Governor Chris Christie reacted to the New Jersey Supreme Court decision that he has the authority to cut pension payments from the State Budget and that the political branches of government…the Governor and Legislature…not the Court…must “deal with one another to forge a solution to the tenuous financial status of New Jersey’s pension funding in a way that comports with the strictures of our constitution,” by calling for “all interested parties” to come together and solve the New Jersey’s pension and benefit crisis “once and for all.”
“This decision is an important victory not only for our taxpayers who simply cannot afford these unsustainably high costs, but for limited, constitutional government that recognizes the proper role of the executive and legislative branches of government,” the Governor said in a statement issued by his office, “The Court’s position is clear, as is mine, it is time to move forward and work together to find a tangible, long-term solution to make our pension system and public employee health benefit costs affordable and sustainable for generations to come. In light of today’s decision, I urge all interested parties to come back to the table and partner with me to finally solve this problem once and for all.”
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, the Assembly Republican Budget Officer, said,
TRENTON — The state Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Gov. Chris Christie can slash billions of dollars in contributions from New Jersey’s troubled public employee pension system. The court’s ruling caps an intense fight for pension funding and deals a major blow to the state’s labor unions, who challenged Christie’s spending cuts. Christie had sought… Read the rest of this entry »
EAST RUTHERFORD — State Police are sending additional manpower to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford Sunday night after reports of fights and large crowds involved in clashes with cops at the Summer Jam music festival. Sgt. Gregory Williams, a spokesman for the State Police, said troopers will help with crowd control at radio station Hot 97’s… Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE 10:50 p.m. EDT: Multiple arrests were made outside at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where police clashed with concertgoers attempting to attend the annual Hot 97 Summer Jam. State State Police spokesman Sgt. Gregory Williams said additional troopers had been dispatch to the scene, where there were reports of pepper spray being used… Read the rest of this entry »
Several of the health insurance policies to be offered to New Jersey residents during the third year of the Affordable Care Act will come with premium hikes of more than 10 percent, according to the federal government. Under new rules, insurance companies are required to report if they’ve submitted a rate request that increases more than… Read the rest of this entry »
Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick addressing New Jersey Republicans in Atlantic City, February 2, 2015. MMM file photo
TRENTON — With the primaries over and the general election season upon us, state Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick has a big challenge. Bramnick (R-Union) wants to be Assembly speaker. That means in November — when all 80 Assembly seats at the top of the ballot — he’ll need to flip at least nine Democratic-held seats… Read the rest of this entry »
FEMA Official Brad Kiesrman is leaving the agency for a job with the American Red Cross
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government let victims of Hurricane Sandy down as it failed to provide adequate compensation for their damages, the outgoing head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s national flood insurance program told a House committee Tuesday. “We are settling claims. we are reviewing claims, and we are going to reform this program,” said… Read the rest of this entry »
Brad J. Kieserman, the federal official assigned to reform the National Flood Insurance Plan and to re-open thousands of Superstorm Sandy related claims amid allegations that thousands of homeowners were short changed, has resigned his post in order to take a job at the Red Cross, according to a report on Newsday.
A 28 year employee of the federal government, Kieserman took on the reform of NFIP only 3 months ago in February. FEMA annouced four months ago that it would settle every disputed case but only about a dozen checks have been issued.
Appearing in Hoboken last week with U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, as well as Highlands residents Kerry and Jamie Gowan who where representing the 70,000 New Jersey residents with claims to be reviewed by FEMA, Kieserman pledged that the government would do better in the tasks of “people caring for people.”
A possible Ebola patient was transported from Newark-Liberty International Aiport to Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) on Monday night, according to a report by CliffviewPilot.com
HUMC’s emergency room was on lock down at 8:50 p.m. No other ambulances were admitted to the hospital grounds as medical workers in Haz Mat suits brought the patient into a quarantine area.
HUMC is one of three New Jersey hospitals designated as a primary Ebola treatment center.
