The Jersey City Independent "

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- State legislation that would give local governments the opportunity to defer half of their pension payments for a second straight year stalled in legislative committees Monday, with Democrats unable to muster the support to muscle the bill through. The bills, sponsored by Jersey City’s Joan Quigley in the Assembly and Sandra Cunningham in the Senate, were introduced at the behest of the Healy administration as it seeks any potential relief to deal with a crushing budget deficit. This deferral would again save the city about $15 million this year. With little time remaining until the new administration is sworn in down in Trenton, the prospects for this bill — which incoming Gov. Christie opposes — are beginning to look bleak. But let’s remember that late in ’08, when the bill was first introduced, it stalled out as well, only to be revived and eventually passed in early 2009.

- The Jersey City Supervisors Association has filed a lawsuit in federal court contesting the administration’s unpaid furlough days. The union contends that the plan, which began on Christmas Eve, “substantially impaired the obligations” of its contract under a clause in the U.S. Constitution.

- Ward E councilman Steven Fulop plans to introduce a new ordinance that would allow some residents behind on their taxes to enter a payment program.

- Education experts gathered in Trenton yesterday to discuss how to improve urban education.

- State legislation to combat the scourge of bedbugs failed to pass in 2009, and it looks unlikely that it will be taken up in Trenton before the lame-duck legislative session is over. But both landlords and tenants are hoping that a new version of the legislation, which was sponsored by Jersey City Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, will be taken up in 2010.

- Police have released a mugshot of the 25-year-old Jersey City man charged with killing an Irvington man at the Ringside Lounge last week. Meanwhile, the JCPD says it is reviewing previous incidents at the bar to determine if some sort of action should be taken against it.

- Another Jersey City bookstore — the B. Dalton in the Newport Centre mall — is closing.

In statewide news:

- With just two weeks before New Jersey changes governors, gay-rights advocates are facing lengthening odds of passing a marriage equality bill. Supporters of the bill rallied in Trenton yesterday; Blue Jersey was there. In addition, a letter in strong support of marriage equality, signed by 120 clergy from 19 faiths, has been sent to lawmakers. Its signers include Rev. Joseph Harmon, pastor of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Jersey City.

- Also in Trenton, a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants who are New Jersey residents to pay in-state tuition was moved out of an Assembly committee after hours of emotional testimony yesterday.

- Even more Trenton action yesterday: The Senate State Government Committee Monday approved a bill that would make data and information on the state’s annual revenues, expenditures, and total bonded debt available on the internet; legislation to require future state employees to live in New Jersey was approved by the Assembly State Government Committee; and legislation — opposed by environmental groups — that would extend the life of building permits for commercial and residential development projects stalled by the economic downturn was released by an Assembly panel.

- Three prison officers are under investigation for allegedly threatening to electrocute a mentally ill inmate during an interrogation at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, and 19 more face disciplinary charges in connection with the case.

- Good news for the many people who are unemployed in New Jersey: Effective Jan. 1, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit amount rose from $584 to $600, due to the yearly recalculation of the statewide average weekly wage.

- A federal monitor’s report to be released this week will be the first to examine whether a $1 billion-plus initiative to reform the state’s child-welfare system has actually benefited the kids it is supposed to help.