Want to force Christie's support or embarrass him politically

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver on Tuesday announced five issues the Democratic-controlled Legislature will push during the final two years of Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s term and at least three are designed to embarrass him politically if he does not join in support of them.

As the 215th Assembly ceremonially convened at the Statehouse, Oliver (D-Essex) declared the Democrats will move to increase the New Jersey minimum wage, approve marriage equality for gay couples, increase the state income tax on the state’s 16,000 wealthiest residents, and attempt to improve urban public schools and and continued job creation.

Christie is opposed to a so-called “millionaires’ tax,” and has vetoed the legislation in the past. The governor also is opposed to gay marriage and a minimum wage hike and he has his own proposals for improving urban education and job creation.