| http://www.politickernj.com/ma...
http://www.nj.com/news/index.s...
(I also just received an e-mail from the NJ Young Democrats, inviting me to a rally with Corzine and Weinberg tomorrow in Bergen County, where Weinberg is a Senator. So that's additional confirmation)
There are several things you need to know about Senator Weinberg. I don't know her personally, but I've met her on several occasions, and can attest to both her squeaky-clean record and her progressive bona-fides. Here are some basic facts about Senator Weinberg:
1. For years, she battled the now-indicted ex-Bergen County Democratic Chairman, Joe Ferriero. Weinberg refused to kowtow to the powerful political boss, and beat back a convention challenge for State Senate by Ferriero's team four years ago. One of Weinberg's strongest supporters in that fracas was Governor Corzine. Weinberg, who represents District 37 (Bergen County) in the State Senate, has also defended her running mates, Assembly members Gordon Johnson and Valerie Huttle against Ferriero-backed challengers. In addition, Weinberg has been an active supporter of reform-minded Democrats in Bergen County, in towns such as Bergenfield and Tenafly. When Ferriero attempted to purge reformers in those towns from the County Committee, Weinberg stood up to him.
She's the kind of person you can see dancing a jig when corrupt politicians go to jail, as we all should.
2. She's the "Godmother of Progressive New Jersey", according to Blue Jersey, the go-to site for progressive New Jersey news. She's been in the Legislature since 1992, and has racked up an impressive legislative record. More importantly, though, is that it's a progressive record. Her Senate website, http://www.lorettaweinberg.com, lists every single bill she has introduced and/or sponsored, and include the following:
- She sponsored the law establishing Civil Unions in New Jersey (2006) - and she strongly supports same-sex marriage rights.
- She sponsored the law that created domestic partnerships in 2003
- In 2007, sponsored a resolution that urged Congress to enact EFCA. - 6 pieces of landmark legislation on Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, all in 2007
- Several dozen pieces of legislation on health care, as well as health care rights for women. - Sponsored numerous bills on gun safety and gun control issues.
You can read her entire record at the link to her site above.
3. She's one tough cookie - At the age of 73, Weinberg lost her entire life's savings to Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme. She kept right on working.
http://www.politickernj.com/ma...
On Monday, the senator described her [late] husband as a hard-working child of the Depression and said of the news, "This is another road in one's life that one must traverse. I'm a lot better off than a lot of other people who were affected by this."
Weinberg said she had never heard of Madoff until a week and a half ago, when the scandal broke.
"I have work to do and that's the best antidote to this," Weinberg said. "All I will say about Bernard Madoff is his legacy to the world will be that he took money from the Eli Wiesel Foundation."
For New Jersey residents who are angry over high property taxes and the high cost of living, Loretta Weinberg is a role model for perseverance and determination not to give up in the face of adversity. I don't know about you, but if I lost all my life's savings despite doing everything right, I might shrivel up and die. Not Loretta Weinberg.
4. She listens to progressives. On Wednesday, she was the guest of Blue Jersey's weekly radio program. You can listen to the interview at http://www.bluejersey.com. Best of all, she's going to appear again on the show this Wednesday...as Jon Corzine's running mate for Lieutenant Governor.
Chris Christie talks a good game about ethics and reform. Let's see what happens when New Jersey gets to meet the next (I truly hope) Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey - someone who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk when it comes to being a progressive reformer.
[Note: The Corzine campaign is having a number of kickoff events tomorrow in New Jersey. You can find a list of events at http://www.politickernj.com/nj... |
