Quigley could lose leadership post in Hudson boycott backlash

A four-hour impasse over public employee benefits reform legislation Monday night in the General Assembly left a number of top Assembly Democrats fuming after several Hudson Democrats held out their votes on the measure causing the delay.  The boycott -- apparently orchestrated by State Senator Nicholas Sacco, who holds three public jobs in addition to his wife's employment with the Hudson County School of Technology, forced Democrats to rely on Republicans to pass the measure, a common occurrence in the Senate but a rarity in the lower House which infuriated veteran Democrats. 

Assembly Republicans ended the impasse after Jon Corzine's Chief of Staff Bradley Abelow appeared Monday night in the Minority caucus and pledged that the Governor will impose tight restrictions for re-hiring under the State's early retirement program.  Most observers give Republicans credit for gaining relevance in the process this June even though Abelow is expected to leave his post within a week.  "They should have also received a commitment from Gary Rose while they were at it," quipped one insider.

But the fallout in the Assembly Democratic Caucus from the boycott could come soon according to State House sources.  Sacco's running mate Joan Quigley, the Majority Conference Leader, is expected to receive a challenge to that post when the Legislature returns in September.  Potential challengers include Deputy Conference Leader Joan Voss from Bergen County, Pat Diegnan from Middlesex County, and Essex freshman Assemblywoman Grace Spencer.  Sacco's other running mate, Vincent Prieto, will not lose his chairmanship of the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee, although the bills from his committee have been re-assigned.