TRENTON – What excitement budget hearings to date have lacked Senate committees will likely make up for this week as lawmakers discuss firearms.
Senate Democrats rolled out their gun proposals late in the day Thursday and the bills are already slated to go through the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee this week. The hearings are scheduled to be split between two days.
Senate Democratic insiders expressed a sort of surprise when the proposals were unveiled that there was such a backlash from some gun control advocates who said they consider a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips to be the “cornerstone” of any gun control package.
The Senate plan lacked such a proposal and the news sent Assembly Dems – led by Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and Speaker Sheila Oliver – into a frenzy.
“I am disappointed to see that neither the Governor’s plan nor the Senate package goes far enough,” Greenwald said in a statement, indicating he would go as far as to hold off support of the package unless it included the ammunition clip ban.
“Let me be crystal clear: as Majority Leader, I would not advocate moving any gun violence prevention package unless a ban on high-capacity magazines is included,” he said.
Oliver echoed Greenwald’s statement and indicated she would support her colleague.
And what’s more, gun control advocates indicated they could do the same.
“Any package of bills intended to make this state safe must include a limitation on ammunition capacity to 10 rounds or fewer,” said Bryan Miller, executive director of Heeding God’s Call. “Other states have limitations on magazine capacity and there is no way advocates will allow this state to fall behind others on gun control. We view it as a critical piece of the package and without that critical piece it will be very difficult for us to support it.”
Assembly Democrats may have hoped to push the governor into a corner during an election and demonstrate to voters that the Republican is out of step with New Jersey voters. But, it appears that the Senate – led by a Democratic lawmaker who could face a tight re-election campaign – may take the issue off the table before it has a chance to head to Christie’s desk.
Monday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Assembly
1 p.m., Assembly chambers, Statehouse, Trenton
Tuesday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Senate
12 p.m., Law and Public Safety Committee, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Assembly
10 a.m., Budget Committee, Dept. of Children and Families, Rm. 11, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
2 p.m., Budget Committee, Dept. of Corrections, Rm. 11, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Boards and Commissions
10 a.m., State Capitol Joint Management Commission, Rm. L103, Statehouse, Trenton
11 a.m., Garden State Preservation Trust, Rm. 16, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Wednesday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Senate
11 a.m., Budget Committee, Dept. of Human Services, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Boards and Commissions
9 a.m., Delaware River Port Authority, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden
10 a.m., Tidelands Resource Council, Civil Service Commission, 44 S. Clinton Ave., multipurpose conference room, Trenton
11 a.m., Treasury Department, General Obligation Bonds electronic bids meeting, N.J. Office of Public Finance, 50 W. State St., fifth floor, Trenton
Daily events
6 p.m., Women Aware Night of Celebration, Piscataway Senior Center, 700 Buena Vista Ave., Piscataway
6:30 p.m., U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance town hall, Warren Township municipal building, 44 Mountain Blvd., Warren
Thursday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Senate
10:30 a.m., Law and Public Safety Committee, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Assembly
10 a.m., Budget Committee, Dept. of Health, Rm. 11, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
2 p.m., Budget Committee, Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, Rm. 11, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
3 p.m., Budget Committee, Dept. of Banking and Insurance, Rm. 11, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Boards and Commissions
9 a.m., Schools Development Authority, 1 W. State St., Trenton
4 p.m., Marine Fisheries Council, Galloway Township branch of Atlantic County Library, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway
Friday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Nothing scheduled
Daily Events
8 a.m., N.J. Business and Industry Association, Meet the Decision-Makers, BPU-energy policy, Forsgate Country Club, 375 Forsgate Drive, Monroe
