Posted on Leave a comment

>Roman Catholic leaders criticise Barack Obama over healthcare

>Roman Catholic leaders criticise Barack Obama over healthcare

Roman Catholic leaders have furiously criticised President Barack Obama for approving new regulations that compel religious organisations to include morning-after pills and other contraceptives in employee health insurance coverage.

By Jon Swaine, Washington7:42PM GMT 06 Feb 2012

Roman Catholic leaders have furiously criticised President Barack Obama for approving new regulations that compel religious organisations to include morning-after pills and other contraceptives in employee health insurance coverage.

New rules, introduced under Mr Obama’s overhaul of the US healthcare system, mean that religious charities, universities and other groups must now provide contraception in staff insurance packages.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9064926/Roman-Catholic-leaders-criticise-Barack-Obama-over-healthcare.html

Posted on Leave a comment

>Archbishop to U.S. Troops: Obamacare Reg ‘Is a Blow to a Freedom…for Which You Have Seen Your Buddies Fall in Battle’

>Archbishop to U.S. Troops: Obamacare Reg ‘Is a Blow to a Freedom…for Which You Have Seen Your Buddies Fall in Battle’
By Terence P. Jeffrey
February 6, 2012
Subscribe to Terence P. Jeffrey’s posts

(CNSNews.com) – Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, wrote a letter to be read at all Sunday Masses for U.S. military personnel around the world that said that a regulation issued by the Obama Administration under the new federal health care law was “a blow” to a freedom that U.S. troops have not only fought to defend but for which some have recently died in battle.

https://cnsnews.com/news/article/archbishop-us-troops-obamacare-reg-blow-freedomfor-which-you-have-seen-your-buddies

Posted on Leave a comment

>Pa. Bishop Does Not Recant Saying that Hitler And Mussolini ‘Would Love Our (Public School) System’

>
Pa. Bishop Does Not Recant Saying that Hitler And Mussolini ‘Would Love Our (Public School) System’
By Patrick Burke
February 6, 2012
Subscribe to Patrick Burke’s posts
   
(CNSNews.com) – The Catholic bishop of Harrisburg, Pa., has apologized for offending anyone with his recent comments that Hitler and Mussolini “would love” the public school system in Pennsylvania, because it is similar to what they sought to create in their totalitarian states.

But in a statement issued by the diocese of Harrisburg, Bishop Joseph McFadden did not retract comments he made during an interview on Jan. 24 with WHTM-TV, the ABC affiliate in Harrisburg.

https://cnsnews.com/news/article/pa-bishop-does-not-recant-saying-hitler-and-mussolini-would-love-our-public-school

Posted on Leave a comment

>Catholic League Poised To Go To War With Obama Over Mandatory Birth Control Payments

>Catholic League Poised To Go To War With Obama Over Mandatory Birth Control Payments
Donohue Says 70 Million Of His Voters Ready To Alter Presidential Election

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Catholic leaders upped the ante Monday, threatening to challenge the Obama administration over a provision of the new health care law that would require all employers, including religious institutions, to pay for birth control.

As CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer reports, it could affect the presidential elections.

Catholic leaders are furious and determined to harness the voting power of the nation’s 70 million Catholic voters to stop a provision of President Barack Obama’s new heath car reform bill that will force Catholic schools, hospitals and charities to buy birth control pills, abortion-producing drugs and sterilization coverage for their employees.

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/02/06/catholic-league-poised-to-go-to-war-with-obama-over-mandatory-birth-control-payments/

Posted on Leave a comment

>Cresskill to hire paid firefighters for daytime duty

>Cresskill to hire paid firefighters for daytime duty

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2012
BY DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

CRESSKILL — The borough’s all-volunteer fire department will soon be transformed into a combination salaried and volunteer force, bowing to the staffing realities of modern small-town life.

The volunteers have long protected residents, but past and current fire chiefs have said that they’ve had a shortage of firefighting responders during the daytime, when they have struggled at times to respond to emergencies.

“There’s been calls when there was nobody around to answer, and we had a delayed response time — it’s extremely dangerous,” said Fire Chief Chris Ulshoefer.

Among factors contributing to the demise of volunteerism are the lagging economy, more demanding training requirements and the increase of two-income families who lack time for volunteer work.

Although most Bergen County departments are still staffed by volunteers, the move to a combination or paid force is becoming more common, say experts. In New Jersey, Bergenfield, Ridgewood, Madison, Morristown, Morris Township, and Mount Laurel are served by a combination salaried and volunteer force.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/138763834_Cresskill_to_hire_paid_firefighters_for_daytime_duty.html

Posted on Leave a comment

>West Bergen Tea Party Meeting 7 pm, Tuesday, February 14 at the Larkin House

>

DavidRussoTEA theridgewoodblog.net

West Bergen Tea Party Meeting 7 pm, Tuesday, February 14 at the Larkin House

West Bergen Tea Party
Presentation of the
Americans For Prosperity
Defender of the Taxpayers Award
       To
Assemblyman David Russo
also
Count Down to NOBAMA
Implementation

Join us 7 pm, Tuesday, February 14 at the Larkin House
380 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff
(1/4 mile North of Stop & Shop on the right)
More Information: 201 891-5918
conservative_caucus@verizon.net
www.westbergenteaparty.com

Posted on Leave a comment

>Churches helping tackle the education gap

>Churches helping tackle the education gap

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2012  
BY MONSY ALVARADO
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

Days after a school pep rally for Paterson native and Giants star Victor Cruz, the pastor of St. Luke’s Baptist Church updated his Facebook status with a message that had nothing to do with football:

“To ALL of the parents who brought their kids to see Victor Cruz on Saturday — with that same enthusiasm COME TO BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT!!!”

The Rev. Kenneth D.R. Clayton, along with other black clergy in North Jersey, doesn’t just preach the Bible from the pulpit, but is also in the fight to shrink the educational achievement gap in their communities. Pastors talk to parents about the importance of being involved, review report cards at Sunday service, reward youngsters for good grades and offer tutoring and parent workshops in their houses of worship.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/138763839_No_Title_-_educationchurch0206_TR.html

Posted on Leave a comment

>Throughout New Jersey, police officer retirements lead to leaner forces

>Throughout New Jersey, police officer retirements lead to leaner forces


Jersey City Police Chief Tom Comey can claim something few people in his position in New Jersey can: He has led a big-city department through the economic downturn without laying off one police officer.

Instead of pink slips, Comey has been besieged by a historic surge in retirements that has touched all corners of the state. As a result, he has lost 103 officers, or about 12 percent of his overall force, forcing him to disband the community affairs department and the police academy, and transfer officers out of the traffic unit to keep up with neighborhood patrols.  (Renshaw and Baxter, The Star-Ledger)

Posted on Leave a comment

>“the Telephone Pole Solar Panel Rip-Off”

>

PSEGSolar theridgewoodblog



“the Telephone Pole Solar Panel Rip-Off”

While I am finishing up part 5 of the series “the Telephone Pole Solar Panel Rip-Off”, I want to bring to everyone’s attention some interesting information that is being compiled on the operation of solar panels by Germany.  The reason it should be of interest is because many in the state use Germany as a blueprint for New Jersey’s solar panel program.

Since the 1980’s the Green Party in Germany has pushed the country to invest enormous amounts of money in “Green” power projects.  Because of this the installed solar cell base is 1.1 million power systems and is rated at 25 gigawatts.  That might sound impressive until you convert is to megawatts and realize that it is 25,000 megawatts.  That is about the same amount of electricity, if all of the cells are producing at the same time what would be produced by 25 average coal fired or nuclear powered generating plants.

To get this 25,000 megawatts Germany has paid a tremendous price.  They have invested over 100 billion Euros to install these units and just recently the return on investment in the form of electricity from this expenditure was: ZERO.

Of course you will not read about this in the New York Times, Washington Post or on NBC, ABC or CBS since it does not support the green energy myth they have been pushing.  You will though find out about these problems if you are an investor researching various companies in the alternative energy fields.

I was reading an article entitled Dark Clouds Threaten German Clean Energy Ambitions: Global Implications by John Peterson, an American living in Switzerland.  This one quote really hit home:

“For weeks now, the 1.1 million solar power systems in Germany have generated almost no electricity.”

Because of this Germany has had to import electricity from France and Czech Republic.  100 billion Euros spent and they still have to import energy to heat and light their homes.  Could this be the future of New Jersey?  Well, some people want it that way and are willing to lie to us in order to make it so.

Writing at EcoOutfitters.net, Dawn Allcot compares Germany and New Jersey then makes this statement:

There’s a simple answer, and the proof is in the power. (So to speak…) Germany is currently the world’s leader in solar energy production. Last year, the country’s solar plants produced more than 13,000mw of solar energy – enough to power 4.3 million homes, according to an article on the BBC website about solar power in Europe.

And Germany isn’t exactly noted for its sunny, temperate weather. Let’s look at a snapshot of conditions in a few areas around Berlin today, according to Weather Underground:

•       Scattered clouds

•       Mostly cloudy

•       Scattered Clouds

•       Scattered Clouds

•       Clear

•       Mostly Cloudy…

This sure sounds a lot like the weather we get in New Jersey, and if we accepted what Allcot takes as gospel from the BBC, it might make sense for New Jersey to follow in Germany’s “green” footsteps.  But before we open the checkbook, how about we consider this little piece of information by Alexander Neubacher at Spiegel Online International:

It gets worse:
https://conservativenewjersey.com/a-new-look-at-solar-panels

Posted on Leave a comment

>Changes to anti-bullying bill delayed

>

Changes to anti-bullying bill delayed

Gov. Chris Christie and legislative sponsors of the anti-bullying law deemed unconstitutional for imposing costs on schools without providing funds expressed willingness last week to make the changes needed to keep the law on the books.

Resolution for the law’s uncertain future appears unlikely until the spring at the earliest, however. Christie said it’s not possible to determine how to proceed until reading the state Council on Local Mandates’ written opinion, and the council doesn’t plan on issuing that until March 27.  (Symons, Gannett)

Posted on Leave a comment

>Teacher tenure reform headed for runway

>

Teacher tenure reform headed for runway

Public school teachers would no longer enjoy tenure as lifetime job security and principals would have more power over personnel decisions under major legislation expected to be introduced today.
The bill would allow for currently tenured teachers to lose their job protections, expose ineffective teachers to layoffs and give greater latitude to school districts in firing.

State Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, who heads the state Senate Education Committee, will sponsor the legislation. Gov. Chris Christie, who has now made education reform his top priority, has praised Ruiz for taking a “laboring role” in the tenure reform work.  (Method, Gannett)

Posted on Leave a comment

>NJ Transit officials say rail ‘bill of rights’ is unnecessary

>

NJ Transit officials say rail ‘bill of rights’ is unnecessary

New York transit agencies unveiled a passenger “bill of rights” for rail commuters last week, but NJ Transit officials said they’re not planning to launch a similar pledge on this side of the Hudson because the agency’s Scorecard initiative is already covering the same issues.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North, which includes commuter rail service in Connecticut, unveiled their own versions of a rail passenger bill of rights or “pledge to customers” last week, which will be posted in stations and on the agency website.  (Higgs, Gannett)

Posted on Leave a comment

>Rhode Island’s Bold Pension Reforms Point the Way Forward

>Rhode Island’s Bold Pension Reforms Point the Way Forward

by Ivan Osorio on January 5, 2012 ·

To describe pension reform, Utah State Senator Dan Liljenquist put it best: “This is not a conservative-versus-liberal issue, this is a reality issue.” Liljenquist helped his state face up to the reality of its underfunded public employee pensions by leading a successful reform effort. Utah is a fairly conservative state, but some far more liberal states are also tackling their pension problems — and not just to prove Liljenquist’s point.

https://www.openmarket.org/2012/01/05/rhode-islands-bold-pension-reforms-point-the-way-forward/

Posted on Leave a comment

>Assembly panel approves bills to force more oversight over Port Authority

>

Assembly panel approves bills to force more oversight over Port Authority
No officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey appeared Thursday at an Assembly hearing to discuss bills designed to make the agency more accountable.
The bistate agency’s snub didn’t stop the Assembly Transportation Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee from voting to release four bills that would make the agency more accountable and transparent in light of headlines about rampant overtime, hiring of the politically connected and the fiasco over last summer’s hastily approved toll and PATH fare hikes.  (Higgs, Gannett)
Posted on Leave a comment

>Federal agency eases waiting time for offshore wind projects

>

DonQuiote theridgewoodblog.net



Federal agency eases waiting time for offshore wind projects

The prospect of wind turbines spinning off the Jersey Coast grew more likely yesterday, when the U.S. Department of Interior cleared the way for leasing activities for offshore wind farms by the end of the year.
In finding that leasing and site assessment activities at potential offshore wind farm sites posed no significant environmental impact, the Bureau of Ocean Management probably shaved as much as two years off the time it would take developers to navigate the permitting process, according to offshore wind advocates.  (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)