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Outrage in the "New" New Jersey!

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg

Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 09:13:00 AM EST

O.K. I'm outraged! I'm trying to figure out how to function in this "new" New Jersey environment and how to channel that outrage into productive work.

A New Jersey Congressman is pushing a bill to re-define rape. Our New Jersey Governor speaks before a pro-life rally and then vetoes a bill which would give medicaid coverage to poor women needing health care. A Democratic Assembly Committee releases a private school voucher bill which will pay state money for youngsters already in (read not failing) private schools. I guess I'm not used to having New Jersey guys (and gals) like these actually in charge.

There's a New Jersey State Treasurer who refuses to appear before the Assembly Budget Committee. A New Jersey State Commissioner of Health won't appear before the Senate Health Committee and won't send a senior staffer in her stead.

The New Jersey Governor nominated and the Senate confirmed private school advocates as members to the State Board of Education, one of whom had no idea what Abbott vs. Burke was. Service on the board of the Peck School seemed to be the main prerequisite for this appointment. I wonder how many vouchers will be extended to kids from failing schools to attend that same Peck School? A New Jersey Governor cuts funding for pre-school while claiming he is "passionate" about education.

Two new members of the New Jersey Highlands Commission have been nominated who do not believe in the Highlands preservation law.

more "new" outrage below.

Senator Loretta Weinberg :: Outrage in the "New" New Jersey!

New Jersey Republicans have fallen in love with Federal 501 (4C) fund raising committees which can raise big sums of money from New Jersey State contractors and not have to divulge those contributors as is required under New Jersey rules.

A former employee of UMDNJ was givern immunity by a certain former New Jersey US Attorney to testify against convicted former State Senator Wayne Bryant. That same employee ends up in a $110,000 per year position in the Executive Branch of the government overseen by that former US Attorney and current New Jersey Governor. And no one knows how he got that job. Must have parachuted in from the Land of Oz.

And these are just a few of the New Jersey vignettes of the last two weeks. So what to do?

My hostile thoughts have run the gamut. Maybe I should plan a trip to Illinois to meet with women's groups to explain why they wouldn't be happy if their companies did accept the Governor's invitation to move to New Jersey. Maybe I should call one of those proponents of vouchers and ask them to get two students from an inner city failing school in to the Peck school with an $11000 voucher (including transportation).

So what do you think? Where is the outrage? Why are folks so complacent? I know about trying to find or to keep a job, worrying about the economy and taxes, and the international messes. The weather is lousy! But it seems that people just don't seem to care very much! Or maybe I just have the New Jersey winter blues. This is a tough environment! How to function in it and change it needs a little more citizen action. How about a Million Mom & Dad March on the state house when the weather improves?

Keep your voices heard!

Tags: featured, Chris Smith, abortion rights, pro-choice, pro-life, HR3, redefining rape, Chris Christie, treasurer, Highlands Commission, Education, Reform Jersey Now, slush fund, Center for a Better New Jersey, transparency, Oz, Loretta Weinberg, privatizing education, Vouchers, women's health, Illinois, outrage, Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, (All Tags)

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Outrage in the "New" New Jersey! | 12 comments

A great idea! (4.00 / 2)

A Mom, Dad and Children March on Trenton is a great idea. It should be a broad based group, not run by a specific, single interest organization which Christie would only ridicule.
It is important for Christie to understand that there is a large outraged community in NJ which feels mad and disenfranchised by the activities you listed. Christie has to realize that his controlled, bullying town meetings, his off-the cuff offensive remarks, his cut cut cut agenda, and his lack of concern for anyone not a millionaire are demeaning and wrong.
Such a group would be a counter to the Tea Party, bringing progressive social and economic concerns to the fore. It would also serve as a tonic to empower civic concerns and political activity as we approach the upcoming elections. There needs to be an active coordinating committee with a broad list of demands to rally individuals and groups to attend and to assure a strong, organized and vibrant event which the even broader public can support.

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." - Sen. Ted Kennedy

by: Bill Orr @ Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 14:45:36 PM UTC

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Retweet this great post (4.00 / 1)

Do you have a Twitter account? If you are so inclined (please be inclined), please retweet this, with the hashtags:

RT @bluejersey: Whoa. Sen. Loretta Weinberg is furious. http://bit.ly/fCMgdf #prochoice #HR3 #dearjohn @SenatorLorettaW

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 15:32:08 PM UTC

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Go on Morning Joe... (0.00 / 0)

They are Christie's greatest fan club. Let Mika know what he is doing to Women's Health and the environment. I have written but got no response. Maybe you would have more luck. Slashing budgets and programs, does not a great Governor make.

by: sandy23 @ Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 15:40:17 PM UTC

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Morning Joe - sandy23 (4.00 / 1)

It's a good idea, though that program is a pretty stacked deck. Mika hardly gets a word in and is routinely interrupted and out-talked by Scarborough. And given the man-crush that Scarborough seems to have on our Governor, I'm not sure they'd want a booking that might upset that.

On the other hand, maybe that's exactly why Loretta would be such and interesting booking, and exactly why they'd want that.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 15:45:19 PM UTC

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I'm done with Morning Joe (0.00 / 0)

I always thought Joe was a douche and that somehow Mika counterbalanced the show for him. Ever since CC arrived, they have both fawned all over him and have no problem repeating his shtick. Mika is just as guilty as Joe for propogating CC's baloney. They are either both complacent in the fraud that is Chris Christie or are truly ignorant.
I just watch the weather channel in the morning now.

"Only a fool would follow a bully"

by: brendanod @ Tue Feb 08, 2011 at 19:52:24 PM UTC

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Primary elections come first (0.00 / 0)

If we had progressive Democratic majorities in Trenton, Christie et al would not be able to get away with what they have been getting away with over the last year-plus.

With all due respect, Senator, marches don't accomplish anything. The only thing that will bring change to Trenton is elections, specifically primary elections, targeting those Democrats who have ceased to advocate for Democratic principles.

And to ensure that progressives have enough time to organize credible primary election challenges, would you be open to legislation that moves the date of the 2011 primary elections to the Tuesday after Labor Day?

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 15:51:18 PM UTC

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Regarding complacency (0.00 / 0)

I think in an environment in which you have a governor who is unabashedly an enemy of any progressive cause on the one hand, and a Democratic caucus too many of whose members play right along (wittingly or not) with his agenda, some level of hopelessness sets in. I know I certainly feel that way when seeing things like the school voucher bill get pushed through. I suppose the only hope for any effective change to this state of affairs is precisely the hope that real progressives will run for office, targeting those Democrats who act little better than Republicans.

by: Alex @ Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 18:48:48 PM UTC

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we need more than one (0.00 / 0)

At the moment, Jeff Gardner is the only progressive I am aware of who is poised to challenge an establishment Democrat in the 2011 primaries.

There are clearly others who should be challenged. There are eight other Democrats in the State Senate who abstained or voted against marriage equality legislation. Any Democrat who voted for last year's budget should also be challenged. Any Democrat who votes for the scholarship/voucher bill should also be challenged. Any Democrat who is bought and paid for by Adubato and/or Norcross should also be challenged.

Obviously, redistricting makes the process of recruiting primary election challengers difficult, which is why a bill, changing the primary election date to the Tuesday after Labor Day would be helpful.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 21:48:56 PM UTC

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I'm outraged too, Loretta! (0.00 / 0)

I hear rumor that a DEMOCRATIC SENATOR (no names, but her initials are Nia Gill) is playing "Lets Make A Deal" with the Devil, errrr... the Governor, and is willing to allow those two TOTALLY inappropriate Highlands Council appointments through committee in return for special considerations for something she wants. Wait til her 34th District constituents are drinking muddy water and see how she explains her sell out to them.

Hold the course, keep making noise and hope like I do that more people start listening to us.

by: toaonua @ Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 21:03:26 PM UTC

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Check out the women of Illinois! (0.00 / 0)

Looks like they already know Senator! Check out these pictures IL women protesting Governor Christie for his positions on women's health during a campaign swing through their state last year.

http://www.facebook.com/planne...

Visit us at www.womenshealthmattersnj.org!

by: Michele Jaker @ Tue Feb 08, 2011 at 02:32:53 AM UTC

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I have a twitter account .... (0.00 / 0)

and will try to figure out how to twitter this column. It was circulated to Bergen Grass Roots and I've already gotten calls and emails in response. Will also link to my Face Book.

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Tue Feb 08, 2011 at 04:20:51 AM UTC

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Complacent hell! (0.00 / 0)

You folks in the Dem leadership need to start leading a revolt against Christie. How about getting organized to beat this toad in the next election? I seen the results of complacency - it was how this toad Christie got elected.

by: rjsnj @ Sun Feb 13, 2011 at 12:26:17 PM UTC

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Outrage in the "New" New Jersey! | 12 comments