Month: February 2012

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>Federal officials signal they may agree to Gov. Christie’s Medicaid change

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Federal officials signal they may agree to Gov. Christie’s Medicaid change
The Christie administration got welcome budget news Friday as federal officials signaled they were close to accepting the governor’s plan to dramatically change the Medicaid program and save $300 million in state funding this year.
But precisely how the Obama administration will allow Gov. Chris Christie to achieve that savings remains a matter of negotiation, state and federal officials said.
The federal government last fall said it did not have the authority to repay New Jersey $107.3 million for decades of federal costs the state had picked up. Christie anticipated the savings for the current budget year, which runs through June 30.  (Livio, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/federal_officials_signal_they.html
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>New Jersey pension lawsuit continues in federal court

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New Jersey pension lawsuit continues in federal court
The federal lawsuit brought by state government worker unions in an attempt to overturn New Jersey’s landmark pension reform law continues to grind away, even as other state courts have decided in favor of pensioners recently.
The state’s largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, and other unions filed a brief Feb. 7 that argued why they believe the case belongs in the U.S. District Court, rather than the state Superior Court.
The brief says that because pensions are paid out of the state’s pension fund and not out of the state treasury, at least not directly, then the federal court can hear the matter as a violation of the Constitution and the pensioners’ contractual rights.  (Method, Gannett)
https://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20120219/NJNEWS/302190035/Pension-lawsuit-continues-federal-court
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>Port Authority gets no-confidence vote as it faces a daunting task to reform

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Port Authority gets no-confidence vote as it faces a daunting task to reform

Is there a new order at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and can it inspire confidence it will bring order and fiscal discipline back to the agency?

So far, the Port Authority got a vote of no confidence from five New Jersey lawmakers who announced they’ll introduce legislation to grant an Assembly committee subpoena power to get answers after agency officials were no-shows at a legislative hearing, and from a finance expert who studies toll authorities.  (Higgs, Gannett)

https://www.app.com/article/C0/20120218/NJNEWS/302180040/Port-Authority-gets-no-confidence-vote-faces-daunting-task-reform
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>Christie endorses pal Kyrillos for US Senate

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Christie endorses pal Kyrillos for US Senate
Gov. Chris Christie has wasted no time endorsing longtime friend Joe Kyrillos (KIR’-ill-ohs) for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey.
Christie made it official while campaigning with the GOP state senator in Union County this week. The governor says New Jersey “would be extraordinarily well-served” if residents were represented by Kyrillos in Washington.
The 51-year-old is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic incumbent Bob Menendez in November. Menendez is better known and better financed, having amassed nearly $7 million for the race.  (Delli Santi, Assocaited Press)
https://www.app.com/article/20120218/NJNEWS10/302180031/Christie-endorses-pal-Kyrillos-US-Senate
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>Tea Party member seeks Republican nomination for U.S. Senate

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Tea Party member seeks Republican nomination for U.S. Senate
The race for the Republican U.S. senate nomination has picked up a little heat, with the official entry of Tea Party member Bader Qarmout into the contest.
Qarmout kicked off his candidacy at a rally with about 80 supporters at Homer’s Restaurant in Sparta. In his remarks, he said his conservative views are what will be needed to beat Democratic incumbent Sen. Robert Menendez.  (O’Dea, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0221/0125/
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>Ridgewood search committee to screen candidates for high school principal

>Ridgewood search committee to screen candidates for high school principal
Tuesday February 21, 2012, 10:43 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

School district officials said they will begin screening paper applications for a new high school principal next week, and they expect to narrow the candidate pool to about one dozen prospects by the end of the month. The position is expected to be filled by springtime.

Board of Education (BOE) trustees were updated on the progress of the principal search at their meeting last week, while Superintendent Daniel Fishbein answered a handful of questions that had been circulating throughout the community. Some concern focused on search committees, specifically the ones made up of volunteers.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/139827733_Ridgewood_search_committee_to_screen_candidates_for_high_school_principal.html

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>Carroll Highet and Bill Scher featured soloists with the New Jersey Choral Society

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ScherandHighet theridgewoodblog.net

 
Carroll Highet and Bill Scher featured soloists with the New Jersey Choral Society

Ridgewood residents, Carroll Highet, soprano, and Bill Scher, tenor, will be a featured soloists when the New Jersey Choral Society presents “sotto voce”, the choir’s annual Pops concert featuring music from the pop and vocal jazz repertory. Concerts are Saturday, March 10 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, New Jersey.  The Inside Line will be presented one hour prior to concert times. Advance tickets: $25 general/ $22 students & seniors/ $12 children (add $5 at the door), 201-379-7719 or www.NJCS.org.

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>NJ’s smallest school districts share big worries about Christie’s budget

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NJ’s smallest school districts share big worries about Christie’s budget
They are a big part of New Jersey’s notorious abundance of more than 500 separate school districts, the scores of tiny districts of a few hundred students in just a single school or two.
These days, many of them feeling a bit like an endangered species, the fodder for regionalization talk and almost universally tight finances in the lead up to another budget year, starting with Gov. Chris Christie’s budget presentation today.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0221/0119/
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>Christie, Sweeney look to rekindle ‘bromance’ as important N.J. business lies ahead

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Christie, Sweeney look to rekindle ‘bromance’ as important N.J. business lies ahead
Will the “bromance” come back to Trenton?
Seven months after an angry Senate President Stephen Sweeney used some choice words to describe Gov. Chris Christie when he slashed programs for the poor from the state budget, Trenton’s top two political leaders appear to be in harmony again — at least on some issues.
Sweeney (D-Gloucester) endorsed the Republican governor’s plan to remake higher education, saying Christie showed “true leadership.” He even defended it last week before a hostile crowd of more than 600 at Rutgers’ Camden campus, where students protested plans to have it taken over by Rowan University.  (Portnoy, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/chris_christie_stephen_sweeney.html
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>Teacher claims: Many teachers will be paying a higher percentage of the cost of health benefits than the Federal or private sector pays.

>Teacher claims: Many teachers will be paying a higher percentage of the cost of health benefits than the Federal or private sector pays.

The amount the teachers pay for their health benefits is now a state mandated issue. I paid more than $1000 more for my health benefits this year. The amount I pay will increase by over $2000 over the next three years. By the time all increases are phased in some teachers will be paying almost $7000 more than they were last year. Many teachers will be paying a higher percentage of the cost of health benefits than the Federal or private sector pays.

In addition to this teachers will be paying an extra 2 percent of their salary to fund a pension that the state government has stolen from, and continues to fail to pay their AGREED contribution towards. The pension is underfunded because of the money that was taken from it. The money that was used to finance property tax rebate checks came from the pension fund. The money to cover the cost of an income tax cut for the wealthy will come from money that should have been paid into the pension fund.

Teachers realize that things are tough financially, but please don’t say that teachers aren’t feeling the pinch too. It may have started later than for other people, but teachers are feeling it now. Even IF teachers were to get the maximum allowable 2%, they would still be taking home less money every year.

The reality for teachers is that even after they have paid increasing amounts to their benefits, they will be limited to no more than a 2% increase in salary for ever (unless the law is changed). Last year inflation ran at around 3%. This means that teachers face a real decrease in their salary every year for the rest of their careers.

After the glut of teachers from recent layoffs has been used up, and other job paths make a comeback, where are the new teachers going to come from? Are the best and brightest going to enter a profession where they are never going to see a pay increase, and are treated with disrespect.

At this point the chorus of comments about “whiny teachers” should begin. I am not whining, I love my job, and that is why I do it. I also feel the need to clarify the changes that are already occurring for teachers. Please don’t parrot the “do it for the kids” line. I work hard at my job for the kids. I also want to support MY kids. Like any parent, I want the best for them too.

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>Gov. Christie’s N.J. schools construction plan unlikely to conclude his term in office

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Gov. Christie’s N.J. schools construction plan unlikely to conclude his term in office
Thirty schools are now slated for construction or renovation by the Christie Administration in the state’s poorest cities, but it’s unlikely any of those buildings will open their doors to students by the end of the governor’s term in office, law makers and school officials said.
Last week, Christie announced plans to start construction on 20 projects serving students from New Brunswick, Phillipsburg and West New York among other districts. Progress on 10 projects he announced last year, however, has been sluggish, leaving the time line to complete the new projects in question.  (Calefati, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/gov_christies_multi-school_con.html
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>Why doesn’t the library disclose the rent they receive from the Pease, from the 911; they get plenty of funds, but always ask for more

>Why doesn’t the library disclose the rent they receive from the Pease, from the 911; they get plenty of funds, but always ask for more.

I wonder how many of you go to the Glen Rock library, or the Fair Lawn library; you will see first class libraries as well,many patrons,great children’s programs, tutoring, no hoops to go through to use computers. They are also valuable, but do they come crying all the time to their citizens? I hope not.

Also, why doesn’t the library disclose the rent they receive from the Pease, from the 911; they get plenty of funds, but always ask for more.

It is cruel for the library to complain that the lower valuation of properties hurt them the most; what about all of us whose properties are lowered but taxes are not.

Before we give the library more money,we need to rehire some of the town employees who take care of our water, our sewerage, our trees, our streets, and maybe an extra policeman to make sure fewer people are run over.

We need our library, nobody is questioning that, but to plead that unless they are given more money, they will have poor service sounds like Valley saying unless they get an expansion they will give poor care. Maybe the same PR firm?

The goal of the library seems to be that it will be the only thing standing after all our trees are down, our streets a mess, our services reduced. Its shameful that they try to be above the needs of the whole town.

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>Fairway Market’s Paramus Store To Host Columbia Shopping Event on Tuesday, February 21

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Fairway Market’s Paramus Store To Host Columbia Shopping Event on Tuesday, February 21
Columbia University Athletics
 
On Tuesday, February 21, Columbia Lions fans will have another opportunity to shop at Fairway Market while supporting the student-athletes of Columbia University.

From 4-9pm at Fairway’s Paramus, New Jersey store, fans can stop by the Columbia Athletics table, pick up a free gift and sign in to register for the shopping event. Simply present the registration form when you check out and 25% of your checkout total will be donated back to Columbia Athletics.

“The shopping event in Paramus always brings out many Columbia alumni and fans from Northern New Jersey”, said Barry Neuberger, Associate Athletics Director for Sports Marketing. “We look forward to another enthusiastic turnout and making it a big night for Columbia Athletics.”

Fairway’s Paramus, New Jersey store is located at 30 Ridgewood Avenue, just off Route 17 in Paramus. For more information, call 212-854-7031.

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>Nation Goes to Church: At Houston funeral, stories of faith, courage and love

>Nation Goes to Church: At Houston funeral, stories of faith, courage and love
By Phil Gast and Jason Carroll, CNN
updated 2:07 PM EST, Sun February 19, 2012

Newark, New Jersey (CNN) — Whitney Houston went to church one last time Saturday.
She was welcomed by family, friends and a virtual audience of millions who watched as the pop superstar was remembered as a child of God with the voice of an angel.

A voice that never forgot its roots.

“Jesus Loves Me” was the last song Houston sang in public before her death February 11 in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 48.
So it was fitting that the mourners — comforted and encouraged by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and R. Kelly — heard the simple, but powerful, “Jesus Loves Me,” this time performed by CeCe Winans.

https://www.cnn.com/2012/02/18/showbiz/whitney-houston-funeral/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

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>Taxing medical progress to death

>Taxing medical progress to death
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2012

Two years ago this month, as public debate over Obamacare raged, former President Bill Clinton rushed to the hospital because of a heart condition. He immediately underwent a procedure to place two stents in one of his coronary arteries. It was a timely reminder about the dangers of stifling private-sector medical innovation. No one listened.

Stents don’t grow on trees. They were not created, developed, marketed or sold by government bureaucrats and lawmakers. One of the nation’s top stent manufacturers, Boston Scientific, warned at the time that Obamacare’s punitive medical device tax would lead to worker losses and research cuts. The 2.3 percent excise tax, the company said, “would be very damaging to Boston Scientific, and the medical device industry as a whole. In a nutshell, it would raise costs and lead to significant job losses. It does not address the quality of care but the political scorecard of savings.”

Two years later, Bill Clinton’s doing just peachy. But many medical device manufacturers are suffering, and many more are preparing for the worst as the White House gears up to collect on an estimated $20 billion from the lifesaving industry. In typical Obama-transparent fashion, the Internal Revenue Service quietly released a complex thicket of medical device tax implementation rules in a Friday document dump earlier this month. Barring congressional intervention, the medical device tax will go into full effect in 2013.

https://michellemalkin.com/