Ask my wife. Or ask any of my friends. I rarely get mad. I'm one of those folks who "goes with the flow" no matter what happens around me. So why was I feeling so livid when I left the Senate session today?
At that session, several dozen of Governor Christie's line item vetoes came under consideration for override. In the end, none were overridden.
While continuing to give tax breaks to millionaires, the governor panders to the Tea Party by slashing funds for women's health, legal services to the indigent, help for the blind and dyslexic, and Medicaid assistance for poor families.
UPDATE 1:06 Sen. Diane Allen, who rightly received so much good will during the time she herself was ill, is so far not voting on anything, so engrossed is she with something on her laptop computer. She's dead-silent on bills to assist other sick people, like the AIDS drug distribution program, which just failed a few minutes ago for want of any GOP support. Also GOP Sen. Kevin O'Toole just hurled invective at Sen. Rice. The exchange was well-covered both by politickernj and in our live twitter feed @bluejersey.
UPDATE 12:15: Among the revelations in today's Senate session? GOP's Sen. Cardinale just said Planned Parenthood promotes child prostitution.
Maybe it's fitting that today's much-discussed meeting of the full Senate will be the first time a major session of the NJ legislature won't be getting the gavel-to-gavel coverage we came to depend on from NJN.
We love us some Sesame Street but right now - and I am not kidding - actor Patrick Warburton is teaching a muppet the word stuck on the (so far unimpressive) NJTV. Next up, presumably, the word irony.
Deciminyan is in the Senate chamber and is live-Tweeting the session gavel-to-gavel. Follow @bluejersey. Hashtag #njsenate.
Thirty-nine separate bills will be discussed, each one of them an attempt by Democrats to restore funding for programs that assist New Jerseyans in some way - teachers for blind kids, AIDS treatment, seniors in nursing homes, health screening and treatment for poor women, postpartum education (I'm sorry, does the GOP only care about the "pre-born", not the post-born?). Senator Weinberg wrote about this this morning for Blue Jersey, Senator Buono talked about it here this weekend.
The New Jersey legislature - and in particular, its Senate - has in these last few weeks failed several crucial gut checks. Leadership in both houses seems not to lead, and sometimes not even to agree, with the caucus, or core principles. And harsh sunlight has bleached out some of the backroom deals between the shadow government that appears to make some of the real decisions in Trenton. We see the ugly things under the rock, but we know that both Republicans and Democrats in power have an interest in keeping that rock just where it is.
It's been a bad month. And it's likely to be a bad day. The Republicans, better at lockstep than the Dems are, have signaled in no uncertain terms they don't intend to help Democrats override Gov. Christie's "surprise" cuts to the budget that so "enraged" Sen. Sweeney, or appeared to, before God or Thor sent lightning down from the sky to try and snap the Senate President into reality.
But yes, we want each Senator on the record, as Loretta Weinberg says. Follow us: @bluejersey. NJ Legislature video feed is here but feed is skipping a lot.
While I posted a diary just yesterday morning, I felt compelled to write one again today given the impending action the State Senate will be taking on Monday, July 11th.
It's been a tough week of reckoning for New Jersey. This year, the Democrats in the Legislature introduced a budget that restored funding to programs providing health, education and welfare to the state's citizens. In drafting our alternative budget, we used revenue projections provided by the state's nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services, whose staff economists are highly regarded for their impartiality and professionalism.
Hudson Taylor is a competing athlete and Division I college
wrestling coach at Columbia University. He graduated from
the University of Maryland as a Division 1 three-time All-
American wrestler in 2010 and currently ranks among the
top-five pinners in NCAA history. Hudson will soon compete
to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Team.
The Courier-Post's opinion editor Mike Daniels ran a recent Sunday feature citing folks, "who closely follow state politics to give us their take -- who they think might vie for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and what advice they would give the candidates."
I am excited to hear how'd you'd answer. Meantime, here was my take:
"My short list includes Sweeney, Buono and Booker at this point. If the election were tomorrow I think a Sweeney/Buono ticket seems most plausable, given the state's machine-driven dynamics which don't favor Booker at the moment. A Rob Andrews/Loretta Weinberg ticket is my fantasy pick."
My recommendations for the Democrats who throw their hat in against Christie: (below)
The original tea party in Boston Harbor was about taxation without representation. Today, Governor Christie is pushing for a new form of taxation without representation: charter schools. While charter schools are publicly funded - in large part through property taxes - they are unlike traditional public schools whose budgets are voted upon by local taxpayers.
With charter schools there is no opportunity for local taxpayers to have a say over whether they want to pay for a new charter school that when opened, will draw students and scarce funding from traditional public schools. Allowing taxpayer funded charter schools to take advantage of a loophole letting them operate without voter approval makes no sense in these tough economic times.
Today, state funding for public schools has been slashed, parents are being charged to have their children play in the band or on the athletic field and property taxes continue to rise. Yet Governor Christie and Education Commissioner Cerf are encouraging, almost demanding, taxpayers take funds away from existing public schools and hand them over to charter schools without public approval and little or no oversight and accountability.
Even worse, the Governor's budget proposes the "elimination of certification requirements" for charter school employees. That means that teachers in these schools, which receive taxpayer dollars to operate, will not be subject to the same certification requirements as teachers in traditional public schools.
There are two unacceptable consequences from the governor's insistence of creating special rules for charter schools. (more below)
Medicaid serves as a critical lifeline for the poor, disabled, and elderly. Now more than ever, New Jerseyans are relying upon Medicaid for access to the life-saving care and medications that they need.
That's why when Governor Christie announced in his budget proposal that a comprehensive Medicaid waiver would be submitted to the federal government, I reacted with concern. The Governor has said that he anticipates a savings of $300 million from this waiver, but has not released any of the details explaining how and where he intends to realize this savings.
Tonight, at the Middlesex County Democratic Organization (MCDO) convention, John Wisniewski got some measure of comeuppance for the leaked redistricting map that would have required two of the state's most progressive Senators, Barbara Buono and Joe Vitale (both of Middlesex), to compete against each other, and carved an opportunity for Wisniewski himself to move up to the Senate. Progressive outrage after that leak rose within hours; multi-level and very public. The map, rumor had it, could be attributed to Wisniewski himself and what looked like opportunism fueled that mobilization. At this evening's gathering of Middlesex Dems, that common perception of what happened during redistricting nearly cost John Wisniewski, state party chair and a candidate in November, the line. In his own re-election in his own home county party.
When Alan Rosenthal threw his vote behind the map proffered by the Democrats, there was jubilation in Party circles, high-fives for NJDSC Chair & redistricting co-Chair Wisniewski and a palpable air of self-satisfaction that the Democrats made Christie - who had poked his executive branch nose deep into the legislative branch's process - lose something.
But what is a score for Democrats is not necessarily the same kind of score for progressives. There are different measuring sticks and the priorities are for more than party loyalty and a sunnier outcome for Democrats. From an infuriating Senate vote against marriage equality, to a too-cozy relationship between Chris Christie and sometimes-helpmate Democratic Senate President Sweeney, there is a sense that the Democrats have not done enough with their majority. And so it was that when that map leaked there was a one-day, multi-level, ferocious and very public expression of outrage from progressives in defense of Buono - an obvious contender for governor - and Vitale. (Disclosure, several members of the Blue Jersey staff were involved).
But while that was going on, the leaked map had what I think is a separate impact on local Democrats loyal to their own in Vitale and Buono, people they've worked alongside and helped develop. And so, there was actually discussion among the Buono and Vitale camps to organize to deny Wisniewski the line tonight. But, maybe because longtime MCDO Chair Joe Spicuzzo was just arrested a month ago on corruption charges something many shades less extreme took place.
In the end, the entire Woodbridge delegation abstained in a vote to endorse Wisniewski for re-election, minus Woodbridge mayor John McCormac, who is not on the county committee and didn't vote, but made clear their position:
Woodbridge is a team, and Wisniewski's actions threatened our teammate [Vitale], and we don't appreciate that. It was symbolic, but it was essentially a vote of no confidence.
It remains to be seen what fissures tonight's vote revealed or opened. Wisniewski played it all down: "Middlesex County's fine. I don't think there's any lack of cohesion in Middlesex County."
Thanks for telling this truth, Scott - better than quite a lot of revisionist fabrication I've heard and read over the last couple days - promoted by Rosi
Blue Jersey, this is your map. Period, point blank. This week, when rumors started swirling of a new legislative map that would have pitted Senator Barbara Buono and Senator Joe Vitale in one new legislative district, many of us took it as a gut punch. These two Senators have consistently stood up for the interests of New Jerseyans, in and out of their respective districts.
Some suggested that the rumored map was the product of Republican fantasies meant to disrupt the Democratic coalition. Others ascribed other darker motives to a few actors within the Democratic Party. We may never know the truth, but either way, none of that matters now for one simple reason... You organized. You mobilized. You fought. And you won.
Ever since it was announced that progressive State Senators, Barbara Buono and Joe Vitale, could find themselves in the same legislative district, progressives have been apoplectic with rage over the possibility that an already regressive Democratic State Senate could be short yet another progressive State Senator when the next legislature is sworn in next year.
However, what nobody seems to realize is the possibility that both Buono and Vitale could find themselves on the outside looking in next year unless they agree to work cooperatively rather than competitively. How? Read below the fold to find out.
Yesterday, rumors that the state party chair proposed a map which would force two progressive State Senators into a primary enraged progressives and provoked a caustic response from this blog. The district contained three towns—Woodbridge, Edison, and Metuchen—and two State Senators—Barbara Buono and Joe Vitale. The idea wasn't an original one. A Woodbridge-Edison district is probably the most feasible way to make the Perth Amboy-New Brunswick district work, and that district is a priority of Hispanic organizations seeking to increase that group's representation in the legislature. more below
When the day's work is done at the Heldrich Hotel, Blue Jersey hopes Democratic Chair Asm John Wisniewski reads this post. It concerns a rumor, hot all day, we hope was never true. If it was, we hope progressive and grassroots outrage has shifted some members of the redistricting commission off a certain highly questionable plan.
As Jay Lassiter wrote earlier today, the hottest rumor coming out the redistricting meetings in New Brunswick is that of Senators Barbara Buono and Joe Vitale being lumped together into one legislative district while Assemblyman and Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski is left with a new district all to himself, from which he may ascend to the Senate. If true, this represents the worst kind of backroom treachery - rather than upholding the interests of the Democrats he's charged to represent, he's using the redistricting process to serve his own ambitions.
It's no secret that Senator Buono hasn't made many fans among the powers that be of late, on either side of the aisle. She's consistently stood up to Governor Christie's assault on working families, no matter what position her Democratic colleagues have taken. But ironically, it's Buono's willingness - as both a progressive and a woman - to stand up to the power brokers that leads us to support her as vigorously as we do. And, we fear, it's this same fighting spirit that's put her political career in the crosshairs.
The same is true, it should be said, of Senator Vitale. A solid progressive and a health care champion, Vitale was the architect of the NJ FamilyCare expansion that guaranteed universal access to quality health care to all New Jerseyans. He's spent his career in the Senate quietly, but steadfastly, working on behalf of children and working families. As he pointed out, it's ironic that two dedicated progressive public servants be threatened by insider political machinations in the name of assisting those they've both done so much to help.
It's likely that whatever the map-makers in the bowels of the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick ultimately decide will stand as our next legislative map. But by no means do we here at Blue Jersey have to accept it. Our chief interests have always been progressive policy and honest governance. This move flies in the face of both of those tenets. That it is allegedly being perpetrated by the Chairman of the Democratic State Committee for his own political gain is a slap in the face of each and every progressive activist who has dedicated their time, effort, and hard-earned money to the Democratic Party.
We respectfully but firmly ask Chairman Wisniewski to denounce this planned assault on two of our state legislature's brightest progressive lights. If he does not, he will have lost the faith of all of us at Blue Jersey, if not all of us in the Democratic Party.
UPDATE::::::::::: The Democratic members of redistricting committee dropped the original Democratic proposal - On Sunday, April 3rd, the redistricting committee approved a map that does not pit Senators Buono and Vitale against each other.
Thank you everyone for your support!
Sincerely,
The 100+ signers of the below letter.
P.S. Below is statement from Senators Buono and Vitale
__________
Thank you.
Now that Professor Rosenthal, the Redistricting Commission's Supreme Court appointed member, has chosen the Democratic legislative map, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who stood with us through this sometimes difficult process.
We are proud to stand with you to make health care more affordable and accessible for every woman, man and child. We are proud to stand with you in the cause to keep New Jersey a leader in public education. We are proud to stand with you in the fight to make sure corporations and multi-millionaires simply pay their fair share so middle class families and seniors get relief from their tax burden. We are proud to stand with teachers, nurses, cops, firefighters and all those who put public service first. We are proud to stand with everyone who works tirelessly to protect our air, water. open spaces and shore. And, most of all, we are proud to stand with all those who never stop fighting for justice, tolerance and the belief that New Jersey can be better tomorrow than it is today.
You touched our hearts by standing with us. And we want you to know we will always stand with you.
Thank you.
Barbara Buono and Joe Vitale
____________________
This was delivered yesterday. - Rosi
Over 100 Democratic activists, elected officials and party leaders have written a letter to Democratic State Committee Chairman John Wisniewski asking him not to move forward with a map that targets Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono and Senator Joe Vitale.
In media reports on March 30th, Senator Vitale issued the following statement: "The latest map submitted ironically at the direction of the Democrat chair, puts at risk one of two Senators whose public careers have been in part dedicated to shaping policies that benefit minorities, women and the disenfranchised. It does not enhance opportunities for minorities, and only potentially enhances a political career."
Since the petition was announced at 2:00pm on March 30th, over 100 Democratic activists have signed on and are prepared to follow through.
This scenario would pit two powerful progressive lawmakers against one another while providing DSC Chief John Wisniewski a clear path to a to the Senate. For himself.
I guess being chairman of the Democratic Party's reapportionment committee -- Wiz' other other job -- has its perks?
What's the difference between Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin? Both have exacerbated their state's deficits by giving tax breaks to millionaires while placing the burden of balancing the budget on the middle class. Both have made draconian cuts to services to the the poor, vulnerable, and senior citizens. Both have treated public servants with disdain. But there is one main difference. Governor Walker has been more effective in harming his state because he has a Republican majority in both houses of the Wisconsin legislature. Despite the fact that in New Jersey, many of the majority Democrats are DiNOs (Democrats in Name Only) and, like the national Democrats, have not shown the courage to stand up to the GOP's destructive agenda, at least there are some in the legislature who are trying to put the brakes on Christie's policies.
This November's elections will be critical. Listen to this short video of Chris Christie's threat to New Jersey, and then continue below the fold.
Is New Jersey becoming (or is it already) a red state?
New Jersey is regarded as a solidly blue state. Even when under a GOP Governor like Christie Whitman, those Republican chief executives have been categorized as "moderate". But with the disappearance of moderate Republicanism and the election of Chris Christie, is New Jersey still as reliably blue as its reputation is?
NJ revenue intake exceeds expectations The state took in $12.61 billion – almost $600 million more than was projected, according to state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff. Some key items of interest: > Some high-income taxpayers, expecting the Bush-era tax cuts to expire in 2011, took their income in 2010 > Corporation business taxes came in 21.7 percent above projections > Collections from the state lottery were down 3.3 percent.
Governor Christie's first year in office is marked by an all-out assault on public education, a complete dismantling of our school funding formula, and a squandering of federal dollars that could have helped so many of our now struggling school districts. Parents, students, and teachers are all facing the harsh reality of a historic disinvestment in New Jersey's system of public education. As we begin to craft a budget for the next fiscal year, it is vital we understand the consequences of these cuts and the ramifications they have had on our children's education.
That is why I am hosting a Public Education Forum on Thursday, January 20th at 6:00pm at Edison High School. The over $1 billion that has been cut from our schools since the Governor took office has devastated many schools, and this hearing is intended to provide a forum for us to understand how those parents, students, and teachers are coping with larger class sizes, paying for pre-k, and the disappearing extracurricular activities.
The school funding formula crafted in 2008 was designed with one major goal in mind: increasing state aid to local districts previously receiving inadequate resources. The formula factored in, among other things, the extraordinary costs for special education services and more fairly allocated educational expenditures. This is one of many variables that needed to be reformed in our school funding formula. Now, with Governor Christie's massive cuts in funding, an impossible situation has been created. Local school districts continue to increase classroom sizes and reduce staff - all while property taxes spike because of the cuts in state aid. School districts are being forced to do more with less, with fewer extracurricular opportunities, less individualized attention, and a decrease in courses offered. This is not the best we can do for our children.
We are at a crucial junction in the debate over funding for public education. We need input from parents, students, teachers, administrators, and legislators to confront the issues facing our educational community. Nothing is more important than educating our children, and I will continue to fight to make sure every student has a fair shot at academic success in our public schools. I hope you will join me at the Public Education Forum and make your voice heard.
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