The Morning Briefing January 27, 2012

TRENTON - With the shaky finances of the U.S. these days, state pension recipients are almost shocked to see the check in the mail. While the state's pension fund is not bankrupt, Gannett reports, it simply doesn't have the cash to pay out in the long-term. The fund for retired government workers has just a little more than half of what it needs for the onslaught of retirees, while the pension fund for teachers is holding 63.2 percent of expected liabilities. Everyone blames the European financial meltdown for the low numbers, but the issue really boils down to the unsustainable pension system the state has been awarding for years prior to Christie's reforms last June.

PISCATAWAY - Everyone has their take on the impact of Greg Schiano's decision to leave Rutgers and follow the bucks to Tampa Bay. While his timing was awful and unfair - just a week before he was to lock in a highly-touted recruiting class - Rutgers football is more than its head coach. Yes, Schiano helped pull a hapless program from the basement, yet ended in an unimpressive 68-67 record after 11 seasons and a half-filled Pinstripe Bowl. Now is the time to find a head coach who can take Rutgers to the next level - securing a BCS bowl and the ability to beat top-tier teams. Schiano was never able to do that, yet Rutgers seemed married to him. We wish him well.

IN THE IVY - Could colleges and universities in New Jersey become somewhat affordable once again? President Obama thinks so, as he announces a plan today that requires higher education to control tuition costs or face a loss of federal dollars. A hard pill to swallow, yes, but how many New Jersey families can afford $50,000 a year in room and board, per kid?

WASHINGTON - There was a rousing standing ovation for Gov. Chris Christie last night, as he touted his accomplishments during the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce's annual "Walk to Washington" dinner. It was all pro-business, as Christie talked up his already-hyped "Jersey Comeback." He said 2010 was the single best year for private job creation in the state since 2000, he has finally controlled the rampant spending in Trenton and he is working to put more money back in the pockets of business owners so they can hire more people, noting again his planned, across-the-board income tax cut.

LINDEN - You would assume the superintendent of the New Jersey State Police is a guy who spends his days pushing paper and walking around the administrative office looking extremely serious. But city police are crediting Col. Rick Fuentes with some actual crime-fighting, joining in the pursuit of some suspects in a truck in Linden on Wednesday, the Home News Tribune reports. Fuentes apparently found the driver hiding in Rosedale Cemetery and helped arrest another guy.

ON THE ROAD - Zipping through the E-ZPass lanes without a tag while laughing your head off is a thing of the past for New Jersey motorists, after the Garden State Parkway has installed some fancy photo enforcement technology. The Asbury Park Press reports violations have dropped from 9 percent to 3 percent since October, when Parkway officials also doubled the violation fee to $50.

AT THE DRIVE-THRU - Taco Bell is apparently giving New Jersey the royal snub, deciding to unveil its breakfast menu at nearly 800 restaurants in 14 other states. Apparently, Taco Bell thinks New Jersey residents don't have the stomach at the moment for low-quality, ultra-cheap breakfast burritos.

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