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Welcome to the latest installment of the NJDSC's week in review. Here's a look back at some of the news from this past week and toward the end, some of the upcoming events around the state next week: Court rules Christie's education cuts unconstitutional, Governor punts - Huffington Post: Governor Christie rebuked by NJ Supreme Court over budget for schools.
- WNYC: Court Rules Against Christie: NJ Must Restore $500M in Education Funding.
- Chairman Wisniewski: "Reinforcing what NJ Democrats have said for months, the Supreme Court ruled today that Chris Christie’s drastic cuts in education funding were unconstitutional because they deprive New Jersey children of a ‘thorough and efficient’ education. But instead of leading, it’s incredible that the Governor is now passing the buck on how to solve this problem, given it was his own decision to make the cuts that created this problem in the first place. It’s time for Christie to finally start governing and stop posturing for the cameras.”
- Senate President Sweeney: Two years ago, Democrats devised a constitutional funding formula that abolished the practice of basing school funding on zip codes. By ignoring the law, Governor Christie has single-handedly recreated the Abbotts and brought the courts back into New Jersey education.
- Assembly Speaker Oliver: “It’s important to note that had the governor followed state law to begin with, the majority of additional school funding would have been awarded to suburban and rural districts. In fact, more than 70 percent of additional funding would have been sent to suburban and rural schools, providing a proper education and property tax relief to districts throughout the state."
- More from Speaker Oliver: "It is a joint responsibility of both the executive branch and the Legislature," Oliver said. "(Christie's) administration is going to bear whatever we decide to do. If our solution is distasteful to him, he wants to be able to distance himself from that. But, clearly, the governor cannot walk away from this, and he knows that."
- Senate Majority Leader Buono: "By ignoring our constitutional school funding law – which took years to craft – the governor has brought us right back to the position of the Supreme Court determining school funding levels based on zip codes. The suburban districts who were finally seeing their long-awaited chance for stable funding realized have had the rug completely pulled out from underneath them by the governor. The governor’s reckless decision to ignore the law is the reason that the Court has returned us to the very system he has railed against, nothing more and nothing less."
- Senator Sarlo: Christies School Cuts Now A Double-Whammy Against Suburban New Jersey.
- NJ Spotlight: The Supreme Court ruling has Democrats aiming to increase school aid for suburbs as well as cities.
- Patch: After Court Rebukes Christie on School Funding, Districts Await Answers
- Star Ledger: Budget gaps, $500M tab among looming obstacles for N.J. lawmakers after Supreme Court ruling.
- The Record: Glen Ridge school officials -new DOE spending chart 'muddies the waters'
Wisniewski Questions Chris Christie's Selective Outrage - "A four-month investigation by The Star-Ledger, drawing on interviews, lawsuits and internal documents, showed the Elizabeth Board of Education be a relentless political machine fueled by nepotism, patronage, money and favors, using its nearly 4,000 employees as a ready-made fundraising base."
- New Jersey Newsroom: Gov. Christie charged with showing 'selective outrage' in ignoring Elizabeth school board scandal, Wisniewski points out eight members had endorsed governor.
- PolitickerNJ names Elizabeth Board of Education Loser of the Week: "The Star-Ledger's Ted Sherman submitted a four-month probe that prompted the paper to call for a criminal investigation of the politically charged board. The story and subsequent editorial deflated an outfit whose candidates are engaged in a well-oiled effort to upset state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-20) and his running mates, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan (D-20) and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-20)."
- Blue Jersey: Chris Christie has "no credibility on the issue of ethics."
Democrats Shine Light on Christie's Medicaid Plan: Cuts income eligibility by 80% to deny new enrollees - AP: New Jersey health officials are pushing to tighten the eligibility requirements for new Medicaid enrollees as part of the Christie administration's effort to save $300 million by overhauling the health care program for low income and disabled residents. The proposal would deny coverage to new adult enrollees who earn more than $5,317 per year for a family of three — about one-fifth of the current income requirement. It would also move more participants from fee-for-service plans into managed care and require a $25 copay when hospital emergency rooms are used for non-emergency treatment.
- Philadelphia Inquirer: Gov. Christie plans to seek approval for a proposal that would deny Medicaid coverage to adults in a family of four with an annual household income of little more than $6,000, down from the current $30,000. A single mother raising three children who earned as little as $118 a week would not qualify for the government-funded medical coverage.
- Assemblyman Greenwald questioned what Christie plans to do with the people who lose coverage: "Those 23,000 people are going to get sick this year, Where are you suggesting they're going to go?"
- Speaker Oliver: "To think that low-income women who aren't insured have other places to go is just not true."
- Blue Jersey - Once Again: Balancing the budget on the backs of the poor.
- NJ Spotlight: Democratic lawmakers say they still need much more information about the administration’s plans to cut $300 million from the state Medicaid program. But after grilling state officials for more than two hours they concluded that the proposal was "simply inhumane and fiscally irresponsible," in the words of one Assemblyman.
Democrats fight for Women's Health as Republicans Continue to stand in the way - A bill which would reverse the Governor’s cuts to women’s health and family planning programs in New Jersey and require the State to apply for federal matching funds for Medicaid-eligible women was approved by the Senate by a vote of 26-13.
- Senate President Sweeney offered this take after the Senate passed funding for women's health again: The Senate took an important step for women’s healthcare today. I want to thank Senator Weinberg for being at the forefront of this issue and for her continued devotion on behalf of the women of New Jersey. Unfortunately, too few Republicans felt the need to place common sense over party. Their action is a let down to the thousands upon thousands of women who have not been able to get care since Governor Christie shut down the clinics that served as their only access to basic medical services. I can only hope that the governor has a much needed change of heart and does the responsible thing by eventually putting this funding back into the budget. This issue is far too important to be held at the whim of someone’s political right-wing ideology.”
- Senator Weinberg: "Standing up for Women's health again... and the war on women!"
- Assemblywoman Quijano spoke about the companion funding bill she introduced in the Assembly: "We cannot simply stand by while the Governor systematically dismantles the framework we have in place to help our neediest residents. Family planning clinics and Medicaid were put in place decades ago to help provide healthcare services to segments of the population that are typically underserved. Getting rid of these programs will only further disenfranchise those who need the most assistance, and I refuse to stand for that."
- The Record Editorial: "Legislators who care little for women’s health in June may find voters to be equally uncaring in November."
- Star Ledger: "Regardless of what he says, it will be hard to view another veto as anything but appeasement of conservative forces within the Republican Party that might someday propel him to the White House. Women’s health care shouldn’t be tossed overboard for his ambitions for higher office."
- NJ Policy Perspective: "At a time when New Jersey doesn’t have a penny to spare, the state is leaving money on the table – perhaps millions of dollars a year in federal funds that could provide family planning services to poor, uninsured women. To put it in simpler terms, under the waiver known as the Family Planning State Option the federal government would provide $9 million for every $1 million that New Jersey spent."
- Star Ledger Editorial: Senator Doherty's bad choice of words.
Bowing To Koch Pressure, Christie Announces Plan To Withdraw From Successful Climate Initiative - Think Progress: "Following a multi-million-dollar campaign to derail RGGI by the Koch front group Americans for Prosperity, Chris Christie called the nation's first successful carbon trading effort RGGI nothing more than a “gimmicky” program."
- NJ Spotlight: "Gov. Christie’s announcement today undermines a decade’s worth of progress and leadership in New Jersey, and if he is successful, could set us behind our neighboring states working to end the dirty and destructive addiction to fossil fuels,"
- Chairman Wisniewski commented on the Governor's attempts to change the subject from his very bad week: “Separate from the terrible policy implications of this decision, it’s no surprise the Governor would try to change the headlines with this announcement given the bad week he is having. With his poll numbers plummeting, the Supreme Court ruling his policies are unconstitutional and then losing the Special Election in NY-26 where he supported efforts to end Medicare, Chris Christie is desperately attempting to stop the negative stories. It’s outrageous that policies with long range consequences for the people of NJ are being implemented simply to change the subject in a bad news cycle.”
- Senator Lautenberg offered this response: "Withdrawing from this program might play well with the national Tea Party Republicans, but it flies in the face of New Jersey’s long history of leading on environmental protection. This is a major setback for the health of our families and children and an assault on New Jersey's environment. With or without the Governor’s support, I will continue fighting for federal investments that clean up the air, create jobs, and reduce our dependence on coal and oil."
- Maryland Governor O'Malley knocked Governor Christie on the decision: “I am disappointed in Governor Christie’s decision to withdraw from RGGI, and I reject his assertion that the initiative is ineffective in reducing greenhouse gases. RGGI represents an important multi-state effort to address climate change at a time when consensus eludes Congress. ... Governor Christie is simply wrong when he claims that these efforts are a failure.”
- Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin criticized Christie: "The planet is not a political football -- we need serious, stable and long-term policy in place to reverse our climate impact. That is why I think Gov. Christie’s decision to abandon RGGI, a cornerstone of that policy, is wrong."
- Senate President Sweeney: “RGGI (the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) represents a smart, common sense approach to dealing with our environment and issues of clean energy. It has wide-spread support and its principles are largely endorsed by the people of New Jersey. Removing New Jersey from RGGI can only cause harm to our state’s environment. I urge the governor to reconsider his position."
- Senator Smith: "Once again, the governor is showing how his unilateral, one-way decisions are narrowly tailored to maximize his short-term exposure before fawning national conservative leaders while shoving New Jersey’s long-term interests aside."
- Assemblyman McKeon: "Under this Governor, we are now a state that puts right-wing sound bites over innovation. Quite simply, this decision reeks of a Governor desperate to boost his radical conservative credentials to distract from his failing policies."
- Senator Majority Leader Buono and Assemblywoman Stender: Climate initiative flip-flop in N.J. is troublesome.
- Huffington Post: Chris Christie Checks Off Another Box On The 'Running For President' Checklist.
- Climate Progress: Confused Chris Christie embraces climate science, rejects climate action.
- Climate Biz: New Jersey to Climate - Drop Dead.
Christie's Negative Ratings Rise to Record Among NJ Voters - Bloomberg: "New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s ratings turned more negative this month as the percentage of voters giving him low job-performance scores climbed to the highest since he took office in January 2010."
- FDU Poll: “The Worst Governor Christie has measured in his term”
- PolitickerNJ: Christie’s approval rating drops to 40%.
- Captiol Quickies: "The Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll marks the third straight week that polls have detected Christie’s ratings are down from the last time each polling outfit measured. 'There is often a gender gap in voters' attitudes,' said Peter Woolley, a political scientist and director of the poll, 'but this is a dramatic contrast.'”
- Washington Post The Fix: "The FDU poll released Tuesday morning painted a tough picture for Christie."
- Time, The Page - "Christie's sluggish support at home: FDU poll finds Guv’s unfavorability ratings up four points to 45% in last month among Garden Staters."
- PolitickerNJ named Christie a Loser of the Week: "Yet another poll showed the Republican governor's statewide numbers moving in the wrong direction, and that was taken before this strange gubernatorial week when he humbly said he would comply with the state Supreme Court's ruling on Abbott - even if he didn't agree with it, infuriating members of his own party; and bounced back with conservative red meat a day later, calming the national party's conservative base by pulling New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Was there ever a five day period more illustrative of the governor's national/statewide double image?"
- Reuters: "Local setbacks could impact his national standing. Polls show his popularity waning in New Jersey, ratings agencies have downgraded the state's credit rating, and the state's highest court just ordered Christie to spend more money on education."
Christie Shamelessly Connecting the Wrong Dots - Star Ledger Editorial: "In short: Christie is shamelessly connecting the wrong dots. Too many times, the governor has failed to accept responsibility for his mistakes. So, it’s doubly troubling that, on top of that, he would try to glom undeserved glory."
Christie and his Candidate in NY-26 ride ending Medicare to defeat Congressional Corner  Senator Lautenberg and Congressman Holt introduced legislation to create more aggressive language programs.- To commemorate Memorial Day, Senator Menendez introduced a bill in Support of the Military Family Unit.
- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Ron Sims awarded $18.4 million to revitalize the Alexander Hamilton development in Paterson, NJ. The high and low-rises formerly on the site will be replaced with 201 townhouse rental and for-sale units, as well as 70 off-site rental units for seniors. Sims made the announcement at the Paterson Housing Authority site, and was joined by Senator Frank Lautenberg, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Paterson Mayor Jeffrey Jones, and Paterson Housing Authority Executive Director Irma Gorham.
- Senator Menendez announced legislation to raise standards and keep production of highway marker beads in U.S. A similar bill has been introduced by Chairman Wisniewski in the Legislature and has already cleared committee.
- (Audio) Congressman Andrews said Republicans are playing a dangerous game forcing a vote on the debt ceiling before any negotiation.
- Senator Lautenberg opposed the GOP budget plan to end Medicare as we know it & double health care costs for NJ seniors (Video)
- The House voted to include two amendments to the 2012 National Defense Authorization bill authored by U.S. Congressman Pascrell. Both amendments are aimed at helping U.S service members who have sustained traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
- Senator Menendez met with seniors in Ft. Lee to tell them he opposed the Republican plan to eliminate traditional Medicare + impose benefit cuts.
- Congressman Rothman: U.S.-Israel Relationship is Deep and Ironclad.
- Congressman Pallone spoke on the floor of the House and said that from day one, seniors will pay more and get less from Republican Medicare Plan.
- Congressman Payne said he was alarmed at the startling news that three camps of internally displaced persons in the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince were effectively destroyed.
- Star Ledger: The North Hudson Sewerage Authority put two big final touches on a wet weather pump station project that would help alleviate Hoboken’s flooding problems.The authority planned and paid for most of the $17.6 million project with help from a $5 million federal grant from Congressman Albio Sires and Sen. Robert Menendez.
- Congressman Pallone noted that House Republicans says they’re for jobs, but forgot to pass a single jobs bill.
- Congressman Andrews spoke on the floor of the House responding to Republicans who want a blank check for war. (Video)
Under the Dome - A bill proposing a constitutional amendment to increase a property tax deduction for veterans cleared an Assembly panel Monday. The bill would increase the current $250 deduction to $300 in 2012, $350 in 2013, $400 in 2014 and $500 for 2016 and every year thereafter. The state has not increased the benefit since 1999.
- Assemblymen Wisniewski and Coughlin joined area veterans, including some from the Memorial Veterans Home in Menlo Park, who visited South Amboy Middle/High School to share their experiences in the armed forces with high school students. The annual Memorial Day Remembrance assembly was organized by the school's history club and the Veterans Committee of the South Amboy Elks Lodge 784.
 - Bipartisan legislation to streamline contracting and licensing procedures at the state departments of Human Services and Children and Families to eliminate red tape and foster greater collaboration between the agencies was passed by the Senate.
- Legislation to refine unemployment benefit instructions and reduce the amount of money employees pay into the Temporary Disability Insurance fund was passed by the Senate.
- 14th district Legislators have partnered with Tender Hearts, a Hamilton Township based not-for-profit organization, to collect donated items for members of the United States Armed Forces who have been deployed overseas.
- Legislation that would establish the New Jersey Multiple Sclerosis Task Force in the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has passed the full Senate.
- A Senate resolution that calls on the state to apply for federal funds in order to help create a pilot program that would assist children in need of mental health services cleared the full Senate.
- Assemblywomen Quijano and Spencer have been selected as two of only 50 legislators from across the nation to participate in the State Legislative Leaders Foundation's 2011 Emerging Leaders Program to be held in July at The University of Virginia's renowned Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.
- A bill which would direct New Jersey’s courts to consider use of a hand-held cell phone while driving as proof of reckless driving during vehicular homicide or assault by auto proceedings was approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee by a vote of 4-0, with one abstention.
- Legislation known as “Pamela’s Law” that would criminalize the possession and sale of products containing “bath salts,” was cleared out of the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee.
- Just in time for the unofficial kick-off of summer, legislation is headed to the Governor’s desk, which would allow municipalities to offer free or discounted beach badges to military personnel and their families.
- A package of bills which would promote a more centralized, coordinated approach to serving homeless New Jerseyans was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
- Two Democratic state lawmakers from Burlington County have penned legislation that would subject county bridge commissions to a pay-to-play ban restricting them from awarding large contracts to firms or businesses that have made political donations.
- A bill which would require one-room surgical practices to conform to the same level of oversight and regulation reserved for larger facilities in order to protect patient safety was approved by the Committee by a vote of 7-1.
Upcoming Events  May 31:
35th Assembly Candidates Shavonda Sumter & Benjie Wimberly
Cocktail Reception Fundraisers
Special Guests, Assembly Speaker Oliver, Assemblywoman Evans,
NJ Democratic State Chair Wisniewski, Chairman John Currie, Bergen Chairman Lou Stellato, Paterson Mayor Jeffery Jones
6:00-8:00 PM
Brownstone, Paterson
- June 1:
Fundraiser for Assemblyman Jerry Green
6:00 PM
Spain Inn, 700 West 7th St, Piscataway
$500
RSVP: 201-457-0590
- June 2:
Hon. John Wisniewski, Mike Baker, Charles Carley and Chris Killmurray Cordially invite you to a cocktail party in support of South Brunswick Councilman and 16th District Assembly Candidate
Joe Camarota
6:00-8:00 PM
Mike Baker’s Barn
93 Church Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
$250
Nellie Pou for Senate
Home of Vincenzo Stampone, Esq., North Haledon, $250pp
Please join the Belmar, Lake Como, Manasquan, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Democrats in a fundraiser in support of Freeholder Mallet
Bar-A, 16th Avenue, Lake Como, NJ
7-9pm Suggested Contribution: $60pp
For more information or to RSVP please contact Councilwoman Venables at janicevenables@hotmail.com or 732-996-88767
- June 4:
Asbury Park Democrats Community Day
12:30-2:30pm
Westside Community Center, 115 DeWitt Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
Please support the Asbury Park Democrats on their first Community Day! The AP Dems will be raffling off beach badges to Asbury Park residents and will also be having a free cookout plus entertainment for the AP Community.
For more information please call 732-739-8888.
- June 5:
Jersey Gay Pride Festival 2011, Asbury Park
12:00 PM
The Park in front of the Convention Center, Ocean & Sunset, Asbury Park
- June 7:
Three candidates for the New Jersey State Legislature think its time for voters in the northwest corner of New Jersey to send a message to Chris Christie by sending Democrats to Trenton. Ed Selby is running for New Jersey State Senate. Leslie Huhn and Jim Nye are running for the State Assembly. The three candidates have formed a joint campaign committee, Democratic 24th, and will kick off their campaign on Tuesday, June 7th.
8:00 PM
St. Moritz on White Deer Plaza in Sparta, NJ.
- June 8:
Assemblywoman Elease Evans Birthday Fundraiser
6:00pm
Brownstone, Paterson
- June 11:
Campaign Training for Candidates
10:30 AM
PCDC Headquarters, 668 McBride Ave., Woodland Park
- June 14:
MCDO Reorganization Meeting
The Pines Manor
2085 Route 27, Edison
Passaic County Committee Meeting
6:30pm
Elks, 775 Clifton Avenue, Clifton Support the New Jersey Democratic State Committee  
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We will continue to have updates about news from our elected officials and the many campaigns across the state. There will certainly be more to come next week. Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
John Wisniewski, Chairman
New Jersey Democratic State Committee |
PolitickerNJ: