We saw it today. The sliding approval ratings of our headstrong governor (more on this later) are being driven downward by New Jersey's women. Women unimpressed by gubernatorial bluster, who may wonder what Chris Christie's attitude towards their gender might be, given that he is incapable of speaking about or to women legislators - like Loretta Weinberg ("take a bat to her"), Valerie Huttle ("a jerk") Sheila Oliver ("liar") and Bonnie Watson Coleman (responsible for a murder) - without unprofessional conduct and insulting language.
On the other hand, maybe New Jersey women don't have to wonder, since everything in Gov. Christie attitude toward his female constituents, particularly those of lower income, is crystal clear. He removed from the state budget the $7.5 million the state was funding women's health and family planning programs, of critical need. He has ignored or resisted all attempts to find alternate ways to restore that funding, while spending freely on other things. And he's caused the state to lose $9 of federal funding for every $1 New Jersey isn't spending on these programs.
Fortunately, there is leadership in both houses of the legislature - with Sen. Loretta Weinberg & Asw Linda Stender in the lead - who will not give up. Yesterday was a killer day in Trenton, and the disgraceful votes in the Senate and Assembly Budget blotted out the rest of the day. So, reaching back a day, here are some pictures from yesterday's rally calling for a full restoration of the funds removed from family planning and women's health programs.
I want to note the delegations from National Council of Jewish Women and Planned Parenthood, who showed in numbers. And that among the men who showed up - sexy beasts all of them - was Rep. Frank Pallone, who towered over everyone else at the podium, and LD-8 candidate Carl Lewis, who pointed out that sometimes it takes a man to stand up for a woman. I have to say it: Feminist men are hot.
This is an open thread. Won't have time to live blog this today, but your comments and reactions to the video streaming of the hearing (link below) is welcome.
UPDATE - Senate Hearing begins about 45 minutes late - a full gallery in the Senate chamber will hear an historic vote on a bill proposed by 'union man' Steve Sweeney, President of the NJ state Senate. Watch here. Feed is not embeddable or we would post it. The hearing is starting late, with the Full Senate link still at this time showing Pending, which may mean there are furious negotiations going on outside the chamber.
#StandUpNJ - Twitter hashtag being used by union participants and their supporters.
Section 76 repealed - As we reported earlier, Senator Sweeney and Assemblywoman Oliver have backtracked on one of the most fiscally unwise and damaging parts of the plan, which would have blocked state employees from using their own health insurance at out-of-state hospitals.
Sen. Loretta Weinberg told Blue Jersey this morning she will not support the bill as currently construvted
Early this morning, outside a fundraiser in Trenton for Assembly Democrats, protesters jeered Assembly Democrats supporting the Christie-Sweeney plan, and cheered Democrats they know will not be selling them out today. Shouts of: "We will remember in November!"
A Tent City has sprung up behind the Trenton War Memorial - dozens of tents constructed there legally or illegally, I don't know yet.
March for Collective Bargaining - Led by historical re-enactors, union folks and their supporters marched into Trenton this morning to stage what they call Trenton Battle Two. Video:
Deciminyan is there, but couldn't get into the hearing itself. The room is full, and fire regulations prohibit any further crowding. Deciminyan's now headed over to Tent City.
Today, women took over the State House Annex, or at least one of its largest committee rooms, at the NJ Women's Health Forum. Senator Loretta Weinberg hosted, and co-organized with the Women's Political Caucus.
Weinberg called Gov. Christie's cuts to women's health care and family planning a "war" on women.
It was a round-table discussion, convened to examine the impact of Gov. Christie's budget cuts to women's health programs and to commemorate National Women's Health Week. Weinberg, who writes at Blue Jersey regularly, has been the most visible challenger to Gov. Christie's contention that it's New Jersey's economic conditions that forced him to drop state funding for long-standing programs and not the governor's own ideology, and need to score points with national GOP donors watching him for a future presidential run. Weinberg, with the Democratic women of both houses in the NJ Legislature, is focused on moving Christie to add $1 million in the budget for health services for women earning up to 2x the federal poverty level so New Jersey could get a $9 million federal match. And that 9-1 match is unfortunate evidence that the economic rationale Christie is using, so far, to deny these funds doesn't add up.
Here's Senator Weinberg's statement, delivered after today's Forum:
Today's discussion - with women representing a wide array of primary care providers, government officials and social service groups - helped to highlight that funding for women's health care isn't just an ideological sticking point. Cuts to women's health programs have a real-world impact, and that impact is being felt by women around the State who are unable to access basic health care services like cancer screening, STD testing, pre- and post-natal care and yes, contraception.
I know the Governor is fond of his town halls, and the ability to connect one-on-one with 'real people,' and today's roundtable discussion was exactly that - an opportunity for women who are affected by health care cuts to voice their concerns, absent partisan labels or political agendas. I know that if the Governor had been there, he probably would have learned just how short-sighted and unfair his cuts are for women who have nowhere else to turn.
As thousands of New Jersey's first-responders - firefighters, police, corrections officers emergency medical services members & many of the people they protect every day - rallied outside the State House, many of their signs expressed their disgust with Senate President Steve Sweeney, members of NJ's other legislative body were out in force at yesterday's massive rally.
Below, in video shot by the Assembly majority office, Democratic legislators look out at a sea of blue:
For first-responders, the massive cuts to their labor force are not only about backdoor methods of making collective bargaining illegal, as Hetty Rosenstein charges Steve Sweeney and Jennifer Beck are trying to do. Not only about Christie's near-daily demonizing of the people who work for New Jersey, and not only about Christie ignoring labor's collective bargaining rights. Firefighters & police are charged to protect, and deep cuts in state aid have meant massive layoffs, and an impact on how safe we all are.
Boots of laid-off Camden police officers (APP)
Camden laid off nearly one-half of its police force this year; a third of its firefighters. Yesterday, about 40 laid-off firefighters and firefighters coming off shift rallied outside Camden's city hall, demanding action from Mayor Dana Redd. Their signs read: Camden's new emergency # (856) TOO-LATE, and People are dying.
The NJ state PBA's website is as hard on Democrats in the legislature as it is on Gov. Christie:
On the political front, Governor Christie continues to preach that he has no problem with the "rank-and-file" members while at the same time he proposes legislation that denies those same rank-and-file members their collective bargaining rights, violates their contracts, and reduces pension benefits that they have faithfully paid for during their careers.
Unfortunately, the Democratic majority, with only a few exceptions, has apparently forgotten their core values and has been ineffective in bringing some order and common sense to the table.
Tomorrow in Trenton is a pivotal moment - an opportunity to support fairness for public sector employees, oppose their demonization by Governor Christie, and restore opportunities for all New Jerseyans. Although our governor says it is the unions not the employees he opposes, it is the employees who bear the brunt of his excessive demands. If successful, can an attack on collective bargaining be far behind? And even more attacks on all but the wealthiest?
It is the rise of this labor movement which allowed so many Americans a good standard of living. However, within the last 30 years, the rewards of a growing economy have increasingly gone to those on the top, such that the top 1% received 36% of all gains in household income. While those in unions still retain reasonable salaries and good benefits, their counterparts in the thriving private sector were squeezed out of unions and denied their rising share of salary and benefits, except for those at the very top. Now politicians take advantage of the schism between the public and private sector. The fact that the middle class as a whole has been denied its share is used as a wedge against those in the public sector. The true need is not to punish the public sector but for there to be an equitable distribution of wealth so that all working Americans can share the benefits.
Tomorrow's protest at noon in front of the State House is a must to stop Christie's relentless race to the bottom. We can not rely on most people tiring of his boorish behavior. The rally is not only a cry for justice for teachers and cops. In an environment in which the governor pits groups against each other, public sector employees have become the last bastion. Tomorrow is a call for an end to policies which only benefit the very rich, and a rebalancing so that all of us New Jerseyans can once again participate in the American Dream.
Last month, Gov. Christie said he thought "more science" was needed to convince him personally that the global warming effect is human-caused. Ignoring, or not being conscious of, real science in favor of 'science' directed by those who stand to gain maintaining the status quo, is a common refrain from the right. We've heard it before in NJ. Rush Holt, physicist and congressman, made an effort to address the Governor's concerns here at Blue Jersey.
Now there's another effort to offer some free tutoring on climate change to our Governor, hosted by a coalition of seven NJ environmental groups. Christie has been invited to attend, but you can go, too. It's open to the public. Given the Gov's busy schedule, the location couldn't be more convenient; it doesn't even require a commute (no fossil fuels burned). It's at the State House Annex. He's also been offered a private briefing at his scheduling convenience by the scientists involved.
Available to the Governor, and speaking at the State House program are Dena Mottola Jaborska (ED, Environment NJ and three well-known experts from Rutgers; Prof. Alan Robock (Dept. of Environmental Sciences) Prof. Paul Falkowski (Institute of Marine Sciences) and Dr. Jim Miller (Dept. of Coastal Sciences). The scientists will present a clear picture of the problem and discuss how climate change will impact NJ in the coming decades. I hope the Governor goes. We can't get ahead using the tremendous opportunity green technology & innovation and energy savings present if the guy at the top doesn't get it.
Climate Change Science Panel Today: 12 pm
State House Annex, Committee Room 1 on 1st Floor Open to the Public
Panel Sponsored By: Environment New Jersey, NJ Sierra Club, NJ Conservation Foundation, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Highlands Coalition, NJ Environmental Lobby, ANJEC and Audubon Society.
Congratulations to Blue Jersey's Jay Lassiter, who hit #96 on the mostly-annual Power List put out by politickernj. Here's what politicker had to say about Jay:
96
Jay Lassiter
Progressive Activist The Blue Jersey blogger is an iconoclast, tech savvy media artiste, street warrior for marriage equality, and un-intimidated presence in the halls of Trenton power as he aggressively pursues liberal causes. He squeaked out the readers' choice poll but would have made this year's list either way.
We're so damned proud. Provocateur, storyteller and fashion plate, Jay was the first blogger to cover the NJ State House, one of the first bloggers anywhere to become a routine presence in covering any state legislature, as the New York Times noted when they profiled Jay. In an earlier iteration, when the world was young, Blue Jersey founder Juan Melli was named Politician of the Year (2006) and #17 Most Powerful (2007).
... Nobody else but Jay Lassiter would nail NOM like this.
... Or rock out elections on two continents.
... Or go with Loretta Weinberg and get it on video when she did this.
... And who the hell else would dare to do this.
The rest of politicker's Power List, most of the numbers higher than Jay's, aren't like him. Let's face it. Most of those folks are on the list because they spend their waking hours jockeying for position, or positioning those jockeying for position. Or they bring the money, honey. Jay's blue plate special is bringing the hearts and minds. He's Blue Jersey Fresh and Juicy. Congratulations #96.
There is little momentum behind the New Jersey marriage equality bill, The New York Times website's front page curiously suggested this evening. Somehow, however, they're not seeing what I'm seeing. In reality, we have plenty of reasons to be (cautiously) optimistic. The NYT's claim, I would therefore argue, is unsubstantiated. But unfortunately we're now seeing it being reported throughout the state.
I'm not quite sure how this media narrative first materialized -- but it's being widely propagated. And it needs to be stopped in its tracks, lest public opinion be damned.
Let's look at the facts:
Sen. Steve Sweeney, who was today elected senate president, made comments last week that were interpreted by one PolitickerNJ reporter to suggest that the senator wasn't in favor of bringing the marriage equality bill to a vote. But in the original PolitickerNJ article, Sweeney was never directly quoted as saying this, and quickly issued a statement affirming that same-sex marriage is "an important social issue" and would be on the lame-duck legislative agenda.
Sen. Loretta Weinberg intervened, calling on Sweeney to reaffirm his commitment to the bill's passage. After the initial dust had settled, though, it all seemed like much adieu about nothing. Again, from PolitickerNJ:
Update, 9:42pm -- Citing a miscommunication with Sweeney, Weinberg offered this revised statement:
"I think there has been a miscommunication between Steve Sweeney and myself. I look forward to talking to him personally. It really is up to Senate President Dick Codey to make a decision about pushing this bill forward, and the Judiciary Committee Chair [state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) has informed me that he will post the bill."
This, along with just about every other development related to the prospects of winning marriage equality in New Jersey, is excellent news. The result of today's lobbying in Trenton was invigorating; we vastly outnumbered the opposition, who were out in full force. I was personally able to hand-deliver a letter from the TCNJ College Democrats in support of the bill to Sen. Sarlo. TV, radio, and internet ads are now going on the air. Public opinion polls show a plurality of support for same-sex marriage. Garden State Equality has spent an unbelievable amount of time and energy organizing the LGBT community and its allies for this very moment. Democratic legislators are aware that by reneging on their commitments, they will be upsetting a very large proportion of their progressive base.
Please come, and invite your friends and colleagues. Let me know if you'd like to become an admin on Facebook (so you can invite people). This rally will likely closely coincide with the time around when the bill will have hopefully been brought to a vote, so a visible presence at the State House is vitally important! The opposition is sure to be out in full-force again. By outnumbering them, we are achieving a valuable psychological victory. And remember, changing trends in public sentiment are often much more consequential than the timing of arcane procedural votes. Legislators, especially state legislators, are very sensitive to the demands of their constituents.
These are the facts, despite the alleged doom-and-gloom reported by certain media outlets. Things, I can say with confidence, are looking up. No doubt, we have to keep vigorously applying pressure to our legislators, many of whom are endlessly frustrating with their ambiguously tenuous statements of support -- if only there were more Loretta Weinbergs. But think of how far we've come, and how close to achieving our goal we now are.
If there is anything that we have learned about our fair state's Budget Negotiations its that Platitudes and Vacuous Rhetoric has gotten us exactly where we are today. Facing state shutdown.
Enter todays Tosser of the Day: State Senator and Budget Officer Bob Littell (R-24). Who was gracious enough to spend valuable time writting up a press release instead of, you know, coming up with alternatives to Corzine's "Reckless" Budget.
It is utterly unconscionable that the Democrats in charge of the State House in Trenton are not any closer to a budget than they were in March. We are now ten days away from the constitutionally mandated deadline for the adoption of a balanced budget and the Democrats who control the Legislature and the Executive branch are in a budget stalemate. The state of the budget negotiations have never been this bad.
The budget negotiations are in such disarray that Governor Corzine has ordered his department heads to prepare for a state shutdown. I fear that in their desperation the Democrats will ask us to vote on a budget that no one has ever seen.
Hot air. That's all that gives us. Wait, nope, there is also the required gratuitous misleading dishonest mendacity. PSST, The Budget is right here. Wait sorry, that is the actual really long and legthy version. The version for Republican lawmakers that don't have enough time on their hands to do anything but write press releases bashing the other side is here.
Perhaps budget negotiations have never been this bad. Perhaps. This time, its real bad because we have a Governor that actually wants to GOVERN, who is surrounded by people who want the status quo (kind of like a reverse Washington D.C.). It is also this bad because people like Bob had put us in this situation for 10-15 years. As for us not getting anywhere in the last few months, you would think a Budget Officer that is in charge of negotiating would be at least partly responsible for that.
