John Hanger resigning as PA Gov. Wolf’s top policy adviser

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced this morning that his secretary of policy and planning, John Hanger, is leaving the administration.
John Hanger
Karen Langley reports in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Mr. Hanger said in a statement that it had become impossible to both do his job and commute regularly to Massachusetts, where his wife and daughter live.

The governor’s office said that Sarah Galbally, who has been deputy secretary for policy and planning, will take Mr. Hanger’s job.
Mr. Hanger, a former secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, ran against Mr. Wolf for the Democratic nomination for governor but dropped out before the primary.
He joined the administration and became an advocate for Mr. Wolf’s agenda, encouraging the Penn State University board by email last week to lobby for the governor’s proposed tax increases.
“John’s service to my administration has been invaluable, and it is difficult to see John leave his current position,” Mr. Wolf said in a statement. “I have known John for many years and I am glad that John will continue to provide me the benefit of his counsel and expertise in the years ahead.”
Sarah Galbally
The governor said that Ms. Galbally has been a key adviser for more than two-and-a-half years, and that she has served ably as Mr. Hanger’s deputy.
“It has been an honor to serve an extraordinary governor and his administration who work tirelessly to make better Pennsylvania,” Mr. Hanger said in a statement. “It is difficult to leave, but I cannot be in two places at once.”
Mr. Wolf also said that Will Danowski, until now the acting secretary of legislative affairs, will serve in that role permanently. 
Patriot-News columnist John L. Micek writes today:
Hanger’s departure, which comes more than eight months after the resignation of ex-Chief of Staff Katie McGinty, spells the official end of Wolf’s “Team of Rivals” era.
Both Hanger and McGinty challenged Wolf for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2014. And both were viewed as far more ideological than Wolf, who had run as an outsider vowing to change the tone in Harrisburg.
But for much of Wolf’s first year in office that new tone sounded an awful lot like the old one. McGinty, for instance, was seen as the force behind controversial firing of Office of Open Records boss Erik Arneson. 
Hanger was a forceful advocate of a severance tax on natural gas drillers, arguing it was long past due, since the Republican Corbett administration was widely seen as “in bed with the Marcellus Shale industry.”
So with the two gone, it’s tempting to ask whether that new tone Wolf pledged to set back in those faraway days of January 2015 might now finally get its day.


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NJ engineer Birdsall pleads guilty, faces multi-year jail term

Howard Birdsall in center – APP Photo by Thomas B. Costello


The onetime head of a prestigious Monmouth
County, NJ engineering firm that met its demise during a state pay-to-play
probe pleaded guilty today to corporate misconduct in a plea bargain that calls
for a 4-year prison term, Kathleen Hopkins reports in the Asbury
Park Press.

Howard Birdsall, 72, of Brielle, the former chief executive
officer of Eatontown-based Birdsall Services Group, entered a
guilty plea to misconduct by a corporate official in a brief proceeding before
Superior Court Judge James Den Uyl.

Birdsall admitted concealing or
misrepresenting political contributions, in violation of state law, and also
reimbursing Birdsall employees for political contributions they had made.

He acknowledged the scheme netted a benefit in
excess of $75,000 to himself and others.

Birdsall, also the former longtime
chairman of Brookdale Community College’s board of trustees, admitted that he
operated Birdsall Services Group for the furtherance of a commission of a crime
from Jan. 1, 2006 through May 31, 2012.

He made the admissions by replying with
simple, affirmative answers to questions posed to him by his attorney, John P.
McDonald.
MORE: Former Birdsall
execs agree to hand over $3.95M in insurance money to bankruptcy estate 

Firm’s downfall 
Birdsall was indicted March 26, 2013 along
with his firm and six other of its key executives, in a case that swiftly led
to the demise of one of New Jersey’s oldest and most prestigious engineering
companies.

The state Attorney General’s Office alleged
then that the firm and its executives deployed a scheme to skirt the state’s
pay-to-play law by masking corporate political contributions as individual
campaign donations and then reimbursing employees who made the donations in the
form of company bonuses.

The state alleged the firm and its executives
made more than $1 million dollars in illegal campaign contributions that,
had they been reported as corporate political donations, would have
disqualified it from public contracts.

Authorities at the time of the indictment
alleged that Howard Birdsall made at least $49,808 in illegal campaign
contributions.

MORE: Belmar plans to
weaken pay-to-play law

Punishment
Birdsall, in entering his guilty plea, agreed
to forfeit that amount and turned over a check to the state in court to cover
the forfeiture.

Deputy Attorney General Anthony Piccione said
the plea agreement also calls for Birdsall to be banned for 10 years from
bidding on public contracts or doing any public work, and that eight other
criminal charges against the defendant will be dismissed.

He said he will recommend a four-year prison
term for Birdsall with no period of parole ineligibility. The sentencing date
is April 22.

Read the entire
story here 

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NJDEP and Dems grapple in a rematch over flooding rules

Flooded streets early Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Sea Isle City, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

A second showdown between
Democrats in the state Legislature and the Department of Environmental
Protection is brewing in the ongoing battle over proposed changes to flood
hazard control rules, David Giambusso reports in Politico
New Jersey. 

During the last session, the Senate
and Assembly approved a “legislative veto” that marked the first step
in preventing the DEP from relaxing certain restrictions for development near
certain waterways. The DEP had 30 days to either address the Legislature’s
concerns or ignore them. They chose the latter and now the Legislature must
vote again to prevent the agency’s new rules from being enacted.

The DEP proposed the rules change as a much-needed streamlining of regulations
it maintains eliminates red tape while still providing for the protection of
the waterways. Democrats in Trenton and environmental advocates say the rules
change is a giveaway to developers that will compromise the streams and
exacerbate an already chronic flooding problem in New Jersey.

The legislative veto requires only a simple majority so it should be an easy
sell for state Sen. Ray Lesniak and Assemblyman John McKeon who sponsored the
first resolutions in their respective chambers. But in an interview, Lesniak
said he expected the DEP to ignore even the second vote, and anticipates a
court battle over the regulations.

“Since they totally ignored the first one, when we do the second one, I
expect them to totally avoid it again,” said Lesniak, a Democrat from
Union County. “I will monitor any permits that may be issued … and go to
court to stop each and every one of them.


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New Legislative Session in NJ; Energy, Enviro-Bills Moving


The 217th session of the New Jersey Legislature is only several weeks old but close to 5,000 pieces of legislation (most recycled from the previous session) already have been introduced under new numbers and 30 energy and environment bills have been released
from committee.


Here’s the first batch out of the gate:

A-210  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Gusciora, R. (D-15);
Benson, D.R. (D-14)
Concerns installation and maintenance of solar panels
in common interest communities.
     Nov 23, 2015  – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly

A-436  Eustace, T. (D-38); Wimberly, B.E. (D-35);
Conaway, H. (D-7)
Requires natural gas pipeline utilities to repair or
replace leaking natural gas pipelines.
     Dec 3, 2015    – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-780  Andrzejczak, R.B. (D-1); McKeon, J.F. (D-27);
Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT
revenues for certain environmental purposes; revises State’s open space,
farmland, and historic preservation programs.
     Jan 8, 2016     – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Environment and Solid Waste
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations
A-793  Andrzejczak, R.B. (D-1); Land, R.B. (D-1)
Requires Dept. of Agriculture and DEP to work with US
Army Corps of Engineers to establish joint permit application process for
aquaculture projects.
     Dec 18, 2015   – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Agriculture and Natural Resources
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-794  Andrzejczak, R.B. (D-1); Land, R.B. (D-1)
Requires Dept. of Agriculture and DEP to adopt joint permit
application and review program for aquaculture projects.
     Dec 18, 2015   – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Agriculture and Natural Resources
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-1108  Oliver, S.Y. (D-34); Coughlin, C.J. (D-19);
Caride, M. (D-36)
Requires corporations qualifying for certain State
development subsidy grants to repay entire grant amount if corporation fails to
uphold grant terms.
     Dec 30, 2015   – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Commerce and Economic Development
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations
A-1649  Schaer, G.S. (D-36); Spencer, L.G. (D-29);
Pintor Marin, E. (D-29)
Requires local governments and authorities to obtain
financing cost estimate from NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust for certain
projects.
     Jan 7, 2016     – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Environment and Solid Waste
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported with Assembly
committee amendments
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly

 
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A-1672  Schaer, G.S. (D-36); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14);
Quijano, A. (D-20)
Establishes “Neighborhood Solar Energy Investment
Program.”
     Jan 7, 2016     – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported with Assembly
committee amendments
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-1899  Wisniewski, J.S. (D-19); Coughlin, C.J.
(D-19); Danielsen, J. (D-17)
Allows tax credits for development of qualified wind
energy facilities in certain portfield sites.
     Jan 7, 2016     – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported with Assembly
committee amendments
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations
A-2220  Benson, D.R. (D-14)
Authorizes local units of government subject to
“Local Public Contracts Law.” and “Public School Contracts
Law” to use electronic procurement technologies.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly State
and Local Government
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-2242  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
“Vegetation Management Response Act”;
concerns vegetation management related to electric public utility
infrastructure.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Telecommunications and Utilities

     Feb 4, 2016    – Posted but held: Telecommunications and Utilities 


A-2375  McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Gusciora, R. (D-15)
Revises “Electronic Waste Management Act.”
Related Bill: S-981
     Jan 27, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Environment and Solid Waste
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly


A-2404  McKeon, J.F. (D-27)
Requires, after study, DEP to adopt total maximum daily
loads for Barnegat Bay ecosystem, and requires DEP to adopt nutrient standards
for NJ marine waters.
Related Bill: S-765
     Jan 27, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Environment and Solid Waste
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported with Assembly
committee amendments

     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations

A-2547  Singleton, T. (D-7); Conaway, H. (D-7);
DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Benson, D.R. (D-14); Muoio, E.M. (D-15); Houghtaling, E.
(D-11)
Permits small businesses to qualify for loans from
NJEDA for costs of energy audit and making energy efficiency or conservation
improvements.
     Jan 27, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Commerce and Economic Development
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations

AJR-24  Andrzejczak, R.B. (D-1)
Declares aquaculture an important State economic driver
and urges State to include aquaculture industry in its economic development plans.
     Dec 18, 2015   – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Agriculture and Natural Resources
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly

IN THE SENATE

S-122  Pennacchio, J. (R-26); Codey, R.J. (D-27)
Establishes home elevation fund and dedicates up to $5
million of realty transfer fee revenue annually for this purpose.
Related Bill: A-2941
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-482  Oroho, S.V. (R-24); Stack, B.P. (D-33)
Directs State agencies to take certain actions to
expedite permitting through use of general permits and permits-by-rule.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: State
Govt., Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported with Senate
committee amendments
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-765  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Requires, after study, DEP to adopt total maximum daily
loads for Barnegat Bay ecosystem, and requires DEP to adopt nutrient standards
for NJ marine waters.
Related Bill: A-2404
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Reported Sca (wo/quorum)
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported with Senate
committee amendments
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-766  Smith, B. (D-17); Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Creates Office of Clean Energy in BPU.
Related Bill: A-2445
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Reported by committee
(wo/quorum)
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-769  Smith, B. (D-17); Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Requires environmental sustainability plan for State
House Complex.
Related Bill: A-2922
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Reported by committee
(wo/quorum)
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-848  Stack, B.P. (D-33); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Requires certain State oversight of budgets of regional
sewerage authorities.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: State
Govt. Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations


S-969  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT
revenues for certain environmental purposes; revises State’s open space,
farmland, and historic preservation programs.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Reported by committee
(wo/quorum)
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-981  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Revises “Electronic Waste Management Act.”
Related Bill: A-2375
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-984  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Establishes “Solar Roof Installation Warranty
Program” in EDA and transfers $2 million from societal benefits charge to
initially fund program.
Related Bill: A-2446
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 11, 2016   – Passed by the Senate
(23-11)
S-985  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Concerns low emission and zero emission vehicles;
establishes Clean Vehicle Task Force.
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate


S-986  Beach, J. (D-6); Smith, B. (D-17)
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in
paint stewardship program.
Related Bill: A-1373
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-987  Smith, B. (D-17)
Establishes position of State Oceanographer.
Related Bill: A-231
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 11, 2016   – Passed by the Senate (34-0)
S-988  Smith, B. (D-17); Whelan, J. (D-2)
Permits BPU to approve qualified wind energy project;
requires BPU to provide application periods for those projects.
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 11, 2016   – Passed by the Senate
(23-11)




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Plans for AC Stockton U. campus and SJ Gas headquarters

Rendering of South Jersey Gas headquarters
Architectural and engineering plans for Atlantic City Development Corporation’s first project, including a proposed Stockton University satellite campus, have been submitted for land-use approval, Reuben Kramer reports today in the Press of Atlantic City.

A site plan submitted to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority lays out on a molecular level the components of the campus, a South Jersey Gas corporate headquarters, and an 879-space garage proposed to be built on 270,000 square feet of land in the city’s Chelsea section.

The Authority, regulator of land use in the city’s Tourism District, must approve the plan, which will be the subject of a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 25.

The Chelsea project is the first major undertaking of the non-profit Corporation, which bills itself as a public-private partnership modeled after the New Brunswick (N.J.) Development Corporation.

In November, Chris Paladino, an attorney who heads both groups, said the project relies on a patchwork of public and private financing, including $44 million from South Jersey Gas; a $17 million grant from the Authority; subsidies from the state Economic Redevelopment and Growth Program; bond debt issued by the Atlantic County Improvement Authority; and a private equity investment.

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NJ Gov. Chris Christie ends his GOP presidential race

After countless hours of fundraising calls, town meetings, diner lunches, county fairs, interviews, speeches and selfies with thousands of supporters, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has ended his Republican presidential campaign.

NJ Gov. Chris Christie ends his GOP presidential race Read More »