State Sen. Paul Sarlo is reportedly Dick Codey's choice to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee

Senate President Richard Codey has begun telling State Senators that he will pick Paul Sarlo as the new Senate Judiciary Chairman -- with an announcement that could come as early as tomorrow.  Sarlo would assume the post in January when John Adler resigns to take his seat in Congress.  Judiciary is considered one of the most powerful committees in the Legislature, with considerable clout over the Senate confirmation of gubernatorial nominations, including judgeships.  Sarlo, who is also the Mayor of Wood-Ridge, will become the first non-lawyer to run the Judiciary Committee since the early 1970's, when the Senate Majority Leader (then a one-year term) also ran Judiciary.

New Jersey Senate Democratic Photo

Senate President Richard Codey administers the oath of office to State Sen. Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D-Jersey City) in 2007. Cunningham could wind up as Senate Labor Committee Chairman, if Codey picks Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) to head the Judiciary Committee

If Paul Sarlo becomes the new Senate Judiciary Chairman when John Adler leaves for Washington in January, Senate President Richard Codey will need to name a new Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee.  The two other Democrats on the panel now are Frederick Madden and Sandra Cunningham.  Statehouse watchers say that one could be a no-brainer: Codey will pick Cunningham, his ally, and not Madden, who is aligned with Codey's rival, South Jersey Democratic Chairman George Norcross.  

Madden, elected in 2003, is the most senior Senate Democrat without a committee chairmanship, followed by Loretta Weinberg, who entered the Senate in 2005. 

State Sen. Paul Sarlo could be Dick Codey's choice for Senate Judiciary Chairman

Paul Sarlo, a three-term State Senator with close ties to indicted Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero appears to be the leading candidate for chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to sources close to Senate President Richard Codey, who has not made a final decision on one of the state's most powerful committee chairmanships.  Codey must decide by January who will replace John Adler, who was elected to Congress.

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.

SARLO ‘MAIN STREET BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM’ BILL ADVANCES

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Paul A. Sarlo which would establish the “Main Street Business Assistance Program” to support local small and mid-sized businesses in the State was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 9-0, with 4 abstentions.

“During this time of nearly unprecedented economic crisis, we need to encourage small and mid-sized businesses to continue to invest in our communities and expand economic development in the Garden State,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, and Vice Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. “Without the continued support of our business industry – and especially small and mid-sized businesses – our communities would crumble, unable to meet infrastructure needs or provide jobs for a willing workforce. Our economic salvation during the current national recession is going to come in the form of small and mid-sized business growth and continued local economic growth.”

GILL-SARLO BILL PACKAGE TO UPDATE BUSINESS LAWS, MAKE NEW JERSEY FRIENDLIER TO BUSINESSES

TRENTON – A set of bills sponsored by Senators Nia H. Gill, the Chairwoman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Paul A. Sarlo, Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, which would update laws governing corporations in New Jersey to make the State friendlier to business development was approved by the Commerce Committee today by a vote of 4-0.

“As New Jersey comes to terms with the effects of a national economic crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Great Depression, it is incumbent upon us to retain businesses – and the jobs they bring with them,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic. “Our regulatory climate for businesses and corporations is among the strictest in the nation, and particularly at a time when we need to encourage additional business investment in the State, we should revisit some of the corporate regulations currently in place to make for a state friendlier to the business industry.”

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.

The announcement that U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman will spend Election Day in Chicago with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama fuels speculation that the Congressman from Bergen County may be up for a post in the new administration.  Rothman has said he has no interest, but then again, that's what they all say just before they take the job.

Rothman has been interested in moving up to the United States Senate, and he clearly has his eye on the seat of 84-year-old Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who is expected to win re-election to a record fifth term tomorrow.  Rothman and other Democrats are already planning as if the Senate seat will open up in 2014, and the harsh reality is that many of the potential candidates get that it might not take that long.  An Obama administration post doesn't necessarily take Rothman out of contention for a U.S. Senate seat (indeed, it could actually propel him past other Democratic Congressmen), unless the seat opens up within the next year or two.  

If Rothman leaves, the front runner to replace him was supposed to be State Sen. Paul Sarlo.  But recent health issues for the 40-year-old Bergen County Democrat are considered serious, and that could take Sarlo out of the race if there is a special election early next year.

State Sen. Paul Sarlo did not suffer a heart attack, according to a statement released by his office

State Sen. Paul Sarlo suffered from a viral infection in his upper respiratory tract that caused difficulty breathing and a “transient irregular heartbeat” on Monday morning, according to a statement released by his doctor. 

Sarlo was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center at 2a.m. Monday, complaining about shortness of breath and has been at the hospital since.  The incident was initially described as a “cardiac emergency.”

But Sarlo’s cardiologist, Dr. Rick Pumill, said that there was no heart attack. 

“Tests are now conclusive that Senator Sarlo did not suffer a heart attack,” said Pumill. “Senator Sarlo’s episode was caused by a viral infection which triggered a respiratory insufficiency and a subsequent transient irregular heartbeat. This is a rather common occurrence and will have no lasting effects on Senator Sarlo.”

State Sen. Paul Sarlo remains in the hospital, although he’s miffed that his chief of staff, Chris Eilert, took away his cell phone.

Eilert said that Sarlo, 40, is still undergoing tests.  Doctors still don’t know what happened, he says, although Sarlo is “back to normal.” 

“In terms of his functioning and personality-wise, he’s back to normal.  He’s Paul -- he wants to run the world form his hospital bed,” said Eilert.  “He just called me half an hour ago.  He’s upset at me because I won’t give him his cell phone”

Sarlo was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center at approximately 2:00a.m. Monday morning after reporting difficulty breathing.