The Morning Briefing February 22, 2012

ON THE AIRWAVES - In true Chris Christie form, a major announcement must be coupled with some major media interviews and a "Jersey Comeback" town hall forum. In today's case, the Governor appeared on Good Morning America at 7:07 a.m. to hit some softballs from George Stephanopoulos before heading to Palisades Park High School for what he hopes will be akin to a pep rally. Why is he pulling out this tried-and-true PR formula? To promote his proposed $32.1 billion state budget, unveiled yesterday.

TRENTON - While there are billions and billions to spend in fiscal 2013, Democrats are focusing on one line item: $183 million in proposed spending that's part of Christie's plan to phase in a 10 percent income tax cut for all New Jerseyans. Democrats paint this as the Governor's latest scheme to reward the martini-sipping Biff and Muffy crowd in Mendham and the other wealthy elite with a tax cut. Christie, on the other hand, wants to talk about how he is our benevolent leader, cutting taxes for all. He is also quick to mention his proposed 5 percent increase in a tax credit for the working poor.

TRENTON - And, speaking of the proposed state budget, let's break it down. The Governor wants to spend 3.7 percent more than last year, but the budget is still about $1 billion less than what the state spent in 2007. State bean counters have an extremely rosy outlook on the amount of taxes and fees to be collected, anticipating a 7 percent increase over this fiscal year. Hit hardest, like usual, will be New Jersey corporations. The Governor is also expecting today to dole out nearly $9 billion in school aid, a considerable chunk headed to the urban schools. Municipal aid is pretty much flat, but with a 2 percent spending cap for municipalities, how do towns pay for rising costs?

TRENTON - One apparent winner in the fiscal 2013 budget is Rowan University, which is most likely already erecting "Christie Hall" in Camden in honor of the Governor. First, Christie is coordinating Rowan's takeover of Rutgers-Camden. Now, he plans to boost Rowan's state aid by a generous 13 percent, to $10.2 million, the Press of Atlantic City reports. Rutgers would get almost a 6 percent increase in aid. Nice, but no surprise it is considerably less than Rowan.

PATERSON - This may end up being the best $1,000 a political consultant ever spent. A judge has fined the hired gun that amount for coordinating a sleazy, yet clever, robocall campaign in 2009, in which he made it seem as if calls were coming from the chief of staff of his opponent, Assemblyman Scott Rumana. About 12,000 voters received calls slamming Rumana and his running mate, David Russo, from the chief of staff's cell phone. An unethical move? You bet. But we're sure there are many candidates quietly lining up to hire such a consultant, with his "whatever it takes" strategy. The news coverage is well worth the $1,000 fine.

BERGEN COUNTY - Giants great Harry Carson has decided not to play ball in Jersey politics, declining to compete against arch-conservative, five-term Rep. Scott Garrett in the redrawn 5th Congressional District. Carson, who North Jersey Democrats saw as their one, real, bonafide Hall of Fame candidate, told county officials he doesn't have "the passion for it," the Record reports.

JERSEY CITY TO ELIZABETH - Immigrant rights supporters are marking Ash Wednesday this morning by trekking about 10 miles from Liberty State Park to an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, highlighting what they consider to be inhumane treatment of detainees at the hands of bureaucrats focused on money, not people.

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