Family Medical Leave Act Lurches Forward

Shirley, Shirley, Shirley ... (4.00 / 2)

Jay, has she explained her position on this?

I don't get it.

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 21:06:27 PM UTC

said she supports in theory (0.00 / 0)

but can't vote yes in this climate.

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 21:23:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

this climate = economic climate? (0.00 / 0)

Is she more specific -- is she concerned about the state's budget or the broader recession that may be looming?


Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 21:26:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Global warming! (0.00 / 0)

It's too hot for family leave!

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by: Thurman Hart @ Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 22:17:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Turner Actually Claimed it Was a "Tax Increase"! (4.00 / 1)

What nonsense!   She sounded very uncomfortable; I wonder what kind of pressures were applied to her?

And Sarlo telegraphed the probability that he might "change his mind" on the floor.  He needs to hear from his voting constituency asap, and in large numbers!

It all comes down to who our legislature owes their fealty to; working people or the "business community".  Passing this bill improves the quality of life for all in NJ and makes NJ a better place to live and work.

Barbara Buono did a great job of being fair to all; the anti people actually got more time and were more aggressive.

Loretta Weinberg gave some moving testimony about her own experience in taking time off to take care of/be with her husband in his final weeks.

Jon Shure of the NJPP gave some down to earth slam dunk testimony.   Great stuff!

To say this bill is a "no brainer" implies that the opponents are stupid; nothing could be further from the truth.....it's not "brains" they lack, but hearts.

If we had public campaign finance; this bill would be the law of the land, not only in NJ, but throughout the nation.

The deck is overwhelmingly stacked in favor of monied interests.  

It's almost a miracle whenever common human decency prevails over fear/scare tactics and greed.  

We can do better!

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by: Nick Lento @ Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 21:18:16 PM UTC

sarlo always does that.... (0.00 / 0)

it's just his style.   i took pause the first time i heard him do it but usually he hems for a (brief) moment and offers up his "reserve the right to change" meme and votes on the progressive track.

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 21:26:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Congrats and forget about Turner (0.00 / 0)

To all of those who got this out of committee by working hard and making phone calls I say " way to go!". Contacting the new Senators made a big difference. On the Seante floor there will be at least two Republicans who might come over and vote yes.

AS for Turner she has become
" stodgy" and seems to be making more comments and taking more positions that are not in tune with what she stood for in the past. She seems out of touch . Or maybe on this one she was just bought off.

Sarlo needs to hear from the workers in his District and I think he will. On the Senate floor it will be critical to get VanDrew committed( I think the 6 week compromise will get him on board and the fact that his running mate in the Assembly , Albano will be sponsering the Assembly version of the Bill. ) . The Unions need to contact Baroni and put pressure on him.

This is a good day for those of us who wantto make New Jersey a better place for BOTH  business and family.

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by: firstamend07 @ Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 21:38:45 PM UTC

Next step A2080 (0.00 / 0)

The companion Bill has now been submitted by Assemblyman Burzichelli.

It will be important to keep up the momentum. Last year the bill got out of committee in the spring and the Business Anti-Family Group had 5 months to lobby against it .

Speaker Roberts hopefully will send it to Committee as soon as possible and A2080 will get posted to the floor quickly.

Let us see what Speaker Roberts does now.  

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 00:15:14 AM UTC

How'd they vote last time? (0.00 / 0)

Is there anyone on the assembly committee that needs to be worked on or do you know where the members on the committee stand on the bill this time around?

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by: Jason Springer @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 00:17:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

assembly labor committee (0.00 / 0)

why there, i do not know.

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 02:45:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Feb.4th A2080? (0.00 / 0)

Not confirmed, but this committee could meet as early as this Monday, 2/4.

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 04:03:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good Committee (0.00 / 0)

The normal course of action would be the Labor Committee. The Senate bypased that but it appears the Assembly will not.

Committee has 9 members, 6 are Democrats. The Chairperson is Egan who was a cosponser of the Bill last session.

Nothing should be taken for granted of course . All the Democrats need to be lobbied with passion. There are some newcomers on the Committee who must be contacted.    

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 03:34:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

WE need 5 votes from Labor Committee (0.00 / 0)

Egan, Joseph V. - Chair    
Evans, Elease - Vice-Chair    
Cohen, Neil M.    
Dancer, Ronald S.    
Oliver, Sheila Y.    
Scalera, Frederick    
 

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 03:40:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

mistake (0.00 / 0)

Dancer is a republican.Sorry.
DeAngelo from Legislative District 14 is a new Democrat.

Of the six Egan, Oliver, and Scalera sponsered the Bill last year in the Assembly. There would appear to be no reason why they would be against it now.

Assemblywoman Evans ( Dist. 35) has no track record and is new.
Her phone number is 973-247-1521.She is also the Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Assemblyman DeAngelo is also new. His phone number is 609-631-7501.

Neil Cohen is a mystery. You would think that he would be in favor but he did not offer to co-sponser the Bill last year. His number is 908-624-0880.

Kirschner and his anti-family crowd will be going after Cohen,DeAngelo, and Evans.

 

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 03:54:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Evans (0.00 / 0)

I spoke to Evans and she seems solid. But it wouldn't hurt to call her again...and again.

Now my friends, I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer

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by: evdebs @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 19:52:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

We have a chance (0.00 / 0)

but we have to kill their talking points.

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by: Thurman Hart @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 01:12:30 AM UTC

sweeny (0.00 / 0)

great senator lousy freeholder  

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by: flurdman @ Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 03:21:42 AM UTC