Christie nominates Massell and Luttrell for Monmouth County Tax Board

Stephen Massell

Governor Chris Christie this afternoon announced the nominations of Stephen Massell of Middletown and Renee Luttrell of Holmdel to serve five year terms on the Monmouth County Tax Board.   If confirmed by the New Jersey Senate, Massell will fill the Republican seat on the Board currently held by Kathleen Cody Bjelka who term has expired.  Luttrell will take the Democratic seat vacated by the death of Thomas J. Byrne of Spring Lake.

Given the legislative calendar, neither nominee is likely to be confirmed until the lame duck session which starts in November. The State Legislature typically takes the summer off after passing the State Budget which is due by June 30th.  Given that all 120 seats in the legislature are up for election this year, members of the legislature are likely to spend the fall campaigning and not legislating.

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Christie votes for Guadagno

(Governor’s Office/ Mykwain Gainey)

Governor Chris Christie told reporters this morning that he voted for Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno in the Republican gubernatorial primary this morning, according to a report in PolticoNewJersey.

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Christie Commutes Marine Veteran’s Sentence For Gun Conviction

photo via Google +

Hisashi K.D. Pompey, Marine veteran from Virginia convicted under New Jersey’s draconian gun laws of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, will not have to report to State Prison on Monday.  Governor Chris Christie commuted Pompey’s sentence to time served today.

Pompey was arrested on December 16, 2011 and convicted in 2013, according to the Governor’s Order. According to published reports, Pompey brought his gun, which was licensed in his home state of Virginia, into a Fort Lee nightclub.  A friend took the gun from the Marine’s holster. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

Pompey was facing a 5 year prison term with a provision that he serve a minimum of three years.

Pompey’s application for a full pardon is still under review by the Governor’s Office, according to Chief Counsel Gregory Acquaviva’s letter to his attorney, Evan Nappen of Eatontown.

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Doherty’s long term support for the gas tax increase, toll hikes and other profitable ventures

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, a candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder, is a long term supporter of the gas tax increase that is up for a vote in the State Legislature on Friday.

In 2014, Doherty wrote a letter endorsing the work of Foward New Jersey, a coalition of unions and other special interest groups who will collect the $2 million per mile construction costs that the $.23 per gallon gas tax  will fund. Forward New Jersey has been lobbying for the gas tax increase for almost two years and is waging a social media campaign to counter the grass-roots opposition to the tax increase as you are reading this article.  Doherty’s letter can be found here.

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That day that Freeholder John Curley called Governor Christie a mother f’er, and other Bridgegate news

Freeholder John Curley

NEWARK– The governor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs was supposed to be an outreach office–a one-stop shop for mayors, local officials and civic leaders seeking assistance from the state. But as Gov. Chris Christie’s 2013 re-election campaign ramped up, the agency took on another role. It became a virtual arm of the campaign, using public resources to… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sen Beck: Public Massively Opposes New Gas Tax

Senator Jennifer Beck renewed her opposition to a $.23 per gallon hike on the New Jersey gas tax and said that the deal struck between Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto is a recycled version of previous legislation that thousands of New Jersey drivers rallied against.

“Residents, drivers and commuters rallied against this $2 billion gas tax plan the first time it was proposed in June,” said Beck. “Offering a recycled plan that tinkers around the edges doesn’t change the fact that the public massively opposes a 23 cent per gallon gas tax hike. I will continue to stand up and fight for the vast majority of the people of New Jersey who oppose this tax increase.”

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Christie issues Executive Order to fund transportation projects from the general state fund

file photo

Governor Chris Christie announced this afternoon that he has ordered the State Treasurer to fund transportation projects that are absolutely essential for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State of New Jersey, or that are required to ensure the receipt of federal funding.

The Governor’s announcement comes as the Transportation Trust Fund is on the verge of running out of money.  The legislature failed to pass a funding mechanism for the fund by June 30th.  Christie subsequently shut down all non-essential projects and those not at risk of losing federal funding.

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N.J. gas tax deal goes through committee, but still won’t get past Christie

TRENTON — In the ongoing road funding battle, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Friday advanced legislation raising the tax on gasoline sold in New Jersey by 23 cents and offering tax breaks to seniors, veterans and the working poor. But the vote — 8-4 with one abstention — could be in vain if Democrats… Read the rest of this entry »

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With transportation funding negotiations deadlocked, County has plan to restart Shark River dredging

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone said he will announce a plan to restart the Shark River dredging project Wednesday morning at the Shark River Marina in Neptune Township.

The project, which had restarted on schedule on July 1 was halted at midnight on July 8 when Governor Christie’s executive order halting projects funded by the Transportation Trust Fund took effect.

The legislature failed to pass TTF funding with a $.23 per gallon gas tax on June 30th. The Senate’s plan was to increase the gas tax while phasing out the estate tax and reducing income taxes on retirees.  Christie and the Assembly agreed on a bill that would have raised the gas tax and reduced the sales tax from 7% to 6%.  Senate President Steve Sweeny and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto agreed to pass a revised version of the Senate’s original bill last week.  Yesterday, Christie said the Democrats plan is “dead on arrival.”

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Gopal Declares War On Monmouth County Legislators

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal, speaking at his “Chairman’s Ball” fundraiser in Neptune last night, declared that he is targeting every Monmouth County Republican seat in the legislature in the 2017 election, according to a report on PolitickerNJ.

Gopal singled out Senator Joe Kyrillos, Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblymen Declan O’Scanlon and Dave Rible in his remarks.

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