Clark DeLeon Returns, Extolling All Things Philly

"I am a child of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, and I want the city of my birth to sparkle in a world of great cities. I want us to be magnificent. I want our generation to ennoble a sacred name in American history, to reenergize and reconsecrate the revolutionary promise that brave men in Philadelphia long ago declared with an honorable pride that they spit into the doubting face of a hostile universe."

This is just one paragraph from a brand new column that will appear every other Sunday in the Philadelphia Inquirer. It's written by our old friend Clark DeLeon and we're so happy to have him back in print (and at philly.com) where he belongs. 
Avanti, Clark!


Click here to read the entire column.

Photo: Mark Zuckerberg Marries His Sweetheart!

Various media outlets are now reporting that Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg updated his status to "married" today. Zuckerberg and 27-year-old Priscilla Chan tied the knot at a small ceremony at his Palo Alto, Calif., home, capping a busy week for the couple.
Zuckerberg changed his Facebook profile to so indicate he is now married and apparently posted the photo that you see above.
Of course, Zuckerberg has just taken his company public in one of the most anticipated stock offerings in Wall Street history. But there's more: Chan graduated from medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, on Monday, the same day Zuckerberg turned 28.

Barnes: Obama Now His Own Worst Political Enemy

Over at the Weekly Standard, the ever-incisive Fred Barnes has done a great job of analyzing President Obama's current predicament. Here's an excerpt:

By the time he took office in 2009, President Obama had fashioned a reputation as an idealist committed to reforming the way business is done in Washington. But as president, he’s allowed this reputation to fritter away. And what’s left of it is now being destroyed by his harsh and misguided campaign for reelection. Obama has become his own worst political enemy. Even when his job approval first began to fade, his poll numbers for being well-liked personally remained high. Now those are fading too. He’s on the road to defeat. Click here to read the complete article.

Governor Christie Files Nominations, Appointments

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie filed the following nominations and direct appointments with the State Senate and Secretary of State’s Office. The Governor’s nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate.

NOMINATIONS JUDGE OF SUPERIOR COURT
Nominate for appointment Verna G. Leath (South Orange, Essex)

 CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF TAXATION
Nominate for appointment  Michael J. DeBenedictis (Haddonfield, Camden)
Nominate for appointment Todd S. Mitchell, CFA (Voorhees, Camden)

FINANCIAL POLICY REVIEW BOARD
Nominate for appointment John T. Scerbo (Morris Plains, Morris)
Nominate for appointment James A. Crawford (Little Egg Harbor, Ocean) 

OCEAN COUNTY BOARD OF TAXATION
Nominate for reappointment Phil G. Waxman (Lakewood, Ocean)

NEW JERSEY STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY AND HAIRSTYLING
Beauty Seat Nominate for appointment Angela Pantaleone (Robbinsville, Mercer)

DIRECT APPOINTMENTS HUDSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Appoint Jeanette Pena (Union City, Hudson)

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR EXAMINERS COMMITTEE
Licensed Professional Counselors Appoint Diane Licht, MA, LPC (Montville, Morris)
Appoint W. Michael Shea, Ph.D. (Newton, Sussex)
Appoint Peter J. Economou, Ph.D. (Jersey City, Hudson)
Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor Reappoint William F. Green, MS, LRC, CRC, CPRP, CSW (North Wildwood, Cape May)

Governor Christie also approved the following appointments for local housing authorities by Acting Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III. These direct appointments do not require Senate confirmation.

DEPARTMENTAL APPOINTMENT SUBJECT TO GOVERNOR’S APPROVAL CARTERET HOUSING AUTHORITY State Appointee Appoint Kevin Urban (Carteret, Middlesex)

NEPTUNE HOUSING AUTHORITY State Appointee Appoint Keith G. Vuono (Neptune, Monmouth)

TRENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY State Appointee Reappoint Kim Y. Taylor (Lawrenceville, Mercer)

Earlier this week, Governor Christie filed the following nomination with the State Senate. The nomination is subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate.

HUNTERDON COUNTY BOARD OF TAXATION Nominate for appointment Timothy J. Korzun (Lambertville, Hunterdon)

TV Ad Effort Backs Christie On Fiscal Reforms

Committee for Our Children's Future (CCF), a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, launched its fourth ad since last fall as part of a $1.6 million-dollar television campaign to highlight Governor Christie and bipartisan reformers' efforts to strengthen the economy, improve education and cut taxes in New Jersey. The new ad is airing on New York and Philadelphia broadcast and New Jersey statewide cable stations over the next three weeks. The television ad will be accompanied by a statewide online advertising campaign.

"Governor Chris Christie and reformers from both sides of the aisle are getting things done in New Jersey. They balanced two budgets, saved pensions and strengthened education, while cutting taxes and creating jobs," said Brian Jones, spokesperson, Committee for Our Children's Future. "Through hard work and tough decisions, these reformers are doing what it takes to get the job done and keep New Jersey moving forward. Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike are backing New Jersey's reform movement and believe the State is moving in the right direction." 

CCF is a non-profit organization advocating for tax and government spending reforms that restore long-term fiscal health and solidify the economic foundation for our children and grandchildren. CCF's priorities are to make government spending more efficient, lower the tax burden, and secure our economic future with pro-growth policies.

Doherty: Keep Toll-Free Scudder Falls I-95 Bridge

New Jersey State Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) recently held a State House news conference to express his opposition to the replacement and tolling of the Scudder Falls bridge, which carries Interstate 95 traffic over the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Senator Doherty was joined by: Senator Shirley Turner (D-15); Jeff Tittel – Director, New Jersey Sierra Club; Steve Lonegan – State Director, Americans for Prosperity — New Jersey; and Ed Smith – Commissioner, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

Christie Announces Removal Of Shore Bridge Fence

The Christie Administration has announced that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has re-engineered the security fencing which will permit the removal of one-half mile of the fencing installed between the Great Egg Harbor and Drag Channel Bridges. Residents and visitors have questioned the necessity of the fence due to the visible obstruction it caused and perceptions about its usefulness. The Turnpike Authority will begin work on removing the fence on Monday, May 21, before the Memorial Day holiday.

“I am pleased that by working with Senator Van Drew on this issue, we have been able to move forward with a solution to address the concerns of local residents,” said Governor Chris Christie. “The Turnpike Authority will begin work on removing the fence this Monday, with the intention of having both the fence and posts removed by Memorial Day.”

The removed pieces of fencing will be repurposed by NJTA for right of way fencing on other parts of the Garden State Parkway. Approximately 500 ft. of reengineered fencing will remain in select areas.

"This is a good day for South Jersey. This bridge is a gateway to both Cape May and Atlantic Counties, it is surrounded by some of the most beautiful vistas in the country. While seemingly not a huge issue, placement of this fence truly bothered residents and visitors alike. Both because it aesthetically had the appearance of a security system around a penitentiary and was obviously non-functional. I am particularly happy that work removing the fence will begin before Memorial Day and the fence will be used elsewhere,” said Senator Jeff Van Drew.

“I personally want to thank Governor Christie, Chief Counsel McKenna, and Executive Director Hakim for responding to my concerns and those of local residents with this issue. Chris Christie is a Governor that truly cares about doing what is right for New Jersey and takes the appropriate action to make it happen," continued Senator Van Drew.

Kean: Give Bruce Harris A Fair, Open Hearing

With the New Jersey State Senate Judiciary Committee’s announcement that confirmation proceedings will be held on May 31st for Bruce Harris’s nomination to the New Jersey Supreme Court, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. issued the following statement encouraging fairness and professionalism in considering Mr. Harris’s nomination:

Bruce Harris is an accomplished attorney and public servant who is, by any objective measure, well-qualified to serve on our state’s highest court.  More important than the personal and racial diversity that he would bring to the Supreme Court is the diversity of legal and professional experience he offers a body that makes decisions affecting the lives of everyone in our state.

Bruce deserves a fair hearing and open-minded consideration by members of the committee. As a public and commercial finance attorney and a long-standing local elected official, Bruce Harris uniquely understands how the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the State Constitution impacts the citizens of this state.

Unfortunately, the last confirmation conducted for a Supreme Court nominee was anything but fair, impartial, or deliberate.  Phil Kwon was rejected for reasons of partisanship and politics rather than his merits and qualifications.

The Senate already has one black eye from the Kwon fiasco.  I encourage my colleagues not to further shame this institution and conduct Bruce Harris’s hearing with the seriousness that is required by our state Constitution.

Romney: Obama Undermines NATO, US Security

Mitt Romney today made the following statement on the NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois:

“I urge NATO’s leaders to speak candidly about the challenges facing the alliance and how to rise to them. NATO's success requires strong American leadership. It also requires its member states to carry their own weight.
"Unfortunately, the Obama Administration has taken actions that will only undermine the alliance. The U.S. military is facing nearly $1 trillion in cuts over the next ten years. And President Obama has sent the message—intentionally or not—that the worth of NATO has diminished in America’s eyes. At this moment of both opportunities and perils, the NATO alliance must retain the capacity to act.
"As president, I will work closely with our partners to bolster the alliance. I will reverse Obama-era military cuts. I will exercise leadership on missile defense, cyber capability, energy security, and sufficiently mobile forces.
"Formed in the aftermath of a terrible and costly war, NATO is a testament to the fact that the price of weakness is always far greater than the price of strength. That is a lesson I hope the leaders assembled in Chicago take to heart.”

Vacation? There's More To Do In Minnesota!

Planning a trip soon?

How about Minnesota? We can attest to the fact that it's one of the most fun places in the whole USA, with the nicest people we've ever met. In fact, we've visited Minnesota many times and have met people there that we still count as our friends. 

From hometown hero Joe Mauer to local indie band Solid Gold—see for yourself, there really is more to explore in Minnesota. Learn more at ExploreMinnesota.com.