Sweeney Testifies Before Judiciary Committee On Marriage Equality

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney testified today before the Senate Judiciary Committee on S1, legislation that would establish marriage equality in New Jersey. The Senate President stressed that this is solely about civil rights and fairness and, due to the bill’s exemptions, not about religious beliefs. He also cited the need to right inequality in the state, citing the failure of the current civil union law. The Senate President’s full testimony is below:

Equality, fairness and justice are the most basic of American principles.

Lesniak To Christie: Marriage Equality Is Our Responsibility

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, one of the prime sponsors of S-1, which would same-sex couples in New Jersey the equal right to marry that heterosexual couples enjoy, issued the following statement today regarding Governor Christie’s suggestion that marriage equality should be decided on the ballot, rather than in the Legislature:

“Marriage equality isn't like sports betting. It's a civil right which is already guaranteed in our Constitution. It's up to the Legislature to guarantee these rights and support marriage equality for same sex couples.”

Cunningham Statement On UMDNJ Committee Report

TRENTON – Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D-Hudson), Chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, released the following statement today in response to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Advisory Committee report:

“University Hospital is a vital part of North Jersey’s communities. I am pleased that this hospital will stay a fixture of Newark and am hopeful that the UMDNJ Advisory Committee’s intentions are to maintain the current level of services provided by University Hospital for the residents of the region. It is imperative that we approach these changes with caution so that we do not sacrifice either the quality health care for the patients of University Hospital or the educational experiences for the health care and medical students of Newark.

Cunningham Bill To Revise NJ STARS Approved By Higher Education Panel

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham that would revise the NJ STARS and NJ STARS II programs unanimously passed the Senate Higher Education Committee Monday.

“The NJ STARS and STARS II programs provide the opportunity of higher education to some of New Jersey’s highest performing students, many of whom may not be able to afford to go to college without it,” said Senator Cunningham (D-Hudson), Chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. “As workforces are becoming more competitive, higher education is becoming increasingly necessary for future success. By investing in the education of New Jersey’s best and brightest, we can encourage students to continue their education while keeping their talent and skills in New Jersey.”

Lesniak And Cunningham Announce Efforts To Reform Criminal Justice System In New Jersey

TRENTON – At a news conference at the Statehouse today, Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Sandra Bolden Cunningham and criminal justice advocates announced the introduction of a comprehensive package of bills sponsored by the Senators to create a pathway to reform of New Jersey's criminal justice system and rehabilitation for criminal offenders.

“As a nation that imprisons more of its residents per capita than any country in the world, we should continually evaluate our penal justice system to determine if our current policies provide protection for the safety of our residents and are cost-effective, or if changes are needed,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “The four bills we are announcing today are designed to reduce waste and inefficiency in our criminal justice system and redirect resources to better protect the public by reducing repeat offenses. We have asked that these bills be moved in both houses prior to the budget break, so we can get on with changing our criminal justice system to make it more cost effective and to provide better safety to our residents.”

“This is a matter of fairness and fiscal sense for nonviolent offenders currently serving in the criminal justice system, and a matter of public safety for the rest of the State of New Jersey,” said Senator Cunningham, D-Hudson. “Under the current system, nonviolent offenders are warehoused with violent offenders, and often learn to become better criminals, rather than receive treatment for substance abuse that they so desperately need. These four bills will ensure that we direct our corrections spending to make a difference in the lives of nonviolent offenders, and that we ensure access to a job and the opportunity to support themselves upon release.”