NJ Raymond Lesniak wants to reduce prison recidivism rates by offering a small fraction of now risk, non-violent drug offenders early release in exchange for entering a rigorous drug/alcohol treatment program.
Learn about how it'll pay for itself (+ an intriguing connection between former Gov. McGreevey & First Lady Mary Pat Christie) in this 2min. clip.
Do you like farmers?
How about locally crafted artisan beer and wine?
Maybe you fancy keeping it "local"...
or possibly you're just into diversifying NJ's economy?
If you answered "YES" to any of these, this video blog if for you!
Blue Jersey made history in 2007 as the first Blog in America to send one of its own to cover the State House beat. Those were heady, innovative times for the Liberal Blog-o-sphere and our relevance and access seemed without peer.
And then we lost the Governor's mansion and it was a whole new ballgame. So we're back in Trenton. And judging from Democratic leadership's performance thus far, this move is way over due.
In the effort to keep our partisan messages cheerful, I offer up this vlog nugget with Governor Florio. There are very few people out there who can offer advise about winning a Garden State-wide race, so it was hard to resist the opportunity.
Stop whatever you're doing, and kindly watch this vlog which lays out the first steps of Senator Vitale's plan to provide all New Jersey'ans access to affordable healthcare.
This press conference + QnA went two hours, so mashing up this vlog was ambitious. If this video provokes any curiosities, please comment on them. I might be able to field any question based on the notes I took. But at this point the heft of the subject matter clearly far outstrips my editing skills.
Resolutions in the Trenton Statehouse are often more interesting than the actual votes. Yesterday the NJ General Assembly honored Anna Hoffman for her ground-breaking roll as a battlefield pioneer in WWII.
So before the votes took place (the legislature would pass family medical leave insurance) there was some pomp and circumstance. Truly the most delightful vlog I have ever mashed up.
For the past several years legislators like Nia Gill (in NJ) and Rush Holt (in Congress) have worked tirelessly to ensure voter integrity. Hopefully one day we can realize the fruit of those efforts. Today unfortunately is NOT the day.
We're not talking rocket science here, just an audit-able paper trail. So until then say a few Hail Marys on the way to the polls and if you're living right (and lucky) you just might feel comfortable about your vote actually counting.
It's been a long time since the atmosphere in Trenton was this positive, especially concerning Family Medical Leave Insurance.
In addition to the panel vote this morning (update!! 2pm, bill passes Labor panel! DEMS vote yay, GOP -- sans Singer, who abstains -- votes Nay.) the focus is on Monday's Senate floor vote. So it's entirely possible that these pro-family measures will be a done deal before summer solstice. Which just might mean NJ workers won't have to choose between a paycheck and a sick child for much longer.
Today is a baby step. The real battle is Monday, March 3 when the full senate take a vote.
Without political courage from our leaders, cohesion within the progressives and (most importantly) support from straight allies, gays and lesbians will be relegated to the back (or middle) of the bus for a long time.
Thanks to a bi-partisan trio in the New Jersey statehouse (and some AARP lobby muscle) seniors may soon have protections from predatory lending practices.
And if you think the AARP is for old people, you're right.
But where is your Grandma gonna live if she loses her home?
Two things caught my eye in Trenton yesterday. First of all, it's Patriot Week, a chance to celebrate NJ's role in Revolutionary war history. Second, the school funding formula which still has my wee mind reeling.
Since I hate to choose -- and with some time-travel magic -- I morphed the two into one videoblog.
Here are some parting shots from Rome where the NJ death penalty repeal was the big story bouncing around old Europe this past week. And that's just the beginning of the story.
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