Sweeney’s Good Call

If you feel as I do about the divisive state of politics in Washington and Trenton these days, then you may be at least temporarily refreshed about a recent act of integrity in New Jersey’s Capital.

It seems that the relationship between some of this state’s most influential lobbyists and Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D) may not be as rosy as it once was.

 

Sweeney had been leading the charge to get a key constitutional amendment placed on this November’s ballot. 

 

His effort was intended to put a referendum before Garden State voters which, if passed, would have required mandatory, systematic payments into the state’s public pension plans.

No more shortchanging union members as had happened over the last two decades by unthinking, shortsighted legislators who underfunded those pensions for years either by not making regular payments, or by raiding the pension fund through borrowing.

Susan Wigenton: A judge reaching for a bridge too far.

Christie and Bridget Anne Kelly.  (Screen Grab on 01/09/2014)

The drama continues and the band plays on as some of the blood-seeking, revenge-toting politicians, as well as a few in the press continue to pursue their on-the-record speculation that “Christie had to know” about vehicular lane closures leading from Fort Lee to the George Washington Bridge.

If our governor had to satisfy all the demands of those who dislike him (despise him is a more accurate verb), he would have to turn himself into a pretzel.  Yet, even that wouldn’t be acceptable.

The characterization in the aggregate of what his detractors want him to do is unbalanced and contradictory:  It is a schizophrenic conflation of bipolar thinking that evokes a “Can’t live with him, can’t live without him” syndrome.  Impossible!

Governor Christopher Christie is a tough personality and can be very abrasive in his interactions, no matter with whom – no news to anyone.

His I-am-what-I-am behavior does not sit very well with political opponents, even, lately, among some of those in his own party where he has kept a tight rein.

More about Christie

If ever there was a dark horse in the GOP primary race for the presidency, it’s our very own governor Chris Christie.  Although he does not fit within the strict meaning of that term, Christie is not generally considered to have much of a chance of garnering the nomination and, should he do so, even less of a chance of becoming president.

That is why I consider him a dark horse should he decide to run.  However, those probabilities don’t concern me much, because I think that the country could use someone with his style in the upcoming debates.

There’s been too much phoniness in the last two presidential debates.  Yet at least one person in those verbal exchanges was genuine and providential: 

Why Not Christie?

Governor Chris Christie’s favorability numbers in New Jersey have plummeted from their post second-election highs to their current lows.  Yet, he continues to act like a contender in a crowded field struggling for position in the race for the GOP 2016 presidential nomination. 

 

Whether he decides to run or not, he is unlikely to garner the Garden State’s vote in the 2016 general election against whomever the Democrats choose as their candidate for U.S. president. 

 

New Jersey is a true-blue state, covered from nearly one end to the other with Democratic Party influence.  Moreover, Christie’s entanglements with opponents to public sector pension reform have not endeared him to those committed to the status quo on this third-rail-of-politics issue – none of this comes as a surprise to Christie.

N.J. Pension Reform: Screaming at it or solving it?

Wendell Steinhauer, NJ Teachers' Union President, on NJTV, 02/07

The impact of a headline appearing in the print edition of a newspaper that is unlike that for the same story written by the same author on the same day in that newspaper’s digital edition can project a significantly skewed message.

EXAMPLE:  (At least for those who care for such distinctions.)

Thursday’s print edition of The Star-Ledger displayed a front-page, above-the-fold banner that read, “N.J. Unions’ Outrage,” while the headline for the same story in the digital edition read, “Second try on N.J. pension overhaul a much bigger lift.”

Both statements are true, but the second banner published on the Internet emphasizes a more practical view of the problem and attempts to move past highly-charged feelings.

Committee’s Attempt to Impale Christie Fails

How many more times do we have to hear from the functionally neutered New Jersey Legislative Select Committee on Investigation that its job is not yet over?
   

Christie listens intently at Jan. 2014 press conference.(Bergeron Screen Shot.)

This group of head-hunting politicians directed by Assembly Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, issued a press release yesterday which added nothing new to what already has been reported ad nauseam by the press in hundreds, if not thousands of newspaper columns, as well as in the digital media concerning the Bridgegate “scandal.”

The committee’s report, which will be officially released on Monday, reluctantly clears Governor Chris Christie of any premeditated actions, prior knowledge of, or complicity in those now infamous four-day lane closings leading to the George Washington Bridge.

“Bridgegate” and Christie’s Aspirations to National Office

In June of 2013, in the midst of his battle with Barbara Buono to capture a second term as New Jersey governor, one poll had Chris Christie leading by 30 points (61 to 31).  It looked like nothing could slow him down, let alone that anything negative could be pinned on him – surely not a scandal. 
 

Christie at a Town Meeting, Raritan Valley Community College, April 2013

Yet, for a long time, his foes – including some within the press – had been looking for ways to knock him off his game:  Their opportunity would come when, in the fall of 2013, the so-called “Bridgegate” affair would provide Christie’s opponents with the impetus to begin pummeling him for months on end.

ONSET OF THE INVESTIGATIONS:
 
Paul Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the State of New Jersey, headed up one of the key investigative agencies that entered the fray.  Yet, as of this writing, his office has yet to produce any evidentiary reports that Governor Christie acted in an unlawful manner, or even knew anything about the oblique “Bridgegate” incident.

Christie Still Fund-Raising, Still Dodging Bullets

As New Jersey Governor Chris Christie keeps up his out-of-state fund-raising efforts on behalf of the Republican Governors Association, his state-wide political critics in New Jersey, together with the editorial page writers of the region’s largest daily newspaper continue to batter his record.

However, outside of New Jersey it’s a different story.  Despite all of the heavily negative reporting about the so-called Bridgegate incident, no evidence has yet surfaced showing that Christie had direct or indirect participation in its planning and execution.

Millions have been spent on investigating what amounts to a two-lane, four-day closure of certain access lanes to the George Washington Bridge.  So far, if the purpose was to nail Christie, it has failed.

Have you noticed recently that . . .

.  .  .  .  New Jersey newspapers, notably The Star-Ledger, have moved away from the daily reporting and endless editorials which slammed Governor Chris Christie about the so-called ‘Bridgegate’ affair?

On June 13, Fallon and Christie dance away the 'Bridgegate' incident.

Ever wonder why?  Nobody cares anymore!  It’s over – done with.  There is no there, there.

The reason is that despite the millions in cash and the thousands of man-hours expended up to this point investigating Christie and what role he may have played in this incident, not a single person or entity has identified a scintilla of evidence to prove that the governor ordered the closing of two access lanes in Fort Lee, New Jersey that lead to the George Washington Bridge, and across the Hudson River into New York City.

Ignore Star-Ledger Editorial Plea: “Crunch Time for America”

In an editorial which appeared in today’s The Star Ledger  (S/L) under the headline quoted above, the writer is cautioning all those who are eligible to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) that they had better do it before the March 31^st deadline, or face “fines” which “are higher than many people think.”

Take a deep breath and relax.  That editorial is wrong.

Christie’s Grit

A report in today’s print edition of the Courier News provided a disheartening update on the bureaucratic mini-controversy caused by the lack of road salt in The Garden State. 

The problem was easily solvable:

(Screen Shot/Dick Bergeron)

 

 

There are 40,000 tons of salt purchased by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.  Yet all of it is still sitting in Searsport, Maine, ready to ship out.   

But that won’t happen thanks to the intransigence of some un-civil servant bureaucrats sitting securely in the offices of Homeland Security and those of the Transportation Department in Washington, D.C. – they enjoy saying no, you can’t have it.

According to the newspaper report by Larry Higgs, it would have been here by now, but officials in D.C. have refused to grant an exemption to the Jones Act.  That legislation prohibits cargo ships which don’t sail under the U.S. flag from carrying goods from one American port to another.

That law was enacted in 1920 mainly as a measure to protect American maritime jobs.  Exemptions are only granted in times of national emergency.  The Anastasia S. which isn’t registered in the U.S. was ready to sail with that salt.

The Intensification of Political Retribution.

The scent of blood is running in the water, and traces of vengeance are wafting in the air over Trenton.  Governor Chris Christie has run up against his first real drag-down, take-no-prisoners assault. 

There are now at least several special committees within the Democrat-controlled New Jersey Legislature that are being established to determine the causes of the unannounced closure of lanes at the George Washington Bridge.

In addition, investigations into this matter have been started in Washington, and the U.S. Attorney for the State of New Jersey is also getting into the picture.

Why Christie Will Win.

Governor Chris Christie, as he appeared
 in a CNN interview with Piers Morgan
 in February of 2012.
 (Credit: Dick Bergeron Screen Shot/CNN)

He is trustworthy; he speaks plainly; he keeps his word; he is credible; he shows up; he walks the talk; he is a good administrator; he builds coalitions; he does not cover up his mistakes; he is unafraid; he has the back of New Jersey; he projects confidence; he can speak on his feet; he eschews teleprompters; he does his homework; he has the mojo; he is imperfect; he knows it. 

His detractors hold a weak position.

In brief, he earned a second term as New Jersey Governor.

Simple as that.

Thanks for reading.  Enjoy the coming week.

The Washington Sandbox

Credit:  Fox TV Screen Shot/Dick Bergeron

From November 4, 2008 when the charismatic oratory of  President Barack Obama lifted him to the U.S. Presidency,  the mood in the nation’s capital has since morphed from one of “Yes we can,” to “No can do.” Similarly,  the mantra of ”Hope and Change” has slithered into that of “Delusion and Stasis.”

Politicians within the Beltway are throwing sand into one another’s eyes, and most are holding to the position that none will stop this bullying play until someone – anyone – stops first.

Even worse, it resembles a modern-day version of gladiators fighting in the Roman Coliseum.  We Americans are being toyed with like lion bait in the sand pit below.

Lautenberg: The Ghouls are out already

The last Iris of my spring garden:  In
Memory of Senator Frank Lautenberg,
1924-2013 

Life contains surprises for all of us.  The most prominent is . . . well, death!  But not many want to be reminded of that troublesome truth.  Particularly if it relates to one’s own mortality.  There are few exceptions.

And so it was with great dismay, and with no small sense of irritation and outrage that I thought Tom Moran’s column  about Senator Frank Lautenberg in today’s The Star Ledger to be way off-base. 

TO SUMMARIZE:  Mr. Moran speculated that Lautenberg should have resigned to open up his seat “70 days before today’s primary, then Christie would have been forced to set the special election date this year, the OLS says.”  Moran prefaced that statement with, “You can call that tough.” 

THE REST OF THE STORY:  I don’t think so:  I consider Moran’s column and the timing of his near-death viewpoint ghoulish.

Christie Addresses Jewish Leaders in Bridgewater

When I pulled up to the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater late yesterday morning, the parking lot was full.  Cars overflowed onto the front lawn and lined the sides of the driveway.

The Israeli Prime Minister appeared on Greta
Van Susteren's show, On The Record, March 7, 2012.
(TV Screenshot by Dick Bergeron)

For a moment, I almost turned back – I’ll never get a lap lane today, I thought.  But the desire to get into the pool overcame any lingering doubts when a parking spot turned up.

Still, I wondered what activities were taking place that it should be so crowded. 

It was a brisk spring morning – more on the cold side – when I walked from the car towards the main entrance.  Inside, I didn’t see a lot of people.  But, as I walked down the main corridor, a closed and windowed double door leading into one of the large rooms caught my attention.

Peering through the glass I viewed a room full of people listening to Governor Chris Christie.  Media types lined the back wall.

Should I go in or not?

A Matter of Judgment

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

The New Jersey Constitution seems to be quite clear on the question of whether or not Governor Chris Christie and the Legislature of this state were within the letter and the spirit of that document when public employee compensation reforms were codified into law in June, 2010.

Those reforms provided for increased contributions by state employees for their pension and health benefits.

But – it seems – at least two members of the state judiciary think that the law does not apply to them, claiming that this legislation reduces their ‘salary’ under provisions of New Jersey’s constitution.

A plain reading of that document is quiet clear on this matter to anyone else with even a scintilla of common sense:  “The justices of the Supreme Court and the judges of the Superior Court shall receive for their services such salaries as may be provided by law, which shall not be diminished during the term of their appointment.” 

(If you want more, Click here for the full source of this quote and scroll down to the Judicial section to read Paragraph 6, under Article VI, Section VI.)

Pretty simple, yet this has become a controversy which is now headed to the New Jersey Supreme Court under pending appeal by the Christie administration.

Leadership in Action

Christie is a take-charge guy – a man of action.  He hasn’t been everyone’s hero since his election, but there is no denying his ability to act decisively.  Viewing his press briefing on TV this afternoon, I was amazed by the manner in which he spoke effectively for an extended period of time without notes or prepared text. 

Governor Christie's Saturday briefing.  (TV Screenshot/Dick Bergeron)

Just as impressive was his total recall of events; the people he spoke to; the places he visited; his non-partisan treatment of this emergency; and his total commitment to storm preparations.

Christie and his staff are communicating with all agencies and people who are tasked with roles in this crisis.  He has given credit to elected officials from both parties and has made it clear that politics has absolutely no role in this emergency. 

Even if some of you, dear readers, may not be particularly fond of some of the unpopular legislation which he has shepherded through the New Jersey Senate and Assembly, it’s hard not to admire the manner in which he is working to help The Garden State weather Irene, our decidedly unwelcome guest.

When I was recently vacationing in New Hampshire with family, I found out quite serendipitously how this man has made his mark well outside of New Jersey:   As I was walking back up the sidewalk of a mountainous hill overlooking the village of Meredith, NH after shooting photos in the neighborhood, I came across a local resident who accosted me, wanting to know what I was doing.

Board of Education to Hold Special Meeting to Discuss Disposition of $1.3M

In a brief discussion this evening with Evan Lerner, President of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education, he indicated that he is calling a previously unscheduled meeting for Monday evening, July 18, at the Wade Administration Building in Martinsville.  The time is tentatively set for 8:00 PM.

Board members Lynne Hurley & Evan Lerner in a moment of levity, as Assistant Superintendent Cheryl Dyer addresses a retiring educator on June 14, at the High School.  (Bergeron Image)

The purpose of that meeting is for the Board and its administration to discuss how it will allocate the $1,331,545 of additional school aid funding which the New Jersey Department of Education is providing to the Bridgewater-Raritan School District. 

That amount is over and above the original school aid which was included in the budget adopted by voters on April 27^th.

Governor Urges School Districts to Lower Real Estate Tax

According to data released today by the New Jersey Department of Education on its website, the Bridgewater-Raritan School District is slated to receive an additional $1,331,545 in school aid.  This is over and above the previous increase in school aid announced in March and built into the 2011-2012 School Budget which voters approved in April.

Board Members Lynne Hurley, Jill Gladstone, & Ann Marie Mead at June 14 meeting. (Bergeron Image)

However, it may come with a catch:  Governor Chris Christie is urging suburban school boards such as the one for the Bridgewater-Raritan School District to allocate those extra funds for real estate tax relief – not a bad idea, one which is wholly consistent with Christie’s conservative fiscal approach.

It would be gratifying should the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education see it that way as well.  At the moment, it’s unclear whether or not the Governor’s office will put any teeth into its request to use the added $1.3 million for tax relief, or whether it is merely a soft request.