tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408544773474770720.post-89303744283589016582008-01-08T22:04:00.000-05:002008-01-08T22:05:35.532-05:00Monday, January 7th was Nick Asselta’s last day in the State Senate. He was unseated in November by then-Assemblyman and now-State Senator Jeff Van Drew. There was a voting session in the Upper House on Asselta’s last day in office. The Senators debated Governor Jon Corzine’s school funding formula proposal for two hours. Bernie Kenny who was named State Senate President for his last day in office opened the board and called for a vote. For three hours the bill was one vote shy of passage. The six Senate members of the Black Legislative Caucus (all Democrats) voted no meaning some Republicans had to be swayed. Asselta didn’t seem to need to be persuaded. Although many analysts feel the formula is bad for most of the school districts in Asselta’s south Jersey District, he immediately voted in favor of the bill and never wavered. Republican Senator Martha Bark has been identified as the GOP member who cast the deciding vote, but that might not have happened if Asselta hadn’t already gotten the tally to 20 with his Republican vote.<br /><br />Why did Asselta support the school funding formula? Maybe he thinks it is a great plan. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall and knew it would pass eventually with or without him. Maybe he thought he owed the Governor a favor because Jon Corzine had agreed to get Asselta a new job as a commissioner with the State Board of Public Utilities. A job with great pay and benefits. A Corzine Administration spokesperson confirms an official nomination for Asselta was filed today (1/08). Even on the day of his State of the State Address Corzine found the time to nominate an outgoing Republican State Senator to one of the BPU’s top spots.Millennium Radio New Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14791313398169672155noreply@blogger.com