The Morning Briefing - June 26, 2015
** The Morning Briefing will be off next week, returning Monday July 6. A happy Independence Day celebration to all!
TRENTON – With wild rumors saying Gov. Chris Christie plans to announce his bid for the Presidency on Tuesday (finally), he needs to get some housekeeping out of the way. So, you can actually catch him at the Statehouse at 11:30 a.m. today, as he publicly thumbs his nose to proposed Democratic tax hikes and approves the 2016 state budget without the so-called millionaire’s tax and business tax hikes. Of course, he is shortchanging the pension system, but the message here is that this Republican doesn’t raise taxes. Not ever. Hear that New Hampshire? Hear that Iowa?
NEWARK – Of course, plenty of people won’t be happy with the fiscal ‘16 budget – like NJ Transit commuters who will see fares spike another 9 percent. But at the same moment today the governor takes action on the budget, a union rally is planned in Newark to blast NJ Transit for labor contracts that expired four years ago. Terrible timing for this, as NJ Transit has the perfect response – Christie is signing a budget at this very same moment that doesn’t give any more money to the agency. So sorry.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – As GOP insiders keep telling the media that Gov. Chris Christie will announce he is running for President on Tuesday at Livingston High School, his alma mater, the governor hit the airwaves last night to say, “there's been absolutely no final decision made by me," during his monthly "Ask the Governor" radio appearance on NJ101.5. Meanwhile, Republicans continue blabbing, CNN reports, with the governor’s announcement speech to focus on his upbringing and how it all shaped the incredible person and leader he is. Then, Christie heads to New Hampshire for another town hall meeting and will stick around through July 4. Christie response: "There's lots of people who speculate lots of things, and I can't be held to account for every bit of speculation that's in the press."
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – While Gov. Chris Christie maintains he still has not made up his mind if he is running for President, the Wall Street Journal is publishing the bones of his announcement speech. More incessant leaking from those unnamed Republican sources, saying Christie will talk about his formative years in Newark and that his father attended night college while working at a Breyers ice cream plant. Then, Christie will focus on the economy, foreign policy and national security. And then maybe chat about overhauling entitlement programs and simplifying the tax code, as he stands in the flag-draped high school gym before invited supporters, including his wife, four children and father. That is, of course, if he decides to run.
ROSELLE — The state’s population has increased since 2010, no thanks to white people. While the non-Hispanic white population has decreased in 16 of the state’s 21 counties, the state’s population has actually increased over the last five years. Why? The Hispanic community has increased in each county, particularly Union, Essex, and Bergen counties, the U.S. Census says. In response, Roselle Mayor Christine Dansereau has launched a new Office of Hispanic-Latino Affairs and will host the first general meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. at Borough Hall. “All members of our community must have a seat at the table. Our communities only suffer when populations are marginalized,” Dansereau said.
TRENTON – In what is sure to be cocktail-talk among high society's martini-swilling set, will Gov. Chris Christie sink or sign a sales tax break for buyers of yachts? A measure sailed through the Assembly and Senate to cap at $20,000 the amount of state sales tax on boats – well, yachts – costing more than $285,700. The bill's sponsor argues the legislation could keep boaters from bargain-hunting for out-of-state luxury yachts and, heck, New Jersey can afford to hand out tax breaks to people who hire others to peel their shrimp, right?
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
WASHINGTON D.C. – And the sore-loser-of-the-week award goes to Rep. Brian Babin. The Texas Republican has introduced the “SCOTUScare Act” as a little old-fashioned payback for the U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision to uphold Obamacare subsidies. Babin's bill would compel the nine Justices and all Supreme Court workers to sign-up for Obamacare just like members of Congress must do for health coverage. This, Babin says, would force the Justices “to see firsthand what the American people are forced to live with," according to Politico.
CALIFORNIA – And speaking of haves and have-nots, California Gov. Jerry Brown will be imposing strict water rationing beginning next Wednesday, allowing only basic indoor use. To heck with pools, Jacuzzis, lawn fountains and waterfalls, or lush landscaping. Some über-rich So-Cal homeowners recently groused to The Washington Post, including one gent who says anyone who can afford bigger water bills or hefty fines for overuse “should not be forced to live with brown lawns, golf on brown courses, or apologize for wanting beautiful gardens. We’re not all equal when it comes to water.” Mighty Max begs to differ.
LEXINGTON, KY – While you may think it’s time to clean out your fridge, it likely pales in comparison to the one that required 11 people at the University of Kentucky to be decontaminated. Assume it was a whiff of the “Tuesday Surprise” from 2006 that sent all these people to the hospital, after being exposed to whatever was in the laboratory refrigerator Wednesday morning. Firefighters evacuated the building and roped it off, while university officials tried to figure out what the heck it was. This important message brought to you by Tupperware®, which can preserve anything.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2012 that Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, the 4,000-year-old ridge-top monastery in Bhutan, caught on fire. With monks taking a vow of silence, we assume there was plenty off frantic hand-waving and pointing.
WORD OF THE DAY
Tatterdemalion – noun
Definition: A child in rags
Example: Chris Christie: “Son, change those pants! You can’t come to my official announcement for President dressed like that! You look like a tatterdemalion!”
Son: “Awww. Dad! … I mean, Mr. President!”