2 NJ lawmakers urge corruption probe of Newark watershed agency

2 NJ lawmakers urge corruption probe of Newark watershed agency (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — Two state senators today called on the legislative committee investigating the George Washington Bridge scandal to turn its attention to Newark, where they said tax dollars have been wasted for years amid malfeasance and incompetence. State…

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Democratic Senator invokes Vietnam era race riots in opposing Christie’s Supreme Court nominations

State Senator Ronald Rice (D-Newark)  is not satisifed that Governor Christie’s nomination of an Asian American to the State Supreme Court represents the racial diversity of New Jersey.

That the nominee, Judge David F. Bauman, the presiding Judge of the Monmouth County Court’s Civil Division, is a former U.S. Marine like Rice, did not satisfy the senator. “That doesn’t carry the weight a good African American would.  Even in the Marines we had race riots during Vietnam,” said Rice according to PolitickerNJ.

Rice said that diversity in this state should always include African Americans, Latinos, and women.

Senator Ray Lesniak (D-Elizabeth) also said that race would be a factor as he considers Christie’s nominees, Bauman and BPU President Robert Hanna.  Lesniak said that he wants to be highly confident that the nominees would use their independent judgement in interpreting the law and that they “will not be caught looking

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NJ Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

The New Jersey Senate passed S-1, “The Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act,” on a 24-16 vote, according to Poltickernj.

Republican Senators Jennifer Beck and Diane Allen crossed the aisle to vote “YES” on the bill that the Democratic legislative leadership declared was their top priority of the year.  Democratic Senators Jeff Van Drew and Ronald Rice voted “NO” with the Republican caucus.

The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the bill on Thursday. 

Monmouth County Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon will be absent for the vote on Thursday as he will be traveling to attend Beck’s wedding.  Beck is getting married, to a man, Highlands restaurateur Danny Shields, on Sunday February 18th.  O’Scanlon told MMM that he is not ducking the issue, though he has not yet decided how he will vote should the bill come before the legislature for a veto override.

Governor Christie has said he will veto the bill and that he wants the issue put to referendum in November.

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