The Morning Briefing - February 20, 2015
WASHINGTON – The game of the 78th annual “Walk to Washington” is to see how often you can spot a couple of unannounced gubernatorial candidates, as they seem to be everywhere: Climbing into the next cab, sampling the whiskey at the Irish Embassy, sitting at the next table at any restaurant you choose or holding court at the main bar, where they can be seen by the most people. The next governor may ultimately have the uncanny ability of being in both North and South Jersey – and Washington – at the same time.
WASHINGTON – And while the buzz is about the governor’s race next year, with an unannounced gubernatorial candidate likely within a five-foot radius, “Walk to Washington” attendees also had the opportunity to hear from the sitting governor, Chris Christie. He spoke for a half-hour last night about how the state needs to be more affordable and more business-friendly, yet touted how his leadership is the reason New Jersey can tout any economic progress. Again, it is difficult to figure which audience Christie is addressing these days, positioning himself as a defender of the middle class to a roomful of business owners, lobbyists and other politicians.
WASHINGTON – Or, maybe, Gov. Chris Christie was using the speech as a warm up for his budget address on Tuesday, where the issue of the state’s bloated pension mess or the gas tax will certainly be of interest. Moreover, how will the potential Presidential candidate address all these ongoing drops in the state’s bond rating, or the fact that revenue projections never quite match up with the budgets he proposes. The Governor last night already vowed he is not raising taxes – no way, now how – which certainly isn’t reassuring to the state pensioner who wonders if the checks will still arrive in Florida.
VINELAND – In a rare Cumberland County College story, school officials are touting that tuition will remain flat for the next school year because of staff refusing to accept salary increases, the South Jersey Times reports. Great “collective sacrifice” here the school president notes, but the solution doesn’t address the problem. Tuition is up because school enrollment is down, and not giving raises to staff only incentivizes the best ones to go elsewhere, further decreasing the quality of the product. Perhaps use the proceeds of this “collective sacrifice” to figure out why students aren’t enrolling.
STATEWIDE – The numbers are in, and they are impressive. In the five years the much-despised red light cameras were slapping around motorists in 24 towns, the municipal coffers were able to rake in $156 million in fines. Just one intersection – at Route 1 and Bakers Basin-Franklin Corner roads in Lawrence – was able to rake in the biggest haul of the 73 intersections in the state. Motorists are relieved the cameras are history, but what a great way to raise a windfall. Perhaps Cumberland County College can install the cameras on campus roads.
NEWARK – The slogan “Save the Whales” should be changed to “Don’t Shoot the Whales” – at least in New Jersey. A Cape May tuna fisherman has surrendered to federal authorities after allegedly using a World War II-era rifle to gun down whales. There was a dead whale found in Allenhurst in 2011, the AP reports, adding the gunman admits to “spraying” fire at the whales to chase them away from his fishing lines.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
OTTAWA – Politicians have plenty of reasons for fleeing in the middle of a vote, but one Canadian legislator had one of the most original excuses ever recorded: his cheap, new underwear was too tight. He bolted from the House of Commons when he was suppose to rise to vote, saying he made an unwise purchase at a local discount store on Thursday. "They had men's underwear on for half price and I bought a bunch that was clearly too small for me,” he explained to the chamber, amidst guffaws.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2012 that scientists looked in the back of your refrigerator, finding a 31,800-year-old piece of fruit they were miraculously able to regenerate. And, now, on to the freezer.