In an interview to be broadcast tonight, Donald Payne Jr., son of the late congressman and candidate for the CD10 Democratic nomination makes a pretty vanilla, non-statement statement when host Mike Schneider asks him about President Obama's landmark endorsement of marriage equality yesterday.
Payne was interviewed for NJToday, which you can see at 6, 7:30 and 11pm tonight on NJTV. Here's what Schneider says about Payne's answer:
Payne said he is a strong supporter of Obama, but he wasn't prepared to say he supports same-sex marriage, as Obama announced Wednesday. "We're looking at it," Payne said. "As I said I've been a supporter of equal rights for all people and I don't see where that would be much of a problem moving forward."
In a tweet today, Schneider said Payne thinks the issue requires "more study."
More study? I hope his position changes, but I'd say for right now we wouldn't be able to count on him as a voice in Congress for marriage equality.
A few days ago, I sketched out a diary about a decision by state Democratic Chair John Wisniewski join 10 other state chairs behind an effort to include marriage equality plank in the 2012 Democratic platform. And I held it in draft hoping for an exclusive quote for us about it.
And frankly, as glad as I was to see Wisniewski sign on to that - joining both our U.S. senators and the Dem chairs of the 3 biggest states of California, Texas and our open-for-marriage neighbor New York among others - I didn't think the effort, organized by Freedom to Marry, stood a chance in hell. Adopt a plank to the left of the president? Yeah, right. But I love being wrong...
Governor Christie vetoed the Health Insurance Exchange law, guaranteeing that 1.3 million New Jerseyans will not have any health insurance, and even more will be underinsured. It means hospitals will be paying more for charity care, and the quality of life in New Jersey will go down. This action solidifies the governor's unholy alliance with the extreme right wing of his party who value corporations over people.
Statement from Assemblyman Herb Conaway, MD, the prime sponsor of the bill:
"The governor has sent a clear message to the 1.3 million uninsured New Jerseyeans and the many others who are underinsured and struggle to afford their existing insurance. He doesn't care.
"This legislation would have made quality and affordable health care possible for every New Jersey resident. It would have positioned New Jersey to help working people and small businesses receive billions of dollars in available federal tax credits to purchase insurance coverage.
"Health care is not a commodity. No one should have to choose between their health and paying their bills. The exchange would have given individuals the ability to choose a health plan they could afford. It was supported by both houses, but more importantly, by an overwhelming majority of New Jerseyans worried about not being able to afford the health care services their families need.
"Today, their concerns fell on deaf ears. By vetoing this bill, Gov. Christie has failed New Jersey's uninsured residents, hurt New Jersey's chances of fully benefiting from federal health care reform and ignored the need to provide relief to hospitals for uncompensated care.
"I am disappointed that Gov. Christie put national political pressures ahead of the well-being of New Jersey. His actions have once again shown his complete disregard for our most vulnerable populations."
Chris Christie complains a lot about public sector worker's vacation days.
The NJ state constitution mandates that when the Governor leaves the state that he give up authority to the Lt. Governor (previously the Senate President) which means that a NJ Governor traveling out of state is on vacation.
Maybe if the Governor is traveling to Israel on a trade mission you could stretch to make the whole trip a work trip, but how about speaking to "committed conservatives" in DC, or stumping for embattled Wisconsin governors, or speaking for a presidential candidate, or hanging out at Disneyland, or etc., etc., etc.
If Christie is running the state from outside our borders then he is violating the state constitution. If he is not then he is taking an awful lot of vacation.
There are ways to create jobs, and there are ways not to create jobs. Over the past several years, it has been proven time and again that the Republican mantra of giving tax breaks to the wealthy does not create jobs. Providing stimuli to incentivize worthwhile endeavors does create jobs.
The solar power industry in New Jersey has been a fantastic jobs creator in part due to incentives. Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) have been one of those incentives, but they have been a victim of their own success. Sold on the open market, SRECs have lost value due to the glut of credits resulting from the expansion of the industry in New Jersey.
Today, the Assembly Utilities Panel will review Bill A2507, introduced by Assemblyman Vincent Prieto that gives the renewable energy industry a shot in the arm. The "Solar Thermal Expansion and Jobs Creation Act" will provide loans and grants to promote green energy. And green energy means jobs. Not jobs that don't add value by pushing paper and dollars around on Wall Street exchanges, but jobs that help keep our air and water clean and reduce our dependency on foreign imports. That's the kind of leadership we need in Trenton and Washington.
House GOP calls for independent counsel in MF Global investigation
27 House Republicans argue Corzine was too close to the White House for proper investigation: "Simpy put, this matter stinks. We do not trust you, you are too conflicted to do this properly."
Senate President Steve Sweeney and I are hosting a town hall meeting in Teaneck at the Ethical Culture Building tomorrow at 7 p.m. Please join us. If you need further information, call my office at 201 928 0100.
The political universe has begun to respond to President Obama's marriage statement today. Imma let them finish over here but what grabs me right now is some of the graphics popping up all over the interwebs.
Oh, this. THIS. h/t Marie Corfield. I'm tucking all the rest (except one) of the awesometude below the fold. Looky looky.
Now, this is when national news becomes New Jersey news: President Barack Obama has just told ABC News that he thinks "same sex couples should be able to get married." New Jersey, which has the distinction of marriage equality bills clearing both houses only to be stopped at the governor's desk, plus a marriage equality court case, is now lagging behind its neighboring state of New York, and behind the leader of the free world. Who sure took his time.
Timing's fascinating. Yesterday North Carolina voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on same sex marriage. The Democrats national convention is in Charlotte, NC Sept. 3-6. As soon as news broke about the North Carolina decision, petitions began circulating demanding the Democrats abandon North Carolina and hold the convention somewhere else. Practically impossible, given the investment the Dems have already made in NC, and how much they will need their money in the general election. Obama carried North Carolina in 2008, and its status as a 2012 battleground was guaranteed by Democrats' decision to meet there. In the last few days, U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan and VP Joe Biden have stated their support for marriage equality, which intentional or not, has had the effect of trial balloon.
Romney, of course, is against everything.Yesterday in Colorado, Romney said he opposes even civil unions. And Christie, who has campaigned hard for the VP slot (while denying that's what he's doing) has stood in the way of his own gay constituents who wish to marry.
Steven Goldstein's reaction, for Garden State Equality, below the fold:
Less revenue means fewer funds to meet important needs. Christie based his budget on a wildly optimistic revenue forecast as S&P; and others explained. Now Christie and the legislature will have to take a second look at proposed expenditures. And the likely result will be painful for too many.
Part of Christie's budget included the cost of a 10% across-the-board cut in personal income tax. This plan has been widely reviled as it offers a pittance in relief for most New Jerseyans but significant tax reduction for the wealthy. Democratic legislators have proposed a better and more popular plan. It provides a tax credit of 10 percent (in the Senate plan) or 20% (in the Assembly plan) for property taxes. The Democratic plan is certainly more equitable in the relief it provides. However, while individuals get a reduction in their income tax, there is little added incentive for municipalities to restrain their ever-increasing costs.
Christie erred in his budget forecast so there may well be further undesirable budget cuts, and any form of income tax reduction may now be in jeopardy. Furthermore, neither the Governor's nor the Democrats' income tax reduction proposals will make a significant dent in the underlying problems: persistent unemployment, weak housing market, slow growth in GDP, insufficient consumer demand, weak corporate investment and pernicious home rule. We are still awaiting the rising tide which raises all boats. Our easily distracted governor is not addressing the real problems, and much of the legislature's efforts are falling on deaf Executive Office ears where the mantra is to cut.
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