Unicameral

By Michael Laffey

The recent redistricting fight made me think about why we have an Assembly and a Senate.

I believe historically it was because Senators represented a particular County rather then a legislative district.  The system mirrored the Federal System where States with small populations still get two Senators.  The idea was to give rural counties representation on par with more populous counties.

 A United States Supreme Court decision in 1964 (Reynolds v. Sims) and a New Jersey Supreme Court decision in 1972 (Jackman v. Bodine) that arrangement was found unconstitutional under the one person one vote rule.

As a result the current legislative arrangement was instituted. 

Since the rational for two legislative houses no longer exists why don’t we move to a unicameral or one house legislature?  Nebraska only has one legislative house.

This would save a lot of money and make our government more efficient.

I hope my friends in the legislature don’t take this suggestion personally but I think it is something that deserves consideration.

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Grenefage And DeSevo File To Run In Middletown

By Art Gallagher

Jim Grenefage and Alex DeSevo have filed petitions for run for Middletown Township Committee as Democrats.

Grenefage ran unsuccessfully in 2008 and ran for Assembly in 2009.  DeSevo ran for Assembly in 1999 and for Township Committee in 2003.

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The Democratic Line Up

By Art Gallagher

The Monmouth County Democratic Organization held their Mini-Convention at the Carpenters Union Hall in Red Bank this morning.  The following candidates were nominated:

For Freeholder: Incumbent Amy Mallet of Fair Haven and William Shea of Howell.

For Surrogate: Michael Steinhorn of Rumson.  Steinhorn ran for Council in Rumson in 2008.  He’s a realtor, a CPA and has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School.

The 11th Legislative District:

For Senate: Ray Santiago, a Freehold Township Attorney who challenged Barbara McMorrow in the Freehold Township Committee race last year.

For Assembly:

Marilyn Schlossbach of Asbury Park? 

Schlossbach is the owner of several Jersey Shore Restaurants.  According to her facebook pages, Schlossbach is from Belmar and lives in Normandy Beach. Normandy Beach is in the 10th legislative district. 

Monmouth County Democratic Vice Chair Amy Quinn told MMM that Schlossbach owns a home in Asbury Park and that her residency will be in Asbury Park before the filing deadline.

Vin Gopal of Long Branch.

The 12th Legislative District:

The Monmouth County Democratic Organization is deferring endorsements to the other counties in this district.  Bob Brown of Old Bridge is running for Senate.  Catherine TinneyRome, also of Old Bridge is running for Assembly. If there is a second Assembly candidate, the Monmouth Democratic Organization is not aware of who that might be at this time.

13th Legislative District:

For Senate:

Christopher Cullen of Hazlet.  Cullen served on the Hazlet Township Committee and as Mayor in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.

For Assembly:

Former Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan and Former Middletown Township Committeeman Patrick Short.

The 30th Legislative District:

For Senate: Steve Morlino of Howell.

The Monmouth County Democratic Organization did not endorse any Assembly candidates in the 30th.  Rabbi Howard Kleinhendler of Lakewood and Pt Pleasant Borough Councilman Shaun O’Rouke are expected to receive the nominations from Ocean County.

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Something For Dan Jacobson To Consider While Mulling An Assemly Bid

By Art Gallagher

Republican publisher and former Democratic Assemblyman Dan Jacobson says he is mulling running for Assembly in the 11th legislative district GOP primary. 

The potty mouth pundit says he supports incumbent Mary Pat Angelini, in large measure due to her pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage positions and that he is considering a challenge to Caroline Casagrande.  It’s not that Dan has a problem with Casagrande, like he does with Sean Kean. It’s that he thinks he can cause a transformational change in Trenton if he heads to the Assembly beholden to no one.  Free of party ties, donor expectations or special interest loyalty, Dan thinks he can go to Trenton and make government more responsive to the people and less responsive to the special interests.  Dan’s goal is laudable. His proposed method is fool hardy, unless he can recruit many many other candidates of a similar mind set and get all of their petitions signed between now and Monday at 4PM.  Not going to happen.

But Dan knows that already.  He’s lived it already the last time he was in the Assembly 20 years ago. The fun he had driving the leadership crazy is probably more on his mind now than the frustration he experienced. That memory of the fun could be what is driving his consideration of a bid.

What Dan apparently doesn’t realize is that if he files to run for Assembly in the 11th district GOP primary he doesn’t get to choose who he is challenging.  He says he is considering a challenge to Casagrande and not Angelini, but the balloting doesn’t work that way. 

Assuming Mary Pat, Caroline and Dan are the only candidates in the primary, the election would be a 3 way race for 2 nominations.  Dan can say he’s only challenging Caroline all he wants.  The truth is that it would be a 3 way race for 2 nominations and Dan could end up knocking off Mary Pat instead of Caroline.

From my point of view Jacobson is a bigger threat in a 3 way to Angelini than he is to Casagrande. Take it from me, the powerful Republican blogger as Dan calls me, if Jacobson runs he is more of a threat to Angelini than he is to Casagrande.

By both perception and reality, Angelini is more liberal than Casagrande.  While the very popular Angelini will likely be the top vote getter in the general election, she has some problems with the conservative Republican base.  Hardcore conservative voters can be fickle.  Many will vote for Casagrande and no one else.  Many will vote for Casagrande and Jacobson, just to send a message to Angelini.  They won’t mind if Jacobson beats Angelini, figuring they can knock Jacobson off in two years with a real conservative.

Angelini and Casagrande will be bracketed together on the ballot.  Assuming Dan is the only primary challenger, his name would be appear in the column immediately to the right of Angelini and Casagrande on the ballot.  If the party organization positions Mary Pat and Caroline alphabetically, which would make sense since they have the same seniority, Angelini’s name would appear above Casagrande’s.  Jacobson’s name would appear on the ballot right next to Angelini, making it appear on the ballot that Dan is running against Angelini.  Even though the instructions will say “Vote for Two,” many uninformed voters will think they have to choose between Angelini and Jacobson before voting for Casagrande who will appear to be unchallenged.  Some will chose Jacobson and then vote for Casagrande.

Just some food for thought for Dan to include in his mulling this weekend.

Kitten, kitten, kitten.

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In the 11th: DuPont Not Running, Gopal Is Bidding For Assembly, Jacobson Might Challenge Casagrande

Santiago likely for Senate

By Art Gallagher

MoreMonmouthMusings has learned that Red Bank Councilman Michael DuPont, also the Treasurer of the NJ Turnpike Authority and Borough Attorney of Sayreville, will not be a candidate for Senate or Assembly in the new 11th legislative district. 

DuPont told RedBankGreen ,”it’s not happening.  I have a young family, including twin four year olds.”  Translation: Being a Senator would be a pay cut for DuPont that he can’t afford now.

Former West Long Branch Democratic Chairman and Kucinich for President Deputy National Campaign Manager Vin Gopal confirmed that he is in the running for an Assembly nomination in the 11th.

Gopal will not have an easy ride to the nomination in the competitive field. Sources who swear they will never talk to me again if I name them say State Democratic Chairman John Wisniewski is opposed to Gopal’s candidacy because of how Vin cost The Wiz a Senate seat by rallying progressive Democrats against the Chairman’s preferred legislative map.  As co-chair the the Redistricting Commission, Wisniewski proposed a Middlesex County District that would have pitted ultra liberal Kucinch type Democratic Senators Barbara Buono and Joe Vitale in the same district and left the Wiz in a district with no incumbent Senator so that he could move up himself.  In part because of Gopal’s efforts, Middlesex got a Senate vacancy in the 12th that is going to Sam Thompson.

Freehold Township attorney Ray Santiago is now said to be the front runner for the Democratic Senate nod in the 11th, rather than a candidate for Surrogate or Assembly as previously reported.   Boosters of Santiago for Senate are touting his Hispanic origin.  Someone should tell them that Gopal is Asian.

Elsewhere in the 11th, Republican publisher and former Democratic Assemblyman Dan Jacobson announced in the triCityNews that he is now considering running in the GOP primary for Assembly against Caroline Casagrande now that Sean Kean is in the 30th district.  Jacobson said in the triCityNews published yesterday that he was going to take a week to mull it over.  I was going to plead with my readers not to tell Dan that the filing deadline in Monday the 11th, but Jacobson just said he wrote that eariler in the week and is aware of the deadline.  He said that he will make a decision over the weekend.

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Kyrillos: Parents And Students Shouldn’t Be Forced To Pay For Degenerate Entertainment

By Art Gallagher

Referring to “Snooki” as a “degenerate reality television star who offers neither useful advice nor any appreciable talents,” Senator Joe Kyrillos announced that he was submitting legislation that would all require New Jersey’s public universities to make student activities fees optional.

His legislation comes in response to mandatory student activities fees at Rutgers University being used to fund a $32, 000 speaking fee for Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi.
“Students ought not be forced to fund entertainment or events that they find objectionable,” said Kyrillos. “There were a great deal of Rutgers students who I am certain were uninterested or flat out outraged by Ms. Polizzi’s appearance on campus.”

Kyrillos’ announcement quickly made national news when Tommy DeSeno wrote about it on Ricochet.

Polizzi, 23, didn’t tell MoreMonmouthMusings that she was using the $32,000 she picked up for her Rutgers performance as a down payment on a house in Keansburg so that she could seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Kyrillos this fall.

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Lucas Not Running In The 12th

By Art Gallagher

Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas told MoreMonmouthMusings that he will not be a candidate for Senate or Assembly in the GOP primary in the new 12th legislative district.

Earlier this week Lucas announced that he would by-pass the Monmouth County screening committee to compete in the primary.

The Ocean and Middlesex GOPs nominated Sam Thompson for Senate and Ronald Dancer and Rob Clifton for Assembly earlier this week.  The Monmouth and Burlington County Committees are expected to do the same tomorrow.

Lucas said that he would do all that he could this fall to make sure Republicans are elected in the 12th district and throughout Monmouth County.

Clifton said, ” I have a great deal of respect for Andrew Lucas.  He is a great Mayor and will be a leader in Monmouth County and New Jersey for years to come.”

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Monmouth Democrats Will Choose Their Candidates Saturday

By Art Gallagher

The Monmouth County Democratic Organization will hold a “mini-convention” tomorrow at the Carpenters Union Hall in Red Bank for the purpose of nominating county and state legislative candidates for the June primary election.

One reader asked me today, “How come the Democrats are so good at keeping a lid on who their potential candidates are and everyone knows who the Republican players are?”

The answer is two fold: 1) The Democrats have been having a difficult time recruiting candidates.  They don’t have a deep bench of elected officials on the municipal level in Monmouth County. 2) Unlike the GOP that has incumbent legislators we knew were going to run regardless of how the new map was drawn, the Democrats have only had since Sunday to determine who lives in what district and if any of the districts are competitive.

Based upon numerous conversations with Monmouth Democrats who will never talk to me again if I name them, the contenders for the various nominations are as follows:

Surrogate:  Little Silver Councilman Daniel O’Hern, Jr is the most prominent name mentioned.  O’Hern is the son of the former State Supreme Court Justice.  He is the Red Bank Borough Attorney and former Middletown Township Committeeman Sean Byrnes law partner.

Freehold Township Attorney Ray Santiago’s name has been mentioned for Surrogate, as has Lake Como Councilman Brian Wilton. Wilton’s name has also been mentioned for Freeholder.

Freeholder:  Incumbent Freeholder Amy Mallet will be nominated.  William Shea of Howell, a 32 year old State Trooper who is retiring on June 1st has emerged as the front runner to be Mallet’s running mate.

11th Legislative District:  Many Democrats think this district, which includes Neptune Township, Asbury Park, Long Branch and Red Bank, is competitive.  This is where the action has been for Democrats this week as potential candidates lobby delegates for the chance to challenge Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande in the general election.

For Senate, former Assemblyman Michael Panter is in the running. Amy Quinn of Asbury Park, the County Vice-Chair and municipal chair is gathering support, as is Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson.

Red Bank Councilman Michael Dupont and Freehold Borough Councilman Jay Sims are also in the mix for Senate.

For Assembly, Kevin McMillan, Randy Bishop and Jason Jones, all of Neptune Township are in the mix, as is Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee and Santiago of Freehold Township.  Vin Gopal of Long Branch is considering a bid.

12th Legislative District: As busy as the Democrats are the the 11th is as quiet as they are the the 12th.  As of this writing, the Monmouth Dems might let the Ocean and Middlesex Democrats nominate the candidates for this district.

13th Legislative District.  No one wants to run against Joe Kyrillos for Senate, but some Democrats are trying to coax former Judge, Senator, Freeholder and Parole Board Chairman John D’Amico of Oceanport to come out of retirement one more time.

For Assembly in the 13th, former Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan and Atlantic Highlands Councilman Roy Dellosso are the likely nominees to challenge GOP incumbents Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon.

The 30th Legislative District is the only slate that is settled for the Democrats.  Steve Morlino of Howell Township will be making yet another run against Senator Robert Singer. Rabbi Howard Kleinhendler, who ran against Chris Smith for Congress last year will run for Assembly.  Point Pleasant Borough Councilman Shaun O’Rourke will complete the Assembly ticket in the 30th.

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How To End Double Dipping

By Murray Sabrin

Editorial writers and good government types are foaming at the mouth because both Republicans and Democrats are collecting pensions while they are working in new government positions.  Who would have guessed that members of the political elite would rip off (legally, of course) taxpayers? 

Over the years, editorial writers have endorsed big government candidates from both major political parties because the political hustlers expressed “compassion” (financed with taxpayers’ money, of course) for the poor, elderly, et.al.  In other words, they epitomize “phony” philanthropy.  And how have the welfare statists repaid taxpayers?  By engaging in a legal but cheesy practice—retiring from one government job and collecting a paycheck from another. 

The solution is simple:  end pensions and health benefits for all elected officials.  This would end double dipping once-and-for all.  During this transition, public officials would have to fund their own pensions and health care needs out of their own incomes.  This “reform” would work as follows.  Salaries of all state, county and local government official would be increased (or not) to account for all the benefits the state, county and local governments now pay. 

In the future, if a person retires from say being a local police chief and then is elected county sheriff, there would be no double dipping because he would be using his savings from his first job plus the income from his new job to pay for living expenses.  In short, no more double dipping for elected officials in New Jersey. 

There is absolutely no reason retirement income and medical benefits should be tied to employment.  Every adult should take responsibility for his or her life.  That means planning for all stages of life including retirement.  However, in our collectivist, welfare state culture, the most disingenuous words are:  “I’m from the government and I am here to help you.”  Or, “I work for the government and I really care about taxpayers.”  

The reason state and local governments have a collective $3.5 trillion underfunded pension and health care liability is because politicians have not been funding the retirement plans and promised health care benefits of workers.  In short, politicians from both political parties have been–to put it mildly–poor stewards of taxpayers’ money.

The evidence is overwhelming.  Politicians cannot be trusted with the people’s money.  We need to downsize, not reform, all levels of government.  The welfare state, redistribution of income chickens are coming home to roost.   The worst of the ongoing financial crisis is yet to come. 

Murray Sabrin is professor of finance at Ramapo College and blogs at www.MurraySabrin.com

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In 2012, Barack Obama will replace Joe Biden with Kay Hagan as his running mate

By Alan Steinberg, originally posted at Politickernj

Prediction:  In early 2012, President Barack Obama will announce that if he is reelected, he will appoint Vice President Joe Biden to succeed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

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