By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
Four constitutional amendments were approved in one hearing and are now headed for the 2016 ballot. Democrats defended it. Republicans railed against it.
“To not hold a series of open public meetings on some of these issues, particularly the redistricting issue, is just politics at its absolute worst,” Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi said.
When asked if he can remember the last time there were this many constitutional amendments on a ballot, Assemblyman John McKeon said, “I don’t know, Michael. Your point of reference might be better than mine on this. There are usually several, at least two or three. So, this is four.”
One amendment would ask voters to approve casino gambling in two North Jersey locations. Another would dedicate all existing gasoline, diesel and petroleum products taxes to the Transportation Trust Fund. A third would require the state to make a full pension payment by 2022. The fourth would change the legislative redistricting process to ensure that 25 percent of the districts are competitive, beginning in 2021.
“We’re talking 5 years from now. Why are we rushing this through today?” Shepisi asked.
“Everything that we did today is going to be before the voters of New Jersey,” McKeon added.
The casino question pitted North Jersey Assemblyman Ralph Caputo against Atlantic City’s Chris Brown. 35 percent of the tax revenue from two new casinos would be directed back to Atlantic City for non-gaming development projects.
“I believe that the only way we’re going to be able to save the gaming business in the state is by allowing the voters, as they did in 1976, to make a decision about where they want to have gaming in the state,” Caputo said. “We want to assist Atlantic City in redevelopment of a diversified economy that does not exist now.”
“Well, I will tell you you’re killing Atlantic City,” Brown countered. “You’re killing it, and your conversation over the past two years is killing Atlantic City.”
Public employee union leaders testified on behalf of constitutionally funded pensions.
“This amendment before you is designed to enforce the discipline that our governor lacks so New Jersey can do what we all agree is necessary,” NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer said.
“The constitutional amendment will put us on a much sounder financial footing. It’s a payment plan that can’t be ducked every other year,” Hetty Rosenstein, NJ Director for CWA, said.
A constitutional amendment goes straight to the voters, bypassing the governor. Governor Christie objects to how Democrats have been using it.
“It’s an embarrassment that the minimum wage is in our constitution,” Christie said.
When asked if she think it’s an attempt by the Democrats to get around the governor, Shepisi said, “Oh, absolutely. No question.”
“Of course it is,” McKeon said. “To the extent that we’re not dealing with Jersey-centric policies at this point while he’s pursuing his national aspirations, then we need to do what we need to do to deal with the issue of the day here in New Jersey.”
The four Democrats on the Judiciary committee made sure all four amendments moved forward, but not without some dressing down by one of the two committee Republicans.
“Do I believe we should constitutionally do something that we as legislators don’t even understand the implications of?” Shepisi asked. “I think it is the most fiscally irresponsible thing that we could do. If we don’t understand the implications of it, how in God’s name is the average citizen that we represent supposed to understand it?”
It takes a 3/5th majority to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot or a simple majority two years in a row. Democrats seem poised to do that. If the ballot is a little crowded in 2016, it’ll still be nothing like California’s.