Christie: Failure to pass Sandy relief rests with House Majority and Speaker Boehner

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It’s time for Boehner to go

House Speaker John Boehner was more effective with tears.

Our nation never should have gotten into the “fiscal cliff” mess.  We got there in large measure because Boehner couldn’t control his temper and would not return President Obama’s phone calls after a White House meeting in July of 2011.  Boehner said Obama “moved the goal post” after he thought a deal was done. Obama said that there were $1.65 trillion in spending cuts in the deal that Boehner walked from.  The “fiscal cliff” deal that passed yesterday raised $650 billion in revenue and reduced spending by $15 billion.  Our economy would have been better off if Boehner had been able to control his temper in July of 2011.

Politico reports that Boehner told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid “to go fuck himself” on Friday as the two leaders of the House and Senate were entering the White House to negotiate.  Congressman Frank LoBiondo(R-NJ-2) told PolitickerNJ that Boehner shouted at him yesterday when he asked the Speaker about the delay in the Sandy Relief Bill voting.  Congressman Peter King (R-NY) went on FoxNews this morning to declare his independence from the Republican Party and urge donors to withhold donations to the GOP.  Governor Chris Christie called Boehner’s lack of action on the Sandy Bill “petty politics,” “disgusting,” and “duplicitous.”

John Boehner has demonstrated that he does not have the temperament nor skill to be a leader of the House of Representatives or the highest ranking Republican elected official in the nation.

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Joint Statement of Governors Christie and Cuomo on Congressional Failure to Pass Hurricane Sandy Relief Package

Trenton, NJ – With all that New York and New Jersey and our millions of residents and small businesses have suffered and endured, this continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable. It has now been 66 days since Hurricane Sandy hit and 27 days since President Obama put forth a responsible aid proposal that passed with a bipartisan vote in the Senate while the House has failed to even bring it to the floor. This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented. The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty. When American citizens are in need we come to their aid. That tradition was abandoned in the House last night.

The people of our states can no long afford to wait while politicians in Washington play games.

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Governor Christie Press Conference at 2PM

Governor Chris Christie has added a press conference at 2PM to his schedule today.

Changes are Christie will have some colorful things to say about the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives who, in a last minute reversal, declined to allow the House to vote on the $60 billion Hurricane Sandy relief package yesterday.

The press conference will can be viewed live here:

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Tom Arnone will be Monmouth County Freeholder Director

Serena DiMaso will be Deputy Director

Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso with Sheriff Shaun Golden

Freeholder Tom Arnone will be elected Director of the Freeholder Board when Monmouth County’s government reorganizes  tomorrow, 4PM, at the Biotechnology High School in Freehold.  Freeholder Serena DiMaso will be Deputy Director.

Arnone, the former Mayor of Neptune City, is entering the third year of his first term on the board.  DiMaso was first elected to the board last January by the Monmouth County Republican Committee to replace Rob Clifton who had resigned to take his seat in the State Assembly.  She was elected by the Monmouth County voters last November to complete that term.  She is expected to seek her own full term in November with Arnone who is expected to seek a second term on the board.

Posted: January 2nd, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Monmouth County, Monmouth County Board of Freeholders | Tags: Rob Clifton, Serena DiMaso, Tom Arnone | 2 Comments »

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Scharfenberger will be Middletown Mayor in 2013

Dr. Gerry Scharfenberger, PhD, is slated to become Mayor of Middletown Township on Sunday January 6 when the Township Committee reorganized for 2013.  Committeewoman Stephanie Murray will be Deputy Mayor.

Scharfenberger, an archaeologist who teaches at Monmouth University, is the Director of the State Office of Planning Advocacy within the Department of State.  A Township Committee Member since 2005, he previously served as mayor in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Murray, the owner and co-founder of Crescent Moon Press, is serving her first term on the Township Committee.

Under the Township Committee form of government the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are selected annually by the Committee Members.

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Sandy Relief Bill Pulled From House Agenda

The bill that passed the U.S. Senate on Friday that would provide $60 billion to rebuild New Jersey, New York and Connecticut from the effects of Superstorm Sandy and $400 million in projects unrelated to Sandy has stalled in the House of Representatives, according to reports on Politico and NorthJersey.com.

The House has split the relief measure into two parts; a $27 billion first installment to fund immediate recovery needs over the next three months and a $33 billion amendment to that installment bill.  The amendment would fund strip away the $400 million in non-Sandy pork.

House Speaker John Boehner pulled the measures from the voting schedule prior to the “fiscal cliff” vote last night.  If the House does not act before noon on Thursday any federal help for Sandy recovery will have to be taken up by the new Congress.

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2013 Predictions

A better late than never “fiscal cliff” deal will get done in Washington.  Federal taxes and spending will both rise.  The federal debt ceiling will rise in the coming months.

Last minute legal maneuvers by “birthers” to prevent Barack Obama’s election by the electoral college will fail.

New Jersey will confront a budget shortfall of almost $1 billion.  Governor Christie will attempt to plug part of the shortfall with the privatization of the lottery.  There will be painful spending cuts during the first six months of the year.

Congress will pass and the president will sign the $60.4 billion Sandy Relief Bill.

The rebuilding of the Jersey Shore communities devastated by Superstorm Sandy will be slowed by FEMA.

Despite New Jersey’s fiscal mess and frustration over the rebuilding process, Governor Christie’s approval ratings will be in the high 50’s throughout the year.  Christie will be reelected, defeating State Senator Barbara Buono.   The Democratic Party will retain control of the State Legislature.

The State Senate will confirm David Baumann as a State Supreme Court Associate Justice.  They will not confirm Robert Hanna.

Joe Oxley will be confirmed as a Superior Court Judge.

There will be surprise retirements in the Monmouth County Vicinage of the Superior Court.

The first Monmouth GOP nominating convention under Chairman John Bennett and his new by-laws will see no challenges to incumbent freeholders, legislators or the sheriff.  There will be Tea Party led primary challenges in the 11th, 13th and 30th Legislative Districts.  The incumbents will all win.

The Monmouth GOP by-laws will be amended at the nominating convention to make the chairman’s term two years.

The Monmouth County Democratic Party will have difficulty recruiting a full slate of legislative and county candidates.

Tom Arnone will be the Director of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.

What do you think will happen?

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We need to re-discover our humanity

By Selika Josiah Gore

2012 had moments that confirmed my faith in fellow man, and provided encouragement and inspiration to millions. 2012 also had moments that defied logic and decimated entire communities.

In looking forward to 2013 it cannot just be about momentary acts of kindness that make us feel better.

Instead we need to re-discover our humanity.

Many of us are active in our state and national organizations. But what of our neighbors?

Are we more likely to gossip about the pretty girl moving ahead on the corporate ladder instead of reaching out to the old couple up the street? Is it easier to brag about the check we have written for a charity then bring home groceries for the mother with her infants at home around the block?

This is no indictment on my fellowman, nor by any stretch is it meant to imply that I am without reproach.  What it is meant to do is to call attention to our humanity.

If we specify a certain number of acts of kindness does that mean that our humanity has a limit?

Instead of getting caught up in the latest fad of giving how about we all, including myself,determine (meaning to decide authoritatively) to have humanity begin at home.

This is no Pollyanna wish.  It is what separates us from the animals and brings us closer to God.  How many times a day do you pass the same bus driver, cafeteria worker, parking attendant, desk security, mailman etc., without not knowing their name or even saying hello.  The more people that care about us, the more opportunities for a lifeline when things go bad.  We cannot legislate away crazy and the reality is only the Lord will provide world peace.  But each of us in this New Year called 2013 can add humanity to the world around us.

Happy New Year and God’s Blessings for a Healthy and Prosperous One.

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2012 Year in review: October and November

Hurricane Sandy

Barack Obama was reelected President of the United States

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