Government shutdown ends. Booker and Menendez vote to keep it closed

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans and Democrats reached a deal Monday to reopen the government, with an end to the three-day shutdown expected by the end of the day. Most Senate Democrats agreed to fund the government through Feb. 8 after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to bring a separate bill allowing unauthorized immigrants brought… Read the rest of this entry »

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Menendez: I plan to run for re-election despite retrial

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez said Friday he intends to run for re-election this year even though federal prosecutors revealed earlier in the day that they plan to retry the New Jersey Democrat on corruption charges. “Senator Menendez fully expects to be vindicated and has every intention of running for re-election, continuing to fight Donald Trump’s policies… Read the rest of this entry »

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Senator Menendez to face retrial in corruption case

Dr. Salomon Melgen, left and Senator Robert Menendez

Federal prosecutors say they intend to retry U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez on political corruption charges. The trial of the New Jersey Democrat ended in a mistrial in November after jurors were unable to reach a verdict. The Department of Justice had been facing a deadline later this month to retry the case or drop the charges.… Read the rest of this entry »

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Menendez donor, Fla. eye doctor guilty on all counts of Medicare fraud

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A prominent Florida eye doctor has been convicted on all counts in his Medicare fraud trial, raising the possibility he could be pressured to testify in the bribery trial of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. Jurors announced their verdict Friday for Dr. Salomon Melgen. He effectively faces a life sentence… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sen. Menendez asks Supreme Court to hear his arguments in his corruption case

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Menendez took his fight against federal corruption charges to the Supreme Court this week, petitioning it to hear his arguments that key evidence and charges should be dismissed. Menendez, D-N.J., has long argued that prosecutors overstepped rules meant to protect the legislative branch from executive branch intimidation. He is hoping to persuade… Read the rest of this entry »

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Appeals court refuses to toss charges against Bob Menendez

PHILADELPHIA — A federal appeals court on Friday refused to dismiss corruption charges against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled against arguments from the indicted Democrat’s attorneys that charges he accepted gifts in exchange for political influence should be tossed because of a constitutional clause… Read the rest of this entry »

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The IRS could soon call you about debt collection, and it’s not a scam

When the IRS and law enforcement officials issue warnings about phone scams involving tax collection, they always say the same thing: The IRS will never call you out of the blue to demand payment. That could change, according to legislators concerned about a little surprise tucked into a recently signed federal bill. A provision in the… Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J.’s Menendez trial delayed for up to a year

WASHINGTON — A U.S. District Court judge on Thursday pushed back the trial of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez for as much as a year to provide time for appeals of motions filed with the court. Judge William Walls said the trial would not start next month as originally scheduled because he expected any rulings on a… Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J. lawmakers: Give homeowners 3 more months for Sandy claims

WASHINGTON — The New Jersey congressional delegation is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to extend until Dec. 15 its deadline for receiving requests from Hurricane Sandy homeowners to reconsider their damage claims. The lawmakers, in a letter to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, sought another three months to give all homeowners enough time to contact the… Read the rest of this entry »

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Despite Indictment, New Jersey Rates Menendez Higher than Christie

Gov Chris Christie and Sen Bob Menendez kibitz at the reopening of the Belmar boardwalk as Freeholder Tom Arnone reads the names on the boards,  NJ.com photo

Despite the facts that U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was indicted by federal prosecutors last month and Chris Christie says he’s in the clear after he wasn’t indicted in the Bridgegate scandal, Menendez has a higher job approval rating the Christie, according to Monmouth University Poll releases.

In a poll release issued this morning, Menendez’s job approval rating is 42% positive to 38% negative and 20% unsure among registered voters.

In a release last week based upon the same 500 person survey, Christie’s approval rating is 35% approve, 56% disapprove, and 9% unsure among voters.

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