Could Gay Marriage Be An Issue In The U.S. Senate Race?
In an email to his membership this afternoon, Garden State Equality President Steven Goldstein claimed that the New Jersey State Legislature is close to overriding Governor Chris Christie’s veto of the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act:
This has already been the most productive year in our organization’s history. We passed marriage equality through both houses of the legislature, and quickly followed that up with the passage and signing into law of a new school bullying bill. In recent weeks, we’ve been laying the groundwork to achieve marriage equality through an override of Governor Christie’s veto. Since the legislature voted to pass marriage equality in February, we’ve won over another couple of legislators to our side. If you signed up to form an Override Club of your friends and neighbors in your legislative district to help us strategize and organize for marriage equality locally, we’ll be calling you soon.
Friends, we are closer to seeing marriage equality become law in New Jersey than we ever thought would be possible under a Governor opposed to marriage equality. I swear to God, if someone would have told me a couple of years ago – when we all assumed we’d have to wait until another Governor to win – that we could be this unbelievably close this soon, frankly I’d have told them they were crazy. Our momentum is stunning. Our dream is in our grasp. And we have you to thank. You never stopped believing. Together, we have never let up.
“It’s not happening,” said a GSE sympathiser who asked not to be identified, “Steve must be trying to gin up his troops or raise money. An override is less likely now than it was in February.”
Governor Chris Christie has notified the State Senate of his intention to nominate Monmouth County Republican Chairman Joe Oxley to a seat on the Superior Court.
Gannett’s Michael Symons broke the news yesterday on the Capital Quickies blog. The nomination was not included in the Governor’s email announcement of appointments and nominations yesterday but appears under Senate nominations on the legislature’s website. Hat tip to Symons for thorough reporting.
Rumors of Oxley being appointed to the Monmouth County Vicinage were feverish throughout the Monmouth County legal community last November when the State Police was calling Oxley’s associates as part of the background check required before a judicial nomination.
Oxley told MMM at the time that unless the nomination was official, he would seek a third term as Chairman. It appears to be official and the Monmouth GOP would appear to be heading into a race for a new Chairman on June 12th
Ernesto Cullari’s primary campaign for the GOP congressional nomination in the 6th district of New Jersey followed this mornings rebuke of Monmouth County Tea Party Coalition leader Frank Cotton with an attack on former Highlands Mayor Anna Little’s conservative credentials.
“A Record of Backdoor Tax Increases,” is how the Cullari campaign characterised Little’s tenure as mayor from 2008 through 2010, citing borough ordinances:
So-called TEA (taxed enough already) Party activists and former mayor Anna Little has a strange obsession with taxing residents of the Highlands through back door fees, fines, and license increases during her time as mayor.
During the worst recession since the Great Depression mayor Anna Little sneakily increased numerous borough fees, fines, and licenses pushing struggling families and businesses closer to the edge!
* Dog license fee……………………………………………………. 208% increase
* Copy of vital statistic records fee …………………………… 200% increase
* Maximum fine within Highlands …………………………… 100% increase
* Sewer rate……………………………………………………………. 40% increase
* Garage sale license fee…………………………………………… new fee of $5
* Property maintenance fine…….. new fine of $500 a day for violations
* Noise ordinance fine………………………………………. new fine of $5,000
* No lid on trash can…………………………………………. new fine of $2,000
* Failure to recycle …………………………………………… new fine of $1,000
Little has not returned a call for comment and her campaign does not have a spokes person.
This is just the beginning, according to a source familiar with the Cullari campaign’s plan for the next month. Little’s record as mayor, freeholder and the public record of her law practice will all be subject to public scrutiny over the remaining 32 days of the primary campaign.
Governor Chris Christie will hold a town hall meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 11am, at the National Guard Armory, 635 Park Ave (Business Rt 33), in Freehold.
Seating is on a first come, fist served basis and is open to the public. The doors will open at 10:15 am.
The Governor’s office requests you RSVP here in order that they can best accommodate the demand for seating.
The Bayshore Tea Party Group announced the following endorsements this afternoon:
GOP CD-6 primary: Anna Little
GOP CD-7 primary: David Larsen
GOP U.S. Senate primary: Bader Qarmout
The announcement stated simply, “We are proud to announce our support of the above candidates and look forward to working with them in their efforts to represent us.”
Little, the former mayor of Highlands, a former Monmouth County Freeholder and the 2010 GOP nominee in CD-6, is facing off with Asbury Park businessman and triCityNews columnist Ernesto Cullari for the nomination to take on Congressman Frank Pallone in the sixth district which is comprised of coastal northern Monmouth County and much of Middlesex County. Little received the Republican part endorsement from the Middlesex GOP. Cullari received the Monmouth GOP endorsement.
Larsen is taking a second primary run at incumbent GOP Congressman Leonard Lance in the 7th district which includes all of Hunterdon County, parts of Morris, Somerset, Warren and Union Counties and Millburn Township in Essex County. Lance received the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on May 2.
Qarmout is running against State Senator Joe Kyrillos for the nomination to unseat U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.
Politickernj cites a source saying that the investigation is into campaign contributions, including the Middlesex County PACS first exposed by Harold Kane writing for MMM in September of 2011. Politickernj is erroneously claiming credit for first exposing the activities of the Middlesex County PACs and their donors.
Birdsall Services is cooperating with the investigation, according to The Asbury Park Press account.
Governor Chris Christie held a Town Hall meeting in Garfield, Bergen County this morning. Two video’s released by his office follow.
In the first video, Christie describes how he’s raring for for the fight with the legislature over the State budget that he expects over the next 60 days and appeals to the crowd for support.
In the second video, Peter, a student asked the governor for advice on how to handle a situation where someone is authority is bullying him. Christie responds as a father and as governor. Peter follows up asking Christie for a note excusing him for missing school.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich released the following video, a message to “insiders,” to his supporters and volunteers this morning in anticipation of the press event at which he will suspend his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination tomorrow.
