State Sen. Nicholas Scutari, a prime sponsor of legislation that legalized medical marijuana in New Jersey, Wednesday called a request by Attorney General Paula Dow for guidance on the legality of the program a "stall tactic by the administration."

State employees tasked with monitoring New Jersey's medical marijuana program, as well as the licensed dispensaries of the drug could face prosecution under federal law, according to a recent letter issued by U.S. Attorneys in Washington State.

The letter, which was written by the U.S. Attorneys after consultation with Attorney General Eric Holder, responds to a request from the Governor of Washington for a blessing of that state’s medical marijuana program.

But instead the U.S. Attorneys lay out in no uncertain terms that the use and distribution of marijuana is a violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act and “as such growing, possessing and distributing marijuana in any capacity other than as part of a federally authorized research program is a violation of federal law regardless of state laws permitting such activities.”

Senate Democrats have joined the call to include issue groups in the state’s efforts to ban pay to play.

Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) announced Wednesday that he and other members would introduce a measure banning state contractors from donating to 501 (C)(4) groups such as Reform Jersey Now, the Republican advocacy group that has become a rallying point for Democrats in recent weeks.

 Sweeney along with Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) and Sens. Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union) and Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) plans to include the language in a bill sponsored by Scutari that would require 501 (c)(4) groups to disclose their donor lists.

The addition would prohibit any state vendor with a contract valued at over $17,500 from donating to a 501 (c) (4).

TRENTON - Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, Majority Leader Barbara Buono and Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Paul Sarlo today said they will seek to prohibit state contractors from donating to political shadow organizations, saying that the front groups are just as political as the party organizations they seek to augment and should be subject to the same pay-to-play rules.

The lawmakers said their call stems from the controversy raised over the recent fundraising by a group that calls itself "Reform Jersey Now," but is a collection of top political advisers to Governor Christie. Earlier this month, the group paid for mailers in certain legislative districts - including Sweeney's - expressly promoting the Governors agenda and urging recipients to call Democratic lawmakers and demand they support the Governor. The group openly tells contributors that state disclosure rules allow them to make unlimited, unreportable donations.

LINDEN - Running for re-election this year in this Union County factory town with a council controlled by Democrats, independent Mayor Richard Gerbounka ruled out pursuing a senate run in the 22nd District in 2011 against Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden).

"I am not interested in any senatorial seat," said Gerbounka, standing beside Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who came to Linden today to promote his proposal for a constitutional amendment to cap local spending at 2.5%.

Presiding in a blue collar portion of the county dominated by organization Democrats, Gerbounka counts himself one of a trio of area mayors known as the "three banditos" because of their mutual disaffection from the party.

Hillside Mayor Joe Menza and Roselle Mayor Garrett Smith (an independent Democrat) were also in attendance today at the John Gregorio Tower, a senior citizen complex named after the former Democratic mayor whose machine got dinged when Vietnam vet and retired cop Gerbounka won his first term four years ago.

A fan of Christie's who last week traveled to Trenton to stand beside the Republican governor and today welcomed him to the gritty burgh, Gerbounka nonetheless strenuously resisted the suggestion that he would trade his independent label for an "R" and a run at Scutari.

The party to be at is Gail and Bob Gordon’s post-New Jersey Hall of Fame after party, held last night at Adega Grill.  Bob Gordon is a Democratic State Senator from Bergen County, and his wife Gayle is a professional fundraiser and a Republican.  Among the attendees: Gov. Christopher Christie, former Gov. Richard Codey, GOP State Sens. Gerald Cardinale and Joseph Kyrillos, Democratic State Sens. Loretta Weinberg and Nicholas Scutari, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

Gordon told his guests that everything can’t be partisan.

LESNIAK, SCUTARI RENEW CALL FOR CLEMENCY FOR NEW JERSEY MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER

Senators Urge Governor to Pardon John Ray Wilson, Say Bail Decision Yesterday is a Step in the Right Direction

TRENTON – Noting that a decision to grant bail this week is a step in the right direction, New Jersey State Senators Raymond Lesniak and Nicholas Scutari today renewed their calls for clemency for New Jersey medical marijuana user John Ray Wilson, a Franklin Township resident who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS) and grew marijuana plants in his backyard to help relieve the symptoms of his disease.

Earlier this year, Mr. Wilson was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of possession and second-degree drug manufacturing. The second-degree manufacturing charge – an offense that was designed to be brought against drug cartels and large-scale drug pushers and not against individuals growing marijuana for personal, medical use – precludes Wilson from entering into supervised probation, which the legislators say would be a more appropriate setting for someone suffering from a chronic illness like MS.

The Senate Judiary Committee just unanimously passed Gov. Chris Christie's nominee to head the Department of Environmental Protection.

Bob Martin received the congratulations of Senate Judiciary Chairman Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) shortly after absorbing some stern questioning by state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), who ultimately joined her colleagues in voting in the affirmative.

"I have no quarrel with expediting permits, I just want to keep reminding you that you are the commissioner of Department of Environmental Protection," Weinberg said.

"I understand, senator,' Martin said.

"Some of the advocates seem uncomfortable with your appointment," Weinberg said. "As you probably know, we have among the worst air quality in the nation. You're going to bring some metrics to bear on our air quaaility in New Jersey?"

"Yes, senator," said Martin.

The brief New Jersey residency of David Szuchman is over.  When Gov. Jon Corzine named the former Eliot Spitzer aide to head the state Division of Consumer Affairs in 2007, Szuchman took some heat – from Democrats Raymond Lesniak and Nicholas Scutari -- for being a New York resident and not a member of the New Jersey bar.  Szuchman promised to take the bar (he did, and passed) and moved his family to Demarest.  A casualty of Corzine’s own unemployment, Szuchman has gone back to New York; he is now running the cyber crime unit for the new Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr. -- much bigger, higher profile job.

SENATE EMBRACES BIPARTISAN PENSION REFORMS
Senators Give Overwhelming Support to Measures to Protect Retirements
Of Rank-And-File Public Employees

TRENTON -  The full Senate today overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan package of legislation to return the state's pension and benefits system to its original goal of providing for the retirements of rank-and-file public employees and ensure the its long-term viability.

"These reforms are necessary to restore New Jersey's long-term fiscal footing and return sanity to a pension and benefits system that was allowed to spiral out of control," said Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). "Without these changes, the state would soon have no option but to break its promise to career public servants."