Media
Obama's defense bill protects N.J.'s Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst from closure
WASHINGTON — President Obama signed into law Friday a revised defense policy bill that protects Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst from cuts and bans the Pentagon from paying sports teams to honor the Armed Forces.
Low turnout shows need for N.J. voting regulation overhaul
In his single-minded pursuit of the White House and the right-wing base he hopes will put him there, Gov. Christie has made decisions that poorly serve New Jersey residents.
Early on, he put the brakes on a tunnel into Manhattan that would have eased congestion for millions of commuters, for example. More recently, he sold out the state by accepting a ridiculously low settlement from Exxon Mobil for befouling our air and water.
Lottery’s Been No Jackpot for New Jersey Since Private Contractor Took Over
Senate panel wonders why sales are up but revenues are down; lottery officials and private vendor blame decline in popularity of big-bucks multistate games
Burlington County affordable housing projects land support
Several affordable housing projects in Burlington County got a financial boost from the government this week.
NJ Lawmakers Advance Legislation to Crack Down on Out-of-Network Bills
TRENTON — New Jersey lawmakers voted Monday to advance two controversial bills intended to rein in surprise medical bills some patients will face if they receive treatment from hospitals or doctors not in their insurer's network.
After several hours of discussion and debate, the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee voted to advance Assembly Bill 4444 and Bill 952, clearing them for potential floor votes by the full chamber next month.
NJ Mulls Arbitration for Disputes Over Out-of-Network Costs
New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would establish an arbitration framework to settle disputes between health-care providers and insurance companies when an insured uses an out-of-network provider, either by necessity or by chance.
Climate Change: Preventing an Impending Disaster
This issue may be one of the most pressing concerns that our world faces. Its impact reverberates across economic, environmental and social lines. While some may disagree on the solutions, science has proven that the problem is real, and we need to find a collaborative way to address it.
Report: Many homebuyers can’t afford to live in areas with ‘good schools’
A new report finds at least 6-in-10 families in America cannot afford to buy a home in a zip code where better-quality schools are located.
The report from RealtyTrac shows 65 percent of the zip codes in America where “good schools” are located are beyond the means of most families. They define “good schools” as those with superior test score results.
Helping fathers ‘play a more responsible role’ in their kids’ lives
About half of all children in America spend some of their life apart from one or both of their parents, and most often it’s the dad who isn’t around, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Assemblyman Troy Singleton (D-Mount Laurel) said this was an issue in every area of New Jersey too and that’s why he and others have developed a “Responsible Fatherhood Initiative” geared toward promoting two-parent participation.
N.J. pension investment panel to disclose fees, bonuses
TRENTON — The New Jersey State Investment Council, seeking to resolve a dispute with the heads of the public worker pension funds, voted Wednesday to report five years' worth of fees, bonuses and performance data for the state's investments.
Tom Byrne, chairman of the council overseeing the investments, said it was unclear how long it would take to compile the report, which will include alternative investments managed externally and funds managed in-house. Council members comprised of governor appointees and pension fund trustees voted unanimously.