Prominent state lawmakers from both parties want the question of casino gaming broadened to include consideration of Central Jersey.
Right now, discussion among lawmakers centers around a ballot question that would enable gaming in North Jersey, presumably in the Meadowlands or Jersey City.
But state Senator Bob Smith (D-17), Piscataway, and state Senator Kip Bateman (R-16), Branchburg, say not so fast.
Smith reached out to Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) amid North-South Jersey headlines to tell him “not fair.” The Middlesex
Democrat said Sweeney told him in response, “You have an argument.”
“I think the ideal location would be Central Jersey,” Smith told PolitickerNJ.
“Somerset County is one of the third wealthiest counties in the country,” said Bateman.
“The infrastructure is there,” Smith said. “I think we deserve our fair share. all for it. It could include Monmouth and those other counties in Central Jersey. The point is it shouldn’t be just North Jersey. We might be superior to North Jersey. People in this area far distance to travel to game.”
Bateman said he has already spoken to people in the horse racing industry and they also want a piece of the action.
“We’ll put in our own legislation,” said the Somerset County Republican. “We’re not concerned about prime authorship.”
State Senator Linda Greenstein (D-14) likewise expressed an interest in signing onto a bill broadening a casino location ballot question to include Central Jersey. “Central Jersey needs to be in the conversation,” the Middlesex-based Democratic senator told PolitickerNJ.
