New Jersey Politics

Latest NJ Statehouse, Legislature and election news

About 300 of the university's 2,400 professors have the minimum 25 years experience to be eligible for the payment Full story »

New Jersey took in about $41.5 million less than expected for the state budget in February, keeping revenues 2.8 percent below target for the year, the treasurer’s office said yesterday. That meant no immediate changes to the major cuts Gov. Chris Christie made in February to cover an expected $1.2 billion lag in budget revenue. "It’s not a game-changer,"... Full story »

TRENTON -- The Christie administration today pledged to restore a $2 million budget cut made last month, paving the way for 14 people with developmental disabilities who were waiting to leave institutional care for community housing to relocate as soon as possible, a state official confirmed. The Department of Human Services uncovered about $4 million that had been set... Full story »

TRENTON -- New Jersey's Division of Taxation says it will not hold on to refund checks owed to taxpayers, despite reports that several other states may delay sending theirs out because of budget shortfalls. The agency said today it considers returning overpaid taxes promptly to workers a duty. Refunds are expected to average about $500 — slightly more than last... Full story »

  A bill that would require public employees in New Jersey to live within the state is getting a warm reception from both Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Democrat. Their support gives new life to an old idea, that those who get their paychecks from New Jersey taxpayers should live and spend their money... Full story »

Five-member task force is created to make recommendations Full story »

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg today wrote President Barack Obama requesting his approval to declare New Jersey's southern counties as federal disaster areas after the massive snow storm in February, according to a report by DailyRecord.com. The snow storm left more than two feet of snow in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean... Full story »

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerView from above the New Jersey Senate Chamber at the Statehouse in Trenton in January. TRENTON — The Senate voted 29-7 to allow the transfer of Highlands development rights statewide. The bill (S-80) authorizes a program to benefit property owners in the state’s Highlands region. Those owners have seen their property values limited by development restrictions aimed at... Full story »

TRENTON — The state Senate today confirmed two of Gov. Chris Christie’s cabinet nominees, including Bret Schundler as education commissioner. Senators voted 35-2 to approve Schundler after his nomination was released without recommendation — a mild rebuff — from the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senate today also confirmed James Simpson, 38-0, to head the state Department of Transportation. Simpson,... Full story »

The Bear Education and Resource Group argues the N.J. Fish and Game Council violated open meetings act rules Full story »

The Superman and Michael Jackson posters are tacked on Jimmy Lee McCoy’s wall. His bowling ball is in the closet. His stereo and DVD player are plugged in. All that’s missing from his new home in Port Monmouth is McCoy. He’s not there because of the trickle-down effect of the Christie administration’s decision last month to cut $550 million from... Full story »

TRENTON — A bill allowing wine to be shipped directly to customers has been approved by the New Jersey Senate. Two Democratic senators who sponsored the bill say lifting the direct-shipping ban would benefit consumers while also helping the state's emerging wine industry. New Jersey is the sixth-largest wine producing state in the country. Many small wineries sell their... Full story »

Lobbyist Dick Zimmer to lead task force that will recommend which jobs could be trimmed from state payroll. Full story »

  Last June, Henry Rouwendal, an electrical engineer from Vernon, was loading his tools into his SUV, which was parked outside his home. Also in the vehicle was an Italian hoagie he had bought for the long drive to a job in New Hampshire. Wham! Rouwendal was blindsided and driven face-first into the driveway by an adult black bear,... Full story »

  At this time last year I was pestering candidate Chris Christie to determine what he was going to do about the single most important issue to the voters in this state, our outrageous property taxes. I asked the same two or three questions over and over. At one point, Christie got so frustrated that he joked that if... Full story »