Governor Christie on National Debt Talks: The Need for Bipartisan Compromise

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APP Turns On Obama

By Art Gallagher

The newspaper formerly known as The Asbury Park Press (their print edition masthead now reads “THE PRESS”) has irrefutably revealed itself as a far left extremist publication.  In an editorial published on their website last evening, Obama caving in to GOP demands, the Neptune Nudniks have moved on to the left of the New York Times, the old Huffington Post, Daily Kos and Middletown Mike.

The Press called the President “weak,” “hardly a leader,” and said his speech Monday night was “too little, too late.” They said his speech “was not tough so much as it was petulance.”  As Dan Jacobson would say, hilarious, though hysterical would be more accurate.

“Left wing extreme, Art?” you might say, “that sounds like right wing rhetoric I might read on MoreMonmouthMusings.”  You’d be correct, except the nudniks are complaining that Obama “has alienated his base, gone back on what he held as rock-solid principles,” while drawing a “line in the sand” that is inside the Republican Tea Party right’s tent.  APP is now short for apparatchik.

The Press did get one important thing right in their rantitorial.  They correctly identified Obama’s reelection concerns and the only issue that is holding up a deal that would raise the debt ceiling, reduce the deficit and prevent a default.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, also not left enough for the apparatchiks, and Speaker John Boehner have already agreed on a plan that would raise the debt ceiling, reduce spending and not raise taxes.  Obama killed the deal because it only lasted for a year.  He doesn’t want to go through this again next summer only a few months before the Presidential election.

If Obama thought his economic policies and philosphy were popular with the American people, he would welcome having such a debate next year.  Instead, he’s willing to put the full faith and credit of the United States of America at risk rather than debate “redistribution of wealth”  and massive government expansion months before the American people decide whether or not to give him another four years. 

It is no accident that most of ObamaCare kicks in after the election.  This is more of the same.  Obama wants his lease on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave renewed before the American people realize what he has done to them.

The “Tea Party Republican” members of congress are controlling the debt ceiling debate because Obama is letting them control the debate.  If Reid and Obama agreed to Boehner’s proposal, Nancy Pelosi would deliver enough Democratic votes in the House to pass Boehner’s plan with moderate Republican support, thereby neutralizing the “Tea Party” Republicans who are uncompromising.

Obama would have to take a page out of Chris Christie’s book in order to make a deal like that.  And Christie says he’s not ready to be President.

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Christie travels to Iowa today

Governor Chris Christie takes his “I’m not running for president” tour to Iowa today to speak at an education summit and to headline a fundraiser for Congressman Steve King.

The education summit will also feature Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Iowa U.S. Senator Tom Harkin.  In addition to the speakers, the 1500 attendees of the conference organized by Iowa  Governor Terry Branstad will listen to panel discussions on recruiting top talent to be teachers, how states can have meaningful education reform and a look at other educational systems around the world.

King will seek reelection in a newly formed Iowa district that includes approximately half of his current district.  Like New Jersey, Iowa lost a congressional seat in the 2010.  Former Iowa First Lady Christine Vilsack is expected to be King’s Democratic opponent in 2012.  Vilsack’s husband is U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

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Sweeney Needs To Grow Up And/Or Seek Therapy

 By Art Gallagher

Sweeney's childishness manifest with an outbreak of acne. Photo credit APP.com

Three weeks after his profanity laced rant over Governor Chris Christie’s budget cuts, during which he threatened violence towards the Governor, Senate President Steve Sweeney says he’s still too angry to engage in the State’s business and “jokingly” says he hasn’t talked to Christie yet because there might not be enough troopers available to police the eventual face to face they’ll have.

Christie has proposed legislation that would reverse the cuts to “transitional aid” for New Jersey’s distressed urban areas.  Sweeny said “people will die” as a result of those cuts, yet he has taken no action on the reversal Christie proposed.

As a State employee, Sweeney has first class health insurance.  He should use it and get some anger management treatment.

Sweeney’s remarks were at a meeting with New Jersey Press Media’s (Gannett) editorial board in Neptune that played more like a group therapy session than it did an interview with the President of the Senate.

Sweeney told NJPM that shared services and education reform are next up on the Statehouse agenda, but not before he gets over his issues.

Sweeney also said he’s suspicious of Christie’s budget.  He thinks Christie designed a budget that will get New Jersey’s fiscal house in order so that he can lower taxes in the next budget.  In other words, Sweeney suspects Christie of working to keep his campaign promises.

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Governor Christie and Geoffrey Canada Launch Expanded Promise Communities Initiative

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Why Christie Is Not Running For President

Politico published a paraphase of what Governor Chris Christie told top GOP donors including Home Depot founder Ken Langone on Tuesday:

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Governor Chris Christie Launches Expanded Promise Communities Initiative to Maximize Resources and Results for Children

Trenton, NJ – Continuing his commitment to pursuing innovative approaches to ensure every New Jersey child is receiving a quality education, Governor Chris Christie today joined with Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) Executive Director Geoffrey Canada to announce an expanded Promise Communities initiative and partnership between HCZ and the Christie Administration. This broader initiative builds on and expands to other New Jersey communities the pilot program being developed between New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC), a nonprofit community organization in the City of Paterson, and HCZ to empower community-based organizations, to help schools advance and operate more efficiently, and to break down the “silos of government,” ensuring a more efficient and coordinated use of resources toward a common goal of positive outcomes for children. Governor Christie and Mr. Canada made their announcement at NJCDC’s Paterson facility today.

“The Harlem Children’s Zone has shown consistently the potential that can be unleashed in our children and communities when we move beyond the confines of government. In doing so, Geoffrey Canada has led HCZ to become a national model of all that can be accomplished when we put the needs of students before the old ways of doing things,” said Governor Christie. “In partnership with HCZ and the Paterson community, we are moving aggressively to recreate the success of HCZ right here in New Jersey by restructuring and organizing programs that reach across the community under a common goal – improving the lives of children and revitalizing the community.”

Through this expanded partnership, the State, through the Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, will provide assistance to community-based nonprofit organizations in additional cities as part of a Promise Communities initiative. Currently, Harlem Children’s Zone partners with nonprofit community organizations in Newark and Camden to provide technical assistance and guidance in coordinating existing resources among programs inside, outside and across government. The Department of Education is actively working with HCZ to identify opportunities to expand this program to other communities in New Jersey.

“Fundamentally changing the results we are getting in our country’s most distressed communities means taking a completely different approach to how we are educating and providing services to children and their families,” said Geoffrey Canada. “In New Jersey, Governor Christie has shown a serious commitment to transforming urban education in innovative ways that focus on results, not conventions or past practice. I’m pleased to expand our partnership with the Governor and his Administration, work together to identify other communities in New Jersey where transformation can take hold, and help find ways state government can use its resources to get better results for children across the state.”

Building upon core principles of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Promise Communities are designed to create a comprehensive continuum of solutions including educational programs and family and community support systems, with great schools at their center. Utilizing the participation of community partners and stakeholders, including state and local governments, local businesses, higher education institutions, among others, Promise Communities are designed to significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth, from birth through college and onto a career. The Promise Community model emphasizes the need for learning opportunities throughout each day, year, and over the course of a child’s life span, as part of a broader neighborhood revitalization strategy.

In addition, Governor Christie announced that the Administration, via the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, will further its partnership with the Harlem Children’s Zone at the state government level. Geoffrey Canada and HCZ leadership will convene an Advisory Group, led by Acting Secretary for Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks, to interface directly with the Administration and provide critical analysis, guidance and recommendations to further the goals of improving inter-agency coordination, “breaking down silos” at the state government level, and increasing efficiency and accountability in policies and programs benefiting at-risk children.

Acting Secretary for Higher Education Hendricks will assume leadership for these expanded initiatives with the HCZ initiative on behalf of Governor Christie and will work closely with the Commissioners of other key agencies, including the Departments of Education, Children & Families, Labor & Workforce Development, Community Affairs and the Office of Attorney General.

Currently, New Jersey is the only state that has forged a formal partnership with Harlem Children’s Zone. An initiative is already underway in Paterson using the Harlem Children Zone’s successful model to form extensive partnerships with community organizations to rebuild communities and its schools.

Harlem Children’s Zone’s core mission is positive education outcomes for every child through effective schools and community programs, with the final result of graduation from college. The U.S. Department of Education’s highly-touted Promise Neighborhoods initiative is premised upon the HCZ model and designed to ensure that school reform and neighborhood revitalization are interconnected. HCZ utilizes an integrated approach to community renewal that focuses on comprehensive support for children from birth all the way through college.

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Governor Christie’s Record of Protecting and Supporting Children

Governor Christie’s FY2012 Budget reaffirms his commitment to children and families, building upon a proven record of helping the most vulnerable.

Despite Democrats’ political rhetoric to the contrary, Governor Christie’s FY2012 Budget builds on a record of funding critical budget priorities while protecting the most vulnerable New Jerseyans. Legislative Democrats may find it more convenient to distort the facts for election year political gain, but the numbers are clear – Governor Christie has consistently provided resources to fund services supporting the neediest New Jerseyans. 

Early Childhood Intervention Program

Funding for the Early Childhood Intervention Program increased $9.7 million over FY2011, for a total budget of $92.593 million.
o The program supports families with children from birth to age three with developmental delays and disabilities. Services include developmental intervention, speech, physical and occupational therapy and other services necessary to achieve their full potential.

21,292 children received services in FY2010.

Federally Qualified Health Centers

Funding increased $6.4 million to $46.4 million to New Jersey’s network of community health centers, which provide health care to the uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid and Medicare recipients at 100 sites across the state.
Department of Health and Senior Services funding reimburses Federally Qualified Health Centers for the care they provide to the uninsured.
Protected Reimbursement rate at $101 per uninsured visit.

Aid to Hospitals

Funding to hospitals increased by $20 million to $675 million and will be distributed under a new formula to all 72 New Jersey hospitals for the care they provide to the uninsured.
The funding formula was revised to make it more transparent, predictable and equitable for the benefit of New Jersey’s 72 hospitals.
For the first time, the formula was made available to hospitals and the Legislature in February, rather than in June or July. This increased transparency in hospital funding allows hospitals to plan more effectively.

Special Child Health Services Case Management

State and federal funding for Special Child Health Services was protected at $3.3 million.
Counties provide case management services to 12,000 medically fragile children birth through age 21 in need assistance to access comprehensive health services.
Eligible children without insurance get assistance with hearing aids, orthotics, prosthesis and pharmaceuticals to treat asthma and/or cystic fibrosis.

Autism Registry

$500,000 was preserved for the Autism Registry, which makes it easier for families to be connected to the appropriate diagnostic, treatment and support services in their communities.
More than 6,000 children have been registered and it is expected that approximately 1,200 children will be registered each year.
Once registered, families are referred to a county case manager who works with the family and helps them to access available services.

Department of Children and Families

· The FY2012 budget for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is $1.5 billion, with state resources accounting for $1.058 billion with 70% of state dollars or $743 million allocated for adoption subsidy, foster care board payments and therapeutic and support service for children and families.

· Governor Christie yesterday announced that DCF is providing Wynona Lipman House with $537,000 in federal funds in place of the legislative line item providing state funding in the same amount, thus ensuring no interruption in services. This funding from DCF will preserve the important work of Wynona Lipman House as part of a transition plan for its ongoing operations, as DCF will work closely with the House’s Board of Directors and staff, Essex County government, and other stakeholders to develop a long-term funding model.

· $419 million in funding for the Division of Youth and Services which provides for:

o Over 13,000 youth in permanent adoptive homes;

o Approximately 7,200 youth in out-of-home placement;

o Support services for children in their own homes and in out of home placements;

o Coordinated health care planning for children in out of home placement.

· The FY2012 Budget provides continuation funding for a $100,000 increase for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) approved by this administration in FY2011.

· The budget also allowed for the re-programming of existing resources for the following initiatives:

o Expanded a summer housing internship program for 30 aging out youth;

o Expanded supervised therapeutic visitation to promote better permanency outcomes.

· $265 million allocated for Division of Child Behavioral Health Services programs which provides for:

o Approximately 40,000 children in our behavioral health system of care;

o Mobile Response and Stabilization Services;

o Community Based Outpatient/Partial Care/Partial Hospitalization services;

o Behavioral Assistance and Intensive In-Home Community services;

o Community Based Residential Services;

o Re-programmed existing resources for the following initiatives:

§ Expanded residential services to support youth with co-occurring needs (Developmentally Disabled Mentally Ill);

§ Support for Youth Suicide Prevention Hotline.

· $58.8 million for Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships:

o Including funding for 37 neighborhood-based Family Success Centers that are serving more than 45,000 families;

o Early Childhood Services with home visiting programs serving approximately 4,000 families;

o Domestic Violence Prevention Services;

o School Linked Services.

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Governor Christie Affirms Commitment to Strengthening Cities With Proper Oversight and Accountability

Trenton, NJ – Continuing his commitment to strengthening New Jersey’s urban cities and distressed municipalities through oversight, guidance and accountability, Governor Christie today committed himself to signing legislation proposed by his Administration that restores Transitional Aid funding and provides permanent, necessary accountability and oversight of the program. Under the Governor’s proposal, changes would be codified in statute to provide the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) with the resources and staff needed to properly oversee the Transitional Aid program.

“When I took office, I pledged to change the culture of Trenton and end the practice of unchecked waste of taxpayer dollars. Legislative Democrats’ efforts to eliminate oversight and accountability for Transitional Aid through the Department of Community Affairs was a misguided effort that would have returned us to the days of Trenton as a free-flowing spigot for taxpayer dollars where no one asked questions,” said Governor Christie. “I stand ready to work with the leadership in the Legislature on Transitional Aid funds, but only under the oversight of a properly resourced DCA. I will sign into law the bill I am proposing today that restores funding in the Transitional Aid program and that provides the resources for DCA to continue its vital work overseeing and enforcing accountability in the program, and serving as a partner with urban cities and distressed municipalities.”

Governor Christie is calling on the Legislature to codify oversight language in statute to ensure it is a permanent, foundational aspect of the Transitional Aid to Localities program, while also restoring funding in the program. Proper levels of oversight and accountability are critical to ensuring that Transitional Aid is indeed temporary as the State government works with recipient municipalities to implement needed reforms and efficiencies. The expenditure of state taxpayer dollars in the program must go hand in hand with proper accountability of those funds. By putting this oversight in statute, oversight and accountability of the aid program will be ongoing and no longer dependent on the whims and product of the annual budget debate and appropriations act.

For twenty-five years, the State’s distressed municipalities have received ever-increasing levels of state taxpayer support, above and beyond that provided by State municipal aid. These programs were provided with little to no State oversight, accountability or guidance. The general result was that distressed municipalities came to rely on these funds in their budgets as an annual appropriation and had no incentive to improve their fiscal management or regain their financial footing.

Upon taking office, Governor Christie has acted on a commitment to aggressively work as a partner with distressed municipalities and to implement responsible management practices, increase accountability and transition toward self-reliance and away from the need for additional state taxpayer funds.

The Christie Administration has aggressively overseen the Transitional Aid to Localities Program through efforts such as:

• Setting and enforcing conditions for the receipt of aid through Memorandums of Understanding;

• Implementing a meaningful, rigorous application process for aid awards where none existed before;

• Requiring regular oversight meetings with DCA and municipal officials to monitor the use of funds and efforts to control costs;

• Utilizing staff to consult with municipalities and assist with professional reviews of municipal operations;

• Advising and consulting with municipal cost-saving initiatives, including police and fire department restructuring to reduce overhead and ensure public safety programs are both efficient and effective;

• Requiring DCA approval for employee hiring;

• Denying non-essential hires, raises, contracts and expenditures and unnecessary travel.

In order for the Transitional Aid program to remain successful, the State must continue to maintain oversight of these transitional funds, and work cooperatively with municipalities in order to guide municipalities in their transition off of state taxpayer subsidies.

A copy of the Governor’s proposed legislation to restore oversight to Transitional Aid can be found here.

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