Sisters are Doing it for Themselves (budget edition)

by: Jay Lassiter

Wed Jan 23, 2008 at 07:06:25 PM EST

Chairwoman

Senator Barbara Buono  assumed the chair of the powerful Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee just in time to hear exec branch policy wonks discuss Corzine's debt restructuring plans.  (Note to self:  next time, bring a book.)

At press time they are still at it so stay tuned for the substantive detail. (Basically the Governor's surrogates are making the pitch, echoing much of what Corzine laid out in this state-of-the-state.  Followed by questions from lawmakers which I may or may not stick around for.)

But for now I have some anecdotal observations to share.

First of all, Madam Chair ain't messing around kids.  So turn your phone off and take the chit chat elsewhere.  Those were the new "groundrules."

Then there's that punctuality thing.  Erstwhile Chairman Bernard Kenney tended to run pretty late out of the gates.  And Wayne Bryant before him was worse (usually.)   But this term we'll be starting on time.  Today that meant 3pm and I couldn't be more thrilled to not be waiting around just to wait around.

Senators Ruiz, Redd wait for their first panel hearing to commence.

I should have known something was different when I arrived early and saw newly minted Senators Teresa Ruiz of Newark and Camden's Dana Redd prepping for their first day, presumably shaking off some first day jitters.

"How adorable," I thought to myself, "the newbies are early.  I wonder if I should bring them a Snickers (because it's gonna be a while.")

Turns out they were simply early for work, preparing to join Buono on the budget panel.

Senator Buono (D-Middlesex) welcomes Senator Cunningham (D-Jersey City)

In addition to Ruiz and Redd, Senators Stack, Cunningham, O'toole, Oroho and Hanes were all joining this Senate panel.  Tom Kean Jr. was a re-joiner.  Wearing an arm-cast no less.  (Let's hope he didn't hurt his hand punching liberal bloggers in the nose.)

Kean started off last session on this panel but took a hiatus.  Ten points for the best haiku or limerick to explain why you think he took the sabbatical.  Be clever and sympathetic.)

It's tough to make any conclusions when they are still yackety-yacking, so I will part with a prediction:  these pols will get their hits in and say what they have to say and Corzine's plan will pass in relatively short order.  I would GUESS mid-March at the latest.