For almost two years, lawmakers, labor and immigrants advocates, business and industry have haggled over a measure for a so-called temp workers bill of rights. In an abrupt move on Monday, lawmakers canceled a planned Senate vote on the legislation after Democratic leaders said they didn’t have enough votes for it to pass.
Once word spread that the bill was being pulled for lack of votes, supporters gathered in the gallery. Their buzz attracted the attention of security and a stern rebuke and ultimate ejection by Sen. Dick Codey (D-Essex), acting as Senate president. Outside the chambers, the buzz turned into a full-fledged demonstration.
“These agencies make a lot of money off of these people and they’ve abused them for years and they pulled out all the guns. You saw a lot of lobbyists walking around; they were all paid by, in my view, folks that have abused these people for years, so they got another few weeks but they won’t get forever,” said Sen. Joe Cryan (D-Union), the bill’s primary sponsor.
