New Jersey Nightly News

New Jersey network. We want to thank the members of New Jersey network for helping to make New Jersey nightly news possible. Good evening I'm cannot hand I'm Rolanda Watts the state legislature goes down to the wire and trying to resolve New Jersey's budget crisis. New Jersey Transit announces settlements with 16 labor unions and correspondent Mike Alaron looks back at it and New Jersey's top news stories of 1982. Can't. The New Jersey legislature has spent the day trying to find a compromise tax package that would avert one hundred fifty million dollars in state spending cuts scheduled to begin Saturday. The combined income and sales tax increases now the package under discussion. Brenda Flanagan is live at the State House with the report. Brenda. Can't It's now shortly after 10 o'clock and the legislature is inching

closer to a solution. No vote has yet been taken on any tax proposal although legislators have been here at the State House since this morning. Several tax plans have been suggested and later scrapped. Party leaders from both houses have been in caucus often on tonight and may meet again with Governor Kaine to hash over the latest option. The discussion centers around a tax package which includes a one percent increase in the state sales tax and a 1 percent non graduated increase in the income tax for people earning over $50000 all told the projected revenue from the package would total about one hundred eighty million dollars over the next six months. More than enough to bail the state out of its current deficit Assembly leaders say they may have enough votes to get this package through. Provided of course they can also get the governor's approval. Consensus package compromise package that the legislators in both parties in both houses when they've completed that particular process

we may feel about any part of the discussion. Speaker and the majority leader myself. There there. I think that we do have a consensus agreement in that area. This is a Republican plan with them in any way possible Democratic support for these bills. The Republicans will have to pass. Somebody will consider the sales and income tax bill separately. However the measures are tied together so that both must gain approval. If either is to pass Senate leaders have said there's a good chance the package will pass the upper house revenues from this tax package would have one hundred and fifty million dollars in state spending cuts which are scheduled to begin

Saturday. The reductions would slash school districts by about forty five million dollars. A concern which spurred legislators to develop this compromise the negotiations also got some help. Democratic mayors from seven New Jersey cities met with the governor and with legislative leaders. Thank you Brenda. New Jersey Transit has reached a tentative labor agreements with four of the 16 Conrail unions that had been threatening a January first strike. And officials announced that the other 12 unions today agreed to work without a contract while negotiations continue. New Jersey Transit has to reach contract settlements with twenty six hundred rail employees as part of its January 1st takeover of Conrail commuter operations. Agreements can be reached at the very early stoppage of any kind. For unions with tentative agreements in place represent engineers trying to

Spector's and maintenance workers still to be negotiated as a contract with the largest union which represents conductors. Also today the National Mediation Board withdrew its decision to intervene in the Conrail negotiations. The board said there were substantial questions about its actions in the New Jersey negotiations. Layoffs have begun at New Jersey's largest public General Hospital which has filed for reorganization under federal bankruptcy laws. Jersey City Medical Center treats some one hundred twenty five thousand people a year and officials say the state's reimbursement program is partially to blame for their financial problems. The hospital filed under Chapter 11 in U.S. bankruptcy court yesterday seeking protection from debtors in order to put its finances in order. So far some clinic services have been curtailed and two hundred fifty of the hospitals Twenty one hundred workers are scheduled to lose their jobs effect of tomorrow. Hospital officials claim assets of eight point five million with liabilities nearly twice that amount even though the center received five

million dollars in subsidies from the state and Jersey City this year. Officials blame their financial problems on the thousands of indigent patients the hospital treats each year and the state's reimbursement program for hospital services. Plan or diagnosis related groups was established by the Department of Health to cut waste in hospitals throughout the state medical center enter the plan in October and immediately filed an appeal questioning their assigned rates of reimbursement. They've aggravated the cash flow problem because the rates that have been set for the medical center. Particularly for indigent care are far below what we think we're entitled to. And while we're appealing that we could go on for months officials at the State Health Department say the reimbursement rates are not a problem. And I think the financial problems at Jersey City Medical Center. Have preceded this system. For many years. Dates back to. All the way back into the 70s.

Union leaders claim top heavy management is the root of the financial problem and that is to me a ministry yet making the top salaries. Meanwhile hospital officials say more layoffs possibly involving doctors and nurses and more service cutbacks could come in the next couple of weeks. Hospital administrators plan to keep the facility open and functioning but it's likely there will be some major changes in the way the hospital is run. There's a $1000000 amendment which will benefit New Jersey riding with the recently passed federal highway construction bill. The amendment courtesy of Democratic Congressman Robert Rowe provides money to reimburse ailing businesses in Passaic County in the area of the Route 23 highway project. Merchants there claiming their businesses are off 60 to 70 percent because of traffic rerouting will be eligible to apply for financial relief as soon as President Reagan signs the bill. Among the businesses affected by the construction project is a firm run by Congressman Rose brother. According to an aide and Rose office however the other row will not benefit in any way from the legislation.

And here's the weather forecast. Tonight there will be clear skies but cold temperatures the lows will be in the low to mid 20s. Now tomorrow will be partly sunny with a slight chance of snow. Highs will be in the low to mid 40s. And the outlook for New Year's Day Fair and cold. Still to come. The state constitution of the state is. Along about midnight tomorrow you'll probably have your eye on the clock. So we thought we'd rerun our show on time pieces for New Year's Eve. Join us at 7:00. Time to look at everything from alarms. To grandfathers. We invite you to join Susan Sykora for consumer live tomorrow evening at 7:00. This is our last program of 1982 and so it seems appropriate to look back at the

major events of the year. Producer David O'Connor and correspondent Michael Aron have put together a retrospective. Michael thank you cant. The year began with pomp and promises as a new governor took office. It ends in partisan wrangling over the state's budget crisis. In between a lot happened. But we begin our look at 1982 by going back to January and the changing of the guard for Brendan Byrne who had presided over New Jersey for eight years bidding farewell was an emotional experience. History will have to decide whether the people of New Jersey were adequately armored to meet the challenges of the 80s by the struggles and achievements of the service whatever history's verdict. My family and I shall always be grateful to the people of New Jersey for your honor and opportunity. To eel. Thomas Howard K. by Thomas Howard K..

Just solemnly swear and solidly swear that I will support the Constitution that I will support because today marks the start of a time of great casting for the state of New Jersey a testing which if we are to be equal to it. Let me see the Mander scales challenge and imagination of every one of us. 1982 was not an easy first year for governor Tom Cane much of the testing you talk about back in January came right here in the halls of the legislature. It was a busy year here. The legislature passed a new criminal code for juveniles. Really is the truth of the death penalty mandated a minute of silence in the public schools. And raise the drinking age to 21. But nothing dominated the debate here this year like the year long battle over the budget to advise me to allow this situation to continue so I could come before you today and say that this budget was balanced without the need for new revenues. I reject it. New Jersey can wait no longer.

Closing of major bridges and roads. It will also mean that trains will have to over the next few years simply to maintain the finding. Of course drive even more people onto our rating system. I'm therefore recommending that the sales tax the extended tomato soup. And the dedicated explosive. Transportation Governor Kaine fell one vote shy of getting his gas tax passed four months later when it became clear that the state's fiscal picture was even worse than anticipated. Cain returned to the legislature to deliver a special televised address. First of all we confront the budget shortfall of 60 to 70 million dollars a shortfall caused by the continuing recession and by the economic slump. The Constitution of this state in a balanced budget and we will have a balanced budget this year

and next year. The question for. The Democrats tax each other political story. Presentation of my case

for Harrison Williams a United States senator for 23 years the Abscam ordeal ended in March. Convicted of bribery and conspiracy Williams resigned his Senate seat moments before the Senate was to vote on whether to expel him. It was a sad end to a worthy career made even sadder by the senator's inability to see that he had done anything wrong. I just felt so deeply that the government worked with the motivation and attitude that brought us to. I'm sure it had to be exposed and something had to be done about it. Indictments and convictions shattered other careers. Bill you must know after thirty six years the dean of the New Jersey legislature and a four term mayor of Union City was convicted of bribery

and racketeering in a sensational 21 week trial. The longest criminal trial in the state's history. But the people of Union City didn't seem to mind. They re-elected one day after a federal judge sentenced him to seven years. And life continued successor as mayor of Union City convicted of bid rigging in the sale of janitorial supplies to a vocational school. State Senator John Gregorio convicted of conspiring to gain a hidden interest in gold bars Hudson County prosecutor indicted on extortion charges in a commercial real estate deal. But other politicians had better luck. U.S. labor secretary Ray Donovan of Short Hills investigated for alleged labor payoffs and

ties to organized crime. Credible evidence of prosecution of Secretary Donovan. Any chance his mandate he fulfilled it was. Is there any credible evidence to indict Mr. Donovan on any of these charges. And he said no exoneration in plain terms. And Newark Mayor Ken Gibson and City Council President Earl Harris in the spring they faced each other in a bitter election for mayor. With Gibson emerging as the winner in the trial together on charges of providing a no show job to an ex city official living in Florida. The trial cost taxpayers far more than the no show job had. And in the end both men were cleared. 1082 also saw the continuation of a trend that's been developing for several years in New

Jersey namely getting tough with criminals. And maybe it's working because the crime rate has been dropping for 18 months now. But one consequence of getting tough with criminals is crowded prisons. And in 1982 overcrowding in our state prisons and county jails reached crisis proportions. That's. The thing you just have to do. And it's like inmate advocates filed lawsuits. Judges declared conditions in county jails are unconstitutional. A tragic fire in the Hudson County Jail. Seven inmates dead. And voters passed the 170 million

dollar bond issue to build more prisons prisons bold legislators we're talking even tougher especially when it came time to debate the death penalty. Need a lot of people but it's not going to matter. I signed a letter just like. I did so because I do believe that that really is a character you feel intensely. No question about this is. Carolyn. Serious. Meanwhile the justice system had its moments of inspiration like the swearing in of the first woman Supreme Court Justice and its moments of low comedy. 1982 was another busy election year in New Jersey where the Senate seat 14

congressional seats and several big city mayors jobs up for grabs. The elections were the most expensive in the state's history largely because of the huge sums spent on television advertising. Night after night for nearly two months our living rooms were inundated with political commercials including many from the most dramatic New Jersey race the Senate contest between Frank Lautenberg and Millicent Fenwick. It was the race Millicent Fenwick couldn't lose. She was a moderate Republican and raged at runaway government spending but liberal on social issues. She was the darling of the media. Yet it was Frank Lautenberg who stole the show. By late October he had closed a 20 point gap in the polls. Of course he looted his own savings account to get there. But on November 2nd it paid off three networks. It's where. You are. Then I express my respect for Mrs. Fenway. There were

time to scan. It's between us were too few. But the campaign is over. It's been a wonderful battle and we know and it's better to admit it and take it in good spirit and go on and continue to work for the government. If Millicent Fenwick took it on the chin in 1982 her friend here fought to a draw in the midterm elections. Considering that the Democrats have redistricted the state the Republicans were fortunate to have five of their six incumbents re-elected including underdog Chris Smith who beat everybody's favorite example of an old style politician Joe Merlino. But the Democrats won nine seats increasing their control of the state's congressional delegation. The big Democratic winner was newcomer Bob Torricelli who ousted Republican incumbent Harold kept Hollenbeck. The biggest loser among the Democrats was Adam Levin who spent 1.6 million dollars in an effort to unseat Congressman Matt Rinaldo. More than any

congressional candidate in the nation and much of it is own money. But Levin lost. Losing an election is one thing but for many New Jerseyans this year the losses were more profound. 1982 is remembered for any one thing it will probably be for the hard times many people lived through. A year of bankruptcies and plant closings layoffs and the unemployment rate hit nine point nine percent and it went even higher higher than it's been since the Great Depression. The enduring image that many of us are likely to take away from this year is of men and women out of work standing in lines. Trying to find a job. Well around here there's not that much you know pointed out of factories are shutting down people. So when you go to nothing you can get depressed every day every day. This. Is nothing nobody.

That's all we need. But the year also produced a few big winners. Atlantic City's nine casinos had their best year ever raking in an estimated one and a half billion dollars. And then on Thursday in December for a lucky winner split the biggest lottery jackpot in state history eleven point one million dollars. Was the state itself a winner in 1982. That's hard to say. We did get in another professional sports franchise the hockey devils and thanks to a bit of parliamentary maneuvering in Congress the way was paved for Channel Nine in New York to become a New Jersey television station. Otherwise though not a lot happened of which one could say at last New Jersey is getting the respect that it's due. Kent Rolanda Happy New Year. Thank you Michel. You know David a good job recapping 1992 Bill Perry will be here when we come back with sports. Analyst Matt.

Next time a state of the art to celebrate the news by looking back over some of our most memorable guests from 1980 to. See the breathtaking for weights of Hofstadter. Talk to my still Gerard shorts about his work a lot of New Jersey's own version of the Mona Lisa one that might have been done by Leonardo da Vinci himself. Your wonderful musical. Virginia will. Join Lou for a review of the two Maruti done State of the art. And now as promised here's Bill Perry with the sports report. And I get to make straight can thank YOU Jersey schools came up empty last night looking for tournament titles in college basketball in Rochester Seton Hall lost the Rochester classic title game nationally ranked Iowa wins at 85 63 the hall's Andre McLeod Ricky Burton however made the alternate team out now but Corky Princeton lost the Lobo classic championship game 52 46 to New Mexico. The nets won their fourth in a row last night beating it 0 0 1 0 for 99 the Hawks started fast and sation a rookie Dominic Wilkins from spiral with the jam 16 for Wilkins Sparrow from Patterson led Atlanta with 17 Here's Rory from deep in

Atlanta 21 22 after one quarter but Williams had 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets Watch block jam from Otis Birdsong and it's Riley to lead briefly in the second quarter next you'll see Darwyn Cooke with the jumper Darwin had 17 but it Illana led by one 51 50 at the half. The Nets took the lead for good midway through the third quarter Darwyn Cooke with 10 assist feeds bucked a three point play 61 59 nets up then took that bird song The Jam Otis had a team that's led by four after three quarters in the fourth the nets maintained the lead cook had 11 fourth quarter points a 104 99 win over Kevin locker Reese hawks and net coach Larry Brown talked about birdsong starting again because Michael Coren is out at 9 of 14 shots last night. A great game. You know he's defended well I just think you. Just gotta relax and play like we know he can use and use one of the night and I think you know with Mike being hurt you know he knows we need him he won't be looking over his shoulder I think things will start to fall into place.

For Giants I've been into the NFC Pro Bowl team two linebackers Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor hairy for a fourth time L.T. a second year player making it for a second straight year cornerback Mark Haines was selected for the first time punter Dave Jennings for a fourth time Question When was the last time a player from the Giants off offensive unit made the Pro Bowl team answer. 1972 a long time ago Norm Snead and Ron Johnson receiver Floyd outings maybe a future all star should play Sunday in Philly remember this play for the game against St. Louis cheap shot or not. The Giants asked the NFL to look at the films to determine if the Jeff Griffin hit was a cheap shot now. I don't think so Eddings got up to continue running the Giants were hot about it. But Eddings who was tackled and touchdown watch it tackled and touchdown wasn't sure the play was over. How could Griffin no flag on the play and having said he could understand why he was sick because he said he was still moving. The Devils the Rangers tonight New Jersey and New York have split their two meetings this year. Boxer James Scott a row inmate has lost another legal appeal of his conviction of the 1975 murder of the appellate division of Superior Court made the ruling and

Scott's attorney says an appeal to the New Jersey Supreme Court. It's very likely. That's our Sports up in there gets you off your due to bail that's our news for Bill Perry and Michael and I'm Rwanda Watts and I can't man a hand as we said earlier it will not be broadcast tomorrow evening so we'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy 1983 that night at the. New Jersey nightly news was made possible in part by grants from the foundation and the Union Bank Corporation. But 115 offices serving the banking needs of New Jersey Sports coverage by New Jersey. New Jersey Nightly News as a production of The New Jersey network in association with W and 13. Portions recorded. Disguised as the decision.