>N.J. toll collectors, to keep jobs, may get paid less
Toll collectors on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway are considering concessions to keep their jobs from shifting into private hands. The union that represents turnpike collectors has proposed returning between $9 million and $14 million, Turnpike Authority board member Michael DuPont said. (The Associated Press)
>Village Council and Board Meetings
02/01/11 7:30PM Planning Board Public Meeting
02/02/11 7:30PM Village Council Work Session
02/08/11 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Public Meeting
02/09/11 8:00 PM Village Council Public Meeting
02/15/11 7:30 PM Planning Board Public Meeting
>Obamacare: Medicare official doubts health care law savings
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press – Wed Jan 26, 1:08 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Two of the central promises of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law are unlikely to be fulfilled, Medicare’s independent economic expert told Congress on Wednesday.
The landmark legislation probably won’t hold costs down, and it won’t let everybody keep their current health insurance if they like it, Chief Actuary Richard Foster told the House Budget Committee. His office is responsible for independent long-range cost estimates.
https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110126/ap_on_re_us/us_health_care_overhaul_costs_2
>Many schools have left stimulus funds unused
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
BY LESLIE BRODY
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
https://www.northjersey.com/news/state/114627609_Many_schools_have_left__stimulus_funds_unused.html
…
Six districts have used a total of $100,650 of the $7.9 million in Edujobs money allotted to Bergen County schools. They are Emerson, Fairview, Midland Park, Palisades Park, Ridgewood and Waldwick. Passaic County schools have used none of their allotted $22.9 million.
In Ridgewood, which got $98,941, schools Superintendent Daniel Fishbein said he spent part on special education aides. Considering previous state cuts, he wanted to make sure the district used its share lest it be taken away. “We were concerned all of a sudden it would be gone,” he said.
Districts must ask the state for reimbursements of expenses they want covered by the fund. These spending figures show how much the state paid out by Dec. 31. Some districts might have spent more but have yet to seek repayment, Education Department officials said. A New Jersey School Boards Association survey, however, confirmed that most districts planned to save the money for next year.
…
https://www.northjersey.com/news/state/114627609_Many_schools_have_left__stimulus_funds_unused.html
>Slopes behind ropes: fear of lawsuits closing great New Jersey sledding hills – Will Citizens Park be next?
Slopes behind ropes: fear of lawsuits closing great New Jersey sledding hills
Published: Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 9:00 AM
By Brian Donohue/The Star-Ledger
It’s one of the simple, most wonderful pleasures of life: zooming down a snow-covered hill just fast enough for a touch of fear to quicken your pulse. Maybe it’s a solo run. Maybe you’re clinging to a loved one as you tear down the hill tandem. Surely, sledding is one of those things that makes it worth toughing it out and living in New Jersey when sunnier climes often beckon.
Unfortunately, it’s getting tougher and tougher to find a place to do it. For the past two years on Ledger Live, we’ve taken viewers suggestions and hit the road in search of New Jersey’s best sledding hills. But more and more, we found, the hills that have thrilled generations of sledders are now closed.
https://www.nj.com/ledgerlive/index.ssf/2011/01/slopes_behind_ropes_fear_of_la.html
>Governor Christie took steps to suspend the six PVSC commissioners without pay
Christie to 6 of 7 PVSC commissioners: you’re gone
Landing like a cannonball in the middle of the Passaic Valley Sewarage Commission, Gov. Chris Christie this evening issued letters to six of the seven PVSC notifying them that he has kickstarted removal proceedings for cause. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/44385/christie-6-7-pvsc-commissioners-youre-gone
>Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s Response to State of the Union
Bachmann’s Response to State of the Union
As prepared for delivery:
Good evening, my name is Congresswoman Michele Bachmann from Minnesota’s 6th District.
Two years ago, when Barack Obama became our President, unemployment was 7.8 percent and our national debt stood at what seemed like a staggering $10.6 trillion dollars.
We wondered whether the President would cut spending, reduce the deficit and implement real job-creating policies.
Unfortunately, the President’s strategy for recovery was to spend a trillion dollars on a failed stimulus program, fueled by borrowed money.
https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/25/bachmanns-response-to-state-of-the-union/
>Christie says he’ll restore property tax rebates – as credits
Gov. Chris Christie said he intends to restore property tax rebates to some New Jersey homeowners.
However, the check won’t be in the mail. (Mulvihill for The Asssociated Press)
>Job creation most important, N.J. Democrats say (?)
Democratic legislators from New Jersey praised President Obama’s call for measures to create jobs and revive the economy.
“Job creation is the most important issue for South Jerseyans and all Americans,” U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews said in the wake of the State of the Union Address. (Staff, Courier-Post)
>Christie escalates teacher-union war by proposing end to century of tenure
In New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s perfect world, the worst unionized teachers would forfeit raises or even lose tenure rights they have enjoyed for more than a century. (Dopp and Deprez, Bloomberg)
>Christie: No need for N.J. to declare bankruptcy, yet
Gov. Chris Christie isn’t looking to declare New Jersey bankrupt to escape billions in debt even as Washington weighs allowing that option to rescue fiscally challenged states. (Gibson, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1296030320157670.xml&coll=8
>Garrett Reacts to Obama’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, January 25, 2011 – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) issued the following statement tonight in response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address:
“President Obama made his annual trip to Capitol Hill tonight to once again claim that growing our economy and putting Americans back to work is his top priority. While I remain an optimist and give him the benefit of the doubt, I believe substance always trumps rhetoric. It’s time to stop talking and start taking real action that puts Americans back to work and jumpstarts our floundering economy.
“Over the course of the last year, unemployment has held steady above 9%, the national debt has crested above $14 trillion and economic growth has been stagnant. A string of laws including the failed stimulus, the job-destroying health care law, burdensome financial regulations and his desire to raise taxes have made businesses of all sizes reluctant to grow and hire new workers. Given the destructive nature of White House policies, I remain cautious about the president’s commitment to free market, private sector job creation.
“My colleagues and I at the Republican Study Committee (RSC) have proposed $2.5 trillion in very specific spending cuts over the next ten years and House Republicans voted to repeal the job-destroying health care law last week. Although I do not expect his support on these issues, I invite President Obama to offer his own specific proposals to jumpstart our economy and begin slashing government spending.”
>Ventura Strikes Back with Lawsuit Against TSA
Aaron Dykes & Alex Jones
Infowars.com
January 25, 2011
Former Governor Jesse Ventura has taken steps to sue the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security, naming their chiefs John Pistole and ‘Big Sis’ Janet Napolitano in a lawsuit that will take on invasive airport pat-downs [READ LAWSUIT].
Ventura first told Alex Jones of his intent to sue the TSA privately back in November while traveling for the making of TruTV’s “Conspiracy Theory,” expressing grave concern about what he viewed as his country’s transformation into East Germany.
https://www.infowars.com/ventura-strikes-back-with-lawsuit-against-tsa/
>Math Wars : I can’t believe that a school district like Ridgewood purchased a math program
They are recognizing that the books suck and now they need a website to help. This should be free with the purchase of the math program.
I can’t believe that a school district like Ridgewood purchased a math program. Don’t any of the math teachers/administrators know how to teach math? Where are all of our highly qualified math teachers? Teachers had to be trained on how to teach math the way that Pearson thinks that it should be taught. They are not allowed to think for themselves.
>Cash-Strapped Bergen, N.J. To Fight Snow With ‘Pickle Juice’
Salt-Water Concoction Costs Just 7 Cents A Gallon
BERGENFIELD, N.J. (CBS 2) — Bergen County’s 230 plows and salting vehicles are at the ready for Wednesday’s snowfall, especially with their newest weapon for melting snow quickly — a briny mixture of salt and water that resembles pickle juice.
“We actually pre-spray the properties, the sidewalks, the parking lots as a preventative before the snow is uncontrollable,” Bergen County Public Works Director Joe Crifasi told CBS 2′s Magee Hickey.
The brine costs just 7 cents a gallon compared to $63 a ton for salt. Bergen County has already used up $3 million of its $4 million snow budge
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/01/25/cash-strapped-bergen-n-j-to-fight-snow-with-pickle-juice/
