TRENTON — New Jersey Republicans have a plea for Democrats who control the state Legislature: Stop focusing on President Donald Trump and turn your attention to the Garden State.
That’s been the message from the GOP’s top-ranking state lawmakers this week after Trump, a Republican, sparked a number of controversies in his first week as president, including signing a temporary ban on people from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S.
A number of Democratic state lawmakers have released statements and introduced measures against Trump’s executive order. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) announced they will introduce a resolution condemning the order at Monday’s voting session.
Weinberg has also co-sponsored a bi-state bill that would prohibit the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from using any of its facilities — which include the three airports in New York City and Newark — to enforce the order.
N.J., N.Y. lawmakers call Trump travel ban an unlawful ‘travesty’
But on Wednesday, state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. released a statement slamming Democrats for being “so focused on federal affairs in Washington” that “they’ve ignored work on reforms they have the power to advance in Trenton that could have a real impact on the lives of every New Jerseyan.”
“Rather than work for headlines, Senate Democrats should start working for New Jersey,” Kean added.
On Thursday, state Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) held a Statehouse news conference to share a similar message — and also chided Democrats for spending so much time criticizing Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a Trump adviser whose approval rating in New Jersey is in the teens.
“We’ve had Watergate. We’ve had Bridgegate. Now we have Democrats who should be investigated for Do Nothing-gate,” said Bramnick, who moonlights as a standup comedian.
“To focus on the governor and Donald Trump is an easy way out for the Democratic Legislature to do nothing,” he added.
Bramnick called for Democrats to hold open debates and special sessions about issues like property taxes, the state’s school funding formula, pension reform, and affordable housing.
“It seems to me the majority party has lost focus on what’s really important to New Jersey and our constituents,” added Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco (R-Morris). “Clearly, the biggest issue we face here is affordability.”
But Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) shot back with a statement Thursday saying the “Republican grandstanding” is “quite puzzling” considering his house has advanced legislation in recent days that involve opioid addiction treatment, health care, public safety, and more.
“New Jersey Republicans may enjoy defending Donald Trump and Chris Christie and their destructive policies, but Democrats will stand up for New Jersey residents anytime and anyplace,” Prieto said.
He also stressed that “national policies often have direct impact on the lives of New Jersey families.”
Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey chapter of environmental group the Sierra Club, agreed in a statement of his own Thursday.
“What’s happening in Washington doesn’t stay in Washington,” Tittel said.
An analysis by NJ Advance Media this week showed 130,000 foreign-born New Jersey residents come from one of the seven countries affected by Trump’s ban.
Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
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