School Board Elections, Redux

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Yesterday's NJ had a remarkable article from Matthew Albright that purports to take a look at the usually out-of-sight school board elections and the possibility of influence by outside interests on the eventual winners. It is remarkable, because it singles out teacher's unions as the outside interests being served by the inattention of voters to these elections. There isn't even a fig leaf of a "both sides do it" argument -- in large part because this article lets Jea Street pontificate about how teacher's unions are running the board for school board elections:

Matt Denn seems confident

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Indeed, most of the organizations interested in a yes outcome in the vote this afternoon in the Senate seemed to be guardedly optimistic. I dare say if the outcome was truely in doubt the Lt. Governor would not be posting a status update like this: To guard against complacency, there is still time to lobby Senators Bob Marshall, Bethany Hall Long and Cathy Cloutier. Encouraging emails or calls only please. Find their contact info here.

Friday Open Thread [5.3.13]

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The U.S. economy added 165,000 jobs in April, which is a good not great number, but the better news is the revisions for February (a great month that is now Clintonian Great) and March (a Bushian bad month of low job growth that has now become Obamian Good).
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was revised from +268,000 to +332,000, and the change for March was revised from +88,000 to +138,000. With these revisions, employment gains in February and March combined were 114,000 higher than previously reported.

This is why Cathy Cloutier keeps getting reelected…

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... yeah, you can say it is the well timed moderate votes recently and over the last several years that have pretty well placed her in the "sane Republican" and "moderate" categories, but never ever underestimate the personal touches. For example, most politicians, if they are worth their stuff, send out happy birthday messages to their constitutuents, mostly in the form of mass produced postcards or cards, like the one my State Representative Debbie Hudson sent me....

Marriage Equality Committee vote set for Wednesday

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The Senate Executive Committee will vote on the marriage bill on Wednesday. Which means, once it passed out of committee (which it should), it could be set for a vote on Thursday. Ask your Senator to support HB75, but we would also like you to send a note of encouragement towards Senators Cathy Cloutier and Bethany Hall Long. Their contact information can be found here. As a reminder, here is our most likely whip count.