This is a status report related to Governor-Elect Chris Christie's transition teams and news pertaining to the state Legislature. It is compiled by the government affairs department of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Christie Announces Transition Leadership Team

Governor-Elect Chris Christie announced his Transition New Jersey Leadership Team, which is being led by former Attorney General David Samson. The team includes bi-partisan leaders in both the public and private sector. The members of the team are:

David Samson, Esq.
Former New Jersey Attorney General
Senior Partner, Wolff & Samson PC

Dr. Susan A. Cole
President, Montclair State University

Senator Sandra B. Cunningham
State Senator (31st Legislative District)

Debra P. DiLorenzo
President/CEO, Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey

Michael DuHaime
Managing Director, Mercury Public Affairs, LLC

George Gilmore, Esq.
Partner, Gilmore & Monahan

Jon Hanson
Chairman and Founder, Hampshire Real Estate Companies

Alfred C. Koeppe
Executive Director, Newark Alliance, and former President/COO, PSE&G

Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr.
State Senator (13th Legislative District)

John McCormac
Mayor, Woodbridge, and former State Treasurer

Christie Announces Chairs of Transition Task Force on Budget and Taxes

Governor-Elect Chris Christie named Richard H. Bagger of Westfield, an executive at Pfizer Inc and a former chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and Robert E. Grady, a Livingston native, former aide to Governor Thomas H. Kean and former top official at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as co-chairs of a special Transition Task Force on Budget and Taxes.

The task force co-chairs will help develop recommendations to address the state's fiscal deficit, estimated at over $8 billion for the 2011 fiscal year, and to respond to the shortfall in projected state revenues in the current fiscal year. They will recruit additional task force members and staff experts to address various components of the state's fiscal emergency.

Bagger served in the New Jersey Assembly from 1993 to 2002, and in the State Senate from 2002 to 2003. He was chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee from 1998 to 2002. He is a former councilman and mayor of Westfield. Currently, he serves as senior vice president for Worldwide Public Affairs at Pfizer Inc. Earlier in his career, Bagger served as assistant general counsel of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and was an attorney with the law firm of McCarter & English.

Grady served as chief of staff to former U.S. Representative Millicent Fenwick, as director of communications for former Governor Thomas H. Kean, and as deputy assistant to the president and executive associate director of OMB in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. For the last decade, he had been the partner in charge of venture capital investing at The Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms. Before retiring this summer and joining Cheyenne Capital Fund, a private equity firm, he served as chair of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) in 2006-2007, and as a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business from 1994 to 2004.

Assembly Republicans Reelect DeCroce Assembly Republican Leader

The Assembly Republican caucus reelected Assemblyman Alex DeCroce as their leader for his fourth consecutive term. Caucus members who were elected last week unanimously selected DeCroce, who represents the 26th Legislative District.

In addition to DeCroce, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick was chosen as conference leader. Bramnick was most recently the caucus whip, and will be replaced by Assemblyman Dave Rible, who was previously deputy conference leader.

The State Legislature Reconvenes

Both the Senate and the Assembly have announced schedules for the remainder of this legislative session. Committees are grouped for scheduling purposes. Committees that are in the same group generally meet on the same day as other committees in that group.

Senate Schedule for Remainder of Session Announced

Group 1
Community and Urban Affairs (SCU)
Education (SED)
Judiciary (SJU)

Group 2
Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens (SHH)
Labor (SLA)
Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs (SLP)

Group 3
Economic Growth (SEG)
Environment (SEN)
State Government (SSG)

Group 4
Budget and Appropriations (SBA)
Commerce (SCM)
Transportation (STR)
Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation (SWT)

The Senate will meet on the following dates:

November 23	Group 1 and 2 Committees Swearing in of Senators Beach and Doherty
December 3	Group 3 and 4 Committees
December 7	Group 2 and 1 Committees
December 10	Voting Session
December 14	Group 4 and 3 Committees
January 4	Committees at the call of the Senate President
January 7	Voting Session
January 11	Voting Session
January 12	Organization of the 214th Legislature

Assembly Schedule for Remainder of Session Announced

Group A
Budget (ABU)
Consumer Affairs (ACO)
Financial Institutions and Insurance (AFI)
Health and Senior Services (AHE)
Higher Education (AHI)
Telecommunications and Utilities (ATU)

Group B
Appropriations (AAP)
Commerce and Economic Development (ACE)
Housing and Local Government (AHO)
Law and Public Safety (ALP)
Regulated Professions (ARP)
Tourism and Gaming (ATG)

Group C
Judiciary (AJU)
Labor (ALA)
Military and Veterans' Affairs (AMV)
Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities (ATR)

Group D
Agriculture and Natural Resources (AAN)
Education (AED)
Environment and Solid Waste (AEN)
Homeland Security and State Preparedness (AHS)
Human Services (AHU)
State Government (ASG)

The Assembly will meet on the following dates:

November 23	Group A and B Committees
November 30	Group C and D Committees
December 3	Committees at the call of the Speaker
December 7	Voting Session
January 4	Committees at the call of the Speaker
January 7	Voting Session
January 11	Voting Session
January 12	Organization of the 214th Legislature