Bluewave volunteer Ana Maria Cardenas collects ballots in the Unitarian Church Tuesday night in Montclair.Barack Obama won a big victory at the BlueWaveNJ straw poll tonight, receiving 170 votes (41%) against 99 for Hillary Clinton (24%) and 94 for John Edwards (23%).  Dennis Kucinich received 30 votes (7%).  Seventeen voters were undecided.

Speaking to a Unitarian Church crammed with members of the progressive Montclair Democratic organization, Newark Mayor Cory Booker represented Obama, while State Sen. Nia Gill spoke for Clinton, State Sen. Joseph Vitale for Edwards, and North Jersey activist Stuart Hutchison for Kucinich.

During the question and answer session, which was moderated by veteran Newsweek journalist Jonathan Alter, Booker and Gill traded shots as representatives of the two presidential frontrunners. 

Gill sought to amplify Clinton's basic argument that she is more experienced than Obama.

"If you do not control the apparatus of government, your ideas are over here and government is over here," said the Montclair-based senator and trial attorney. 

Middlesex County Democrat Barbara Buono takes over one of the state's most powerful posts: Senate Appropriations ChairAs expected, Senate President Richard Codey has named Barbara Buono as Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, with Paul Sarlo as Vice Chair. Sarlo, who sought the post after losing a race for Majority Leader to Stephen Sweeney, will be the Labor Committee Chairman.

Freshman Senator Jim Whelan, the former Mayor of Atlantic City, will be the Chairman of the Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.

VITALE RESPONSE TO STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and one of New Jersey’s chief advocates of healthcare reform and universal care, today issued the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s 2008 State of the State Address:

VITALE BILL TO PROHIBIT NEW JERSEY FROM INVESTING IN IRAN SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which prohibits New Jersey’s pension and annuity funds from investing in foreign companies doing business with Iran and requires the funds to divest any interests in such companies was signed into law last week by Governor Corzine.

KARCHER-VITALE BILL TO INFORM PREGNANT MOMS OF OPTION TO DONATE UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD, PLACENTAL TISSUE SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher and Joseph F. Vitale which requires hospitals and health care professionals to advise pregnant women of the option to donate umbilical cord blood and placental tissue to a public or private blood bank was signed into law last week by Governor Corzine.

ADLER-VITALE ‘NEW JERSEY FALSE CLAIMS ACT’ APPROVED BY SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Joseph F. Vitale which would establish the “New Jersey False Claims Act” to protect against abuse and fraud within Medicaid and other State claims programs was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 37-0.

VITALE BILL TO PROTECT RESERVE SOLDIERS ON MILITARY LEAVE SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which will provide additional employment protections for reserve soldiers on military leave in time of war or emergency was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

VITALE-CONIGLIO BILL TO REQUIRE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO ADOPT VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Joseph Coniglio which will require the establishment of violence prevention programs in health care facilities in order to protect workers from violence was signed into law by Governor Corzine today.

VITALE BILL TO GIVE FAMILIES AUTHORITY TO CONSENT TO MEDICAL RESEARCH APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would authorize certain persons to give surrogate informed consent to medical research for a family member who is not able to give that consent was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 33-1.

VITALE-BUONO BILL TO CREATE STATEWIDE HEALTHCARE IT NETWORK APPROVED

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would establish a Statewide health information technology plan was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 35-0.