An Unsettling Update!

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg

Mon Jun 21, 2010 at 10:24:17 PM EDT

Caps and craziness:  I was really taken by surprise (and disappointed) at Mayor Cory Booker's embrace of the Governor's "hard" 2.5% cap.  I know Mayor Booker must understand the impossibility of functioning under the Christie cap. Why would anyone want to govern any complex community with such restraints? Growing up in California, I know about those property tax caps and what it has done to schools, libraries and the magnificent California University system. Senator Sweeney's proposal allows for certain important cost exemptions to the cap.  We will be discussing these alternatives during the next weeks.

Judiciary Committee members approved several judicial reappointments. Among others, we also approved the reappointment of Dr. Kevin Barry to the UMDNJ board. He at least recognized the importance of training physicians in appropriate abortion procedures. The fastest way for women to lose their right to chose is not having access to trained health care providers. By the way, Dr Barry is also from Mendham!

The legislature also moved along a "government transparency" bill sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Cryan and me to regulate costs to the public of copying public documents. We removed any charges for the electronic transfer of documents, and set fixed costs of 7 cents and 5 cents for other public document requests. This will comply with a recent court decision.  I am looking at a complete updating of the Open Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetings Act which we hope to have finished by the end of the summer for a Fall introduction.

Schedule as of this moment calls for Budget Committee meetings on Wednesday and Thursday and a vote on the budget on Monday, June 28th.  It's certainly not a great time in Trenton, and things are still "fluid". Will try to keep you all updated.

The Press Was Elsewhere!

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg

Mon May 17, 2010 at 09:00:00 AM EDT

It was Women's Healthcare Week, and many of our women legislators decided to mark the occasion by protesting Governor Christie's wiping out all the dollars ($7.5million) in the Family Planning budget.  As has been noted before, this money is earmarked for uninsured or underinsured men and women who get HIV testing, cervical cancer screening, family planning information and general reproductive health care through these centers. Joined by Assemblywomen Valerie Huttle, Linda Stender, Linda Greenstein, Elise Evans, Cleopatra Tucker, Pam Lampitt, Annette Quijano, Mila Jasey, Joan Voss, and Connie Wagner, we held a well attended press conference, that is except the press! Though, NJN did stop in for a brief moment or two. Apporximately 50 pink shirt supporters joined us bringing along hundreds of signed post cards protesting these cuts!  The cards were delivered to the Governor's office. Do you think he'll read them? In my remarks, I suggested some cuts to other programs within the budget to transfer much needed funds to this program.  Let's see if the Governor will look at these re-ordering of priorities, and we'll know if this budget cut is a matter of dollars or a matter of philosophy!

My next stop was the Senate State Government Committee meeting to speak for my bill giving the Governor veto power over the minutes of the Passaic Valley Sewer Authority and the North District Water Commission.  These were the only two commissions we could find which were State appointments with no governor veto power.  I reminded the committee, that I started on this road several years ago and first coined the description "shadow governments" to describe these authorities. In 2007 when Assembly colleagues Gordon Johnson, Valerie Huttle and I first  took a look at the PVSA, we found that over a six year period, they spent more than $13 million on legal fees, and more than $3 million on consultants. Included in the consultant fees was $100,00 for a well connected flak to produce a children's coloring book called, "Messy Marvin".  Makes Brian Christiansen look like one of the pikers of the hangers on at the PVSA. It's all so outrageous!

And as outrageous, is it took several years to get this bill posted in committee. Since Governor Christie has rightly made an issue of these "shadow governments" which spend millions of our tax dollars and user fees with very little accountability, this bill should pass both houses before the summer break.

Next was the Judiciary Committee meeting where we approved the nominations of Lori Grifa as the Commissioner of Community Affairs and Harold Wirths as the Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development.  Acting Commissioner Wirths was closely questioned about his lack of experience (he has been a Republican county Freeholder) in the area of labor relations.  I was concerned with his continuing in his Freeholder position while serving as an "acting commissioner".  Asked OLS for an opinion on the subject, and they said it was important to get an Ethics Board ruling.  It was claimed that such a ruling had been forthcoming last February which gave him permission as long he turned down his Freeholder salary.  I still believe this could be a court challenge, but since he was resigning both his elected position and his service on a bank board with his confirmation, it became moot.  Both nominees now move to the full Senate for a vote.

We all know we have a reduced statehouse press corps., and they were covering the Millionaire's Tax hearing and the Lesniak theater action for the voucher bill held on the statehouse lawn. Curious juxtaposition! Several hundred religious and private school students were brought to Trenton to support the Lesniak/Kean bill. I didn't hear anyone from the Governor's office refer to them as "Drug Mules" or denounce them as youngsters who had no idea why they were there.  Don't get me wrong - I think it was great that these young people got to see their government in action! They probably learned more that day than they would in classrooms. I do, however, think the Governor's "double standard" is quite evident! Students who support Christie's initiatives can get the day off from school, but those students who disagree with his cuts to public schools deserve to be derided and insulted.  

The prior Monday, I had the great pleasure of joining Senator Ray Lesniak for our book signing at Kean College for "What's Love Got to Do With it", about the fight for Marriage Equality in the New Jersey State Senate. It's a beautiful book with wonderful pictures and contains many of the words which were shared on January 7, 2010.  There were more than 100 people who turned out for this event at the new Kean Human Rights Institute. My thanks to Ray for including me in this adventure. Yes I know: Lesniak & Weinberg - definitely an odd couple - but fun nevertheless!

So all this while the very much smaller group of print media folks were elsewhere. And how about Channel 12? Do they ever really cover New Jersey News live? Seems every time I turn them on they are doing the "Weather on the Ones" or the "Pet Doctor". We need to keep NJN. They are the only statewide New Jersey television news. I've written to the administration  to try and find out if anyone has actually worked on a plan to transition NJN into a private company. And what happens to their state owned assets? Lots of unanswered questions here, but we must work to preserve this NJ television news.

Keep your voices heard!

Liveblog II: Senate Judiciary Committee Marriage Equality Hearing

by: Scott Weingart

Mon Dec 07, 2009 at 05:59:44 PM EST

LISTEN LIVE

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear testimony and vote today on the marriage equality bill. Six votes on nominations are also expected to take place. I'd like to offer a special welcome to our out-of-state readers today.

For our in-state readers, tell your Senator to vote yes on marriage equality.

On the New Jersey State Senate Judiciary Committee sit eight Democrats and five Republicans. They are:

Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen): Chairman, opponent of marriage equality. Doesn't have a law degree.
John Girgenti (D-Passaic): Vice Chairman
Nia Gill (D-Essex): Black Senator from Montclair, a diverse college town with a large gay population. Strong supporter of marriage equality
Ray Lesniak (D-Union): Sharp, articulate lawmaker who led the fight to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey. Strong supporter of marriage equality.
Nick Scutari (D-Union): a supporter of marriage equality.
Bob Smith (D-Middlesex): a supporter of marriage equality. Smith represents a liberal district in Central NJ which includes New Brunswick and Piscataway.
Brian Stack (D-Hudson): a supporter of marriage equality. Stack is also mayor of Union City, and an powerful Hudson County political boss.
Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen): the sponsor of the bill and a progressive stalwart in the legislature.
Bill Baroni (R-Mercer): very smart, well-liked Republican, and a supporter of marriage equality
Christopher Bateman (R-Somerset)
Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth): a wild card, and an up-and-comer in the Republican party.
Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen): probably the most outspoken opponent on the committee. A dentist by trade; has no law degree.
Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth): former R party chair, probably an opponent.

Update (10:09) The bill passes 7-6 and is released from committee.  It will get a full vote on Thursday.

Update (10:05): Sarlo talks about how his faith teaches him that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a women. Sarlo votes no.

Update (10:02): Girgenti says supporting the measure would be violating his own conscience and the public conscience by voting yes. Girgenti votes no. Sarlo next

Update (10:00): Gill: "I vote for equality in marriage because I believe in the constitution."

Update (9:51): Nia Gill talks about how religious freedoms are more than adequately protected in the bill. Gill says the bill is what the constitution requires. Gill then talks directly to Bateman: "I know you're a skillful lawyer...[and] legislature. But there is nothing you can do to fix the Civil Union bill" short of enacting marriage equality.

Update (9:49): Lesniak to Bateman "When I heard you talk about Pearl Harbor, I thought we had you. You know, there were many gay men and women who were killed in those wars." Lesniak votes yes. Nia Gill...

Update (9:48): Stack: "I proudly vote yes on this wonderful civil rights legislation." Scutari also votes yes. Lesniak now...

Update (9:44) Loretta Weinberg is now speaking. She votes yes.

Update (9:39) First four Republicans vote no. Baroni returns to the theme of his opening remarks, that the debate is about balance. He concludes "Equality. Equal Treatment at law. That is not too much to ask....Tonight, I will be the first legislator in the history state of New Jersey to say the following. On the question of marriage equality, I vote yes." The committeeroom erupts in applause, no doubt a standing ovation, which lasts for around half a minute.

Update (9:35) Vote on moving the bill
Kyrillos: No
Cardinale: No
Beck: No
Bateman says Civil Unions won't work, but isn't willing to "change the definition of marriage." No

Update (9:32) ...I thought he was wrapping it up, but now he's carrying on about how Governor Corzine is not morally entitled to sign important bills because he lost the election.

Update (9:30) Unlike witnesses, Senators are not limited in the time they can speak. Fortunately for everyone, Cardinale has the longest commute home of anyone on the panel. I don't think he'll go on too long. Cardinale is worried about the "unintended consequences" of the bill. He believes that the word "marriage" will encourage more people to choose to be gay, and that's why he's voting no.

Update (9:23) A motion to move the bill is made, but Cardinale wants to have a discussion before the vote. Cardinale says that calling Civil Unions "Domestic Partnerships" would have fixed the problems with the civil union bill. Was he listening to the seven hours of testimony?

Update (9:16) They return to Senator Baroni's amendment to protect religious societies. Senator Weinberg accepts the amendments as friendly and moves the amendment. And she seconds it. Cardinale likes the amendment but wants to go further and give individuals license to discriminate against gay couples, but he gets nowhere. The amendment is approved unanimously.

Update (9:15) Roll call to end debate. Passes and debate has been concluded.  No further testimony.  Senator Sarlo thanks everyone for their patience and their respect of one another.

Update (9:13) Senator Sarlo says it appears there are still 25 opposed and 70 in favor waiting to testify. Sarlo asks if they feel they are compelled to testify and will have something new to offer the debate.  He says we've heard the stories and understand the frustration and the pain. Senator Lesniak says he was going to offer Senator Cardinale the "good good."  He says they still have to debate the bill, vote on the bill and hopefully lobby legislators to vote on the bill Thursday. He seconds the chairman's request. Senator Cardinale says it's almost impossible for anyone to offer anything that hasn't been said.  He thinks the chair has been patient. He says he is quite sure the bill is going to be released and he'd go along with cutting off debate.  I couldn't make out what Senator Weinberg said.

Update (9:08) Deborah Jacobs from the NJ ACLU talks about the Lewis decisions.  Talks about how civil unions are not giving equal rights. She then talks about student bullying and the restriction of free speech fears.  She says the ACLU will represent Mr. Tamicki and stand up for for him. She says In this country we put our hand on the bible and swear to uphold the constitution, not put our hand on the constitution and swear to uphold the bible.

Update (9:05) Harriet Bernstein talks about why the word marriage is so important.  It's about the right to privacy and the protection of that right for all gay and lesbian families. Talks about how she has to out herself every time she fills out a form that asks married or single.

Update (8:58) A supporter from Mount Laurel tells the committee "all I want is a normal life."

Update (8:54) Margaret Maloney speaks next. She has a hospital horror story...apparently someone changed "civil union partner" to "friend" on one of her documents. "The secondary status of civil union is confusing disruptive and serves no useful purpose, and at times it can interfere with running a business."

Update (8:51): Eileen Dellavole who lives with her partner in Brick, who's been receiving texts from her daugther all day.

Update (8:50): Heidi Ehman tells her family's a heart-wrenching story.

Update (8:41): It seems like we are going through the list of people who were absent the first time they were called. Next up is Tom Wyka, the Democratic candidate in NJ-11 in 2006 and 2008, and his wife Betty. Wyka says that for the opponents of the bill, it's about fear.

Liveblog: Senate Judiciary Committe Marriage Equality Hearing

by: Scott Weingart

Mon Dec 07, 2009 at 01:10:39 PM EST

On the New Jersey State Senate Judiciary Committee sit eight Democrats and five Republicans. They are:

Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen): Chairman, opponent of marriage equality. Doesn't have a law degree.
John Girgenti (D-Passaic): Vice Chairman
Nia Gill (D-Essex): Black Senator from Montclair, a diverse college town with a large gay population. Strong supporter of marriage equality
Ray Lesniak (D-Union): Sharp, articulate lawmaker who led the fight to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey. Strong supporter of marriage equality.
Nick Scutari (D-Union): a supporter of marriage equality.
Bob Smith (D-Middlesex): a supporter of marriage equality. Smith represents a liberal district in Central NJ which includes New Brunswick and Piscataway.
Brian Stack (D-Hudson): a supporter of marriage equality. Stack is also mayor of Union City, and an powerful Hudson County political boss.
Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen): the sponsor of the bill and a progressive stalwart in the legislature.
Bill Baroni (R-Mercer): very smart, well-liked Republican, and a supporter of marriage equality
Christopher Bateman (R-Somerset)
Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth): a wild card, and an up-and-comer in the Republican party.
Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen): probably the most outspoken opponent on the committee. A dentist by trade; has no law degree.
Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth): former R party chair, probably an opponent.

New thread!

Update (5:52): Another ecclesiastical panel is convened, and Sarlo announces they will be strictly held to the two minute rule. Mark Beckwith of the Episcopal Archdiocese of Newark supports marriage equality. Beckwith reminds the audience that men used to own the women to which they were married. His counterpart in the diocese of New Jersey (south & central jersey) also declares his support for the bill.

Update (5:49): Weinberg: "Has Judaism survived the three years of the civil union law?" The rabbi tells her she doesn't understand the weight of her decision.

Update (5:45): Loretta Weinberg asks him if there is slavery in the Torah. After he responds, she says, "I've argued with lawyers without being a lawyer, I'm going to argue with a Rabbi without being a Rabbi." Weinberg: "I respect your right to do what you want in your synagogues, and that's why I joined the synagogue to which I belong."

Update (5:40): A rabbi from Jackson Township, who would do well to expand his repertoire of humor beyond self-deprecating Jewish jokes, believes that love between gay people is worth less than love between love between a married couple. He foolishly thinks his ability to speak against gay people in his church will be restricted by hate crime laws. Sarlo interrupts him, saying that the amednment will protect your synagogue.

Update (5:33): Three more witnesses. One of them, a Josh P., is Chariman of an Orthodox Jewish organization. He belts out his testimony in a loud monotone which reminds me of weaker opponents in my high school debate days. A senator tells him that the Baroni amendment will address some of his concerns about religious organizations being forced to recognize marriages. Someone from the Yeshiva of Lakewood offers his view of the Torah, saying that gays act against nature and will damage the creation.

Update (5:30): Loretta Weinberg emphasizes that this process has not been rushed, as Lewis v. Harris was handed down three years ago. Lesniak adds that Vermont had ten years and they finally determined civil unions still didn't work.

Update (5:25): Cardinale and Gill have an exchange that lasts several minutes. Cardinale's mic is still turned off.

Update (5:20): Senators Bateman and Gill question Edish next. Gill compares Cardinale's advocacy for a loophole-free civil union law to the "separate but equal" of Jim Crow. Gill says we don't need to wait any longer to see that rights are being denied. Cardinale is saying something, but his mic is turned off.

Update (5:15): Cardinale asks if everyone from the state of New Jersey was there when civil unions were passed, and gives a dissertation on the meaning of the word "all" that would put Bill Clinton to shame. Then he shifts topics and asks if the Supreme Court would find polygamy legal. Sarlo puts an end to a rancorous round of questioning.

Update (5:10): As Cardinale begins his questions, an male voice can be overheard saying "here we go". Cardinale gets cranky with the Edish, telling him not to repeat his testimony. Edish at one point reminds him that he's the lawyer and Cardinale's the dentist. Cardinale asks if there's any way to satisfy Lewis v Harris without marriage equality, and he says in so many words that because the failure of civil unions, there isn't. Cardinale's line of question brings him to compare discriminating against a partner in a civil union couple to murder. Perhaps this is a step in the right direction? Yeah right.

Update (5:05): Nia Gill singles out pensions and healthcare as the two areas where civil unions have been most inadequate. "[In these areas] it has been separate, and very very unequal."

Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings on Marriage Equality

by: JRB

Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 09:33:40 AM EST

If you can't make it, call some Senators on the committee. It couldn't hurt.

Adler, John H. -- Chair
Girgenti, John A. -- Vice-Chair
Cardinale, Gerald
Gill, Nia H.
Kean, Thomas H.
Kyrillos, Joseph M.
Lesniak, Raymond J.
Martin, Robert J.
Sarlo, Paul A.
Scutari, Nicholas P.
Smith, Bob

Transgender Equality Gains Unanimous Approval in Sen Judiciary Committee

by: JRB

Mon Nov 13, 2006 at 03:16:39 PM EST

If successful, the bill will add a citizen's "gender identity or expression" as a basis for protection under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

Among the six votes in favor was Tom Kean Jr. There was one abstention by Republican Joe Kyrillos of Monmouth.

Some facts about Transgender Equality after the jump.

News Round-up for Thursday, May 4

by: Sharon GR

Thu May 04, 2006 at 08:38:51 AM EDT

• In an effort to rely less on one-shot budget tricks, the Corzine administration has dropped its appeal of an August Superior Court decision which blocked the state from adding $150 million from debt refinancing to the general fund. Chalk one up for fiscal responsibility!
• Ridership may be up on NJ Transit, but rates look to be headed for an increase. Under proposed funding levels, rates may rise about 7% next spring. Gov. Corzine has said he would work to avoid the fare increases. The last fare increase was in July 2005, and the possible increase would match the rate of inflation for the last two years.
• Avian flu worries: the Governor and his cabinet went through a drill yesterday to test their readiness to deal with an avian flu pandemic in Our Fair State. The test showed weaknesses in responses, even in the departments with the most prior preparation. This test was done on the day the White House reported that due to the nature of the disease, local governments would do most of the work in the event of an outbreak, and two days after a mild form of the disease was found in a Camden bird market.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing today on six bills regarding corruption. Attorney General Zulima Farber and the Director of Criminal Justice Gregory Paw will also discuss plans for reorganizing the Department of Criminal Justice. The agenda for this meeting is here. Don't forget to contact your senators with your opinions on these bills (and, well, on anything else they can or should do.)
• The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association yesterday voted to set up a plan to begin testing high school athletes for steroids at the state tournament level. If found with the banned substances, students would be suspended from school for one year and lose all athletic awards they've recieved. If approved, the plan could go into effect as early as next fall.
• New Jersey Leads the Nation Yet Again: Last year, Gov. Codey spearheaded an initiative that school students across the state wouldn't have access to soda, junk food and candy on school grounds by Sept. '07. The nation has followed with a watered-down version of our policy: the largest beverage distributors will stop selling sugary sodas to high schools, and only sell juice, milk and water to elementary and middle schools.
• Remember that missing Anthrax? Well, they found it, mislabeled, among other samples. Still waiting for news on the terrorist who planted it in the first place.