A New Jersey healthcare program known as Global Options, which helps seniors age in place rather than nursing homes, is earmarked for a big boost in funding under Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed 2013 budget. New Jersey is moving forward with its push to help seniors remain in their homes and communities and avoid nursing homes for as long as possible. While the majority of the state’s Medicaid long-term care spending still pays for nursing home care, the shift to home and community-based services is evidenced by the growth of Global Options, a major state program that provides nursing-home eligible Medicaid recipients with home-based support services like visiting nurses and housekeeping aides. http://bit.ly/HiIzO4
Raise in minimum wage moves ahead
A plan to hike New Jersey's minimum wage by $1.25 to $8.50 an hour is a step closer to approval after the Senate Labor Committee passed it, 3-1, Thursday. The bill, which would peg the wage rate to inflation, passed an Assembly committee last month. Leaders in both Democratically controlled chambers in Trenton
Christie calls law student veteran an 'idiot'
Gov. Christie told William Brown, 34, a former Navy SEAL and second-year Rutgers-Camden law student on Thursday that his school will definitely merge with Rowan University, sparking a yelling match that led the governor to dismiss him as an “idiot.” Brown, a former candidate for state Assembly who served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, was removed from the firehouse by Florence police officers. Brown worries that veterans and other non-traditional students won’t get the same kind of educational opportunities once the merger goes through. http://bit.ly/zqMTqk
Christie backs plan to fund anti-bullying law
A bipartisan agreement has been reached to fix the state's anti-bullying law - considered the toughest in the nation - following complaints by school districts that it was financially burdensome. Gov. Christie announced support Tuesday for an amended bill backed by both parties that will be fast-tracked through the Legislature. It will add $1 million to the Bullying Prevention Fund to help districts meet the law's requirements, and will create a task force to assist with implementation of the measure. http://bit.ly/zWVp9e
Raise in minimum wage moves ahead
A plan to hike New Jersey's minimum wage by $1.25 to $8.50 an hour is a step closer to approval after the Senate Labor Committee passed it, 3-1, Thursday. The bill, which would peg the wage rate to inflation, passed an Assembly committee last month. Leaders in both Democratically controlled chambers in Trenton
NJ Dems offer tax-cut plans
The Legislature's Democratic leaders unveiled their counterproposals Tuesday to Christie's plan to cut income taxes 10 percent across the board, an idea he included in his budget proposal in February. Sweeney wants to offer taxpayers the equivalent of a 10 percent property-tax cut: Those who earn $250,000 or less a year can take an income-tax credit of up to $1,000 based on their property-tax bill. http://bit.ly/xmEn8u
NJ Transit eyes rapid-bus system
To reduce traffic congestion and ease commutes from South Jersey to Philadelphia, transit planners want a $46 million "bus rapid transit" system on the heavily traveled corridor that includes Routes 55 and 42, and I-676. The proposed NJ Transit system would allow