Tag Archives: New Jersey State Legislature

Bill Blocking must end!

New Jersey,

Bill blocking must end in both houses of the New Jersey State Legislature. Assembly Leader Vincent Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney both have the power to block any bill from being put before the legislature for a vote. There is no way to override their denying a bill from seeing the light of day as there is when the Governor vetoes a legislation that has passed successfully through both houses. What they both have is dictatorial power that is just plain undemocratic! Right now the Assembly Leader is preventing a bill that might well save Atlantic City from bankruptcy, his own proposed bill was rejected the Assembly. It seems that Mr. Prieto only wants to act like a little child and prevent any action(s) that might help Atlantic City from moving forward legislatively. This giant flaw needs to be addressed by changing our state constitution so that no one person can block a bill. What is needed is a system of checks and balances to prevent bills from being blocked from consideration by the legislature. Even when the Governor of New Jersey vetoes a bill he can be overridden by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature. So I propose that a constitutional amendment be crafted that states that neither the Senate President nor Assembly Leader can block a bill by themselves, but must have the backing of at least fifty one percent (51%) of the members of their respective house. Otherwise the bill must be presented for a vote, with the attachment of a statement as to why the bill should not be passed written by the leader of their house who objects to its passage. The way the system works now is ridiculous in the extreme; to allow one individual to block a vote on a bill is just undemocratic and should run against the grain of every American! The individual should not rule with out any checks and balances that prevent that person from acting against the wishes of the people of New Jersey. And Assembly Leader Prieto found that out when he suppressed a bill by State President Sweeney and our Governor Chris Christie. He tried to get a vote on a bill he had crafted to save Atlantic City and he just could not muster the required votes. Prieto should resign as Assembly Leader and maybe even resign from the Assembly altogether. He and Mayor Steven Fulop of Jersey City are trying to make the Mayor look like a good candidate for Governor next year. Do not be deceived by Mayor Fulop and his lackey Prieto. That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike

 

Bill blocking must end in both houses of the New Jersey State Legislature. Assembly Leader Vincent Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney both have the power to block any bill from being put before the legislature for a vote. There is no way to override their denying a bill from seeing the light of day as there is when the Governor vetoes a legislation that has passed successfully through both houses. What they both have is dictatorial power that is just plain undemocratic! Continue reading Bill Blocking must end! →