Lower speed limit on Parkway in Ocean County
I took the Garden State Parkway north up to Union County twice over the weekend, and was struck by two things: how many troopers there were north of Holmdel - they seem to be a rare sight south of Asbury Park - and how the average rate of speed was well over the posted limit, even in the right lane, despite the troopers' presence. The flow on Saturday, when the roads were dry, was about 68-70 in the right lane. On Sunday, when it was raining off and on much of the day, it was virtually the same. One trooper, just north of the Driscoll bridge, was running radar. Everyone was exceeding the 55 mph limit there by at least 10 mph. On the bridge itself, where the limit is 45 mph, it was common to see people weaving through the narrow lanes of traffic doing 70 or 75 mph, despite construction in the right lane. The speed limit on much of the Parkway north of the bridge is 55 mph. It should be. Traffic is dense, and in many areas new lanes were added to accommodate it by restriping narrower lanes rather than increasing the width of the roadway. If you don't stay in your lane, there is virtually no margin of error. The same response to dense traffic - creating narrower lanes rather than building new ones - was employed in much of Ocean County, where the Parkway is even more dangerous due to narrow, or nonexistent shoulders, and steep embankments with uninterrupted banks of trees awaiting those who leave the road. Portions of Ocean County are among the most dangerous stretches of the Parkway. Making them safer will require wider lanes, wider shoulders, guard rails and stepped up enforcement - including the use of new electronic technology. Unless, and until that occurs, the speed limit in Ocean County should be reduced to 55 mph, as it is along other hazardous stretches of the Parkway.
Keeping eminent domain reform alive
The need to change the ground rules for eminent domain barely registered a blip on the radar in the recent legislative elections, and efforts at reform have been stalled by the state Democratic leadership. Public Advocate Ronald Chen, one of the leading voices for reform, continues to push for change. Chen was a panelist in a session titled "Recent Development in Eminent Domain Law" at the League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City this week. The text of Chen's prepared remarks is worth a read if you're interested in the subject.
Convention no longer conducive to taking bribes
Here's the quote of the week, from U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, addressing public officials Wednesday at the state League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City. By way of context, the convention has been a convenient meeting place for those prone to offering bribes and those prone to taking them, including some of the Monmouth County officials snared in Operation Bid Rig. Christie's quote: "Let me urge you. I can be no more direct than this. If over the next couple of days someone approaches you with an envelope of cash looking to seek some type of favor from you, unless it is your mommy, turn and run for the ocean. It's probably us."
If only driver safety could be upgraded...
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's newly released annual list of the safest cars is three times longer this year, largely because more car and truck models have added anti-rollover technology. The institute says 10,000 lives could be saved each year if all vehicles had electronic stability control (ESC). Last year, 42,642 people died in traffic accidents. ESC senses when a driver may lose control of the vehicle and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to help keep it stable and avoid a rollover. An institute video explains how ESC works. This year's 34 safest cars: Large cars, Audi A6, Ford Taurus with ESC, Mercury Sable with ESC, Volvo S80. Midsize cars, Audi A3, A4, Honda Accord, Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy with ESC. Midsize convertibles, Saab 9-3, Volvo C70. Small car, Subaru Impreza with ESC. Minivans, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona. Midsize SUVs, Acura MDX, RDX, BMW X3, X5, Ford Edge, Taurus X, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Veracruz built after August 2007, Lincoln MKX, Mercedes M class, Saturn VUE built after December 2007, Subaru Tribeca, Toyota Highlander, Volvo XC90 Small SUVs, Honda CR-V, Element, Subaru Forester with ESC. Large pickup, Toyota Tundra
New hope for affordable housing
We've leaned on Gov. Corzine and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, D-Camden, pretty hard for their failure to convert their words expressing opposition to Regional Contribution Agreements into action. Well, it looks like they may be following through. The Assembly Democrats today unveiled a 12-point affordable housing plan that includes eliminating RCAs, which allow wealthier communities that don't want to build affordable housing to satisfy their obligations by making cash payments to other towns - typically cities - that are used to build or rehabilitate affordable housing there. The practice has helped contribute to racial and economic segregation in the state, which in turn has helped make New Jersey's schools among the most segregated in the nation. The plan includes a number of other excellent recommendations, including a mandate that towns give density bonuses to developers who provide affordable housing in their projects, and a 20 percent set-aside for affordable housing in all state-assisted development projects, including those in Smart Growth areas and transit villages. It also recommends directing all state agencies with land-use authority, including the Pinelands Commission, to require mixed-income housing in their master plans.
Saxton takes exception to war cost estimate
It is no secret that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost taxpayers dearly. A new report, "War at any price?" has put it in terms Americans can understand. For a family of four, it has cost $20,900 since 2002, Congressional Democrats say. The report, issued Tuesday by Democrats on Congress' Joint Economic Committee, estimates that the conflicts have cost a staggering $1.6 trillion - $1,600,000,000,000. That number includes interest on the money borrowed to pay for the war, lost investment income and health care for injured veterans. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J., a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and Sen. Sam Brownback, the commitee's senior Republican senator, quickly asked that the report be withdrawn, criticizing its methodology. Their statement. As of noon today, a link to the report on the Joint Economic Committee Web site took you to the Saxton-Brownback statement. Saxton and Republicans have every right to take exception to the report. But there is no justification for preventing citizens from reading the report and judging its merits for themselves.
Is anyone else NOT interested in Saxton's seat?
So many people have announced they are considering a run for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. James Saxton that it is actually more newsworthy when a public official from Saxton's 3rd Congressional District says they are not throwing their hat in the ring. Assemblyman and state Sen.-elect Christopher Connors sent out a press release about a half hour ago saying he would not be interested. "Today, I am ending any and all speculation by formally announcing I do not, nor did I ever, have any intention to run for Congressman Saxton’s seat. I recognize that this is an enormous opportunity, but the truth of the matter is the 9th Legislative District is my home and that is where my heart is." Saxton, whose district includes parts of Ocean, Burlington and Camden counties, announced last week he would not be seeking a 13th term because of health reasons. Among the Republicans who say they may run: three-fifths of the Ocean County freeholder board, Ocean County clerk and Stafford mayor Carl Block, former state Lottery Director Virginia Haines and state Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington. Wealthy, politically connected attorney David A. Norcross, who lost a U.S. Senate bid to Harrison A. Williams Jr. more than 30 years ago, also may be a candidate. State Sen. John Adler is the likely Democratic candidate for the seat.
State A.G.'s office in good hands
The state's new attorney general, Anne Milgram, spent about 90 minutes with our editorial board today, discussing a variety of statewide and regional concerns. It was my first opportunity to meet with Milgram, who replaced Stuart Rabner in June. Two thoughts came to mind early in the discussion: How could Corzine ever have chosen Zulima Farber over Milgram, or Rabner, for the job? And state law enforcement is in good hands with Milgram and U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie. Milgram is bright, articulate and personable. She has made a number of personnel and structural changes that should make the A.G.'s Office, which has 10 divisions and 9,600 employees, far more effective. She identified fighting public corruption and gangs as top priorities. She has tripled the number of investigators in the state's public corruption unit, and is making getting guns off the street a major initiative. Hopefully, Milgram will help make us forget the disgraceful reigns of Farber and Peter C. Harvey.
Time to rethink teachers' convention
School districts throughout the state were closed Thursday and Friday last week for the annual teachers convention in Atlantic City. According to the NJEA Web site, "nearly 29,000 members" attended. There are more than 175,000 public school teachers in New Jersey. That means 83.5 percent of the teachers who were given two days off for professional and career development were off doing something else. A state statute dating back to 1920 requires that school districts give teachers permission to attend the annual convention at full pay. But it does not mandate that schools be closed those two days. If the NJEA convention is that valuable, everyone should go - preferably after school lets out for the summer. If it isn't - and judging from the attendance figures, that is the perception among teachers - it should be canceled altogether.
How N.J. stacks up on highway safety laws
Geico's latest quarterly magazine has an article based on a report by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety that graded states on their highway safety laws. It divided states into three groups - green (the best), yellow and red (the worst) - based on how many of 15 laws deemed helpful in reducing auto deaths and injuries have been passed. The report, "The 2007 Road Map to State Highway Safety," put New Jersey in the green group, based on its passage of 12 of 15 optimal laws. The report should be required reading for anyone interested in reducing the carnage on the highways. The three areas where New Jersey falls short, according to the report: Unlike 31 other states, it does not require beginning teen drivers to receive at least 30-50 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an adult licensed driver. Unlike eight other states, it does not prohibit unsupervised driving after 10 p.m. Forty-one percent of teenage motor vehicle deaths in 2003 occurred between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Unlike 38 other states, New Jersey has not created a separate, more severe offense or enhanced existing penalties for impaired drivers that are found to have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) well over the maximum legal BAC level. An optimal statute, the report said, is one that adds penalties for drivers with a BAC above .15 percent. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, young drivers (16 to 20 years old) were involved in approximately 1.8 million, or 29 percent, of all automobile crashes (6.2 million) in 2005. Additionally, 8,004 people were killed in crashes involving young drivers. Other interesting findings in the report: Seat belt use is the single most effective way of reducing deaths in motor vehicle crashes. Yet, the United States ranks among the lowest in the developed world for seat belt usage. In 2005, 55 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts. The national use rate is 82 percent. Based on estimated miles traveled annually, teen drivers ages 16-19 have a fatality rate four times the rate of drivers ages 25 to 69. Sixteen-year-old drivers have a crash rate three times more than 17-year-olds, five times greater than 18-year-olds, and two times that of 85-year-olds. Drivers are less likely to use seat belts when they have been drinking. In 2004, 62 percent of the young drivers who were killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts. Twenty-two percent of young drivers killed in fatal crashes in 2004 were intoxicated.
Any questions for state A.G. Anne Milgram?
The Press editorial board will be meeting Tuesday with state Attorney General Anne Milgram . If you have any questions you would like us to ask her, post them on my blog or e-mail me at rbergmann@app.com.
Gas prices spiraling upward again
It's bad enough being hit with the double whammy of a falling stock market and falling housing prices. Now, we have to deal with skyrocketing gasoline prices again. The cost of a gallon of gas seems to be going up daily. Actually, for the last month, it pretty much has. According to newjerseygasprices.com , the average price for a gallon of gas is $2.83, up 32 cents from a month ago and the highest it has been since reaching $2.95 around Memorial Day. This time a year ago, gasoline was selling for $1.99. If it's any consolation, gas prices in New Jersey are the lowest in the nation - 6 cents below runnerup Missouri and 23 cents below the national average of $3.06, according to AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Gas prices are up to $3.34 in California.
Corzine deaf to stem cell defeat
One day after voters rejected a proposal to borrow $450 million over 10 years for stem cell research, Gov. Corzine, Senate President Richard Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. all said they would proceed with plans to borrow $270 million to build stem cell research facilities throughout the state. What part of "No" don't they understand. It's outrageous they plan to move forward with their plans in the face of clear taxpayer opposition to increasing state debt to fund research that should be funded with private money. What's the point of building new facilities if there is no money available for research? Soon after it was clear that voters had rejected the stem cell question, and the question seeking permanent dedication of 1 cent of the sales tax to property tax relief, Corzine said voters had sent "clear instructions" to Trenton. "They told us to resolve our alarming and pressing financial problems." That's right. Don't build buildings for research that voters have refused to fund. Voters rejected the stem cell public question for various reasons. Some may have done so for religious reasons. But I think most people voted against it because the state refused to answer two questions: If stem cell research is so promising, why aren't drug companies investing their own money in it? And how can the state justify borrowing more money when it is knee-deep in debt and facing a $3 billion budget deficit next year, and strapped taxpayers are constantly reminded by Corzine that billions more will be needed for school funding, new school construction, transportation infrastructure, affordable housing and health coverage for the uninsured? For the first time in 16 years, voters rejected a public question. That should tell Corzine et al something about the mood of the voters. He says he understands. Apparently he doesn't.
Still waiting for Monmouth freeholder results? ...
... Well, be patient. The county has retrieved the missing ballots from the two districts and may report the numbers soon, but says it will take until the end of the week to count about 500 provisional ballots. It's not likely the winning margins will be large enough after the missing ballots are counted to declare a winner tonight.
Voter apathy record smashed
With 98 percent of the vote counted in the state, turnout was an abysmal 26 percent - the lowest in New Jersey history. In 2003, the last time state legislative races topped the ticket, the turnout was 34 percent. In addition to the registered voters who didn't show up at the polls Tuesday, another one in four eligible voters didn't bother to register. That means that in races in which the winning candidate won, say, 60 percent of the vote, they had the support of less than 15 percent of the electorate.
The power of incumbency
Thanks largely to redistricting, in which lawmakers from both parties try to keep their districts safe, it's virtually impossible for incumbents to lose re-election bids. All 80 seats were up for grabs in the Assembly Tuesday. Only one incumbent lost - Michael Panter in the 12th District. And the margin was close. In the 40-seat Senate three incumbents fell - Democrat Ellen Karcher in the 12th, and Republicans Nicholas Asselta in the 1st and Sonny McCullough in the 2nd.
GOP gains in state Assembly
For the first time since 1991, the Republicans picked up seats in the Assembly - two seats to be exact. The Democrats' advantage will be narrowed to 48-32. In the Senate, they picked up a seat, to increase their majority to 23-17.
When we left off last night...
...the Monmouth County freeholder race was undecided. Today, at 11:22 a.m., it's still undecided. The county says it is still waiting for the election cartridges to arrive from two districts - one in Long Branch and another in Ocean Township - and are still counting the provisional ballots. With 99.56 percent of the votes counted, Republican incumbent Robert Clifton leads Democrat John D-Amico Jr. by 65 votes. D'Amico leads Republican Jeff Cantor by 316 votes. Democrat Stephen Schueler appears to be out of contention for one of the two seats, trailing Cantor by nearly 2,500 votes.
Monmouth freeholder race to be decided Wednesday
If you are waiting up to learn the outcome of the Monmouth County freeholder race, don't bother. County election officials said results were missing in two districts - one in Long Branch and the other in Ocean Township - and they wouldn't be available until Wednesday. They also said they had to recount absentee ballots. Clifton had a slim lead over D'Amico, who had a slim lead over Cantor for two available seats.
Voters finally say no to public questions
In something of a surprise, given pre-election polling data, both the stem cell research and sales tax dedication public questions were defeated. They were the first questions to be rejected by New Jersey voters since 1990, snapping a streak of 32 consecutive approvals. The stem cell question was rejected by a margin of about 53 to 47 percent. It was approved in only five counties - Bergen, Camden, Essex, Hudson and Mercer. Ocean County voters rejected it 65 to 35 percent - tied with Cumberland County for the highest rejection rate in the state - and Monmouth voters opposed it 57 to 43 percent. Permanently dedicating 1 cent of the 7-cent sales tax to property tax relief was rejected by a similar margin. It was approved in seven counties - Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer and Salem. The question was rejected 59 to 41 percent in Monmouth County and 62 to 38 percent in Ocean - the highest rejection rate in the state. The farmland preservation question was approved, 54 to 46 percent and the questioning amending language in the state constitution passed 60 to 40 percent.
Monmouth County freeholder race still undecided
The Monmouth County freeholder race couldn't get any tighter. With 99.56 percent of the ballots counted, Clifton has 59,396 votes, D'Amico 59,305 and Cantor 59,070. Schueler has 56,876.
Democrats to increase majority in Senate
If the numbers hold up, the Democrats will pick up another seat in the state Senate, widening their majority to 23-17. Republican Jennifer Beck is on her way to victory in the 12th District, but Democrats will be gaining two seats, in the 1st and 2nd Districts in South Jersey.
Key mayoral races decided
The winners in four major mayoral contests in Monmouth and Ocean counties have been decided: Anna Little in Highlands, Stephen Acropolis in Brick, Jonathan Hornik in Marlboro and Thomas Kelaher in Toms River.
Tough night for public questions
With 89 percent of the ballots counted in Monmouth County, 59 percent of the voters have rejected public question 1 (sales tax dedication to property tax relief) and 56 percent have said no question 2 (stem cell research). The margin was even wider in Ocean County. Statewide early returns show similar trends statewide.
Neck and neck for Monmouth County freeholder
With 88.6 percent of the votes cast, it looks like a photo finish for the two Monmouth County freeholders seats. Less than 200 votes separate Robert Clifton, Jeff Cantor and John D'Amico.
Dems trailing in county races in Monmouth
With about 30 percent of the precincts reporting, GOP incumbent County Clerk Claire French has opened up a 59-41% lead over Amod Choudary. Kim Guadagno, Republican candidate for sheriff, has a 3 percentage-point lead over Belmar Police Chief Jack Hill Jr. and the two Republican freeholder candidates, Robert Clifton and Jeff Cantor have leads of less than 11/2 percentage points over Democrats Stephen Schueler and John D'Amico.
It's over early in Ocean County legislative races
With about half the ballots counted in the 9th, 10th and 30th District legislative races, Republican candidates have wrapped things up early. All three Senate candidates have at least 61 percent of the vote, and none of the Assembly contests are close.
The early returns ...
It's still early, but it's good news so far for the Monmouth County GOP legislative candidates. The early leaders, and percentage of votes cast in some key races: Kean (R) 67.1%; Villapiano (D) 32.7 (37.6%) Beck (R) 55.7%, Karcher (D) 44.0 (25.3%) Rible, 30.7%, Angelini, (R) 30.4%; Napolitani Sr. 20.0, Pirnat (D) 18.6% (37.6) O'Scanlon 26.5%; Casagrande (R); Panter 23.8, Mallet 23.2 (D) (25.3%)
GOP in need of moral victory
Republicans aren't expecting to regain control of the state Senate or Assembly tonight, but picking up some seats might at least help improve party morale. The GOP has lost seats in the Legislature in every election since 1991. They have held their own in the Senate three times, but they have never gained ground in either the Senate or the Assembly. At their peak in 1994, Republicans had a 53-27 majority in the Assembly and a 24-16 advantage in the Senate - plus the governship. Today, the Democrats have a 50-30 edge in the Assembly and a 22-18 margin in the Senate. The most lopsided modern-day Legislature was in 1974, when Democrats controlled the Assembly 66-14 and the Senate 29-10, with one independent. Brendan Byrne was governor at the time. Just four years earlier, Republicans had a 59-21 edge in the Assembly and a 31-9 advantage in the Senate. William Cahill was the governor.
The contests to watch
While control of the Legislature isn't expected to change tonight, there are several races on the state, county and local level worth watching. Not to mention the statewide public questions. Among them: Statewide Beck (R) v. Karcher (D), 12th District Senate Panter-Mallet (D) v. O'Scanlon-Casagrande (R), 12th District Assembly Kean (R) v. Villapiano (D), 11th District Senate Angelini-Rible (R) v. Napolitani-Pirnat (D), 11th District Assembly Asselta (R) v. Van Drew, 1st District Senate Whelan (D) v. McCullough (R), 2nd District Senate Bodine (D) v. Haines (R), 8th District Senate Ariyan (D) v. Cardinale (R) Outside of these districts, there is likely to be little drama. In order for the GOP to gain in the Senate, now controlled by Democrats, 22-18, they need to win each of the Senate races listed above - a tall order. The Democrats' best chance of stealing a Senate seat is probaby in District 2, with Whelan; they also have a good shot in District 1, with Van Drew. County D'Amico-Schueler (D) v. Clifton-Cantor (R), Monmouth County freeholder Hill (D) v. Guadagno (R), Monmouth County sheriff Choudary (D) v. French (R), Monmouth County clerk If both Democrats win in the freeholder race, Democrats will assume control of the board for the first time in two decades. Local Marlboro mayoral race, Kleinberg (R) v. Hornik (D) Brick mayoral race Kelly (D) v. Acropolis (R) Toms River 3-way mayoral race Highlands, 4-way mayoral race
Tight races in Monmouth, no contest in Ocean
Thanks to redistricting, in which both political parties were intent on keeping their legislative districts safe, there are only a handful of districts that are roughly evenly split between registered Democrats and Republicans. Three of them are in Monmouth County, which is why competitive races are expected today in the 11th, 12th and 13th districts. Here are the percentages of registered voter by declared party affiliation: 11th: Republicans, 20.7 percent; Democrats, 17.9 percent. 12th: Democrats, 17.3 percent; Republicans, 17.0 percent. 13th: Republicans, 17.8 percent; Democrats, 17.1 percent. In the three Ocean County legislative districts, there are no fair fights. 9th: Republicans, 25.2 percent; Democrats, 15.6 percent. 10th: Republicans, 22.7 percent; Democrats, 13.2 percent. 30th: Republicans, 22.8 percent; Democrats, 13.2 percent. Don't expect any upsets in the Senate or Assembly races
Record (low) voter turnout today?
The rain today could put the state's all-time record for lower voter turnout - 31 percent in 1999 - in jeopardy. Turnout in 2003, the last time the ballot was topped with state legislative races, was 34 percent. Only one of those state Senate races was close, however. The rest were decided by at least eight percentage points. This year, there could be four or five Senate races that go down to the wire, as well as several in the Assembly.
Winners and losers who aren't on the ballot
In less than 12 hours, the polls will close. Shortly thereafter, we will learn the identities of the winners and losers. Other than the public officials themselves, and the voters who will be represented by them, who will the winners and losers be? The Web site politicsnj.com came up with a list of The Biggest Stakeholders in the 2007 Campaign . Number six on the list was my boss, Press executive editor Skip Hidlay. Numbers one through five were Senate President Richard Codey, South Jersey political boss George Norcross, Congressman Frank LoBiondo, Gov. Corzine and state Republican Chairman Tom Wilson. Says the blurb about Hidlay: "Kudos to the newspaper chief, who had the testicular fortitude to become a stakeholder by making endorsements in hotly-contested state and local races when other papers of record, like the Star-Ledger, did not." Actually, that's not quite accurate. The Ledger endorsed in two races, choosing, somewhat surprisingly, Republican Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck in the 12th District Senate race and Democrat William Payne for the 29th District Senate seat being vacated by indicted incumbent Sharpe James. Also on politicsnj.com's list was Monmouth County Republican Chairman Adam Puharic, at No. 10, and Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore (No. 18). Of Puharic, it simply said, "The Monmouth County Republican Chairman is in danger of losing control – and his job." About Gilmore: "The Ocean County Republican Chairman could lead the only genuine GOP machine in the state if his party suffers losses in Atlantic, Monmouth and even Somerset – but Gilmore still has a tremendous amount on the line if his candidate doesn’t win the Toms River and Brick mayoral race."
A turkey of an executive order
The sense of entitlement of state government employees knows no bounds. It’s truly mind-boggling. Last week, they bombarded Gov. Corzine’s Office with thousands of phone calls, demanding he change his mind about not giving them the day after Thanksgiving off – with pay – as well. State workers in New Jersey get 13 paid holidays a year, including three in November – Election Day, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. They have gotten a 14th - the day after Thanksgiving – by virtue of a decades-old tradition in which governors have authorized it through executive order. Last year, Corzine signed the order authorizing the holiday. But he warned it might be the last time he did so, saying days off should be negotiated or authorized by statute. During this year’s contracts talks with the unions, no changes relating to paid holidays were negotiated, even though a legislative property tax committee reviewing public employee benefits recommended reducing the number of holidays for state workers. If Corzine had had any guts, he would have taken away at least two or three holidays. And he would have made it clear that if the unions felt so strongly about getting Black Friday off, they would have to trade it in for one of their other holidays. Federal workers get 10 paid holidays a year. State employees in Ohio, North Carolina and Oregon get nine. The median for state workers is about 10 or 10 1/2. In the private sector, the average employee in a large company gets eight paid holidays; in small companies, the average is less than six. Eighteen states designate the day after Thanksgiving as an official holiday. But none of them offers as many total holidays as New Jersey. The state should pass a law establishing the maximum number of paid holidays state workers — and all other non-federal government employees — can take. The Legislature had a chance last year. As with most cost-cutting opportunities, it refused to act. And don't hold your breath waiting for anything to change any time soon.
How about an Unaffiliated Party?
If unaffiliated voters in New Jersey joined together and formed a third political party, their candidates would probably win in a landslide. According to voter registration figures released Thursday, unaffiliated voters represent 57.4 percent of the electorate. Of the state’s 4.8 million registered voters, 1,164,504, or 24.2 percent, are declared Democrats, according to the state Division of Elections. There are 874,457 Republicans – 18.2 percent of the total. The far-largest group of voters – 2,756,759 of them - are unaffiliated. The new registration figures also demonstrate how far established third parties need to go to become factors in the elections. Only 1,625 voters, total, are registered as members of the Green, Reform, Libertarian, Natural Law or U.S. Constitution Parties. Voter turnout, always low when state legislative races top the ballot, is expected to be low again. There are 245,000 more registered voters this year than there were in 2003, the last time state races received top billing. But voter registration is off 51,000 from last year.
Strong medicine needed for health insurance system
A new report from the Economic Policy Institute will provide more ammunition for advocates of a universal health insurance program. According to the report, 47 million Americans were uninsured last year, up 8.6 million from 2000. Employer-based health coverage has fallen from 64.2 percent in 2000 – and nearly 70 percent in 1979 - to 59.7 today. In New Jersey, the news is even worse. New Jersey experienced the sharpest decline in private-sector, employer-provided health insurance in the nation, falling from 63.2 percent of the workforce to 54.3 percent in the past five years. There are 307,555 fewer workers in the state getting health coverage from their employers than there were in 2000, the report said. Five years ago, only five states had a higher percentage of workers covered by their employers than New Jersey, according to an analysis by New Jersey Policy Perspective. Today, 29 states are ahead of New Jersey. If the trend continues, NJPP says that within three years a majority of (private-sector) working people in New Jersey won't have coverage through their employer.
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