News Roundup

by: Juan Melli

Sun Jan 22, 2006 at 04:19:30 PM EST

Laurel Hester thanked former colleague Dane Wells for his help: "I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the person most responsible for this, my first partner at the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Dane Wells." For months, Dane has been contacting state, national and international media outlets to bring visibility to Laurel's cause. He said that "tens of thousands of phone calls and e-mails from at least three continents were sent to the freeholders. Hundreds of thousands of people were outraged." His effort s paid off. Freeholder John Kelly who once claimed that domestic partner benefits threatened the sanctity of marriage, noted that "advocates for change have done a very good job of humanizing the issue." Republican State Senator Leonard T. Connors Jr. thinks that all counties will have domestic partner benefits: "A third of the counties have passed benefits, and I am sure they all will." The Asbury Park Press has an online poll asking whether or not the freeholders should grant Laurel her pension benefits.

Governor Corzine isn't ready to ban smoking in casino floors, citing economic reasons. Sharon asks: "Is it fair to treat casino workers as second-class citizens compared to other workers around Our Fair State?"

Some Republicans have doubts about Corzine's nominee for Attorney General, Zulima Farber.

Doug Forrester has sold his business, BeneCard.

The balmy weather we've had the past month will be gone soon.

This week's Carnival of New Jersey Bloggers is up!

Juan Melli :: News Roundup

Tags: Leonard Connors Jr, Laurel Hester, Dane Wells, John Kelly, Ocean County, News Roundup, domestic partner, Jon Corzine, smoking ban, casinos, Zulima Farber, Attorney General, Doug Forrester, BeneCard, (All Tags)

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News Roundup | 2 comments

we're going to need some help in the northwest (0.00 / 0)

Morris, Sussex and Warren are way to the right. I doubt the Freeholder boards are going to move on this unless somebody else gets sick and gets as much attention as Laurel Hester.

The news from Ocean county was the best I've heard all week, though. Good on ya!

by: Kire @ Mon Jan 23, 2006 at 01:59:51 AM UTC

Re: Casino Workers (0.00 / 0)

One thought has led to another, and I am wondering if the Smoke-Free Air Act may be in conflict with the Equal Protection Clause. If so, this could be a wildcard for those who support the inclusion of casinos in this legislation.

Everyone is Included...All People, All Places, All Ways

by: Ed Rosenberg @ Mon Jan 23, 2006 at 11:32:09 AM UTC