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New Jersey Tag

It's been two years since Sen. Menendez was indicted on corruption charges and try as he might, he can't seem to get himself out of this mess. The Democratic Senator from New Jersey was investigated by Eric Holder’s Department of Justice and accused of using his federal office to help wealthy dentist and long-time friend and campaign donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen by attempting to sway policy that would be favorable to Melgen’s business. The pair were charged with 18 counts of bribery and fraud.

It's been almost two years since Sen. Bob Menendez was indicted by a grand jury and charged with fourteen felony counts of criminal corruption. The Democratic Senator from New Jersey was investigated by Eric Holder's Department of Justice and accused of using his federal office to help wealthy dentist and long-time friend and campaign donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen by attempting to sway policy that would be favorable to Melgen's business.

New Jersey Governor gave his 2018 Budget Address on Monday and asked the state's largest health insurance company, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, to set up a charitable fund to help provide funds to treat those with opiate addiction:
“I am confident Horizon will embrace this opportunity and partner with us to establish this permanent, sustainable fund,” Christie said, prompting laughter from the crowd packed into the State House Assembly chamber. “They will not turn their back on the people of New Jersey who pay their salaries and, as the people’s representatives, we will partner with them to make sure it happens by June 30,” he added.

It doesn't seem that long ago that Chris Christie was a serious contender for the presidency, and here we are, four or five years later, and he's counting his lucky stars that the prosecutor decided against filing criminal misconduct charges against him regarding Bridgegate. Reuters reports:
New Jersey prosecutors on Friday said they would not pursue criminal misconduct charges against Governor Chris Christie in connection with the "Bridgegate" scandal.

On Saturday night, a pressure bomb exploded in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, leaving 29 people injured. Despite that pesky fact, MSNBC's Chris Hayes is thankful it was a BOMB, not a gun. https://twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/777895206846955520 I wonder if he would say that to those injured by the bomb. Anyway, the people of Twitter had a field day.

Oh, New Jersey. Shortly after I moved to New York I had to drive to Atlantic City for work. I'd missed the memo that private citizens are forbidden from pumping their own gas because that's a union job in New Jersey. Needless to say, after a very heated discussion with the gas-pumper, I got back into my car wondering why New Jersey functioned like a developing country. Because not being able to pump your own gas isn't ridiculous enough, the Garden State is considering a bill that could fine drivers for drinking coffee on their morning commute.

Just over a week ago I reported how Rhode Island legislature passes anti-BDS law, becoming the 10th state to pass legislation exercising the state's right not to subsidize the discriminatory Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). The forms of such legislation in various states focus on pension investments by and/or contracting with state agencies. None of these recent laws, or NY Governor Cuomo's Executive Order, criminalize or prohibit such boycotts, though some states have longstanding anti-discrimination laws barring boycotts based on national origin, race and other factors. In May, the New Jersey Senate passed a bill barring pension investments in companies engaging in BDS, and as it moved on to the state Assembly, BDS forces mounted a counter attack, but to no avail. An overwhelming bipartisan majority in the Assembly passed the law:
The New Jersey Legislature passed legislation that prohibits the state from investing  pension and annuity funds in companies that boycott Israel or Israeli businesses.