http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-9/119761516954...

Corzine welcomes GOP's new blood

Recently elected state senators tout beginning of bipartisanship relations Friday, December 14, 2007 BY DEBORAH HOWLETTStar-Ledger Staff

Eight of the nine newly elected Republican state senators met with Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday in an effort to form a bipartisan alliance that could turn traditional politics in Trenton on its head.

After spending 45 minutes with the governor and his senior staff, the young Turks emerged bristling with confidence.

"Today was the beginning of a new dialogue in Trenton," said Assemblyman Bill Baroni (R-Mercer), who will be sworn in as a senator next month. "We had a very open and blunt conversation about the need to work together."

Corzine welcomed the Republican overtures. He called the meet ing "cordial" and "positive," and said it focused on ethics reform, state finances and school funding.

"We developed these problems over a long period of time with Democratic and Republican administrations," Corzine said. "They will only be fundamentally resolved if we come together on a bipartisan basis over what's in the best interest of the state."

In the first year of his term, Cor zine found a steady ally in former Sen. Bill Gormley (R-Atlantic), a 30-year lawmaker who retired earlier this year.

The up-and-coming Republicans, led by Baroni and Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex), offered themselves up as a bloc on ethics, campaign finance and other key legislation that may have trouble finding a majority in the Senate, where Democrats have a narrow 23-17 edge.

"These issues are so monumental, he's going to need bipartisan support. He's not going to be able to do it just by his party alone," said Assemblyman Christopher "Kip" Bateman.

At 50 years old and with six Assembly terms under his belt, Bate man is the grizzled veteran of the group. The rest are young, green, or both. They range from a 36-year-old who spent four years in the Assembly to a 57-year-old newcomer to the Legislature.

The lawmakers they replaced were all longtime office holders, all over age 60 and with more than 200 years of cumulative experience. Some of those veterans had started their terms before some of the newcomers had graduated from high school.

"The sleepy little place where they had oxygen and tapioca sent to the Senate caucus, that's not going to happen anymore," O'Toole said.

Apart from ethics, the state budget is a prime concern.

"We all realize that our fiscal house in the state of New Jersey has to be put in order from debt to spending to getting the economy going," said Steve Oroho, a Sussex County freeholder who is new to the Legislature.

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) said the governor restated his commitment to property tax reform and reducing the debt, which are key issues for the Republicans. He also talked about how important "asset monetiza tion" is to the state.

But Beck said the group did draw a line: They in no way meant to imply they were throwing the governor their support on his plan to pay off debt by raising tolls.

"We had a good meeting," Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio (R- Morris) said, "but not that good of a meeting."

The group also included Assemblyman Sean Kean (R-Monmouth) and Phil Haines, the Burlington County clerk who is new to the Legislature.

Deborah Howlett may be reached at dhowlett@starledger.com or (609) 989-0273.

Tornoe's just picking on McNamara because he's old.

it just went over my head.

I'm a central/south Jersey politics guy, so all that GOP stuff up north I can't follow too closely.

The north DEMS I do follow, because its better than any Sopranos episode, thats for sure. Mayors squiring hoochies around, renting skin flicks and lotions. Mysterious cars running over Senators. And other Senators flying in and out of the country (off shore...) more than your average South American drug mule. Its all so darn hard to follow some times....but quite entertaining.