Party Line Vote Sends the Legislation to the Governor’s Desk

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO and community allies thank Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Speaker Sheila Oliver for the sponsorship and leadership in passing legislation   (S-2364 / A-3553) establishing an early voting program. We also thank all the members of the State Assembly that voted in favor. The bill passed today by a 46-31-0-3 vote along party lines with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing. The Senate version (S-2364: Gill / Whelan) passed the Senate on March 18, 2013, also along party lines, by a vote of 24-16. The vote tally sheet can be found HERE. The bill gives New Jersey voters an opportunity to vote 15 days before Election Day, establishes early voting centers throughout the state and extends voting hours on weekends and weekday evenings.

Last night the New Jersey State AFL-CIO was proud to join the Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. coalition and over 100 coalition partners at their annual fundraiser.

The right-wing in Congress has forced across the board budget cuts called sequestration that will cost more than 1 million jobs this year and many more jobs over the next decade. There is a simple solution to make this problem go away: repeal sequestration.

Please find below, a response to the Paul Ryan budget proposal from national AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Additionally, please click on the following links for TALKING POINTS and an outline of commonsense SOLUTIONS for our nation during these challenging times.

Joined by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Over 151 Progressive Community Organizations at Kickoff Event

TRENTON – The New Jersey State AFL-CIO joined over 151 progressive community organizations and labor unions as well as Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver to launch a statewide “Raise the Wage” campaign. The campaign seeks to support voter approval of the November ballot question which would raise New Jersey’s minimum wage to $8.25 per hour and include a cost of living adjustment.

We invite you to attend the organizational kick off meeting for our efforts to pass the 2013 Minimum Wage ballot referendum.  The campaign, titled “Raise the Wage” will be comprised of all organizations that seek to support efforts to pass this important public policy.

The 10th Anniversary of the Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Conference brought together over 200 union sisters from diverse generational, geographical, and occupational backgrounds, and included many familiar faces as well as many new faces. But whether you have been to one WILD Conference or all ten, the knowledge we acquire, the leadership skills we build, and the friendships we forge are enduring.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO commends those elected officials who voted in favor of (S-2364) to extend in-person early voting opportunities to the community and to encourage increased participation in our state’s democratic process. The bill was released from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee along party lines with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans in opposition. A breakdown of the vote is below. While there are state legislatures across the nation pursuing laws to restrict voting through voter ID laws, we are proud that legislation is being advanced in New Jersey to increase access to voting. In-person early voting is already practiced in 32 states as well as the District of Columbia.