On this Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 in New Jersey politics ...
- UPDATE: Attorney General Paula T. Dow announces indictments against a former state corrections officer and 34 other defendants in major scheme to smuggle pre-paid cell phones and narcotics into Northern State Prison in Newark. She's joined at a news conference outside the prison's gates by Corrections Commissioner Gary Lanigan, Division of Criminal Justice director Stephen Taylor and New Jersey State Police Maj. Matt Wilson.
- Gov. Chris Christie hits the campaign trail for New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez. He's got a few events in Roswell -- a media availability at 6 p.m. New Jersey time, a thank-you meeting with campaign volunteers and a fund-raiser at the home of Powerball winners Kevin & Jessica Breedyk, who two years ago with some friends hit a nearly $207 million jackpot.
- Six Senate committees meet.
- Economic Growth: Testimony concerning the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor's proposal to require stevedoring companies to retain independent Private Sector Inspectors General to operate in the port.
- Education: Vote possible on plan to expand authority to approve charter schools beyond the Department of Education.
- Environment & Energy: Bill on agenda would direct DOT to study stormwater basins in Barnegat Bay watershed.
- Judiciary: Considers 23 of Gov. Chris Christie's nominees, including replacements on the ELEC and UMDNJ boards, plus Geoffrey Soriano as Somerset County prosecutor.
- Military & Veterans' Affairs: Task force to study treatment of veterans diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder in judicial proceedings.
- State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation: Tweaking the timing for the effective date of the 1.5% contribution to health coverage. Another bill that made the agenda for discussion was withdrawn from consideration by sponsor Sen. Michael Doherty; it would have implemented Christie's collective bargaining "tool kit" changes.
- The Legislative Task Force on Public Broadcasting holds the last of 3 public hearings on the future of NJN. Tonight's meeting at the Montclair Municipal Building is about NJN's programming, assets and related issues.
- A delegation from Nevada, including lawmakers, the presiding Supreme Court justice and family court judges, is taking part in a two-day working session to learn from New Jersey's implementation of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, a program designed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to reduce the unnecessary use of juvenile detention. First Lady Mary Pat Christie, Attorney General Paula Dow and Juvenile Justice Commission executive director Veleria Lawson attend today's session at Thomas Edison State College in Trenton.
- The Highlands Council meets in Chester.
- Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission meets in Trenton.
- New Jersey Redevelopment Authority board meeting in Trenton.
Follow Capitol Quickies on Twitter!
