Editor's blog

Gary Schaer will replace Neil Cohen as Chairman of the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance CommitteeAssemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) is expected to be named chairman of the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. The post became available in July when Neil Cohen resigned his Assembly seat after being caught with child pornography on his state computer.  A formal announcement from Speaker Joseph Roberts is expected to come later this afternoon.  

With jurisdiction over the banking and insurance industries, the committee is considered to be one of the most powerful assignments in the Legislature.  Schaer, a two-term Assemblyman, has a background and career in the financial services industry and has formed a solid relationship with Roberts.  For now, Schaer will retain his vice chairmanship of the Assembly Budget Committee.

Assemblyman Rick Merkt, a conservative from Morris County, is expected to announce tomorrow that he's forming an exploratory committee to look at a bid for the 2009 Republican nomination for Governor.

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Updated: A sentencing hearing for former Assemblyman/Orange Mayor Mims Hackett will be postponed until October 21, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.  U.S. District Court Judge Jose Linares made the scheduling change.  Hackett was expected to be sentenced tomorrow.

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Press Releases on Gov. Jon Corzine's campaign finance reform proposal

Gov. Jon Corzine, left, with one of his potential 2009 Republican opponents, biotech millionaire John Crowley
Gov. Jon Corzine will announce a highly aggressive anti-wheeling campaign finance reform package that will reduce contribution limits to county and local party organizations and legislative leadership committees. The Governor has scheduled a 2:30 PM news conference.

The future of the state's largest newspaper is in the hands of a small union representing about ninety delivery drivers, according to an internal memo from Star-Ledger publisher George Arwady.  Arwady notes that he expects their goal of 200 voluntary buyouts (including 100 news room personnel) to be met by the October 8 deadline, but says that if the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers Union fails to ratify their new contract, the "Star-Ledger will be put up for sale on October 9."

Write your own caption for this photo of Gov. Jon Corzine and his possible 2009 Republican opponent, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, taken at the swearing in of Jackson Township Committee members last summer.

Teamsters Local 1100, which represents 400 Star-Ledger mailers, voted 183-18 to ratify a new labor contract that agrees to a three-year freeze on wages and a buyout of almost 100 members.  George Arwady, the publisher of the state's alrgest newspaper, has said that the Star-Ledger would be sold or close if two unions didn't ratify new agreements, and if 200 additional employees didn't agree to a buyout.