Quorum Call
News from the District
|
From the office of Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
My bill addressing poll worker shortages by increasing their pay to $300 a day passed the State and Local Government Committee this month. Election worker pay has remained stagnant since 2001 when it was raised to $200 from $75.
“Poll workers are important to the integrity of our elections. We need to attract good people with competitive wages,” Rooney (R-Bergen) said. “Addressing their pay through legislation, rather than executive order, ensures a permanent higher pay rate is in place for future elections and allows counties to recruit workers with the promise of better compensation.”
The bill (A208) increases the state’s reimbursement to $225 for poll worker pay while counties remain responsible for $75. It appropriates $7 million to reimburse the counties for the costs of implementing the law. If adopted, the pay increase would take effect immediately and apply to general, primary and special elections.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Rooney
Assemblyman
Message from the Assemblyman:
|
|
Ash Wednesday
Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection.
|
|
Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that incorporates dressing up in costume, and eating and drinking in celebration. ... At the eleventh hour, Esther revealed to the king that she was Jewish, meaning Haman's plan would result in her death.
|
|
St. Patricks Day
Patrick's Day is officially observed on March 17 each year, though celebrations may not be limited to this date. The significance of March 17 is that it's said to be the date of St. Patrick's death in the late 5th century (circa A.D. 493).
|
|
N.J. police officer rescues injured man from fire
|
|
HERO: NJ Police Officer Rescues Unresponsive Driver From Fiery Wreck
|
|
Tax season is already underway. Whether you plan to file online or seek assistance to prepare your forms, keep in mind that many #taxpayers qualify for free tax preparation. Find one near you: Read Here
|
|
RECIPE
St. Patrick's Day Green Velvet Cupcake Shamrocks
|
|
Ingredients:
- Cooking spray
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, well shaken
- 1 tablespoon green liquid food coloring
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pinch fine salt
- Green liquid food coloring
- 1/2 cup green sanding sugar, for decorating
Instructions:
- For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners and spray with cooking spray. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk the buttermilk, food coloring and vanilla in a spouted measuring cup; set aside.
- Beat the granulated sugar and butter in a stand mixer (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer) on medium speed until very light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. With the mixer still on medium, slowly add the eggs and beat until fully incorporated. Reduce the speed to the lowest setting; with the mixer running, add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the buttermilk mixture, then 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture, then the remaining buttermilk mixture, then the remaining flour mixture. Scrape down the sides and beat until well mixed. Fill the prepared liners about 3/4 full of batter. Bake until the cupcakes bounce back when pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
- For the frosting: Put the flour in a small saucepan. Vigorously whisk in about 1/2 cup milk, making sure to get the whisk into the edges of the pan, until you have a smooth, thick paste. (This step keeps the flour from clumping.) Slowly whisk in the remaining milk until fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture is very thick, about 5 minutes. (Toward the end of the process, the mixture will become a thick paste; it may seem to be forming lumps, but whisk vigorously and the lumps will disappear.) Scrape into a bowl, press plastic wrap onto the surface and refrigerate until cool, about 45 minutes.
- Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the cooled flour mixture a tablespoon at a time and beat until smooth. Switch to the whisk attachment (or continue with the hand mixer), add the vanilla, salt and 3 to 5 drops green food coloring and whip until very light and fluffy, like thick whipped cream, up to 10 minutes with a stand mixer or 12 minutes with a hand mixer.
- To assemble: Using a sharp serrated knife, cut 3 cupcakes in half vertically, gently sawing through the paper liners; set aside. Frost the remaining cupcakes. Put the sanding sugar on a small plate and roll the edge of each cupcake 3/4 of the way around in the sugar, making a green border around each with a gap on one side. On a large serving platter, arrange 18 cupcakes in groups of three, pushing them together at the gaps, to make 6 shamrock cakes. Dip the tops of the cupcake halves in sugar and wedge a pointy end of 1 half between 2 of the cupcakes in each group to form the stems.
Cook’s Note:
Alternatively, you can make the shamrock stems with mini cupcakes instead of halved full-size cupcakes: Fill 8 liners in a mini-cupcake tin 3/4 full of batter and divide the remaining batter among the two full-size cupcake tins. (The larger cupcakes will have a slightly smaller dome.)
|
|
ARE YOU LISTENING?
Tune in every 3rd Tuesday of the month WTBQ 1110 AM 93.5 FM and WGHT 1500 at 8:10AM , we always discuss issues facing New Jersey residents.
WTBQ 1110 AM 93.5 FM and WGHT 1500
#1 Community Radio Station
#1 North Jersey ~ NYC ~ Orange County
#1 Morning Drive Time Show
|
|
EMPLOYMENT
My staff and I have received several queries about unemployment. Below are some helpful resources:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
