Chris Christie: Media can’t define us

Chris Christie: Media can’t define us (via CNN Video)

Gov. Chris Christie speaks to the CPAC crowd about the media and issues facing the Republican party.

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As Sandy housing aid deadline nears, lawmakers request extension

As Sandy housing aid deadline nears, lawmakers request extension (via NJ.com)

Roughly 1,000 New Jersey households still displaced because of Hurricane Sandy rely on the federal government to help pay for temporary housing. But that program is scheduled to end on April 30. So U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker announced…

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Essex Republicans back Goldberg for U.S. Senate

Essex Republicans back Goldberg for U.S. Senate (via NJ.com)

NEWARK — The Essex County Republican party announced today they will back Brian Goldberg to unseat Sen. Cory Booker in his 2014 re-election bid. “I’m very pleased to support Essex County’s own Brian Goldberg for U.S. Senate,” said county party…

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Ron Paul Endorses Murray Sabrin for U.S. Senate

Former Texas Congressman Ron Paul endorsed Ramapo College Finance Professor Murray Sabrin for the New Jersey GOP U.S. Senate nomination, Sabrin’s campaign announced today.

In a letter to Sabrin expressing his endorsement, Paul said that the professor recognizes the dramatic overreach of ObamaCare will impact all Americans for decades to come.  Paul cited Sabrin’s opposition to NSA spying on American citizens.

“I have known Murray for 30 years, and he is a

true champion of liberty. I am proud to endorse

his campaign for U.S. Senate in New Jersey.”

“I’m honored and humbled to have the support of my friend, Ron Paul,” said Murray, “and I know his endorsement sends a strong message throughout New Jersey that I’m in this race all the way and in it to win.”

“America and New Jersey cannot afford Cory Booker in the Senate for a full, six-year term given his support of job-killing taxes, environmental regulations that will cost almost 8,500 New Jerseyans their jobs over the next 10 years and, of course the increasingly problematic Obamacare. We can’t afford to let Cory Booker pay attention to the nation’s business in the same way The New York Times recently exposed he failed to pay attention to the city of Newark’s business when he was mayor. The hard working people of New Jersey deserve better, and I will give that to them when I’m elected to the United States Senate.”

The Sabrin campaign said they are proud of Paul’s endorsement not only because of their shared principles, but because of the access to Paul’s grassroots fundraising apparatus that raised millions of dollars during the former congressman’s presidential campaigns.

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Latest Obamacare change – not an option for most NJ policyholders

Latest Obamacare change – not an option for most NJ policyholders (via NJ.com)

The two-year extension for people whose individual health insurance policies don’t comply with requirements of the new health care law, announced yesterday, will have little impact in New Jersey. Here, all but one of the six insurers selling plans…

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Sabrin Filed Ethics Complaint Against Sweeney For Lobbying

Murray Sabrin, PhD raised questions about Senate President Steve Sweeney’s potentially conflicting roles as a labor leader and state legislator months before he considered running for U.S. Senate.  If his ethics complaint is politically motivated, the complaint itself was not made to boost his Senate candidacy. But the fact that he is shedding a public light on it now, over three months after he first raised the issue, is an effort to raise his public profile to support his candidacy.

But if Sabrin thought his efforts against Sweeney would help him garner support with the GOP establishment for the Senate nomination, he is mistaken.  Former Acting Govenor/Senate President Don DiFrancesco, still a power player in the establishment, defended Sweeney in the Chasing New Jersey report (video below) that brought Sabrin’s complaint to public light.

Sabrin says that Sweeney’s employment as General Vice President of the International Association of Iron Workers, where he earns over $200,000 per year, is a conflict with his role as Senate President because he lobbies senators that he overseas.

DiFrancesco told Chasing New Jersey’s Sibile Marcellus that Sweeney is “not lobbying the legislature, he’s in government relations.”

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, March 7-9, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Friday, March 7

• The Moody Blues at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Open Ceramics Class for Adults (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Driving Miss Daisy at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

• The Odd Couple at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO

• Free Tax Preparation Help (Wall Twp, Shrewsbury, Manalapan) – MORE INFO

• Date of a Lifetime at NJ Repertory Theater (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Into the Woods at Axelrod PAC (Deal) – MORE INFO

• Sylvia at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Little Shop of Horrors at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO

• Once On This Island at Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Aberdeen) – MORE INFO

• Pinkolandia at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• A Conversation with the Doctor (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO

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House Passes ‘Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act’

Bill would reform National Flood Insurance Program, aims to protect homeowners from steep insurance hikes

Congressman Chris Smith and Monmouth County Shaun Golden prepare to survey Hurricane Sandy damage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives voted last night to provide relief to hundreds of thousands of homeowners facing huge flood insurance premium rate increases, including many still recovering from the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who represents severely damaged areas in southern Monmouth and northern Ocean Counties, praised the vote.

“The bill makes targeted and necessary reforms and will prevent massive premium increases from hitting homeowners who simply cannot afford them—and cannot find a buyer to take them on, leaving them stranded and without a solution,” Smith said.  “Many cannot afford the recommended mitigation measures that may or may not reduce their premiums, creating a further environment of uncertainty. Accordingly, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act slows the rate of increase that was included in the 2012 Biggert-Waters reform bill, allowing homeowners to remain in their homes and plan accordingly to continue flood insurance policies.”

The bill passed in a 309-91 vote. If enacted the bill will provide relief and stability to these homeowners and their communities while bringing reform to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  It also provides a mechanism for enhanced community participation in the flood mapping process and increases transparency by making information publicly available to impacted parties.

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (HR 3370), co-sponsored by Smith, remedies many of the unintended consequences of the so-called Biggert-Waters Act of 2012. It repeals certain rate increases on Pre-Flood Insurance Rate Map (Pre-FIRM) properties and restores Grandfathered Rates for Post-FIRM properties that were built to code at the time of construction. It prevents a property sale from triggering rate increases and refunds those who have already faced one.

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Jury Selection Starts For Eatontown Man Accused Of Throwing His Daughter Off A Bridge

Arthur Morgan III during a hearing at Monmouth County Court last October. Photo courtesy of Wall.Patch.com

Jury selection for the murder trial of Arthur Morgan III, 29 of Eatontown, started yesterday in Judge Anthony Mellaci’s courtroom in Freehold.  Jury selection is expected to continue throughout this week. Opening statements in Morgan’s trail could start as early as Tuesday, March 11, according to a statement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Morgan is accused of murdering his 2-year old daughter, Tierra Morgan-Glover, on November 21, 2011, by tossing her off an overpass on Schoolhouse Road in the Shark River Park section of Wall Township.   Tierra’s mother filed a missing persons report after Morgan failed to return his daughter to her mother’s custody as agreed after a visitation scheduled for a few hours. The toddler’s body was discovered by passers-by on November 22, 2011.

Morgan fled the area and was apprehended in San Diego, CA on November 29, 2011.  He has been held on $10 million bail in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution since his extradition.

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Sandy Fraud Task Force Bayshore Office Is Closed

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Superstorm Sandy Task Fraud Task Force office at the Bayshore Activity Center in Middletown closed last Thursday, February 27, Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Monday.

The Task Force Command Center had been set up in Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, in February of 2012 to protect Sandy survivors from unscrupulous contractors and predators looking to defraud residents in the process of rebuilding their homes.   Residents who continue to need such assistance are encouraged to visit the Task Force’s website, SandyFraud.com, or call the Task Force hotline at 855-SANDY-39  (855-726-3939).

Acting Prosecutor Gramiccioni urges everyone to keep in mind the following list of “red flag” situations when dealing with a Home Improvement Contractors:

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