Below is an alphabetical list of NJ pols who voted YES on medical marijuana. If you know -- or are rep'd by -- anyone on this list, take note. Hopefully you'll get a chance to thank them one day.
From the Senate (Republicans in bold):
Senate:
Baroni,
Bateman,
Beach,
Buono,
Ciesla,
Cunningham,
Gill,
Girgenti,
Gordon,
Kean,
Lesniak,
Pennacchio,
Ruiz,
Sacco,
Sarlo,
Scutari,
Singer,
Smith,
Stack,
Sweeney,
Turner,
Van Drew,
Vitale,
Weinberg, and
Whelan
When the NJ Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly passed a medical marijuana bill yesterday it put the Garden State in line to be the 14th state in the union to decriminalize cannabis for sick people.
Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll has the QOTD in this one for sure.
I've posted so many videos on this site and elsewhere I can't hardly remember them all, but this issue is possibly the most satisfying day I've has as an activist since the Obama/Alder double victory.
So take a minute to meet the heros of this battle.
With the news last week that Speaker Roberts would not seek another term in office, the jockeying has already begun for who would be in the running to replace him leading the Assembly should the Democrats retain control.
"I've got a job that I'm going to focus on as chairman of the party, working to get Democrats elected," he said. "I'm as accountable as anyone for making sure we retain the Assembly majority, so I'm just going to keep my focus there and see where things go."
"Having had the opportunity to serve the caucus in a leadership position in legislature, I believe ascending to the speaker's position is a natural extension based on the work I've already been doing," Watson Coleman told PolitickerNJ.com in a conference call.
Look for a fourth candidate in the race for Assembly Speaker: Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) has spent the last two days testing the waters to seek the post. Oliver is the Assistant Essex County Administrator, which means strong ties to County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and Newark Democratic leader Stephen Adubato. Essex County has the state's largest Assembly delegation - nine votes.
But Oliver could really only be Speaker if Dick Codey were not Senate President, a separate shoe that would still need to drop in the other house. Assemblyman Wisniewski has also expressed his interest, but also reminded people that there were other elections first:
"I am interested in making the case to my colleagues, however there's a little detail called a general election we have to get though first," Wisniewski added. "It's all interesting and noteworthy, but let's win the election then talk about leadership. Is the question, 'Am I interested?' Yes, of course, I am interested."
That's right, let's win the election and we can talk about who leads next. While some say within the party for leadership could distract from the effort to re-election Corzine, Senator Lesniak thinks it could work to his advantage:
"What he can do - and what he better do - is keep out of it, and he's smart enough to do that," said state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, a party power broker who holds considerable sway in the leadership disputes. "It could actually work on the governor's behalf, if it's perceived that those who do the best in terms of vote production for Corzine will get him on their side."
That scenario only works if Corzine wins re-election. And that election comes before any other party jockeying. Take the poll and tell us who you think will be the next Speaker of the Assembly and how you think it factors into the Governor's race.
Yesterday, the budget vote was postponed as they reworked the package given additional unexpected revenues. Here are some comments from Speaker Roberts, Assemblywoman Watson Coleman and Assemblyman Grewenwald about the success of the tax amnestry program. According to numbers from the state Department of Treasury, the program has collected more than $600 million - $400 million over initial projections - and represents the largest single tax amnesty program executed by any state:The Governor's office and Legislative leaders can now tout the success of the program, which is a nice change from the news they have been dealing with lately. What do you think they should do with the money? The Governor and Legislative leaders have indicated it will go toward property tax relief. Others have questioned why it will not be used to pay down the debt or restore funding for other program cuts. We'll know when the budget committees go through the process again on Monday and then Leaders hope to pass the budget next Thursday now.
The Democratic State Committee sent out the following remarks by Democrats on how Chris Christie just proposed $3 billion in additional spending without any way to pay for it.
User firstamend07 wants Steve Sweeney to be the Lt. Governor candidate so he can bash Christie around the state. Here he is:
"It seems clear from Chris Christie's appearance on Michael Aron's 'On the Record' this weekend that he has still not looked at any of the information available on this year's budget proposal," said Sweeney. "A significant amount of work has gone into continuing New Jersey down the right fiscal path and he has a responsibility to deal in facts when discussing issues that impact millions of people across New Jersey. Even people who 'critique' for a living need to be truthful." ...
"Chris Christie's numbers don't add up, and he knows it," said Sweeney. "That's why he won't be specific, that is why he won't answer direct questions. And that is why he continues to engage in the same old Bush era tactics of promising more tax cuts, more spending and no accountability all at the same time."
But maybe you're a fan of Bonnie Watson Coleman for Lt. Governor. Here's her statement:
"Those who run for high office have a responsibility to be specific and answer direct questions,? said Watson Coleman. "They must explain in detail what they will do to nurture our children, honor our seniors and protect the most vulnerable among us, including those who through no fault of their own find themselves suddenly struggling to make ends meet, find a job and keep their families in their home. It's easy to stand back and criticize, but that?s not the leadership New Jersey needs." ...
"Gov. Corzine's budget is built on a clear set of priorities and values that represent Democratic commitments to education, health care and protecting our most vulnerable, including our seniors, our children and the disabled, and this all comes amid $4 billion in spending cuts throughout government,? said Watson Coleman. ?This is no surprise. After all, the Governor and Democratic legislators have spent the recent months focusing on this global economic recession and ensuring New Jersey is best positioned to thrive once the economy rebounds. That comes from leadership, not armchair critiquing."
What do you think? Are these Lt. Governor try-outs, or just regular quotes? I'd like to have video.
I'd like to start off the week with a question. There has been talk about names and possible running mates for Governor Corzine. If you take away the names, I wonder what people think are the most important qualities in the potential candidate?
Should the Governor make his decision by adding diversity to the ticket choosing a woman or minority running mate? Should he forget any of those factors and make a decision based on who will get him the most votes given his current position in the polls and the makings of a difficult campaign? Should he look for someone with policy expertise to sure up any perceived weaknesses in his campaign? Should he consider geography in making the decision? Do you think there is a candidate that encompasses any or all of these qualities?
From reports, the Corzine campaign believed that Cory Booker filled the bill, but he has rebuffed repeated overtures. I would argue that choosing someone based on policy expertise doesn't matter if they don't get enough votes to implement the policies. Now if you can tell me there is someone that brings votes with that expertise, I'm open to hearing it, but I don't really see it.
Senator Weinberg endorsed the idea of Buono, Sweeney and Watson Coleman. Sweeney wouldn't qualify as a woman or minority, but definitely falls under regional considerations. I don't think Sweeney would want it and don't think the Governor is going in that direction, but the name is out there. Ron Rice wants a minority candidate to be the choice, but given that Cory Booker said now, you wonder whether he can say I offered and it was turned down. Former Party Chair wants Bonnie Watson Coleman to be the choice, saying she has the issues, leadership, and would help with the urban base.
Ultimately, I think the choice will either be Barbara Buono or Bonnie Watson Coleman. I think the calculation is that the race will be about the Governor and his policies, regardless of who the running mate is. I wonder not only who you think it will be, but why you think they should be chosen.
Speaker Roberts and Majority Leader Watson Coleman held a Tele-town hall meeting with members of NJ AARP:
During the hour-long question and answer session, the legislative leaders discussed, among other things, Assembly efforts to combat the global economic crisis, including increasing income limits for the Senior Freeze property tax relief program, boosting funding to help households pay utility bills and combating home foreclosures.
The video release they put out is below. The use of technology to encourage more participation from the membership around the state is good to see.
The Trenton legislative offices of state Assembly members Bonnie Watson Coleman and Reed Gusciora were ransacked over the weekend and the burglars took more than 40 donated cell phones destined for U.S. soldiers serving overseas to call home, police and office workers said.
When Gusciora's staff arrived for work yesterday morning, they found that the 226 W. State St. office for the 15th District representatives had been ransacked with file abinets ripped open and turned inside out.
Police are currently investigating because the alarm didn't go off. Assemblywoman Watson Coleman offered this take:
"It's all a mystery right now," she said. "I don't know what they expected to get out of a state office. They haven't heard that we're broke?"
I guess the burglars didn't get the message. It's a shame because the office can be cleaned up, but the soldiers are the ones who won't be able to make phone calls home because of someone's greed. This would have been the office's 2nd shipment of cell phones. If you have extra cell phones, you cold probably contact their Legislative office or go directly to www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
The Clinton campaign just sent out a statement from Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman commenting on Clinton's performance in tonight's New Hampshire debate. Something is different because I've never received a statement like this after a debate before. They have an efficient, targeted communications team, but it's strange that they would send New Jersey media a statement about a New Hampshire debate. Maybe they're worried about New Jersey? I don't know.
The statement itself is pretty awkward:
"During tonight's debate, Hillary proved once again that she is an agent of change, and has the experience and leadership to make change happen. From day one in the White House, Hillary will begin rebuilding the middle class, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and rebuilding our economy. In serious times, Hillary's experience and tested leadership is what we need to move our country forward."
It seems like the Clinton campaign strategy is to shoehorn "experience and leadership" into the message that's resonated so far: "change." Maybe now that we're a month out from the election here the Clinton campaign is ramping up their media outreach, but something about this seems off to me.
Tomorrow morning, the Assembly Judiciary Committee will begin hearings on a mistake-riddled civil unions bill. The usual civil union is inferior to a marriage, but this bill goes even farther to insult same-sex couples.
But wait! It gets way worse from there: When the bill doesn't refer to "civil union partner," it uses the hyper-romantic term "a party to a civil union."
Who in the real world is going to understand and respect, "Hello, I'd like you to meet my party to a civil union? We've been partying together 10 years."
They could bypass the creation of a separate institution by simply letting all couples marry.
At 9 am tomorrow, we will meet in front of Garden State Equality's Trenton headquarters at 110 W State Street to show our legislators we want equality. We will show those who stand up for what is right that we have their backs. And we will show others -- others who we've worked hard to support -- that their political posturing while families are jeopardized makes us question supporting them in the future.
I'm in. (Also, continental breakfast? Coffee? I'm definitely in) Let us know in the comments if you can or can't make it.
It's official: Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman - previously reported as supporting civil unions - is telling her constituents that she favors marriage-equality legislation.
This is big. It doesn't change everything - but it's big. Not only is Bonnie Watson Coleman among the highest ranking members of the Assembly, she is also very well-liked in Trenton following her four years of service as Chair of the Democratic State Committee, a period notable for her undefeated record in statewide and legislative elections. She knows what matters, she knows what wins, and she knows there's nothing to fear when doing what's right.
Plus - it shows that reports of legislators stuck on civil unions can't always be taken as the last word.
The question remains - if enough legislators stand up for marriage - will the leadership let a vote happen?
Right after stepping down as chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee amid a scandal about a sham part-time job, State Senator Wayne Bryant was praised in Camden yesterday as ground was broken for a new Law School building for Rutgers. Bryant helped the school receive $11 million in state funding; he also had a part-time job there as an adjunct professor.
Republicans in the legislature demanded a special session on ethics reform, while the one on property taxes is still in session. Assembly Republicans issued an 11-point ethics reform package of bills, while Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman observed that "it is the height of absurdity for Assembly Republicans to point fingers on ethics reform."
The Real Estate bubble is bursting, with new data released yesterday. Both home prices and home sales fell in the last year, for the first time in eleven years.
Newton has backed down from their proposed bill to punish landlords and businesses for involvement with illegal immigrants. A similar plan in Riverside has drawn sharp criticism and a big ol' lawsuit filed by The National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.
Lt. Ashley Henderson Huff was killed in a suicide bomber attack in Iraq. She graduated from Montgomery High School. Lt. Huff had been married for just over a year, and was due to come home in six weeks. She becomes the first woman from New Jersey to be killed in this war.
Open Thread: What's on your mind today, Blue Jersey?
Governor Corzine is going to be facing some tough opposition while he tries to create the post of state controller. Both Senate President Richard Codey and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman don’t see any need for this new statewide elected office.
EZ-Pass users this month, while opening their statements also received offers for Geico car insurance and Citibank credit cards. This touched a nerve with chairman of the Assembly Insurance Committee, Assemblyman Neil Cohen, saying that he doesn’t like the impression it gives that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority supports these companies over others.
John Ginty, uber-conservative opposition to Tom Kean jr , recognizes that it’s an uphill battle to win the republican nomination for U.S. Senate. This is forcing state Republican Party officials to run damage control on the belief that Junior isn’t “Republican� enough.
As the deadline for passing a budget nears, Governor Corzine’s honeymoon is over. Legislators on both sides promised to cooperate, but several missteps including supporting the idea to switch to self-serve gas and cap speed limits at 55 mph have left Corzine in the dust.
Soft Warning: This is only sortof another story related to Jon Corzine's decision on who will take his place in the US Senate.
When the good Governor-Elect does make his decision (and he will soon), and if he chooses a congressman (which remains the most likely scenario), NJ will very suddenly have an open house seat - in a decidedly democratic congressional district.
So, why isn't anyone talking about Congresswoman Barbara Buono or Congresswoman Watson-Coleman or Congressman Steve Fulop or ....?
