There’s often a mad rush to close out legislative items, especially in lame-duck sessions. This 219th Legislature is keeping with that tradition, and with just one voting day left before the end of the current session in early January there are big-ticket items that will either see a vote or die waiting.

Essex County-based Assemblyman Ralph Caputo has seen his share of last days of lame-duck sessions. He admits that sometimes even the sponsors and co-sponsors of bills, like his bill for subpoena-empowered civilian complaint review boards, must subject themselves to the will of party leaders.