supporting this bipartisan legislation that will help level the playing field and give New Jersey’s citizens the opportunity to share in the profits from sports betting.”

The federal ban on professional and amateur sports betting enacted in 1992 currently prohibits states from implementing any new form of sports wagering. The Congressmen introduced two bills that would provide for changes in the law that would allow sports-betting in New Jersey. H.R. 457 (Pallone) would exempt New Jersey from current federal law and H.R. 416 (LoBiondo) opens a window in which all states can enact a law providing for sports-betting in their state for four years upon being signed by the President. Both lawmakers are again cosponsoring the other’s legislation. The Congressmen have previously joined Atlantic City casino executives and advocates for legalized sports betting on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

In 2011, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to allow sports wagering in New Jersey, but its enactment has been delayed by lawsuits filed against the State of New Jersey by the NCAA and four professional sports leagues. New Jersey appealed its case in the courts, with the Third Circuit ruling against New Jersey and the Supreme Court denying to hear the state’s appeal. However, in November 2014, National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver announced his support for legalized sports wagering in an op-ed for The New York Times entitled “Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting”.

Jobs comeback? C’mon!

Cross posted from NJBIZ.com
By Joe Arney

Well, when the governor calls a press conference to talk about a jobs report, you know you’re primed to hear some of the best news in a long time.

Sure enough, Chris Christie was in full on told-ya-so mode today, touting the addition of 17,600 jobs in May as further proof that the “New Jersey Comeback” is here to stay.

Far be it from me to complain — the faster New Jersey adds jobs, the faster I’ll be able to quit the news racket and get myself a real job. But right now, it looks like most of those jobs are low-paying service positions cleaning the toilets at the just-opened Revel casino, as opposed to the kind of higher-wage positions the state really needs to attract. And judging by the amount of capital — political and paper — New Jersey has tied into Revel, it’s unlikely we can afford to open enough casinos to power much of a jobs comeback.

In fact, taking a closer look at the numbers, you see New Jersey lost nearly 5,000 jobs in the financial activities sector; to my knowledge, financial and insurance professionals do not work for $12 an hour to swab the pool deck or bring mai tais to silver-haired slot players busy converting their Social Security checks into casino winnings.

Then, there’s all the public-sector hiring. Governments added a net 4,700 jobs, including 3,800 at the local level. Remember all the bluster about towns seeking to exceed the property tax cap, and how they should slash budgets like the love child of Jack the Ripper and Lizzie Borden, even if it meant jobs? Suddenly, Christie likes those jobs very much.

Look, as the state battles out of the depths of a painful recession, any job is a good job. But New Jersey still trails the nation in employment recovery, we’re still losing jobs in key areas and we’re still bending over backwards to create a tax cut we can’t afford. The New Jersey Comeback may have wheels, but we’re still waiting for someone to put an engine under the hood.

Congressman Pallone Praises Interior Department Decision to allow more Public Input on Seismic Testing in the Atlantic Ocean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Opposes seismic testing as it potentially opens the Atlantic coast to offshore drilling

WASHINGTON, DC –Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) applauded the announcement yesterday by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to extend the opportunity for the public to comment and have input on upcoming seismic testing for oil exploration off the Atlantic Coast. Congressman Pallone requested that the Interior Department extend the public comment period during his questioning of BOEM Director Tommy Beaudreau at a Natural Resources Committee hearing on May 9.


The Department of Interior announced its decision to begin seismic testing off the coast of the Mid and South Atlantic in March, potentially opening up the Atlantic Ocean to offshore drilling. New Jersey is strongly dependent on a healthy coastline for its economic vitality. New Jersey’s beach and ocean environment generates $38 billion per year in economic activity and supports nearly 500,000 jobs.


“An environmentally sound coast-line is critical to New Jersey’s economy, and seismic testing in the Atlantic is a first step toward oil drilling off the coast,” said Pallone. “I remain absolutely opposed to oil drilling off the Atlantic Coast and believe that the public should have ample opportunity to have a say in the process. I’m, pleased with the decision of the Bureau of Ocean Management to extend the public comment period, giving New Jersey residents more time to have their voices heard.”


At an April 27th Department of Interior public listening session in Atlantic City, NJ on the process leading to seismic testing, Congressman Pallone submitted a statement voicing his opposition to oil drilling off the Atlantic Coast and urged the Department to focus on U.S. energy independence through renewable sources such as wind and solar power.


“I am confident that this extended comment period will yield further information to the Department of Interior, demonstrating why it is so important that seismic testing off the Atlantic Coast not proceed,” said Pallone. “I call on the Department to increase its public outreach to potentially impacted communities and to look toward other solutions to ensure American energy independence.”

Pallone Urges Interior Department to Halt Plans to Move Forward with Offshore Oil Drilling Testing Plan

For Immediate Release:
May 9th, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Wednesday, May 09, 2012, at a hearing of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) questioned the Department of Interior’s Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Tommy Beaudreau about the Administration’s decision to allow new seismic testing for oil exploration off the Atlantic coast.

Congressman Pallone voiced his opposition to the Administration’s decision to begin seismic testing, a first step toward a plan to drill off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean for oil. The Department of Interior announced in March that it would begin the process.

“I am totally opposed to offshore drilling off the Atlantic Coast. My opposition includes any preparatory steps including seismic testing in our waters off the Atlantic Coast,” Congressman Pallone said in his opening statement. “The time and resources that the Department of Interior is allocating to seismic testing could be better used on higher priorities that will allow us to move away from dirty fuels and faster achieve U.S. energy independence through renewable sources such as wind and solar power.”

Citing the importance and environmental sensitivity of New Jersey’s coastline, which generates $38 billion per year in economic activity and supports nearly 500,000 jobs, Pallone urged the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to consider renewable alternatives and to head the lessons leaned from Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Additionally, Pallone asked Beaudreau for more information about the cost of seismic testing and urged the Bureau to allow more time for a public review comment period to let New Jersey residents have their opinions considered as the process moves forward.

“The Department of Interior must halt this process and reconsider its priorities in ensuring American energy independence,” said Pallone. “Recently, the Department of Interior held a public listening session in Atlantic City, NJ on the process leading to seismic testing. Local environmental organizations, fishermen, divers and people from all backgrounds were there to oppose this decision; I call on the Department to earnestly listen to their concerns and opposition.”

Congressman Pallone Statement to Interior Department Opposing Testing for Atlantic Offshore Drilling

For Immediate Release:

April 27, 2012

Atlantic City, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone submitted the following statement for the Department of Interior Public Hearing in Atlantic City, NJ on Programmatic Environmental Impact Study on Seismic Testing in the Atlantic Ocean:

Thank you for having this having this public hearing.  I am in Washington, DC voting today and therefore could not appear personally.  I am glad that the public has this opportunity to inform and shape how the Department of Interior proceeds on the important issue of offshore drilling. 

I am totally opposed to offshore drilling off the Atlantic Coast.  My opposition includes any preparatory steps including seismic testing in our waters off the AtlanticCoast.  The time and resources that the Department of Interior is allocating to seismic testing could be better used on higher priorities that will allow us to move away from dirty fuels and faster achieve U.S. energy independence through renewables such as wind and solar power. 

We all know how important New Jersey's beaches are, not only to residents of our state, but also for countless visitors.  Our beaches are a tremendous resource for those who come here to enjoy them, and they are a huge economic engine for our state.  They're the primary driver of a tourism economy that supports nearly 500,000 jobs and generates $38 billion in economic activities for the state each year.

Seismic testing is the first step in the direction of opening up the Atlantic coast to oil drilling.  Most drilling off the Atlantic coast would be deepwater drilling just like Deepwater Horizon.  Yet in the two years since the BP spill none of the proposals recommended by the National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling have been put in place.  There have been no improvements in worker safety regulations that will help ensure that another blow out will not cost 11 human lives.  We need increased environmental review and planning that will ensure valuable fishing grounds and other ecological assets are not destroyed in the event of an oil leak. 

The Department of Interior must halt this process and reconsider its priorities in ensuring American energy independence.  The process you are embarking on will have severe consequences on our ocean environment, beaches, marine resources, and coastal economies in the short term and long term.  Thank you for listening to my comments and I encourage you to fully consider the public’s input here today. 

Pallone and LoBiondo Team Up to Bring Sports Gaming to New Jersey

For Immediate Release:
April 26, 2012

Congressmen offer bills that will allow the state to legalize gambling of professional and amateur sports

WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Congressman Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) announced today that they are joining together in one concerted effort to expand sports gaming to New Jersey. A statewide ballot measure to amend New Jersey’s state constitution to allow sports gaming was overwhelmingly supported by New Jersey citizens by a 2-1 margin.

Both Congressmen Pallone and LoBiondo have separate bills to allow sports betting, but are working together in a bipartisan effort to gather support to bring sports betting to New Jersey.   The Congressmen issued a letter to Members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation asking them to support and co-sponsor both bills.  In the letter, Pallone and LoBiondo state that their bills represent different, but equally effective pathways of bringing sports gaming, and its associated revenue potentially amounting to billions, to the state.

The federal ban on professional and amateur sports betting enacted in 1992 currently prohibits states from implementing any new form of sports gaming. The Congressmen introduced two bills that that would provide for changes in the law that would allow sports gaming in New Jersey. H.R. 3081 would exempt New Jersey from current federal law and H.R. 3797, opens a window in which all states can enact a law providing for sports gambling in their state until January 1, 2016.  

“Sports betting is widely supported in the state of New Jersey, but federal law stands in the way of considerable revenues that will undoubtedly benefit the state,” said Pallone. “Both of these bills will enable us to bring sports betting to the state, and I look forward to working with my New Jersey colleagues to achieve this goal.”

“New Jersey has been clear about its intent to host sports-betting. Legalizing sports-betting would strengthen Atlantic City in the face of stiff competition, giving it an additional edge to attract visitors and critical tourism dollars,” said LoBiondo. “I appreciate Congressman Pallone’s partnership in gathering support for our effort to bring sports-betting to our state.”

In November 2011, New Jersey voters supported a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution to allow sports gaming at casinos and racetracks by an almost 2-1 margin. The state of New Jersey subsequently passed and the Governor signed legal sports betting into law, but federal law still prohibits sports betting in the state.

With AG's Help, 'Retired' NJ Tourism Cop Hits Pension Jackpot

For Immediate Release:

'RETIRED' ATLANTIC CITY TOURISM COP HITS NJ PENSION JACKPOT WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL FRIENDS

Tom Gilbert never really retired, but he collects a $93,380-a-year state pension.
The commander of the Atlantic City Tourism District "retired" last year, though only on paper. He remains on duty – and on the Attorney General's payroll with an $80,620 state salary.  

Instead of one state check, Gilbert now gets two – a jackpot totaling nearly $174,000 a year – thanks to the Attorney General's office, which has a history of turning its retired employees into double-dippers.

A New Jersey Watchdog investigation found 24 "retired and rehired" investigators working for the Attorney General.  They collect $3.95 million a year — $1.66 million a year in pension pay plus $2.29 million in state salaries. On average, they each pocket $164,570 a year — $95,575 in salary and nearly $68,995 from pension.

The revolving door of retired and rehired state employees is a controversial practice that drains money from the retirement system, already underfunded by $36 billion according to the State Treasury.

For the complete story, click here or visit www.njwatchdog.org.

Fair Haven's Halfacre Sets Gerry Straight on Tax Info

It seems that Fair Haven's Mayor Mike Halfacre may not be very happy with his Republican counter-part in Middeltown based on a comment that he left on another blog site that posted Gerry Scharfenbegerger "Middletown Tax Info" email.

In his attempt to make it seem that he was doing a good job at managing Middletown's finances, Scharfenebrger as usual compared apples to oranges when he tried to compare Middeltown to Fair Haven by writing the following:

"Middletown has one of the lowest tax rates in the region. While we are currently at 35 cents, Fair Haven, for example, is almost 49 cents and Little Silver is over 50 cents."

Halfacre picked up on this misnomer with the following comment:


"Fair Haven's tax rate was 49.1 cents in 2007. Our rate is 45.8 in 2010. Over that same time frame state "aid" was cut nearly in half.

Comparing tax rates town to town does not give an idea of fiscal soundness, as every town is different. Middletown's budget is ten times Fair Haven's. They supply vastly different services. For example, FH does not have a swim club, housing authorities or facilities, etc. the list goes on and on"


Thanks Mayor Halfacre for pointing out to Gerry what many of us on the other side of the isle have been talking about for years now about him. That is, he likes to make broad and sweeping apples to oranges comparisions between Middletown and other towns such as Atlantic City, Newark, Camden and now Fair Haven, towns that have little in common with Middeltown, to make points about how well he and his friends have run Middletown.

Gore urges NJ Dems to help re-elect Corzine

The Associated Press -

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Former Vice President Al Gore touted New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's economic recovery efforts and his policies on health care and the environment as he urged the state's Democrats to do all they can to help get him re-elected.

"He's the real deal," said Gore. Gore was in Atlantic City Friday to give the keynote address at the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's annual convention.

"You have a man who has the knowledge, the experience, the commitment, the compassion and the record of solid accomplishments fighting every single hour of every single day for New Jersey. Let's re-elect Jon Corzine," Gore said as the crowd of 500 cheered.

Corzine, who faces a tough re-election bid from GOP rival Chris Christie, a federal prosecutor during the Bush administration, promised a victory in November. Corzine has lagged consistently in polls.

"Make no mistake, we are going to win on Nov. 3," Corzine said. "We will hold the Statehouse and the Assembly. We are not turning the keys to the Statehouse over to the people who wrecked the White House."

Gore, who won the popular vote for the presidency in 2000 but lost the electoral college vote to George W. Bush, deadpanned that "elections matter." He reminded the crowd of the differences between Democrats and Republicans on a range of issues including health care before warning them not to permit a Republican victory in the race for New Jersey's top elected post.

Gore referred to Corzine as a friend, and said the governor "has proven his ability to accomplish things that benefit the people of New Jersey."

His 30-minute address contained repeated references to what he called Bush's failed economic policies. At the same time, he praised Corzine's economic recovery efforts , which include the creation of thousands of jobs for government construction and mass-transit projects. Gore said some of Corzine's ideas were later adopted nationally.

He said Corzine also helped secure health insurance for 150,000 uninsured New Jersey residents during his first term and has demonstrated a commitment to the environment dating back to his days in the U.S. Senate. Gore won a Nobel prize in 2007 for his work on global climate change.

"There is no governor who has understood it more clearly or who has been bolder in taking the initiative in making New Jersey one of one of three states out of 50 to have a meaningful program to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem," he said.

Gore dismissed the third candidate in the race , independent Chris Daggett, a former Department of Environmental Protection commissioner who has gotten the Sierra Club's endorsement , as having no chance against the better known and better financed candidates.

"You could also throw your vote away and pretend you're not doing it," said Gore. "Let me tell you how that works out."

Could Sports Betting Be Coming to Atlantic City ?

In this video press release, in advance of Super Bowl XLIII, Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano (D-Cumberland/Atlantic/Cape May) and Louis D. Greenwald (D-Camden) discuss their legislation to legalize professional sports betting in Atlantic City casinos.

The measure (A-1909) would provide New Jersey voters with an opportunity to decide - via a November General Election referendum - whether Atlantic City's casinos should be able to accept in-person wagers, limited to professional sporting events.