This may be a small thing, but in a state like NJ, where the state houses are controlled by quasi-Republicans, this is monumental.
Senate clears recitation of Declaration in school
06/27/00
By Ron Marsico
STAFF WRITER
Thousands of New Jersey's public schoolchildren may soon be adding a few lines from the Declaration of Independence to their normal morning classroom routine.
After struggling for more than a dozen years to convince legislators that saying a snippet of the Declaration would be good for the students, Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) finally succeeded yesterday.
He cobbled together a bare majority (21 votes), amid charges by some that a few of the legislators were trying to curry favor with conservative voters.
If the bill becomes law as expected, New Jersey would be the first state in the nation to require students to recite part of the historic document each day, according to Cardinale.
Assembly Speaker Jack Collins (R-Salem) yesterday vowed to push for the measure to pass his house in the fall. Gov. Christie Whitman, who once opposed the bill, signaled that she may accept the current version.
"It's been 13 years. It's finally happened," said Cardinale. "I believe it is the most important piece of legislation I've been involved with in my years in the Legislature . . . a way to transmit the values of America to our young people."
The bill would require public school students in grades 3 through 12 to recite the following passage each day:
"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed . . ."
For years, the measure was pushed by conservatives, including former presidential contender Steve Forbes, but was stalled by moderates who questioned whether it was advisable to force schoolchildren to simply recite this passage.
The measure also drew fire from education groups. Some critics said the passage's use of the word "men" instead of "people" could send a wrong message to girls.
Sen. Wayne Bryant (D-Camden) strongly derided the measure yesterday on the Senate floor, saying it was an attempt to "micro-manage the education system," while also ignoring the failings of the document's author, Thomas Jefferson, and the founding fathers.
"Both African-Americans and women were not part of what was written by Thomas Jefferson," said Bryant. "He did nothing to abolish slavery. . . . We don't need to have folks recite things that have no legitimacy in time and space."
Supporters like Jersey City's Republican Mayor Bret Schundler -- who is planning a run for governor next year -- have said moderates who are potential candidates for higher office are now supporting the measure to gain support from conservative voters in future Republican primaries.
All "yes" votes came from Republicans, who hold the majority.
Once a key opponent to the recitation bill, Sen. William Gormley (R-Atlantic), who narrowly lost the June 6 U.S. Senate primary, changed his mind and supported the legislation. But he insisted it had nothing to do with his primary and everything to do with Cardinale's efforts to modify portions of the legislation.
Senate President Donald DiFrancesco (R-Union), who is mounting a run for governor next year, said his support was not connected to his ambitions.
"I've always supported it," said DiFrancesco, who quickly added that he was referring to the current legislative session, which began in January.
"I don't see anything wrong with it," he said. "There's no downside to this legislation. It's 30 seconds of history that people have to stand up and recognize."
Taking a subtle swipe at DiFrancesco, Collins, another expected gubernatorial candidate, said in a statement: "It is very encouraging to see this legislation pass the Senate because a similar bill approved 50-16 last year by the Assembly stalled in the Senate."
Noting that he "strongly supported this legislation when it passed our house last year," Collins said he would work to secure its passage when the Assembly reconvenes this fall.
Converts say Cardinale made good on promises to make the bill more acceptable by allowing local school boards to decide the "appropriate means" of implementing the dictate.
They said the new version of the bill not only requires the passage to be recited but would also incorporate its meaning into the school curriculum.
Cardinale, whose no-holds-barred rhetoric irritates some members of the upper house, followed one of the maxims of legislative politics -- when you have the votes, sit down and do nothing to antagonize anyone. So the senator, who has waxed on the issue for years, simply moved the bill without commenting on its merits.
"I decided not to speak unless more inflammatory things were said (in opposition)," Cardinale said.
Peter McDonough, a Whitman spokesman, called the current bill "a vast improvement" over an earlier version.
"It was amended at our request," said McDonough. "We'll have to see what happens as it makes its way through the Assembly."
Assemblyman Michael Carroll (R-Morris), the bill's sponsor in the lower house, said simply: "We'll pass it here."
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/jersey/ledger/ff0830.html
____________________________________
It should not surprise you to know that Sen Cardinale & Assm. Carroll are also the most vocal advocates of NJ CCW and other pro-RKBA bills. On the other hand, GOP Sen. President (and Gubernatorial hopeful) DiFrancesco just pushed through the NJ "Smart-Gun" law. This is why I donate $ only to individual candidates, not the Party machines.
Senate clears recitation of Declaration in school
06/27/00
By Ron Marsico
STAFF WRITER
Thousands of New Jersey's public schoolchildren may soon be adding a few lines from the Declaration of Independence to their normal morning classroom routine.
After struggling for more than a dozen years to convince legislators that saying a snippet of the Declaration would be good for the students, Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) finally succeeded yesterday.
He cobbled together a bare majority (21 votes), amid charges by some that a few of the legislators were trying to curry favor with conservative voters.
If the bill becomes law as expected, New Jersey would be the first state in the nation to require students to recite part of the historic document each day, according to Cardinale.
Assembly Speaker Jack Collins (R-Salem) yesterday vowed to push for the measure to pass his house in the fall. Gov. Christie Whitman, who once opposed the bill, signaled that she may accept the current version.
"It's been 13 years. It's finally happened," said Cardinale. "I believe it is the most important piece of legislation I've been involved with in my years in the Legislature . . . a way to transmit the values of America to our young people."
The bill would require public school students in grades 3 through 12 to recite the following passage each day:
"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed . . ."
For years, the measure was pushed by conservatives, including former presidential contender Steve Forbes, but was stalled by moderates who questioned whether it was advisable to force schoolchildren to simply recite this passage.
The measure also drew fire from education groups. Some critics said the passage's use of the word "men" instead of "people" could send a wrong message to girls.
Sen. Wayne Bryant (D-Camden) strongly derided the measure yesterday on the Senate floor, saying it was an attempt to "micro-manage the education system," while also ignoring the failings of the document's author, Thomas Jefferson, and the founding fathers.
"Both African-Americans and women were not part of what was written by Thomas Jefferson," said Bryant. "He did nothing to abolish slavery. . . . We don't need to have folks recite things that have no legitimacy in time and space."
Supporters like Jersey City's Republican Mayor Bret Schundler -- who is planning a run for governor next year -- have said moderates who are potential candidates for higher office are now supporting the measure to gain support from conservative voters in future Republican primaries.
All "yes" votes came from Republicans, who hold the majority.
Once a key opponent to the recitation bill, Sen. William Gormley (R-Atlantic), who narrowly lost the June 6 U.S. Senate primary, changed his mind and supported the legislation. But he insisted it had nothing to do with his primary and everything to do with Cardinale's efforts to modify portions of the legislation.
Senate President Donald DiFrancesco (R-Union), who is mounting a run for governor next year, said his support was not connected to his ambitions.
"I've always supported it," said DiFrancesco, who quickly added that he was referring to the current legislative session, which began in January.
"I don't see anything wrong with it," he said. "There's no downside to this legislation. It's 30 seconds of history that people have to stand up and recognize."
Taking a subtle swipe at DiFrancesco, Collins, another expected gubernatorial candidate, said in a statement: "It is very encouraging to see this legislation pass the Senate because a similar bill approved 50-16 last year by the Assembly stalled in the Senate."
Noting that he "strongly supported this legislation when it passed our house last year," Collins said he would work to secure its passage when the Assembly reconvenes this fall.
Converts say Cardinale made good on promises to make the bill more acceptable by allowing local school boards to decide the "appropriate means" of implementing the dictate.
They said the new version of the bill not only requires the passage to be recited but would also incorporate its meaning into the school curriculum.
Cardinale, whose no-holds-barred rhetoric irritates some members of the upper house, followed one of the maxims of legislative politics -- when you have the votes, sit down and do nothing to antagonize anyone. So the senator, who has waxed on the issue for years, simply moved the bill without commenting on its merits.
"I decided not to speak unless more inflammatory things were said (in opposition)," Cardinale said.
Peter McDonough, a Whitman spokesman, called the current bill "a vast improvement" over an earlier version.
"It was amended at our request," said McDonough. "We'll have to see what happens as it makes its way through the Assembly."
Assemblyman Michael Carroll (R-Morris), the bill's sponsor in the lower house, said simply: "We'll pass it here."
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/jersey/ledger/ff0830.html
____________________________________
It should not surprise you to know that Sen Cardinale & Assm. Carroll are also the most vocal advocates of NJ CCW and other pro-RKBA bills. On the other hand, GOP Sen. President (and Gubernatorial hopeful) DiFrancesco just pushed through the NJ "Smart-Gun" law. This is why I donate $ only to individual candidates, not the Party machines.