In case you missed (I did), here is an unsmiling, and deadly serious NJ Speaker Sheila Oliver discussing Gov. Chris Christie's ignorant remark about the civil rights movement, made this week.
btw - New Jersey was the last state in the union to abolish slavery. Did you know that? It's part of the history lesson Oliver, Rush Holt, Reed Gusciora, Loretta Weinberg, John Wisniewski, Gordon Johnson, Rep. John Lewis and others have been required to review this week for the benefit of a governor who let a bit too much of his own prejudices show, as he attempted to make his stand against a rising tide of Equality in marriage going on in the New Jersey Legislature.
As KendalJames points out, OSA, on the legislature's plate this month as a side dish to lame duck with gravy, sounds harmless. He tells it:
Opportunity! Scholarships! Action! All of these things sound awesome, and even moreso when you string them together - "Opportunity Scholarship Act" - it just rolls off the tongue, like "Madoff Investment Securities," or "House Un-American Activities Committee."
Somebody actually wants to know. Democratic State Chair Asm John Wisniewski wants to hear what you think about education. Honestly, I don't know if the votes are already aligned for some of the ed 'reform' we've heard is coming in lame duck. History teaches me to be as wary of Democrats in this issue as the GOP (not Wiz). But if I'm being honest, I don't remember anyone of his standing asking for this kind of input, either. It's good.
I'm told responses are pouring in. Parents. Teachers. School Board members. Activists. Education experts. People without kids in the schools. What they're writing about is broad - not just about charters, or vouchers, but suggestions on parent involvement, what kids are learning, etc. Of course, the test for me will be whether how all this info will get out of the NJDSC HQ on West State Street and across the street to the legislators who will be voting. And of course, the degree to which they take it in. We'll see.
As the debate over New Jersey's education system continues across our state, your ideas and input are needed now, more than ever.
Recently, I hosted representatives of New Jersey's education community for a roundtable discussion on the state of public education in New Jersey.
The event, held at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in New Brunswick, examined education initiatives and issues expected to be part of the upcoming legislative debate. Representatives of various constituencies involved in and/or affected by the state's education policies, along with members of the general public were invited to participate in and observe the roundtable discussion. You can see a short video featuring some of the discussion here.
Prior to the discussion, participants heard from Dr. David Driscoll, Chairman of the President's National Assessment Governing Board, past president of the Council of Chief State School Officers and former Commissioner of Education in Massachusetts. Dr. Driscoll discussed his experience in Massachusetts when that state implemented its landmark education reform law. You can see Dr. Driscoll's remarks here.
What we need now is input from you! I am asking for your suggestions on what needs to be considered as we move forward in this debate over our children's future. Submit your ideas to educationideas@njdems.org
We need to ensure this process isn't about ideology, but rather about making education better and your feedback is crucial to crafting a plan that works. There are a variety of opinions and it's essential that we bring everyone to the table in order to develop the best solutions.
Thank you for everything you do. I look forward to your suggestions.
John
Video from the Education Roundtable that inspired Wisniewski's outreach efforts - below the fold.
Earlier today, I received the following e-mail from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.
Dear Supporter,
As the debate over New Jersey's education system continues across our state, your ideas and input are needed now, more than ever.
Recently, I hosted representatives of New Jersey's education community for a roundtable discussion on the state of public education in New Jersey.
The event, held at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in New Brunswick, examined education initiatives and issues expected to be part of the upcoming legislative debate. Representatives of various constituencies involved in and/or affected by the state's education policies, along with members of the general public were invited to participate in and observe the roundtable discussion. You can see a short video featuring some of the discussion here.
Prior to the discussion, participants heard from Dr. David Driscoll, Chairman of the President's National Assessment Governing Board, past president of the Council of Chief State School Officers and former Commissioner of Education in Massachusetts. Dr. Driscoll discussed his experience in Massachusetts when that state implemented its landmark education reform law. You can see Dr. Driscoll's remarks here.
What we need now is input from you! I am asking for your suggestions on what needs to be considered as we move forward in this debate over our children's future. Submit your ideas to educationideas@njdems.org
We need to ensure this process isn't about ideology, but rather about making education better and your feedback is crucial to crafting a plan that works. There are a variety of opinions and it's essential that we bring everyone to the table in order to develop the best solutions.
Thank you for everything you do. I look forward to your suggestions.
John
My reply to educationideas@njdems.org is below the fold. I encourage everyone reading this diary to e-mail the NJDSC with your own replies and share them in the comments section or write your own diary.
"If you don't know where you're going,
you'll wind up somewhere else."
- Yogi Berra of Montclair, New Jersey
I've written and deleted six versions of this diary about the maneuvers that discarded two people who distinguished themselves this year by exhibiting core Democratic values, when it wasn't always simple to do so. Frankly, it's hard to think about this without wanting to pick the broken glass out of my teeth; Even with solid Democratic wins, this has been an awful week. A tense week for some people we admire greatly.
It was easier, and perhaps more profitable this year to bind with the Christie collaborationists. To fall in line. To hear Tea Party activists screaming in one ear about the cost of government, and New Jersey's unelected power brokers whispering soft directions in the other ear. Plenty of our Democrats fell in line. On more than one issue. Barbara Buono and Joe Cryan did not.
State Democratic Party Chairman Assemblyman John Wisniewski's state-wide bus tour stopped in Burlington County today. He spoke with volunteers in Willingboro. Blue Jersey caught up with him at the county campaign headquarters - his remarks and interview are below.
Today's meeting of the New Jersey Congressional Redistricting Committee was one of the calmest sessions I have witnessed in the State House, but don't be fooled. With the loss of one seat in Congress, this commission's deliberations are bound to heat up and provide us with some fireworks.
The session today was a formality, with no substantive issues discussed. By-laws were adopted and a Committee Secretary was appointed. The committee, which consists of six Democrats, six Republicans, and a mutually-agreed-upon independent tiebreaker, will re-draw the congressional election districts based on the population shifts enumerated in the 2010 U.S. Census.
There will be at least three public hearings, where advocacy groups can go on record and suggest parameters for the new maps. The first will be at Rutgers-Camden on September 22, and two others will be scheduled, most likely on the Rutgers campuses in New Brunswick and Newark.
State Democratic Party Chairman Assemblyman John Wisniewski led a similar effort earlier this year to redraw the lines of New Jersey's legislative districts. He spoke today with Blue Jersey about the congressional redistricting - the video of his interview is below the fold.
The jury is no longer out. The cut and hope policies of the current crop of tea party conservatives simply doesn't work in the real world, and neither does their delay and obfuscate strategy for derailing the Obama Administration. The recent downgrade of America's sovereign debt should serve both as evidence of this, and warning for future fiscal cycles.
While Standard and Poor's doesn't make policy recommendations, it is telling to look at their report and see what caused them to downgrade America's bonds. It denounces the "political brinksmanship" that led our statutory debt to become "political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy." It notes that "modest" savings are identified but "new revenues have been dropped down on the menu of policy options."
Twas a good convention. I was moved by speeches given by Chair John Wisniewski, our Senator Frank Lautenberg and most notably the one passionately delivered by Speaker Sheila Oliver. The theme of all was: remember why we're Democrats, and go back to the grass roots who share our values. Young people, candidates, vendors and many interesting folk in attendance. The breakout sessions were informative, and meeting other Dems was most satisfying. Made some great connections with other women throughout the state who want to help with the womens' access to health care issue. Also enjoyed meeting some of the very famous Blue Jersey bloggers in person. They were all over the convention. Rosi, with her trusty computer, kept all of you up to date in real time.
But why do some in our ranks continue to try to plant negative stories with the press? Not designed to help anyone!
Along with the Women's Political Caucus, we hosted the Women's Health Roundtable in Trenton this past week. Very well attended and representatives of the various groups including nurses and other health professionals, womens' organizations, and providers were outspoken in describing what the cuts to these health programs mean for women and their families. Thanks to Jay Lassiter for being there with his camera. I did describe the Governor as having initiated a "war on women". Mike Drewniak, Gov's press secretary, responded with: 'that's over the top - everyone knows Chris Christie is a loving husband and devoted father to two daughters'. I would assume that's very true, and would only add: And they have very good health insurance and access to health care! more below...
After a late-night last night of the official welcoming reception at the Democratic State Conference, followed by a Hudson County Dems-sponsored shindig, followed by Atlantic City bar-hopping and after-parties, this morning was the convention's official Welcome Breakfast. And it turned into something of an ad hoc solidarity rally, because the first buzz topic that needed to be addressed was why and how the Democrats moved a conference scheduled for weeks at the Tropicana Casino, to Bally's. You already heard about some of this. But NJDSC Chair John Wisniewski gave an account of the tense week of not knowing and hoping for a resolution, then getting the word that wasn't going to happen in time. And nobody here would cross a picket line if there was one, or much want to reward Tropicana's owner with conference business if they were playing hardball with workers who already gave concessions. Tropicana's owner is Carl Icahn, the real-life inspiration for Wall Street's "Greed is Good" Gordon Gekko.
AFL-CIO NJ President Charlie Wowkanech took the stage to talk about the labor dispute at the Trop, and the flurry of calls between labor and Wisniewski and talks were disintegrating.
There's some irony that this breakfast was so union-focused. Steve Sweeney is the event's first-listed sponsor but Sweeney - who carries the title of General Organizer, International Association of Ironworkers - wasn't here. I don't know why or have any theories why. Sweeney is of course at the top of a short list of Democrats many union members resent. The subject of unflattering protest signs at the huge Trenton rally of union firefighters and cops in March. The recipient of a large inflatable rat outside his office 2 years ago, a pointed gesture of disrespect. But that isn't much of a discussion here; these conferences take on a rah-rah attitude of Democratic unity, win in November, and let's argue the details later.
Either way, NJDSC's decision, chaotic as it is to move hundreds of people to a conference across town, was the right one. AFL-CIO's Charlie Wowkanech on labor's tense week, and the NJDSC's:
Each week, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee compiles the Chairman's week in review, recapping the news of the past 7 days. You can subscribe by email, view on our website or find and share on social media.
In this week's installment, we highlight:
Don't Miss the 2011 Democratic State Conference. Rosi had a great diary about what you can expect the other day here at Blue Jersey
Overcoming Christie's initial veto, Legislation to provide Help For Small Businesses To Hire Workers was signed into law
Blue Jersey was there as Chairman Wisniewski Rallied Burlington County Democrats
Christie's claims on $271 million bill for Canceled ARC Tunnel are "Simply Not Accurate"
"I'm Looking at Shutting Off Streetlights"
Mountain Creek Forked Over Campaign Cash To the GOP Days Before A Favorable Bill Was Made Law
Christie's Highlands Appointee Diametrically Opposed To Highlands Act
Christie's Budget Targets NJ FamilyCare and Working Families
The Courier Post says that Christie's travel expenses are "As Transparent As Hundreds Of Blacked Out Details"
Congressional Corner looking at our members of Congress and their work fighting for New Jersey
The Roundup from Under the Dome in Trenton with Legislation and news.
Is it possible to deliver a rousing political speech without a lot of bombast? It is if you are Assemblyman and State Democratic Chair John Wisnewski.
Wisniewski addressed the faithful at the annual Burlington County Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Cinnaminson this evening. He started out by calmly telling the crowd of several hundred that to understand what it means to be a Democrat, one has to look at what the other side stands for. The Republicans believe that government is the problem and markets will self-regulate. They believe the private sector will look out for peoples’ needs. Wisnewski asked how well did that turn out?
On the other hand, he continued, Democrats believe that there needs to be an outlet for people who have no voice in their fate. Democrats believe citizens should have access to quality health care and education. (more below the fold...)
Each week, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee compiles the Chairman's week in review, recapping the news of the past 7 days. You can subscribe by email, view on our website or find and share on social media. In this week's installment, we highlight:
Debunking Christie and Republican Millionaire's myth
The State Conference is Just Around the Corner
Christie is a "bully" and the "biggest hypocrite in the statehouse"
Responding to Christie's latest attempt to Blame Someone Else
Seeking Answers on Privatization
Calling to Halt Closure of the Vineland Developmental Center until impact can be determined
Congressional Corner looking at our members of Congress and their work fighting for New Jersey
The Roundup from Under the Dome in Trenton with Legislatiom and news.
Flanked by Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Democratic State Party Chairman Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley answered questions at a press conference prior to last night's Jefferson Jackson Dinner in New Brunswick.
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."
(rumor has it the Democratic map prevailed. Might Chairman Wisneiwski be the hero? - promoted by Jay Lassiter)
Sometime in the next 24 hours New Jersey residents will learn which legislative district their town will be in. I'm guessing mine will remain largely intact with Cherry Hill keeping our current Senator Jim Beech.
What about your town? And are you quivering with anticipation?
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?
