New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and state Sen. Ray Lesniak walk different sides of the street on most issues. Christie is an in-your-face conservative Republican who likes nothing better than ripping teachers unions and other public-service employees, and Lesniak is a liberal Democrat who has among other things spent decades advocating for the rights of state employees.
But oil and water will have to mix as the state moves toward a court challenge to the federal law which limits unfettered sports betting to Nevada and more-limited wagering in Oregon, Montana and Delaware. And Lesniak has made the first move, removing two key provisions from legislation that would to take the choke chains off state lawyers in an expected 2012 legal challenge.
In order to make placate Christie and pre-empt a veto that would cripple the bill and set back efforts for months, if not longer, Lesniak and other co-sponsors have agreed to delete portions of the bill that would allow placing of bets from home computers or smartphones.
The move may actually be a sign that the Christie and Lesniak camps are talking. Last March Christie vetoed Lesniak-backed legislation that would have made New Jersey the first state in the country to sanction online gambling. Perhaps this time Christie at least sent word to Lesniak that he needed to prune the sports betting bill; if so, it would be a sign of cooperation.
Lesniak had hoped to have the bill signed by Christmas, but now a vote is expected on Jan. 9 on the revised plan.
Last month voters set the legislation in motion via referendum by overwhelmingly (65-35) backing a state challenge to the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act -- spearheaded, ironically, by then-N.J. Sen. Bill Bradley.
But oil and water will have to mix as the state moves toward a court challenge to the federal law which limits unfettered sports betting to Nevada and more-limited wagering in Oregon, Montana and Delaware. And Lesniak has made the first move, removing two key provisions from legislation that would to take the choke chains off state lawyers in an expected 2012 legal challenge.
In order to make placate Christie and pre-empt a veto that would cripple the bill and set back efforts for months, if not longer, Lesniak and other co-sponsors have agreed to delete portions of the bill that would allow placing of bets from home computers or smartphones.
The move may actually be a sign that the Christie and Lesniak camps are talking. Last March Christie vetoed Lesniak-backed legislation that would have made New Jersey the first state in the country to sanction online gambling. Perhaps this time Christie at least sent word to Lesniak that he needed to prune the sports betting bill; if so, it would be a sign of cooperation.
Lesniak had hoped to have the bill signed by Christmas, but now a vote is expected on Jan. 9 on the revised plan.
Last month voters set the legislation in motion via referendum by overwhelmingly (65-35) backing a state challenge to the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act -- spearheaded, ironically, by then-N.J. Sen. Bill Bradley.
How much are you paying in property taxes, you probably get the low end in that dump you call Clifton, 7-8k/ year 
It's about 15k in middle income neighborhoods. People are leaving in droves
