East Brunswick

BUONO: NO SURRENDER ON SCHOOL AID FORMULA

TRENTON - Senator Barbara Buono today said the State should continue seeking an accord on a new school aid formula to help suburban districts who have been hurt by flat funding for the last five years.

"This is no time to surrender on finding a new school aid formula," said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. "I've heard too many horror stories from concerned parents to give up at this point."

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be in New Jersey on January 19 to meet with potential supporters in East Brunswick. The event is being sponsored by Republican National Committeeman David Norcross and State Senator Joseph Kyrillos. The former Governor of Massachusetts is expected to announce his candidacy for the 2008 GOP nomination this month.

THOMPSON BILL EXTENDING HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS APPROVED BY FULL LEGISLATURE

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Sam Thompson that would allow National Guard members who are called into active duty to utilize state tuition assistance credits after their enlistment expires was approved Monday by the full General Assembly and the State Senate.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez will participate in a Bowl-A-Thon on Saturday night to benefit Democrats 2000, a group of young professional Democratswho raise money for Democratic candidates under the age of forty. The Bowl-A-Thon will be held at Mid State Lanes in East Brunswick.

Outside of the bowling alley, New Jersey College Republicans are planning to stage a Street Theater performance of "For Rent," will they same wll include several portrayals of real estate agents, some Hudson County bosses, and a Menendez impersonator.

BURZICHELLI BILL WOULD END 'DOUBLE TAXATION'
OF SCHOOL ACTIVITY FEES
Legislation Would Prohibit Districts from Assessing Surcharge
For Participation in After-School Activities on Top of Collecting Property Taxes

(PAULSBORO) -- With the announcement by a fourth New Jersey school district that it will charge students a fee to participate in after-school activities, Assemblyman John Burzichelli called for passage of legislation to prohibit schools from levying a "sports and activity tax" on the families of student-athletes and participants in other extra-curricular activities.

DIEGNAN TAKES ASSEMBLY FLOOR TO CONDEMN COULTER'S ATTACK ON 9-11 WIDOWS
In Floor Speech, Assemblyman Denounces 'Hateful and Hate-Filled' Remarks,
Calls for Statewide Boycott of Right-Winger's Book

(TRENTON) -- Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. today forcefully denounced right-wing columnist Ann Coulter in a speech on the Assembly floor for her insensitive and hateful writing regarding several New Jersey widows whose husbands died in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

THOMPSON BILL EXTENDING HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS CLEARS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE

Governor-elect Jon Corzine is the special guest at a fundraiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton's re-election campaign in East Brunswick tonight. Tickets are "$420 and up." Assembly Speaker Albio Sires is headlining a fundraiser for Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes' federal campaign account tonight. Tickets are $150 per person, and there is a $1,000 per person VIP reception. Wildes has raised over $400,000 for a future congressional race, if incumbent Steve Rothman decides to run for another office. Wildes' main competitor for the 9th district seat is State Senator Paul Sarlo, although Assemblywoman-elect Valerie Vainieri Huttle could also emerge as a House candidate.

Two of the presumed contenders for Jon Corzine's U.S. Senate seat will be showcased tonight as spinners at Corzine's election night headquarters in East Brunswick: Congressmen Bob Menendez and Rob Andrews. Another Senate candidate, Congressman Frank Pallone, will also be spending the evening in East Brunswick, but has not been included as one of the Corzine surrogates being made available to the media.

I'm hearing that Jon Corzine doesn't want a sea of elected officials and supporters behind him when he takes the stage at his East Brunswick headquarters tonight. The only other people allowed on stage will be family members-- a not-so-subtle message, in light of recent controversies.