TRENTON – The legal ad bill opposed by the N.J. Press Association will not be voted on by the lower chamber today, according to several sources familiar with the legislation.
The bill, S2072/A2082, would allow government entities to place legally-required notices and ads on government websites, but the cost savings advocates floated in 2011 were quickly shot down by the NJPA. The bill is sponsored by state Sens. Brian Stack, (D-33), Union City, and Gerry Cardinale, (R-39), Demarest.
Star-Ledger publisher Richard Vezza told a statehouse committee last February that the measure was an attack on newspapers coordinated by Gov. Chris Christie and South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross. The bill was expected to greatly impact community newspapers, effectively sapping their only stable source of revenue and portending closure for some.
Today, a sponsor told State Street Wire that the bill will dead-end in the Assembly.
(PREVIOUS COVERAGE: As bill sponsors waver Christie/Norcross axis may lose battle with newspapers)
The bill was added to the legislative agenda late on Friday afternoon, but was met with significant opposition from Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, (D-34), East Orange, among other prominent Democratic Assembly members in caucus today, sources said.
One former sponsor, Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, (D-29), Newark, told State Street Wire that he plans to introduce a bill in the new session that is similar to S2072/A2082, but with amendments to address to concerns of opponents.
