Codey/Roberts Have Big Plans for 2008

Differing Degrees of Difficulty (4.00 / 1)

The ethics stuff should be relatively easy with the promises of GOP support.  A lot of the obstacles have been cleared (a nice euphemism for retirements and indictments).  Also, the GOP looks at the ethical reforms as being in their self-interest (except expanding Clean Elections, of course).  :-)

Paid family leave and addressing affordable housing are going to be very, very tough.  Part of the problem is that there is no single "progressive" answer to these.  Some will oppose the likely "compromise" proposal for PFL because it won't do enough in their view, for example.  I think it is going to be a real test of the "moderation" of Baroni, Beck, etc. to see what they do.

The same is going to be true of marriage equality.  But, Dottie and I haven't had our lunch with Steven yet to make everything clear for us.  :-) [hint, hint, Steven]

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by: Creed Pogue @ Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 21:35:21 PM UTC

I agree (0.00 / 0)

Although I never saw any MSM report it this way, I saw the Republicans obstructing the broadest ethics reform plans -- and I think it was a strategy to make the Dem majority look bad for election.  How'd that work out for them?  Still, why didn't the Democrats call the spade a spade on that, I worried before the election.  I'm uneasy as to how the Democrats didn't lose more, with all the bad press (unfair as it might be) that the GOP managed against them.

Sadly, extending mass transit south seems not worth mention in their ambitious agenda PR release?  They can and should clean up Trenton and "promote" broad concepts like affordable housing, but I care more about seeing real progress in my life outside my home the day after.  

I also would like to see them say they intend to stop meddling in personal choices in our daily lives, like mandating flu shots and making cell phone use in cars a primary offense (not that I condone people's poor judgments).

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by: Jim33 @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 13:41:31 PM UTC

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Jim, (0.00 / 0)

make no mistake. The broad ethics reforms were not completed in the last 6 years because of two men, and two men only, Codey and Roberts. If they had wanted those reforms they would have but the initatives up for a vote and let the legislators go on record against them. (this never happened). Instead they played it safe, never allowed votes, and said publically these bills 'didn't have the votes to pass', all the while keeping them bottled up.
If they are serious about this release, this is great news, but it is only because the of the continued embarrassments the state has recently suffered has forced their hand.


"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

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by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 21:38:44 PM UTC

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Hmmm (0.00 / 0)

After the death penalty ban, I hold cautious optimism that Trenton might be finally willing to take some bold moves on big issues, but all this stuff? I'll believe it when I see it.

Either the rank and file on both sides will outright vote a lot of this ethics reform down, or we'll end up with another "compromise" bill that will enable them to say that they enacted meaningful reform on paper that doesn't really reform anything at all in real life.

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by: storm2k @ Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 22:11:14 PM UTC

Link please (0.00 / 0)

Juan, can we get a link to the article you quote?

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by: Moxie Sebright @ Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 23:22:47 PM UTC

Re: Link please (0.00 / 0)

It's from a press release so I don't have a link. I should have made that clear (I'll edit). Here's the full release:

CODEY & ROBERTS NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION:
ETHICS REFORM, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING

(TRENTON) - Senate President Richard J. Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. today announced that they will make a united push for loophole-free pay to play reform, a wheeling ban, clean elections renewal, an overhaul of the legislative ethics committee, and a modernized legislative ethics code in the new session beginning January 8.
The Legislature's presiding officers also said they will make it a priority to pass a  paid family leave insurance bill and legislation to promote affordable housing in 2008.
Codey and Roberts said the infusion of 40 new members in the Legislature will improve the prospects for significant progress on ethics reform and they expect bipartisan support will be provided for the reform measures they advance in the new year.
         "We've got a combination of experienced veterans and bright new leaders ready and eager to tackle the challenges that lie ahead," said Codey (D-Essex).  "We've made great progress, but there's still a lot more work to be done.  Now it's time to get to it.  Tougher campaign finance and ethics laws are a fundamental component of a more transparent and efficient government."
"We have a unique opportunity to restore the public's confidence about the integrity of their government institutions and their elected officials," said Roberts (D-Camden).  "We need to harness the Legislature's sweeping membership turnover as a vehicle for establishing higher ethical standards and new laws to fight corruption, malfeasance, and influence peddling."
# # #

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by: Juan Melli @ Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 23:45:32 PM UTC

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thanks! (0.00 / 0)

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by: Moxie Sebright @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 23:07:36 PM UTC

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link (0.00 / 0)

The AP has a story now, too.

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by: Juan Melli @ Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 23:58:08 PM UTC

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Sweeney Wants Paid Family Leave. Period! (4.00 / 1)

 It would be extremely embarrassing to the new Senate Majority Leader if his primary Bill is not passed by the middle of March.

He wants this Bill and he wants this Bill real bad.

The passing of this Bill will be his first real test and this time he will have the support of the Assembly leadership.

Ethics reform is easy. It will  be used as a good diversion to the battle over asset monetization and the budget problems.

Quite a few Democratic leaders are putting themselves out there on issues and deals will have to be made so that none come away with looking foolish.

Roberts needs ethics reform.

Codey needs to show he still can deliver in the Senate after being beaten when he backed Sarlo for a leadership post.

Corzine needs toll road increases to pay for his budget.

Sweeney does not want to be beaten his first time out of the box on his Paid Family Leave Bill.

I think egos and deals will give us paid family leave, ethics reform,and a minor toll road increase before June 30.    

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by: firstamend07 @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 00:25:56 AM UTC

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You-Know-Who's focus on corruption may yield results in legislature (0.00 / 0)

This is great news and long overdue. If the legislature doesn't water down the ethics/political reforms, we'd be well on our way toward defanging the vampiric political Bosses in New Jersey.

All Roberts and Codey have to do is add the proposed Party Democracy Act to the agenda and guarantee a gradual Clean Elections program expansion to eventually cover all 40 districts in primary and general elections and I would say they'd be nearly scoring a game winning home run.

Can anyone doubt that the laser beamed focus being placed on the need to clean up the culture of corruption here by one particular law enforcement leader who is doing more to lock up the corrupting offenders than any other single individual in public service,  has a great deal to do with this sudden discovery of a sweeping ethics agenda in 2008 (just in time for the '09 political jousting)?

Looks like the use of the bully pulpit is working.  :0)

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by: TerryMalloy-OnTheWaterfront @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 14:51:19 PM UTC

is that Codey at the football game? (0.00 / 0)

is anyone else watching??

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 17:35:09 PM UTC

Yes (0.00 / 0)

He was on the sidelines right before kickoff.  They did an interview w/ the opposing coach, then panned to Schiano who got a big smile on his face, walked over and shook Codey's hand.  I think he might have given him a little man hug too.  With Corzine in Nevada and Codey in Canada, I wonder if Roberts is acting Governor for the day.

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by: Jason Springer @ Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 17:57:17 PM UTC

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