Lt. Governor Guadagno, Speaker Prieto, President Sweeney, members of the Legislature, fellow New Jerseyans:
I am pleased to present to you my Budget for Fiscal Year 2015.
This is the fifth time I have come before this Legislature to deliver a budget message.
It is one of the most important obligations of any governor.
Today, I present to you a budget that is balanced, and, for the fifth year in a row, requires no new taxes on the people of New Jersey.
Total spending in this budget for the next fiscal year is $34.5 billion, with a responsible surplus of over $300 million.
Here is more important news.
This budget, when you take out pension and health care costs and debt service, is $2.2 billion smaller than Fiscal Year 2008.
Over the last five years we have cut discretionary spending by $2.2 billion.
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Posted: February 25th, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: Chris Christie, New Jersey State Budget | Tags: 2015 Budget Address, 2015 New Jersey Budget Address, Chris Christie, Governor Chris Christie, NJ State Budget | Comments Off on Governor Chris Christie’s FY 2015 Budget Address As Prepared For Delivery
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Posted: February 25th, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: Bridgegate, Port Authority | Tags: Bridgegate, David Samson, Port Authority of NY/NJ | Comments Off on Christie bridge scandal: Records show Samson’s role; Fort Lee mayor meets with feds
Governor Chris Christie will deliver his annual budget address to the legislature at 2pm this afternoon. The address can be viewed via livestream provided by NJTV here:
“A Choice of Attitude” is the theme of Governor Chris Christie’s FY 2015 budget address.
Christie will argue that state government spending as proposed in his budget is $2.2 billion lower than the fiscal 2008 state budget, save for the $2.25 billion pension payment budget for this year. He will call further pension reforms, arguing that the massive obligation to state employees prevents the government from spending on education, university research, energy, the environment and infrastructure. He will argue that pensions and entitlements must be reformed in order to prevent a looming crisis.
Christie says new taxes are not an option.
Excerpts of Christie’s address as released by the Governor’s office is below:
A 5th Balanced Budget Without Raising Taxes That Makes The Largest Pension Payment Ever
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Posted: February 25th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie, Christie Administration, New Jersey State Budget | Tags: 2015 New Jersey Budget Address, Governor Chris Christie | 1 Comment »
Ernesto Cullari of Asbury Park said that if he can raise $30,000 in thirty days he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Congressman Frank Pallone at the Monmouth and Middlesex Republican nominating conventions on March 22.
The conservative Justified Right columnist for the triCityNews was the Monmouth GOP endorsed candidate in the 2012 6th district primary which he lost for former Highlands Mayor Anna Little who was tabbed by the Middlesex GOP.
Cullari said that he had hoped that Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden had run against Pallone. “Shaun is a great elected official and public servant. He was the candidate who could really have taken it to Pallone, ” Cullari said, “now that Shaun has said he is not running, I am taking a serious look at doing it. If I can raise $1000 per day for a month, I’m in.”
“I want to fight for my county. I’m too old for military service, but I would run against Pallone as if I were protecting our freedom, because I believe that ultimately that is what is a stake given what is going on in Washington.”
Cullari said he would file a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission this week and start calling his supporters for donations.
Posted: February 24th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2014 Congressional Races, 2014 Elections, Ernesto Cullari, Frank Pallone | Tags: 2014 Congressional Elections, Anna Little, CD 6, Ernesto Cullari, Frank Pallone, NJ-6, Shaun Golden | 21 Comments »
Kevin Motkya’s facebook profile picture. Photo altered to hide the identity of the child.
A tip made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children lead to the arrest of a 22 year old Howell Township man on Monday, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Kevin Motkya was arrested by detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on charges of manufacturing and distributing child pornography as well as the sexual assault of a toddler.
Motkya is charged with one count of second degree Sexual Assault, one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for engaging in sexual conduct that would impair or debauch the morals of a child; one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for causing a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act knowing or intending it would be photographed or filmed; one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for manufacturing child pornography; two counts of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for distribution of child pornography; and one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for possession of child pornography.
Motyka is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, on $700,000 bail with no option to post 10 percent, and the added condition he not return to his home if he is released on bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.
Several computers and computer-related items were seized from Motyka’s home.
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The investigation is active and ongoing, and anyone with information related to this case is urged to call the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-553-7443.
Posted: February 24th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Crime, Crime and Punishment, Monmouth County Prosecutor | Tags: Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni, Howell, Kevin Motkya, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children | 5 Comments »
Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella issued the following statement this morning:
Over the past week I have received numerous calls and inquires related to my challenging Frank Pallone for the 6th Congressional District seat. I’d like to first thank the many people who called and encouraged me to challenge Congressman Pallone. The outpouring of support and encouragement was sincerely appreciated and I put considerable time into evaluating a run for Congress.
As I have said repeatedly, Sheriff Shawn Golden would have be an exceptional candidate to challenge Frank Pallone. Sheriff Golden is an accomplished public servant with a proven capacity to lead and a common-sense approach to government that is desperately needed in Washington, DC. I was disappointed to learn Sherri Golden opted not to run but respect and understand his decision. I would only have sought the Republican nomination in the event Sherriff Golden declined to run.
Having thought about my own potential candidacy and having discussed the issue with my wife and children, I have notified Chairman Bennett that I have decided against running for Congress and seeking the nomination at this time. While intrigued with the possibility of running for Congress and especially against the tax-and-spend liberal Frank Pallone, the timing is simply not right for my family and I at this time.
I do believe that the Republican party in Monmouth and Middlesex will come together and that the organizations will have a strong candidate to challenge and ultimately unseat Frank Pallone. Simply put, Pallone is out of touch and out of step with the people of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties. His tax-and-spend approach has contributed to a weakened economy and a growing national unemployment rate. Plus, as one of the main architects of the patient protection and affordable care act he has participated in a historic assault on the American heath care system that 4 years after its passage has left patients less protected and health insurance more unaffordable than ever.
I stand ready to work with our party in helping to defeat Frank Pallone and return responsible Republican representation to the 6th district. I hope to have an opportunity to serve in the future.
Posted: February 24th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2014 Congressional Races, 2014 Elections, Frank Pallone | Tags: CD 6, Frank Pallone, Joe DiBella, NJ6 | 17 Comments »
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden told MMM that he will not be a candidate for Congress this year.
Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett has been urging Golden to take on Congressman Frank Pallone due to the sheriff’s strong record of accomplishment and his popularity at the polls.
“I would love to see Shaun Golden run for Congress, ” Bennett said earlier this month, ‘Not only is he popular and a demonstrated vote getter, he has an outstanding record with a documented ability to get things done.”
Golden said that it is just not the right time for him to take on a congressional campaign.
Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella said last week that he “would love to run against Pallone” if Golden doesn’t. Bennett told MMM that he received a message from DiBella expressing his interest. DiBella has not returned several phone calls inquiring about his candidacy from MMM this week.
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Posted: February 23rd, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2014 Congressional Races, 2014 Elections, Anna Little, Frank Pallone, Joe DiBella, Shaun Golden | Tags: Anna Little, CD 6, Congressman Frank Pallone, Frank Pallone, Joe DiBella, John Bennett, Middlesex GOP, Monmouth GOP, NJ-6, Sam Thompson, Shaun Golden, Sheriff Shaun Golden | 15 Comments »
