The Morning Briefing January 23, 2012

EAST RUTHERFORD - Unless they think we are writing about the Giants headed back to the Super Bowl, most won't read on.

TEANECK - The Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind, known for asking the most random questions of New Jerseyans, has struck again. This time, poll findings are being released today that shows we like having someone else pump our gas, thank you very much. Sixty three percent of respondents like full service, even though there is often a language barrier and many attendants struggle with the definition of "Fill it up." Another 23 percent of those polled figure any able-bodied, non-drooling person should be able to get out of the car, open a gas tank and shove in the nozzle. The rest of those polled are undecided on this big, pressing issue.

ON THE AIRWAVES - After Gov. Chris Christie spent most of last week on the national media circuit, you'd think we would've gotten Christie-free TV by Sunday. But, alas, no. Christie hit "Meet the Press" for 13 minutes to talk up his plan to cut income taxes by 10 percent for all New Jerseyans. Host David Gregory asked why Christie is eager for tax cuts, when he decided to scrap the rail tunnel to Manhattan because the state was so broke. Christie responded these tax breaks would be phased in for three years, so no biggie. The Governor also congratulated himself for balancing the state budget the last two years - which, under state law, he is required to do.

TRENTON - One of the big issues of 2012 - gay marriage - is set to hit center stage tomorrow, when people on both sides of this issue are expected to crowd the Statehouse for a hearing. There is a lot of momentum here; Democratic lawmakers are pushing the issue to embarrass the Governor, while two gay rights groups have filed lawsuits, claiming gay couples currently have separate and unequal status. Opponents say New Jersey already allows civil unions for gay people, so what's the big problem here?

NEWARK - Should Newark Mayor Cory Booker decide to seek a third term, he will have at least one feisty opponent. Earl Best, a.k.a., the Street Doctor, told The Star-Ledger that he plans to run for mayor. What he will likely lack in fundraising, he will more than make up for in street cred. Best spends his time mentoring city youth, a vocation he took up after spending 17 years in prison. In a city crowded with activists, the Street Doctor is one of Newark's best-known. And like the mayor, Best also appeared in the Sundance channel's documentary "Brick City."

TRENTON - First, it was all the hand-wringing if Christie should run for President. Now, it is all about the hand-wringing if he would accept Mitt Romney's invite to run as VP, if Romney can somehow defeat the ethically-challenged Newt Gingrich. Right now, there are plenty of non-answers. The Wall Street Journals reports the Governor's "inclination" is to stay Governor, but that he wouldn't "foreclose" a potential offer to join the ticket. In Christie-speak, that seems pretty close to a "yes."

TRENTON - If you sacrifice your life as an emergency responder in New Jersey, there's gotta be someone who picks up the funeral tab, right? Nope. But that may soon change under a bill being heard today, calling for the state to kick in for funerals of cops, firefighters, EMTs and others killed in the line of duty. According to the bill, now before the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, the state would pay up to $10,000.

STATEWIDE - There are about 430,000 students enrolled in public colleges in New Jersey, and many are driving themselves into debt to pay for it. Yet the state hasn't passed a bond issue since 1988 for campus construction and renovation projects, Gannett reports. Been in an old dorm lately? It shows. Today, a state Senate committee receives a wish list from the state's college presidents, representing 31 junior and four-year-colleges, seeking new classrooms, dorms, libraries and labs to at least justify some of these tuition hikes. Not fair to ask college kids to dig deeper and deeper, when state taxpayers aren't willing to share in at least some of the burden.

PISCATAWAY - There's a lot of people talking about the death of Penn State football legend Joe Paterno today. Rather than attempt to recap, let's rely on a statement from Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano, who said Paterno "embodied the way college football was supposed to be. He educated young men by using the game of football, along with all of its challenges, in preparation for the real world. He was a great thinker, who was never afraid to say and act on what he believed. He leaves a tremendous legacy with the thousands of players and coaches he worked with. I will miss him deeply."

It was one year ago today that Google handed its outgoing CEO Eric Schmidt a going-away gift: $100 million in stock and options. That's plenty more generous than a handshake and a Timex.