N.J. Gov. Chris Christie: 'I was wrong' about state worker contracts 

Governor Christie said Tuesday that he is bound to follow a controversial deal giving unionized state workers a 7 percent pay raise in the upcoming fiscal year, and barring him from ordering layoffs before January 2011.
 
Christie said he was "wrong" in previously claiming that he would not be "bound by" the contract struck between unions and former Gov. Jon Corzine last June. The agreement called for 10 unpaid furlough days while deferring a wage increase in exchange for a no-layoff pledge through December 2010. It means two 3.5 percent wage increases are scheduled to take effect in the upcoming budget year, one in July and one in January.
 
Layoffs or furloughs before January 2011 would trigger that raise right away. (Heininger, The Record) 

http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/politics/...

Christie vetoes legal services contract for Norcross's brother

The law firm whose contract with the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) Gov. Christopher Christie vetoed on Friday is run by the brother of political power broker George Norcross.

In a press release today, the Christie administration did not name the firm but said that it vetoed the minutes of the DRBA’s Feb. 16 meeting in which it authorized the contract because it “fails to specify any material terms of the contract – including the hourly rate of legal services, the term, or maximum annual compensation under the contract.”

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak told PolitickerNJ.com that the firm was Parker McCay.
 (Friedman, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/37555...

Jurors deadlocked in trial of shock jock Hal Turner

Jurors deliberating the  fate of North Bergen–based extremist shock  jock and former FBI informant Hal Turner  told the judge Tuesday they “will not ever”  reach a verdict. (Kelly, The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/030910_Jurors_d...

NAACP files ethics complaint against Lesniak and Bateman 

The New Jersey NAACP today filed an ethics complaint against state Sens. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) and Christopher Bateman (R-Branchburg), alleging a conflict of interest because they belong to law firms that represent towns that stand to benefit from the affordable housing legislation they sponsor.

“Senators Lesniak and Bateman have violated the public trust in intermeshing their private legal work and their service to the public as legislators,” said NAACP Housing Committee Chairman Mike McNeil in a written statement. “We are today asking the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to determine the extent of the violation of public trust and to require Senators Lesniak and Bateman to recuse themselves from further debate on the bill.”
(Friedman, PolitickerNJ) 

http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/37538...

Runyan plans campaign kick off next week 

Third District Republican congressional candidate Jon Runyan plans a formal campaign kickoff sometime in the latter half of next week, according to his campaign consultant, Chris Russell. 

Russell said the event will take place in Mount Laurel, though no exact date has been set.

Runyan, 36, is a former NFL lineman. He finished his career this year with the San Diego Chargers, but spent nine seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have a large fan base in this South Jersey congressional district. (Friedman, PolitickerNJ) 

http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/37540...

Atlantic City union sues for vote on $300M tax break for casino 

An Atlantic City casino workers union filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to let the public vote on whether a new mega-casino should get $300 million in state tax breaks. Local 54 of the UNITE HERE union says the Revel casino, which could open next year, could push at least two other struggling Atlantic City casinos out of business, and argues the state shouldn't help that process along. The union filed a referendum petition in January, but Atlantic City rejected it. That 
led to Tuesday's filing of a lawsuit in state Superior Court. (Parry AP) 

http://www.app.com/article/20100309/NEWS03/1003...

Ingle: Unfunded health benefits liability for retired is $55 billion

You would think at this stage of the budget crisis, politicians would quit playing games and the people who run unions would join the real world where people lucky enough to be employed pay a big chunk of their health care premiums and have a 401 (k). And yet, you get statements like this from the chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, Lou Greenwald: "I'm not going to be introducing any tax increases, but I would look to increase revenues to local municipalities and school districts to offset property taxes and that's going to mean cuts some place else." (Ingle, Gannett) 

http://www.app.com/article/20100309/OPINION05/3...