Nicholas Scutari

Sen. John Girgenti (D-Passaic), a legislator since 1977, enjoys his chairmanship of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

Sources close to state Sen. John Girgenti (D-Passaic) say the vice chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee relishes serving as chairman of the Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

For that reason, it’s unlikely he would succeed state Sen. John Adler (D-Camden) as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Having beaten Medford Mayor Chris Myers last week, Adler’s leaving the state Senate to become the 3rd district Congressman.

Rob Tornoe's July 2008 cartoon lampooning State Sen. Nia Gill for accepting a lucrative no-bid legal contract from the Essex County Improvement Authority

A Democrat with strong ties to Senate President Richard Codey says there is "no f#$&ing way" Nia Gill will become Senate Judiciary Chairman when John Adler goes to Congress in January.  Codey's friend cites tension between the two Senators over their shared senatorial courtesy in Essex County, and Gill's growing dependence on legal work from the County of Essex (that means Codey rival Stephen Adubato, Sr.) as key reasons why Gill won't get the job.  The front runner, says the Senate President's ally, is State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Lesniak), who doesn't excite Codey but may be the least problematic of the potential contenders.

Click here to read Max Pizarro's story on the race for Senate Judiciary Chairman

State Sen. Barbara Buono wants to stay focused on state budget issues

At least three State Senators want to succeed U.S. Rep.-elect John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) as chairman of the power Judiciary Committee, a decision that will be made by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex). 

Sources say state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), Sen. Nia Gill (D-Montclair), and Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), want to succeed Adler, while two other senators with legal cred say they’re satisfied with their present chairmanships and don’t want to make a play for judiciary chair.

“It would be an interesting chairmanship,” admitted state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen). “But I can’t imagine a more challenging chairmanship than the budget committee, and right now with the economy what it is, I would like to stay focused.”

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth), who already serves on the judiciary committee, said he’s likewise not budging from his current chairmanship of economic development.

An ethics reform bill that will require greater financial disclosure from legislators has won the support of State Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union City), whose own family's income came under scrutiny last year.

Stack, who’s also the mayor of Union City, hasn’t always been one to vote for ethics reforms legislation. He abstained on the dual office-holding ban, even though it grandfathered in legislators like him, who already held more than one elected office.

The bill Stack just signed on to would require legislators to disclose income that both they and their families receive from public sources or private companies with government contracts,

“We must act quickly and boldly to clean up our own house, to set the highest standards for the entire legislature – and this bill goes a long way toward getting that done,” said Stack in a press release “Legislators are here to serve the people, not their own personal interests. Any income sources relevant to their official duties, as well as the income sources of their immediate family members, should be on the table for the public to see.”

Mercer County Republicans missed yesterday's deadline to fill a vacancy on the Freeholder slate, and as Democrats see it, have given up their chance to replace Darren Chell on the ballot.  Asked why Republicans couldn't take advantage of the 2002 New Jersey Supreme Court's voter choice decision (the one the allowed Democrats to replace Bob Torricelli with Frank Lautenberg in the Senate race -- and affirmed a year later when Democrats replaced Joseph Suliga with Nicholas Scutari), one Merce Democratic leader said that the extended deadline to switch candidates only applies to vacancies that come before the deadline to drop out -- not after the deadline.

U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) won the official support today of Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield)Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) as part of Andrews’s quest to unseat U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary.

"After watching Rob Andrews travel this state to meet with voters, listen to their concerns and explain his vision for the future, I am convinced he is the kind of strong, effective advocate our citizens here in Union County and across New Jersey need in the U.S. Senate," said Green. "I enthusiastically support Rob, and I urge all Democrats to vote for him in Tuesday's primary. He is our best hope for change."

U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews picked up the endorsements today of Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Sen. Nicholas Scutari in his race for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. Lesniak, one of the state's most powerful political insiders, and Scutari represent Union County.

"Congressman, we need your vision, dedication and energy to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home," Lensiak and Scutari wrote in a joint letter to Andrews. "These qualities will enable you to be an outstanding candidate to serve the entire state of New Jersey.

When the state Senate pasAFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanechsed paid family leave today by a vote of 22-16, AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech admitted he felt a particular sense of satisfaction after a hard, 12-year trudge.

"We're exhausted, but we're very happy," said Wowkanech, whose outfit numbers 1 million strong in New Jersey, and who remembers first trying to float the idea of paid family leave over a decade ago.

What the Senate passed today was a bill that enables employees to pay into a fund that would allow them to receive compensation while taking up to six weeks off from work to care for their own health or the health of a relative. According to the bill, "an amount not to exceed $25 million may be transferred from the state's temporary disability fund to the new account to support start-up costs." The program is designed to run on the monies employees pay into the funds, which amounts to about $33 apiece annually.

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.

State Sen. Ray Lesniak was the kingmaker in the race for Senate Majority LeaderThe surging south got a seat at the table today, with third district state Sen. Stephen Sweeney chosen as majority leader after a hard fought, emotional battle with state Sen. Paul Sarlo.

Although the decision-making process was closed and the official decision was unanimous, sources say that Sweeney had the support of 14 of the 23 member caucus. Backing Sweeney were the expected south Jersey contingent -- Jeff Van Drew, Jim Whelan, Fred Madden, Dana Redd and John Adler. But he also had support from Senators from the rest of the state -- Brian Stack, Sandra Bolden Cunningham, Barbara Buono, Nicholas Scutari, Bob Smith, Ray Lesniak, Joe Vitale and Loretta Weinberg.