By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
President Johnson signed the Older Americans Act two weeks before he signed the Medicare bill.
Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Union Township Senior Center.
“It has produced millions of dollars here in our state for critical programs, for nutritional programs, for senior centers,” Menendez said.
“The reality is today we are celebrating our country doing the right thing,” Booker said.
Outside, we asked about the Iran nuclear deal.
Menendez said he has serious questions.
“One of the things that we want to know is how far did Iran go to weaponize its nuclear program. The reason that it’s important to know that the closer they are to developing a weapon and how much time they get to create enough rich uranium so that they can arm that weapon. The calculation between both is incredibly important,” Menendez said.
When asked where he stands on the Iran nuclear deal, Booker said, “Right now I’m doing my deep dive of an analysis. I have a lot of things that make me skeptical and I’m very concerned about, but this is going to be something that takes thoughtful and deliberative focus.”
A full page ad in the New York Times this weekend urged New Jersey and New York senators to stop the deal, calling it “President Obama’s capitulation to Iran.”
The ad was paid for by hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt.
“I’m not letting that kind of noise affect my deliberation. This has to be thoughtful, to have focus. I actually know Michael Steinhardt. He’s a beautiful man, one of the most thoughtful philanthropists in our country,” Booker said.
“Right now I’m in search of more answers and if can get satisfactory answers, that’ll affect my judgement,” Menendez said.
At a launch of Politico’s new website on New Jersey politics this morning in Newark, Booker was asked a similar question.
“This is one of the most consequential votes that I will have taken in my first year in the Senate. As I’ve talked to my elders in the Senate, everybody admits this is going to be one of the most consequential votes in your career,” Booker said.
Congress has until Sept. 7 to approve or reject the deal.
President Obama has vowed to veto a rejection.
Menendez isn’t committing to anything on either the deal itself or a veto override.
“I need to satisfy myself so that when I cast a vote, I want to make sure that if Iran gets a nuclear bomb, my name isn’t on it,” he said.
Menendez sounds like he’s leaning against the Iran nuclear deal but could still change his mind. Booker is more definitively neutral for now. Meanwhile, both senators stand 100 percent behind senior citizens.