Loretta Weinberg

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) wants Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) to “honor the commitment he made to me” on the marriage equality bill she sponsors.  

Weinberg issued a statement this evening in response to Sweeney’s comment at the League of Municipalities today that “the main issue right now is the economy” and the senate should consider the gay marriage bill at an unspecified later time.

“As the prime sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act, I am urging our current Majority Leader to honor the commitment he made to me to move this important civil rights bill forward. We have the ability in the legislature to talk about this bill and address the economic crisis at the same time,” said Weinberg. “I received commitments from the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee as well as from Majority Leader Sweeney that they would allow this bill to move forward. It will be a disappointment to so many in the grassroots of our party as well as to me personally if this commitment is not honored.”

Update, 9:42pm -- Citing a miscommunication with Sweeney, Weinberg offered this revised statement:

“I think there has been a miscommunication between Steve Sweeney and myself.  I look forward to talking to him personally.  It really is up to Senate President Dick Codey to make a decision about pushing this bill forward, and the Judiciary Committee Chair [state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) has informed me that he will post the bill.”

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), who will return to the Senate next year after losing her bid for Lt. Governor, has committed to supporting State Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) for Senate President, Democratic source say.  Weinberg becomes the 15th Democratic Senator out of 23 to back Sweeney in his bid to unseat the incumbent, Richard Codey (D-Roseland). 

EAST BRUNSWICK - It's over.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) takes the microphone onstage here at the Hilton.

"There is not one minute of this that I would ever trade in," says Weinberg. "I have been driving in a car for five months with Rocco Mazza and the GPS. I've got to tell you, I grew to hate the woman and the GPS. I want to give him a personal thank you." 

President Barack Obama's two New Jersey appearances in support of Gov. Jon Corzine today will remind voters that the two share a partisan affiliation in a state where there are 700,000 more Democrats than Republicans.  In a race that is too close to call - and with Republican Christopher Christie holding a commanding lead among the state's 2.4 million unaffiliated voters, Corzine must win his base vote big to win a second term.  That's why Obama has been here twice in recent weeks, along with Bill Clinton and Joseph Biden.

As expected, Obama drew big crowds in North and South Jersey.  The event at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden may have been ill-timed: the Walt Whitman Bridge and several major roadways were shut down around the same time New Jerseyans were traveling to Philadelphia for the Giants/Eagles game. 

A presidential visit caps a great month for the Prudential Center, which appears to have a deal to bring the Nets to Newark and a peace accord with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.  Obama's route from Newark Liberty Airport to downtown did not appear to inconvenience other parts of the state, and Penn Station was packed on a Sunday - a good sign for Mayor Cory Booker.

PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLS ON NEW JERSEYANS
TO GET BEHIND CORZINE, WEINBERG & DEMOCRATS

President Returns to New Jersey to Headline Rallies
in Camden and Newark

 
(NEWARK) – As New Jersey voters get ready to head to the polls in just two days, President Barack Obama headlined two rallies today where he made impassioned pleas for voters to support Governor Jon S. Corzine, Lieutenant Governor candidate Senator Loretta Weinberg and Democrats across the state.

NEWARK - If there were any doubts about turnout at the Prudential Center this afternoon, they ended about a half hour ago.

This is not Joe Biden at Middlesex County College.

The place is packed for President Barack Obama.

"Give us the energy we see here today, and we'll get it done, I promise you," state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) tells the crowd.

Bobby Kennedy, Jr., right, with Gov. Jon Corzine

ELIZABETH - First came Caroline Kennedy, then Patrick Kennedy, and tonight at the Portuguese Social Club, Bobby Kennedy, Jr. appeared in support of Gov. Jon Corzine.

Heedless of specific state issues, Kennedy went right for the jugular.

"We cannot reward Republicans for what they did to this country during the eight years prior to Barack Obama," said the son of the late Attorney General and 1968 candidate for president. "How can Chris Christie come over and seriously run for governor? It's time for them (Republicans) to sit down and let someone else run the state."

More than one thumb and forefinger blew a shrill and long whistle of approval into the big room amid resounding hand claps.

WHERE IS GOVERNOR CORZINE, SENATOR WEINBERG, DISTRICT 37 ASSEMBLY MEMBERS JOHNSON AND HUTTLE ON MTA (TUNNEL AND BRIDGE) INCREASES?

DNC CHAIR TIM KAINE JOINS CORZINE, WEINBERG
AND NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

 
(HARRISON) – Joining a wave of high-profile Democrats who have made appearances in the state in recent weeks, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine joined Governor Jon S. Corzine, his running mate Loretta Weinberg and New Jersey Democrats on the campaign trail this evening. Kaine made several stops where he praised the governor’s record fighting on behalf of New Jersey families and encouraged supporters to make every effort to “get out the vote” on Election Day.

WHERE IS GOVERNOR CORZINE, SENATOR WEINBERG, DISTRICT 37 ASSEMBLY MEMBERS JOHNSON AND HUTTLE ON MTA (TUNNEL AND BRIDGE) INCREASES?