Chris Christie endorsement is regrettable: Moran  —  Gov. Chris Christie takes the oath of office in January.  Even before he was embroiled in scandals, The Star-Ledger's endorsement of the governor was a close call.  (Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)  —  During the fall campaign …

They quit their jobs, thanks to health-care law  —  Count Polly Lower among those who quit their jobs because of the health-care law.  —  It happened in September, when her boss abruptly changed her job description.  She went from doing payroll, which she liked, to working on her boss's schedule, which she loathed.

Crybabies of the 1 percent: Spoiled rich kids, Tom Perkins and the real affluenza  —  The rich's real “disease” is failing to get that their privileges come at a price: our contempt  —  More than half a century ago, “West Side Story” satirized the idea that what was then known as juvenile delinquency …

Rand Paul warns Texas could turn blue  —  HOUSTON — Sen. Rand Paul on Saturday predicted that Texas would turn blue within a decade if the Republican Party doesn't become more inclusive.  —  “What I do believe is Texas is going to be a Democrat state within 10 years if we don't change,” …

Leaving Work Behind  —  IN 1930, in the darkening valley of the Great Depression, John Maynard Keynes wrote an essay on “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren,” which foresaw a much happier future — one of growth, abundance and the steady decline of full-time work.

Is McConnell the new underdog?  —  Republicans are buoyant they can capture the Senate this year - but will Mitch McConnell still be there as majority leader?  —  A surprising survey out of Kentucky this week underscores that the Senate minority leader is truly running the race of his life …

Obama Democrats' troubling view on work  —  Among its many stamps, the Postal Service has a series called “Made in America, Building a Nation.”  The strip of “forever” stamps is a collection of iconic photographs of 20th-century industry featuring men and women toiling on railroads, skyscrapers and factory floors.

Snowden Used Low-Cost Tool to Best N.S.A.  —  WASHINGTON — Intelligence officials investigating how Edward J. Snowden gained access to roughly 1.7 million of the country's most highly classified documents say they have determined that he used inexpensive and widely available software to …

The Case for a Higher Minimum Wage  —  The political posturing over raising the minimum wage sometimes obscures the huge and growing number of low-wage workers it would affect.  An estimated 27.8 million people would earn more money under the Democratic proposal to lift the hourly minimum from $7.25 today to $10.10 by 2016.

Holder to extend same-sex recognition to all states  —  Utah state Sen. Jim Dabakis, left, and Stephen Justesen acknowledge the crowd after being married in Salt Lake City on Friday, December 20.  A federal judge struck down Utah's ban on same-sex marriage, saying it conflicted …

Sean Hannity selling Lloyd Harbor home for $3.6M  —  Talk show host Sean Hannity has put his waterfront home in Lloyd Harbor on the market for $3.6 million, says his listing agent.  —  The native Long Islander used to live in the four-bedroom, 5-1/2-bath house on the Long Island Sound; today, he lives in Centre Island.

How Single Motherhood Hurts Kids  —  The last few weeks have brought an unusual convergence of voices from both the center and the left about a topic that is typically part of conservative rhetorical territory: poverty and single-parent families.  Just as some conservatives have started talking seriously …

Napolitano: Obama didn't snub Putin  —  Former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said President Barack Obama's absence at the Winter Olympics doesn't amount to a snub to Russian President Vladimir Putin.  —  “I think the president chose a delegation that represent leaders …