chanel
Silver Member
It could have been a rock em-sock em day in the state Senate today.
On the one side was state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union), an attorney and 27-year veteran of the state Senate who helped abolish New Jerseys death penalty and led an unsuccessful push for same-sex marriage.
On the other was state Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren), also a lawyer but in the Senate for only six months, a global warming skeptic, anti-abortion activist and stalwart of the states conservative movement.
Lesniak who last month called a critic of his housing-reform bill a stupid imbecile and a mean-spirited, evil human being piped in, loudly saying not true while Doherty spoke.
Doherty finished and walked across the Senate floor to address Lesniak, who was still seated. I wanted to explain further to him where I was coming from. He wanted none of it, Doherty said later.
Instead, thats when things got really heated. Lesniak let Doherty know he didnt want to debate, yelling Get out of my face!
Fearing the situation could get ugly fast, state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex), a former acting governor and Senate president, put himself between the sparring men. He then persuaded Doherty to return to his seat.
Lesniak then thanked Codey and said he would have punched (Dohertys) nose down his throat.
Im thankful to Governor Codey for saving me from embarrassing myself, said Lesniak, who added that it could have gotten physical. As somebody who grew up in (the) Elizabeth port section, you never know.
Two N.J. senators must be physically separated during heated school funding debate | NJ.com
The old timers have been running the show for so long now, that they are literally going mad with Christie in charge. Time to retire Ray. You've done enough damage.