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Democratic-controlled Legislature to reorganize
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Even as state senators and Assembly members face lengthy voting sessions Monday as they wrap up the current session of the Legislature, preparations are taking shape for Gov. Chris Christie’s annual State of the State address and the beginning of the 215th session on Tuesday.
The governor will begin the last two years of his term as he makes his third State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at 3 p.m. in the Statehouse Assembly chamber.
Aides said Christie will “outline the achievements and progress made during his first two years in office to put the state back on the right path and reaffirm his commitment and priorities to improve the quality of life for all New Jerseyans in 2012 as the New Jersey Comeback continues.”
If Christie seeks a second term as expected, the campaign season is about 15 months away and Democratic leaders in the Legislature have no plans to cooperate with the governor on proposals that would make him look good politically.
The address can be expected to draw a standing-room-only audience that will include past governors, Christie’s cabinet and every lobbyist who can crowd into the chamber.
At noon at the Trenton War Memorial Building, Assemblywoman Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex) will take the oath for a second term as speaker, Assemblyman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) will become majority leader and the six Assembly members elected in November will take their oaths.
The new Assembly members are Angelica M. Jimenez (D-Bergen), Sean Connors (D-Hudson), Shavonda E. Sumter (D-Bergen), Benjie E. Wimberly (D-Bergen), Marlene Caride (D-Bergen) and Timothy Eustace (D-Bergen).
Sen. Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) will take the oath for a second term as Senate president when the upper house reorganizes in the Statehouse Senate chamber. Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) will become the majority leader.
Sweeney and Oliver have vowed to put up a united front against Christie and to push back on his proposals for a public education overhaul, which Christie has made a signature issue, a millionaires’ tax and other issues.
