VITALE-GORDON BILL TO IMPOSE HORSESHOE CRAB MORATORIUM TO PRESERVE ENDANGERED RED KNOTS ADVANCES

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Bob Gordon to impose a moratorium on the taking of horseshoe crabs to protect food supply for the endangered red knot shorebird was unanimously approved by the Senate Environment Committee today.

Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, one of the sponsors of the Assembly version of paid family leave, which came out of committee today. 

The lobbyists' feeding frenzy continued in Trenton today as representatives from both the business and labor communities zeroed in on lawmakers in the hallways of power and attempted to elicit the promise of a yes or no vote on the issue of paid family leave.

The measure would extend state liability insurance to employees for up to six weeks, enabling workers to care for themselves, a newborn or a sick relative. Funding would come from the workers contributing on average a dollar a week from their salaries.

Fifth district Democratic congressional candidate Dennis Shulman rolled out some new Bergen County endorsements today, touting them as a sign that the Bergen County Democratic Organization is coalescing behind him. But his primary opponent, Camille Abate, issued a press release listing several Bergen County endorsements as well.

Bergen County Democrats knew this day would come sooner or later, and today they responded to the indictment of former state Sen. Joe Coniglio not with an outright defense, but with pleas withhold judgment.

Republicans, on the other hand, pointed to the indictment as another sign of what they see as endemic corruption in the Democratic Party.

“Senator Coniglio accomplished a great deal for the working families of the 38th District during his career,” said Bergen County Democratic Organization Chairman Joe Ferriero. “Our legal system is founded upon the presumption of innocence and it is my sincere hope that Joe's upcoming trial is an opportunity for him to reclaim the good reputation that he built through his years of public service.”

State Sen. Bob Gordon spent two terms in the Assembly beneath Coniglio, ascending to the Senate after Coniglio decided not to run again after being pressured by Democratic Party leaders. During the investigation, Gordon saw his own office’s records subpoenaed, although he was not a target of the investigation.

GORDON RESPONSE TO 2008 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

TRENTON – Recently sworn-in Senator Bob Gordon, D-Bergen, issued the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s 2008 State of the State Address yesterday:

SENATOR GORDON SWORN-IN TO SERVE IN STATE SENATE

TRENTON – Today, Senator Bob Gordon was sworn-in to serve as State Senator from the 38th Legislative District, and said that he will continue to uphold the tradition of public service set forth by his predecessor, retiring Senator Joseph Coniglio, D-Bergen.

FOUR-BILL PACKAGE TO REDUCE GUN CRIME RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

Measures Would Create New Penalties for Gun Running, Smuggling & Purchasing

(TRENTON) - A package of bills Assemblymen Neil M. Cohen, Gordon M. Johnson, Louis M. Manzo, and Bob Gordon sponsored to reduce illegal gun trafficking in the state by creating new penalties and updating existing laws received final legislative approval today in the General Assembly.

THREE-BILL PACKAGE TO REDUCE FIREARM TRAFFICKING CLEARS ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Measures Would Create New Penalties for Gun Running, Smuggling & Purchasing

(TRENTON) - A package of bills Assemblymen Neil M. Cohen, Gordon M. Johnson, Louis M. Manzo, and Bob Gordon sponsored to reduce illegal gun trafficking in the state by creating new penalties and updating existing laws was released today by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

The number one person on the list of people Bob Gordon should thank for his nomination as the Democratic candidate for State Senator in the 38th district: attorney Dennis Oury.  Sources say that Oury's close relationship with Paramus Mayor James Tedesco was the top reason Democrats went with Gordon.  Oury has taken considerable heat this month for his election season comments about a lawsuit he was filing to overturn state pay to play regulations.

In case you missed it: New Jersey's three newest Assembly candidates were effectively annointed by individual party leaders, unencumbered by the need to present themselves to voters -- in this case, elected members of the County Committee.  Elease Evans, a Passaic County Freeholder who was elected to fill Alfred Steele's unexpired term, was picked by County Chairman John Currie; Bergen County Freeholder Connie Wagner, who will be the Democratic candidate for Assemblywoman in the 38th district (replacing Bob Gordon, who is running for Joseph Coniglio's Senate seat) was selected by County Chairman Joseph Ferriero; and Mila Jasey, a South Orange Board of Education member, was handpicked by Senate President Richard Codey to replace Mims Hackett in the Legislature.