TRENTON-The New Jersey Courts say New Jersey bail reform represents the “forefront of fairness”, according to a statements made on January 7th to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.
“The existing bail system is not fair to poor defendants who, because they cannot post bail, are cut off from families, may lose their jobs, and may go without access to medication for a period of time,” according to Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. “In terms of the charges against them, studies have shown that they face tougher plea offers and pressure to plead guilty because of the amount of time they have already spent in jail, and they receive longer sentences as compared to similarly situated defendants who were able to make bail.”
“Bail reform and speedy trial reform collectively represent a historic shift in the way our courts administer justice,” said Glenn A. Grant acting administrative director of the courts. “We need everyone, whether you are part of the criminal division, in a finance office, part of the family division or any other part of the Judiciary, to learn about these reforms and be ready to do your part when called upon for the success of these efforts.”
On Jan. 1, 2017, New Jersey shifted from a system that relies principally on setting monetary bail as a condition of release to ac computerized risk-based system that court officials claim is more objective, “thus fairer to defendants because it is unrelated to their ability to pay monetary bail.”
The new statute also sets deadlines for the timely filing of an indictment and the disposition of criminal charges for incarcerated defendants.
That’s the marketing copy from the state. In reality, the system isn’t working as intended, handcuffing law enforcement and quickly returning first and even second time violent offenders and sex offenders back into the communities, hours after they committed their crimes.
A watchdog group has taken to Facebook to fight bail reform and their numbers are rapidly growing. The NJ Bail Reform Fail page has been documented and sharing news stories from across New Jersey, cataloging bail reform failures across the Garden State.
The criminal justice reform program has been touted by Governor Chris Christie and state senator Steve Sweeney. Two weeks ago, the governor signed legislation calling for the hiring of 20 new appointed judges to handle the new workloads of the bail reform system.
PORTLAND, OR-It seems even in a liberal leaning Oregon ordinary residents are tired of the snowflake generation disrupting their lives with meaningless protests. On Wednesday, police rush a group of protesters blocking traffic with lightning speed and precision. Onlookers cheered and thanked the police for quickly quelling the disturbance.
The following is a press release submitted by Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club
TRENTON-In August, the US Department of Defense (DOD) hired a company to begin testing the groundwater at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. They tested 21 sites on the base to determine the extent of perfluorinated compound contamination from perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The contamination may have come from firefighting foam for military use. Now that contamination has been found off-base, in a surrounding community.
“Now we know that the PFO and PFOA contamination is more pervasive and being found in communities off-base. This is a very serious and systemic problem that needs to be dealt with. These PFOs come from substances such as firefighting foam and can seep into groundwater, both on the base and off it. They made the mess and now they have to clean it up and protect the communities around the Base,” said Jeff Tittel, New Jersey Sierra Club Director. “Putting the SRL Pipeline through this area will only make things worse.”
PFOA is a carcinogen that has been linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children. A report published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences shows a relationship between slightly elevated levels of PFOA in the blood and a higher rate of ADHD diagnosis. The incidence of ADHD in children is rising and so is the amount of PFOA in the water supply. PFOA is found in many wells in New Jersey, especially in South Jersey near the DuPont site, but also in other parts of the state such as Sayerville. The current standard for PFOA in drinking water is 150 times what is recommended.
“The DOD needs to clean up this mess and the NJDEP needs to recognize the problem of PFOAs and set standards to prevent these things from happenings. These chemicals are harmful, especially to children. We have seen PFOAs show up too often in our waterways yet the DEP has not set any standards to fix this problem. New Jersey needs to move to adopt stricter regulations for PFOA in our drinking water,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
News 12’s Karla Bardinas took this shot on Tuesday at the site of the former Joey Harrison’s Surf Club in Ortley Beach. The passing nor’easter exposed the few feet of sand on top of the rubble of the club, destroyed during Superstorm Sandy and covered by with sand.
Cover photo: Joey Harrison’s Surf Club as it appeared in November of 2012, after being destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.
During a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Trump emphasized that the United States considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world. The two discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the United States and India in broad areas such as the economy and defense. They also discussed security in the region of South and Central Asia. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi resolved that the United States and India stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism. President Trump looked forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi in the United States later this year.
WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald J. Trump today signed a series of Executive Orders and Presidential Memoranda in keeping with his promise to reduce the burden of regulations and expedite high priority energy and infrastructure projects that will create jobs and increase national security.
With this Presidential Memorandum, President Trump will help fulfill the campaign promise of initiating the process for approving the Keystone XL Pipeline.
The Keystone XL Pipeline is an 1,100-mile crude oil pipeline to connect oil production in Alberta, Canada to refineries in the United States.
Construction and operation of the Keystone XL Pipeline, as well as oil production and refining activities related to it, would create tens of thousands of jobs for American workers, enhance our nation’s energy security, support affordable and reliable energy for American families, and generate significant State and local tax revenues that can be invested in schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.
With this Presidential Memorandum, President Trump directed the relevant Federal agencies (including the Army Corps of Engineers) to expedite reviews and approvals for the remaining portions of the Dakota Access Pipeline., a $3.8 billion, 1,100-mile pipeline designed to carry around 500,000 barrels per day of crude oil from the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to oil markets in the U.S.
At this time, DAPL is more than 90% complete across its entire route. Only a limited stretch of the project is not yet constructed. Timely review and approval of energy pipelines is critical to a strong economy, energy independence, and national security.
In keeping with his commitment to “Buy American, Hire American”, President Trump directed the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with all relevant executive departments and agencies, to develop a plan under which all new pipelines, as well as retrofitted, repaired, or expanded pipelines, inside the borders of the United States, including portions of pipelines, use materials and equipment produced in the United States, to the maximum extent possible and to the extent permitted by law. The Secretary shall submit the plan to the President within 180 days of the date of this memorandum.
With this Presidential Memorandum, President Trump helps fulfill the campaign promise of boosting domestic manufacturing by determining a plan of action for expediting approvals for manufacturing and reducing regulatory burdens.
Under this Presidential Memorandum, the Secretary of Commerce will conduct outreach to stakeholders and solicit comments from the public concerning Federal actions to streamline permitting and reduce regulatory burdens affecting domestic manufacturers.
The Commerce Secretary will submit a report to the President identifying recommendations to streamline Federal permitting processes for domestic manufacturing and to reduce regulatory burdens affecting domestic manufacturers. The report should identify priority actions as well as recommended deadlines for completing actions.
With this Executive Order, President Trump will establish a framework for expediting environmental reviews for high priority infrastructure projects.
Delays and other inefficiencies in the environmental review and permitting process are severely impeding critically important projects to rebuild and modernize our nation’s infrastructure, such as highways, bridges, tunnels, the electrical grid, ports, water systems, airports, railways and pipelines.
According to one study, our antiquated power rigs wastes the equivalent of 200 coal-fired power plants, water pipes leak trillions of gallons of water, and gridlock on roads and railroads wastes hundreds of billions annually.
WASHINGTON, DC-While the Trump family has provided America with a stunning and personal insight into the daily life of the first family like no first family before them, some in the media have used the opportunity to criticize them, some even mock them and their children.
Today, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reminded the global news media that historically, children and grandchildren of Presidents have been allowed to grow up free of the intense and often scrutinous media spotlight that is always on the first family
“It is a longstanding tradition that the children of Presidents are afforded the opportunity to grow up outside of the political spotlight. The White House fully expects this tradition to continue. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.”
In less than his first week in office, President Donald Trump and his family have given America a behind the scenes tour of not only the first family, but the White House, Washington, DC and the American political process unrivaled by an of his predecessors.
It has been an insight appreciated by most Americans.
Not one for formalities T-man enjoyed The White House this weekend in his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pajamas #magapic.twitter.com/n6ZSYh6SDC
Some intimate White House moments were shared with the public, normally never shared outside the walls of the White House. How cool is it to go have pancakes at Grandpa’s house…The White House?
I'm sure a lot of people have lunch in their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pajamas in The White House… pic.twitter.com/MvZsa81xVt
The Trump family has also let America in on the more mundane aspects of life in the White House, such as having to watch grandpa do stuff that is pretty darn exciting, but, really, grandpa? Enough with the pen and the cameras already. This great moment of young Tristan Trump is a photo that will be remembered for a very long time. Little did he know at the time, he upstaged the President of the United States in this photo.
But for all the good, there has been too much bad. Some Trump opponents have shown no mercy when it comes to the children of the first family. They say one person can spoil a good thing for the rest of us, but we are confident the Trump family will be stronger than the hate that boils over from America’s left and at least one news organization absolutely supports the Trump family’s position on the media and the first family’s children.
The media should respect the first family’s children as they have done for all presidents prior to Trump.
President Donald Trump today signed three executive orders including the United States’ withdrawl from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and an immediate federal government employee hiring freeze.
“A great thing for the American worker,” Trump said of the Trans-Pacific Partnership termination.
Trump pointed out that the federal employee hiring freeze does not affect the United States military.
The third order prohibits federal funding to foreign entities that provide abortion services.
By Master Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher | 18th Air Force Public Affairs
KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender crews from five bases on three continents provided aerial refueling support during the B-2 bomber mission which struck two Daesh training camps in Libya Jan. 18, 2017.
Two B-2 Spirit bombers dropped 500-pound GPS-guided bombs on the camps, which were being used to plan and train for attacks against U.S. and allied interests in North Africa and Europe.
A total of 15 tankers participated in the operation, enabling the B-2s to fly the more than 30 hours round-trip to the target from their home base at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. Planners at 18th Air Force and the 618th Air Operations Center at Scott AFB coordinated the tanker mission, ensuring the refueling aircraft were at the right place at the right time to get the bombers to and from the Daesh training camps.
“Our goal was to find the aircraft to do the mission,” said Lt. Col. James Hadley, 18th AF Operations Planner. “The mobility enterprise flexed to put tankers from the U.S., U.S. European and U.S. Central Commands toward this effort. Everybody had a part in making this work, and it was very successful.”
The 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, was one of the units that contributed tankers to the refueling mission. Col. Darren Cole, the 305th AMW commander, said several units had to come together from different locations and commands and function together as a team to make this mission happen.
“It’s a big team that has to execute things on time to make it work right,” he said. “It’s pretty impressive to be able to hit a target globally at a moment’s notice with so many people participating.”
Making sure the tankers and bombers meet at the right place and time is like choreographing a Broadway production, Hadley said.
“When you get the request, you have to look at the whole enterprise,” he said. “Some tankers may already be in the right spot, some may have to be moved. The speed of the aircraft are completely different, so they won’t all take off at the same time, and it takes several mid-air refuelings to make an air bridge. If one person is off, the whole mission can go awry.”
Col. Clint Zumbrunnen, 305th Operations Group commander, said the 305th AMW keeps two aircraft on continuous alert just in case such a mission should come up. He said that, coupled with an efficient operations team, made sure the 305th would fly on time.
“The crews grow up here being conditioned for short-notice missions, to show up, plan and get the fuel to the fight,” Zumbrunnen explained. “Our Current Operations team is also particularly skilled at making operations happen on short notice. It makes us particularly well-equipped to do this sort of mission.”
Hadley said the stakes can be high.
“If a tanker fell out you might have seen on the news how a couple of bombers had to land somewhere in Europe,” he said. “Or even worse, you might have seen a news report about two bombers lost in the North Atlantic. Our tanker fleet enables them to do what they do.”
Using tankers sends a message to friend and foe alike, said Hadley.
“They affect things on a global scale,” he said. “They tell our forces that we can support them where ever they are, and it tells our adversaries that we can find you and touch you on a moment’s notice.”
Cole said he’s proud of the role his Airmen played in this mission.
“As always, they do an outstanding job when their nation calls upon them to do the tough tasks,” he said. “And it came off extremely well. It’s air refueling that puts the ‘global’ in ‘global strike.’”
The Libya strike is just one example of how the command facilitates the tanker war against Daesh, said Brig. Gen. Lenny Richoux, 18th AF vice commander.
“The air bridge our planners and tanker crews create enable U.S. and allied strike aircraft to continuously hit Daesh, or any enemy, no matter where they hide,” Richoux said.
“Missions like this one are merely one of many executed every day,” he added. “The mobility enterprise conducts a massive amount of planning every single day, and we coordinate with customers around the globe for each mission. America’s air refueling tanker capability are one of the key missions that set us apart from every other Air Force in the world. Everyone needs air refueling and we deliver it.”
WASHINGTON,DC-Even though the media continues to mock President Donald Trump, Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway for their high ratings claims on Friday, Nielsen ratings released this weekend for the historic event show it was the second most watched presidential inauguration since Ronald Reagan took office in 1981.
“An estimated 31 million people tuned in to watch Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017,” Nielsen said in a statement this weekend. “While coverage varied by network, 12 networks aired live coverage from approximately 10:00 am ET to 6:00 pm ET.”
Reagan’s inauguration was the most watched inauguration ever, with 41.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen. Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration had 37.7 million viewers, but his second inauguration in 2012 dropped to just 20.5 million viewers.
Trump beat both of Bill Clinton’s inaugurations and all of the Bush family inaugurations.
1981 – Ronald Reagan – 41.8m
1985 – Ronald Reagan – 25m
1989 – George H.W. Bush – 23.3m
1993 – Bill Clinton – 29.7m
1997 – Bill Clinton – 21.5m
2001 – George W. Bush – 29m
2005 – George W. Bush – 15.5m
2009 – Barack Obama – 37.7m
2012 – Barack Obama – 20.5m
2017 – Donald Trump – 30.6m
More than 80 ISIL fighters have been killed in United States air raids on camps operated by the armed group inside Libya, according to US officials. Pentagon said on Thursday B-2 bombers and US drones had targeted overnight two camps southwest of the city of Sirte, a former bastion of ISIL in the North African country.…
TRENTON — After a Saturday that drew thousands of people across the state to rally for women’s rights in the face of a political administration they deem hostile, leaders of these marches said they hoped the resistance was just beginning. “This isn’t going to be an isolated moment in time,” said Elizabeth Meyer, the founder and…
For the hundreds of thousands of women who attended the historic Women’s March on Washington on Saturday, it was not only an event they will likely never forget. The march was a welcome chance to feel energized and positive for perhaps the first time since the election of President Donald Trump last November. It also was…
The National Parks Service was either misled by a fake news story by Trump hating New York Times reporter Binyamin Appelbaum and retweeted his misleading photo comparison of the Trump and Obama inaugurations.
That tweet was taken down shortly after it was posted and a message from the park service appeared.
“We regret the mistaken RTs from our account yesterday and look forward to continuing to share the beauty and history of our parks with you,” the NPS tweeted.
The Obama Foundation is a living, working start-up for citizenship — an ongoing project for us to shape, together, what it means to be a good citizen in the 21st century. The Foundation is based on the South Side of Chicago, and we will have projects all over the city, the country, and the world.
To help us get started, we would love to hear from you. Send us your ideas, your hopes, your dreams about what we can achieve together. Tell us about the people who inspire you and the organizations whose work you admire.
This will be your Foundation just as much as it is ours.
“Because for all our outward differences, we, in fact, all share the same proud title, the most important office in a democracy: Citizen.”
Nancy Sinatra, known for being the daughter of the legendary singer Frank Sinatra and for her one-hit-wonder, ‘These Boots are Made for Walking” corrected a false tweet made by CNN.
At the Presidential Inauguration ball, President Trump and wife Melania danced to the elder Sinatra’s “My Way”.
CNN tweeted earlier in the day, “Nancy Sinatra is not happy Trump will use her father’s song at #inauguration.”
“That’s not true. I never said that,” Sinatra replied. “Why do you lie, CNN?”
NBC’s Katie Rich has protected her Twitter account and went dark after tweeting “Barron will be this country’s first homeschool shooter.” Saturday morning.\
New York Times DC propagandist Binyamin Appelbaum posted comparison shots of the Trump and Obama inaugurations on Twitter Saturday morning. What he failed to mention was that those photos were taken at different times during the inauguration.
While Trump undoubtedly did not have the numbers Obama had at his inauguration, the use of shots taken at different times during the inauguration was just more sensational liberal propaganda from the New York Times.
Donald Trump is now the 45th president of the United States, having been sworn-in by John Roberts, chief justice of the United States. “There is a chance that Trump marks the beginning of the end of American democracy. And, yes, there is a good chance that Trump will corrupt the American republic in lasting ways.” At…
Speaking at an event to supporters on the eve of his inauguration as US President, Donald Trump thanked donors, and emphasized the role that his son-in-law Jared Kushner will play in his administration as special envoy to the Middle East. “If you can”t produce peace in the Middle East, nobody can,” Trump told Kushner. “All my…
U.S. President Donald Trump ended his first day in office by talking with soldiers in Afghanistan via satellite. The newly installed president was at the last of three inaugural balls when he talked with the soldiers who offered their congratulations to Trump. He told the soldiers they could ask him anything, but the young soldiers offered…
The Trump administration will make defeating “radical Islamic terror groups” its top foreign policy goal, according to a statement posted on the White House website moments after Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president. Trump used his inaugural address on Friday to promise to “unite the civilised world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely…
Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you.
We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people.
Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.
We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.
Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.
Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.
For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.
Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed.
The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.
Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.
It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America.
This is your day. This is your celebration.
And this, the United States of America, is your country.
What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.
January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.
The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.
Everyone is listening to you now.
You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before.
At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.
Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves.
These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.
But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.
This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.
We are one nation – and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.
The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.
For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry;
Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military;
We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own;
And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.
We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.
One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind.
The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.
But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future.
We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.
From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land.
From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.
Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.
We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.
I will fight for you with every breath in my body – and I will never, ever let you down.
America will start winning again, winning like never before.
We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.
We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation.
We will get our people off of welfare and back to work – rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.
We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American.
We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world – but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.
We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.
We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones – and unite the civilized world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.
At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.
When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.
The Bible tells us, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”
We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.
When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.
There should be no fear – we are protected, and we will always be protected.
We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.
Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger.
In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving.
We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.
The time for empty talk is over.
Now arrives the hour of action.
Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America.
We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.
We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.
A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.
It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.
And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator.
So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words:
You will never be ignored again.
Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.
Together, We Will Make America Strong Again.
We Will Make America Wealthy Again.
We Will Make America Proud Again.
We Will Make America Safe Again.
And, Yes, Together, We Will Make America Great Again. Thank you, God Bless You, And God Bless America.
The service at St. John’s Episcopal Church for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice-President-Elect Mike Pence and their families began at 8:30 am this morning.
The service started with an organ performance of Fanfare for the Common Man and continued to a choral prelude with three selections from Sing Out, Mr. President (2012).
It was followed by John Adams’ prayer, “I pray to heaven to bestow the best blessings on this house and all that shall inhabit it. May none but the wise men ever rule under this roof.”
The long arm of New Jersey’s tax collectors can extend across time and state boundaries.
A former Howell Township resident this week received a notice from the New Jersey Department of Labor seeking to collect a $106 unemployment benefits overpayment. In 1991, the man, who wishes to remain anonymous was a 19 year old working in New Jersey, collecting unemployment after being laid off from his job.
Today, he lives in sunny Florida and thought he had left all of New Jersey’s dysfunctions behind. He left New Jersey in 1994 and doesn’t even remember which job he was laid off from, as so much time has passed.
He didn’t know at the time, but the state paid him a few dollars too much in unemployment that year.
Twenty-five years later, now 44, he received a notice from the state demanding that he returned the $106 paid to him during his teen years to the state. If he did not pay, the state threatened to turn the matter over to the Internal Revenue Service under the Treasury Offset Program, the debt collection arm of the federal government.
Although debtors of private entities in New Jersey are protected by a six year statute of limitations, there is no statute of limitations in the state when it comes to overpayment of unemployment benefits.
This form of debt collection is very common in New Jersey. A simple Google search turned up dozens of others who received the same letter.
It turns out New Jersey can be relentless in collecting these debts, chasing debtors across state lines in a vigorous attempt to return the money back to the state.
What most people don’t realize is that you don’t necessarily have to pay that debt and the state sometimes settles for less. Residents also can file an appeal with the Department of Labor if they can prove the overpayment was entitled to them.
In this case, the debt was settled for just $31.08, the cost a few nails to help pay for the $300 million state house renovation project, perhaps.
Scientists aren’t sure why they stranded themselves in the mangroves National Park Service False killer whales stranded Ninety-five false killer whales—a type of dolphin that looks, you guessed it, like a killer whale—got stranded in mangroves, mud and shallow water off the coast of Florida this weekend. Of those, 72 ultimately died of natural causes, 10…
Scientists used NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover in recent weeks to examine slabs of rock cross-hatched with shallow ridges that likely originated as cracks in drying mud. “Mud cracks are the most likely scenario here,” said Curiosity science team member Nathan Stein. He is a graduate student at Caltech in Pasadena, California, who led the investigation of…
Ryan Dickens beamed for the crowd Sunday night, his mind racing over all he had accomplished and the future he was ready to tackle. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior linebacker from Raritan High School had just been honored with a 2016 Mini Max Award for his football excellence, strong academics and devotion to community service, which includes…
The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, announced today that it will publish a new book by George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States. Titled PORTRAITS OF COURAGE: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, the book features 66 full-color portraits and a four-panel mural personally painted by President Bush of service members and veterans who have served our nation with honor, and whom the President has come to know personally since leaving office.
“Over the past several months, I’ve painted the portraits of 98 wounded warriors I’ve gotten to know – remarkable men and women who were injured carrying out my orders,” the former President said.
The book will be released by Crown in print and digital formats in the United States and Canada on February 28, 2017. The book will be simultaneously issued in unabridged audio formats by Penguin Random House Audio, with the text of the stories read by President Bush. President Bush was represented in negotiations by Robert Barnett of Williams & Connolly, with Crown acquiring world, electronic, and serial rights to the work.
Since leaving Washington, President Bush has made it a priority to support and honor America’s veterans as they re-enter civilian life, and PORTRAITS OF COURAGE is an integral part of that mission. It is President Bush’s hope that these stories of courage and resilience will honor our men and women in uniform, highlight their family and caregivers who bear the burden of their sacrifice, and help Americans understand how we can support our transitioning veterans and empower them to succeed.
President Bush will donate his net author proceeds from the book to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a non-profit organization whose Military Service Initiative works to ensure that post-9/11 veterans and their families make successful transitions to civilian life with a focus on gaining meaningful employment and overcoming the invisible wounds of war.
TRENTON-Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) announced a Senate resolution supporting the preservation of Columbus Day as a federal and state holiday. The resolution will be formally introduced at the next Senate session.
“New Jersey has the second highest population of people of Italian ancestry in the country,” Senator Pennacchio said. “For the 1.4 million Italian-Americans living in New Jersey, it is not enough for legislators to say we support the preservation of Columbus Day. We need to take action and show our constituents that we are committed to upholding their values, culture and heritage.”
Senator Pennacchio’s Senate resolution states that “the Senate recognizes the significance of Columbus’ arrival in the New World expresses its support of the Columbus Day holiday as a day to honor and celebrate the explorer’s historic achievement.” The resolution also notes that Italian-Americans observe the holiday as a day to recognize the contributions of their ancestors to America and the world.
“Christopher Columbus was instrumental in connecting our nation with Europe, a feat that built the fabric of American culture,” Senator Pennacchio added. “His courageous voyage to the New World spurred a lasting universal passion for exploration and discovery. He is and should be remembered as a hero for all Americans. It would be a shame to destroy his legacy for the sake of political correctness.”
The resolution has received the support of UNICO National, the nation’s largest Italian-American service and charitable organization, which is based in Fairfield, New Jersey.
Dominick Nicastro, National President of UNICO National stated, “Of course, Columbus Day is a vitally important day for Italian Americans, but it is truly a great holiday for all Americans, as we commemorate the opening of the new world by this great explorer. On behalf of our UNICO members in New Jersey and across the country, I sincerely thank and commend Senator Pennacchio for this important resolution supporting the preservation of the Columbus Day holiday.”
Prominent conservative activist Alveda King, the niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., revealed Monday that she cast a vote for President-elect Donald Trump. Ms. King, a former Georgia state representative who now serves as director for Civil Rights for the Unborn and Gospel of Life Ministries, told American Thinker that she’s been praying…
Project Veritas: Leftist domestic terrorists are planning on disrupting Inaugural celebrations
Project Veritas, the investigative journalism organization founded by James O’Keefe, released a video today that revealing that alt-left domestic terrorists are planning to disrupt Inaugural celebrations in Washington later this week by releasing butyric acid into the HVAC systems of celebration venues and/or by rigging the venues’ fire sprinkler systems from going off during the parties.…
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a “catastrophic mistake” when she let hundreds of thousands of migrants into Germany last year. In a joint interview with The Times of London and Germany’s Bild newspaper, Trump said, “I think she made one very catastrophic mistake and that was taking in all of these…
Senior members of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s administration say they are considering moving White House press briefings to a new location with more space, but reporters oppose the proposal saying it would hurt their ability to do their jobs. The briefings take place in a room in the West Wing of the White House, which has…
By Kenyatta R. Gilbert, Associate Professor of Homiletics, Howard University. An April 30, 1966 file photo of King Jr. addressing a rally in Birmingham, Alabama, AP Photo/JT, File The name Martin Luther King Jr. is iconic in the United States. The outgoing 44th president, Barack Obama, spoke of King in both his Democratic National Convention nomination…
They’re clamoring now about the legitimacy of the Donald Trump presidency which begins on Friday by boycotting the ceremony, but these 20 Democrats are also effectively opting out of the American political process.
Never has the legitimacy of an American presidential election been under fire from within as it is this year, as Democrats continue down a path of self destruction.
Today, these Democrats are clamoring for protest, tomorrow they will be complaining about being left at the station as the Trump administration, powered by a Republican house and senate moves the country forward.
By claiming illegitimacy of the office of the President, they are also undermining the power and influence of their own offices and doing a disservice to their constituencies who depend on their ability to work across the aisle to accomplish the goals of the districts they serve.
Few will notice their absence, but they still have a few days to reconsider the disservice they doing to those they represent. When Republicans are unwilling to negotiate during the new sessions Washington, they have only themselves to blame.
They will undoubtedly blame Trump and blame Republicans for their opting out of the American political process.
Rep. John Lewis is now leading the charge to undermine the office of the President of the United States.
WASHINGTON — Just nine House Republicans dissented from the party line Friday and opposed a budget resolution designed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. And only one is from New Jersey: Rep. Tom MacArthur. The resolution passed, 227-198, with every House Democrat voting no. The Senate approved it earlier in the week, 51-48, over unanimous Democratic…
“You break it, you own it.” That was Democratic Leader Pelosi’s message last week to Republicans who are working to repeal and replace Obamacare. But for too many Americans, this health care law is already broken. As we now know, Obamacare has failed the American people—but that got us to thinking: Just how broken is President Obama’s so-called Affordable Care Act?
Obamacare is so broken that premiumsare rising by double digits in 31 states. In Arizona, premiums are likely to increase by 116 percent. In Oklahoma, 69 percent. Unfortunately, the list goes on and on, meaning more out of pocket costs for something the government is forcing people to buy.
Obamacare is so broken that deductiblesareskyrocketingnationwide. In Laymen’s terms, a deductible is how much it costs to use your health insurance. On one of the least expensive plans, deductibles are going up by 15 percent. For many families, that means paying thousands of dollars before their insurance even kicks in. Pair that with the aforementioned premium spikes, and you’ll see the unsustainable situation in which many Americans find themselves.
Obamacare is so broken that many Americans have just one plan to choose from. Health policy experts have said “it’s clear there’s going to be less competition and choice” in 2017, resulting in higher costs and fewer choices for Americans. In fact, one-third of the country “may have just a single insurer to pick from.” Add the 17 failed Obamacare co-ops—to the tune of more than $1.8 billion in taxpayer dollars—and you’ll quickly see why these markets are collapsing under their own weight.
Obamacare is so broken that Democrats proposed apublic option—a government-run program meant to act as a lifeboat for Obamacare. Just months ago, leading Democrats offered this as a way to fix Obamacare’s problems—a sign even the law’s biggest advocates knew it was failing. This idea was supported by all of the Democratic leaders in the Senate, Bernie Sanders, and Hillary Clinton. Now, all of a sudden, they want to stay the course with Obamacare as is.
Doubling down on government-run health care isn’t the answer. That’s why House Republicans introduced a better way to do health care. While you can’t break what’s already broken, you can keep a promise you made to the American people—greater access to affordable, quality, patient-centered care. This week, Congress is working on the first steps to do just that.
The Obama Justice Department on Friday announced its findings of a year long investigation into possible civil rights violations by the Chicago Police Department. Critics contend the timing of the findings and the action DOJ will pursue in light of them are politically-motivated, and symptomatic of a drive to vilify police. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said…
Since the 1800’s the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus has wowed audiences across America. The two joined forces in 1919 as one and for nearly 100 more years continued their traveling circus.
In 1967, the circus was bought by what is now Feld Entertainment.
On Saturday, the company, which also manages Monster Jam and Disney on Ice announce the end of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus this spring.
“After much evaluation and deliberation, my family and I have made the difficult business decision that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will hold its final performances in May of this year,” Ken Feld said. “Ringling Bros. ticket sales have been declining, but following the transition of the elephants off the road, we saw an even more dramatic drop. This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company.”
“Nearly 50 years ago, my father founded our company with the acquisition of Ringling Bros. The circus and its people have continually been a source of inspiration and joy to my family and me, which is why this was such a tough business decision to make,” he added. “The decision was even more difficult because of the amazing fans that have become part of our extended circus family over the years, and we are extremely grateful to the millions of families who have made Ringling Bros. part of their lives for generations. We know Ringling Bros. isn’t only our family business, but also your family tradition.”
U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday he is immediately ending the so-called “wet foot, dry foot” policy that let any Cuban who steps foot on U.S. soil remain in the United States without a visa. Obama said in a statement that the 20-year-old policy was designed for a “different era.” “By taking this step, we are…
“The existing bail system is not fair to poor defendants who, because they cannot post bail, are cut off from families, may lose their jobs, and may go without access to medication for a period of time,” according to Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. “In terms of the charges against them, studies have shown that they face tougher plea offers and pressure to plead guilty because of the amount of time they have already spent in jail, and they receive longer sentences as compared to similarly situated defendants who were able to make bail.”
“Bail reform and speedy trial reform collectively represent a historic shift in the way our courts administer justice,” said Glenn A. Grant acting administrative director of the courts. “We need everyone, whether you are part of the criminal division, in a finance office, part of the family division or any other part of the Judiciary, to learn about these reforms and be ready to do your part when called upon for the success of these efforts.”
NBC’s Katie Rich has protected her Twitter account and went dark after tweeting “Barron will be this country’s first homeschool shooter.” Saturday morning.\