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The Senate and Assembly both passed laws disbanding and reforming the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards earlier this year.  But so far, only two of the new committee’s eight seats have been filled.

That’s because it’s hard to find people interested or eligible to serve, according to Rick Wright, executive director of the Assembly Republicans.

“We are going to make appointments, but like everyone else we’re having a hard time finding people,” he said.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards has been widely considered a joke for most of its existence.  It averaged one sanction against a legislator every 10 years during its nearly four decade lifespan.  Meanwhile, filing toothless complaints with the committee became standard fare during the legislative campaign season, when candidates or their allies would file a complaint against an opponent and then issue press releases trumpeting it.

Following Mims Hackett's plea of guilty to attempted extortion,Acting Mayor Lisa Perkins Council President Lisa Perkins took the reins of government in Orange today, and is now serving as the city's acting mayor.

Orange has a code provision in the event of the mayor's illness, which gives the business administrator authority to take over in the chief elected official's absence.

But in this case, state law regarding succession trumps Orange's code and grants authority to the council president to step in for a mayor who has pleaded guilty to a corruption charge.

Councilman Edward Marable, Jr. today said he would consider challenging Perkins's right to serve as mayor.

TOTOWA- Working to help equip Passaic County first responders in a difficult county budget climate, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. today joined Passaic County Prosecutor James Avigliano to deliver $267,900 in federal funding specifically earmarked for the Passaic County Prosecutor’s emergency communications network.  Senator Robert Menendez, who was unable to attend today’s announcement, also played a critical role in securing the funds.  

Council President/Obama delegate candidate Mildred Crump

While the other side dozed strategically in parts of New Jersey’s biggest city, the Obama campaign stood 1,000 volunteers on the pavement of Newark Saturday and mobilized through all five wards.

Two days ago, Zora Menguelti and Peter Geier worked in an otherwise empty room in Obama campaign headquarters on Broad Street, handing out the makeshift literature they had, and waiting for reinforcements and supplies. On Saturday, they stood with two dozen volunteers amid stacks of glossy new Obama fliers and signs.

COHEN/ROBERTS 'GRACE'S LAW' ADVANCES
Measure Would Require NJ Health Insurers
To Provide Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Below Age 16

(TRENTON) - An Assembly panel today released legislation Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., sponsored to require health insurance plans to provide coverage of medical expenses incurred when purchasing hearing aids for children 15-years-old and younger.

Kyrillos Pressing for Arts Center Hearing

Hearing A First Step To Reclaiming The Center For All Residents  

Senator Joseph Kyrillos, R-Monmouth/Middlesex, today expressed confidence that the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee will start the process of rectifying the problems at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. He expects the committee will hold a hearing, which will include representatives from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Live Nation, State Police, Monmouth County community groups and local government that will result in a program of action to prevent a repeat of the past summer’s underage drinking and criminal incidents.