In an effort to clear up the latest rumors I asked Mayor Bill James if it was true that he was going to resign and the Democrat Club would name Councilman Nick Marchese to the position.

Also circulating over ClearysNoteBook this week is the scuttlebutt about some businesses that are not \”Green\” friendly moving into the South Port area, which is located in the old Gloucester City industrial park area, Water and Charles Streets. The type of businesses/factories mentioned are a medical waste facility, a garbage compost plant and a metal scrap yard. The topper was that South Jersey Political Boss George Norcross is urging the City Democrats to welcome these facilities into the City.

As for the first rumor, Mayor James on Friday afternoon, laughed about the gossip that he was resigning. \”I just got elected to another four year term. I am not going anywhere.\” As for the other rumor (s) James said there is no plans on the table to accept any of those type businesses at South Port. 

NEW JERSEY residents support layoffs of public employees. A November 11 independent Quinnipiac University Poll revealed that voters support layoffs for state workers 54-39 percent. New Jersey\’s budget problems are \”very serious,\” 86 percent of voters say, while 13 percent say they are \”somewhat serious.\” 

 Support is 66 – 25 percent among Republicans and 56 – 38 percent among independent voters, but Democrats oppose layoffs 53 – 40 percent. Women support layoffs 50 – 43 percent while men support layoffs 58 – 35 percent. 

New Jersey voters support other cutbacks to state workers:

• 63 – 25 percent, including 52 – 33 percent among Democrats, for furloughs;
• 78 – 19 percent, including 63 – 31 percent among Democrats, for a wage freeze.

Gov. Christopher Christie gets a 52 – 42 percent approval for his handling of the state budget, compared to his overall 51 – 38 percent job approval. He is the only governor or mayor in any state surveyed by Quinnipiac University whose approval for handling the state budget is not well below his overall job approval. 

\”Literally everybody – just a tick short of 100 percent – agrees that the state\’s in bad budget trouble,\” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1299.xml?ReleaseID=1535

OUTRAGEOUS- Did you ever wonder why anyone would want to be a Washington Bureaucrat? After all to be a Republican or Democrat Congressman or Senator must be hard work? Before you answer let’s take a look at their job.

 The base salary for US Congressmen is $174,000 plus benefits, plus official expenses (such as for staff, travel, office equipment supplies, totaling around $1.5 million per year).

But they work so hard you say, they deserve it you say. Really! Congress is in session anywhere from 130 to 190 days a year. On average, over the last 9 years, they have met about 140 days a year. This so called \”work schedule\” is nothing new. Under President Harry Truman (1945–1953) who named the legislators the \”Do Nothing House of Representatives\” was in session for 108 days. Beating that record was the 109th Congress it stayed in session for only 103 days in 2006.

If the job was advertised in the classified section of a newspaper this is how the ad might read…

 *Help Wanted 

 Member of House of Representatives and Senate

For Senate: Must be 30 years or older. For House: Must be 25 years or older.

Salary: $174,000 plus annual cost of living increase.

Extraordinary Benefit: Short work week, generally two to three days; health care; pension; 4 to 6 month paid vacation. Opportunity for free travel with family; possible additional employment opportunities for spouses and or children. 

Must run as a candidate in the November election. 

Synicated columnist Charley Reese writes, \”One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices – 545 human beings out of the 300 million – are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.\”

We need to insist that the new leaders in Congress who take office in January pass permanent reforms that will stop either Party from ripping us off now and in the future.

*From the book Outrage written by Dick Morris