NYT: Hey, Massachusetts, New Jersey Is Passing on the Left

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Hey, Massachusetts, New Jersey Is Passing on the Left
By JEREMY W. PETERS
Published: February 10, 2008

NEW JERSEY’S political hue is not just blue these days. It’s cobalt.

In the last two months, the state has become the first in a generation to abolish the death penalty, the first north of the Mason-Dixon line to apologize for slavery and the second, after Maryland, to pledge its Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote.

A family-leave measure to give employees paid time off to care for a newborn or sick relative appears headed toward approval by the State Legislature. A state commission is urging lawmakers to raise the minimum wage to $8.25 an hour, which would be the highest in the nation.

And voters recently approved borrowing an additional $200 million to save open space in the nation’s most densely populated state — the latest in more than $1.5 billion in borrowing to protect farmland and open space since 1981.

It may not be a surprise that New Jersey, which ranks among the states spending the most on education per student and is one of only four states to recognize gay civil unions, is pursing a course that analysts say is in keeping with the Progressive Era ideals espoused by its former governor, Woodrow Wilson. He described his state as “a sort of laboratory in which the best blood is prepared for other communities to thrive on.”

But public policy experts say what is a surprise is how swiftly New Jersey — better known for its seemingly endemic corruption and reputation as a onetime welcome mat for industrial waste — has moved in this direction.

[MORE]

[bullmoose88]

Wait...Maryland and now New Jersey are doing the popular vote-->pledge EC voters thing?


How does this factor into our electoral calculations...We could have another tight race, and McCain could narrowly win the PV...

or is this just proposed....

[bullmoose88]

Additionally, you're seeing tons of former NJers cross the river into PA...its affecting our politics...making us more liberal in some respects...possibly more conservative in others.

[Gabu]

Wait...Maryland and now New Jersey are doing the popular vote-->pledge EC voters thing?


How does this factor into our electoral calculations...We could have another tight race, and McCain could narrowly win the PV...

or is this just proposed....

It doesn't come into effect until enough states have signed on that the winner of the popular vote is guaranteed 270 electoral votes.

[bullmoose88]

Wait...Maryland and now New Jersey are doing the popular vote-->pledge EC voters thing?


How does this factor into our electoral calculations...We could have another tight race, and McCain could narrowly win the PV...

or is this just proposed....

It doesn't come into effect until enough states have signed on that the winner of the popular vote is guaranteed 270 electoral votes.

Define "enough."

[Gabu]

...enough states that they have 270 electoral votes, like I said.

[bullmoose88]

...enough states that they have 270 electoral votes, like I said.

Bah

School really does rot my brain.

<--Dunce

[Verily]

New Jersey did actually have substantial amounts of slavery (in the fertile plains in the south), unlike any other state north of the Mason-Dixon line, so apologizing for slavery is not that unwarranted. Raising the minimum wage to the highest in the nation is appropriate in the state with the highest cost of living in the nation. Protecting open space is an obvious goal in by far the most densely populated state. These may be "liberal" policies, but they're also rational ones for the situations New Jersey faces.

[memphis]

New Jersey did actually have substantial amounts of slavery (in the fertile plains in the south), unlike any other state north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Rhode Island also had substantial slavery in the eighteenth century. According to Pursuits of Happiness by Jack Greene (book I had to read in college) 14% of household in RI owned slaves at the time of the Revolution.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Wait...Maryland and now New Jersey are doing the popular vote-->pledge EC voters thing?


How does this factor into our electoral calculations...We could have another tight race, and McCain could narrowly win the PV...

or is this just proposed....

They need 270 electoral votes. They'll still have only 46 after Illinois signs on.

[bullmoose88]

Wait...Maryland and now New Jersey are doing the popular vote-->pledge EC voters thing?


How does this factor into our electoral calculations...We could have another tight race, and McCain could narrowly win the PV...

or is this just proposed....

They need 270 electoral votes. They'll still have only 46 after Illinois signs on.

Any other states considering this? Considering seriously?

In other words, will any of them get to 270?

[Verily]

Wait...Maryland and now New Jersey are doing the popular vote-->pledge EC voters thing?


How does this factor into our electoral calculations...We could have another tight race, and McCain could narrowly win the PV...

or is this just proposed....

They need 270 electoral votes. They'll still have only 46 after Illinois signs on.

Any other states considering this? Considering seriously?

In other words, will any of them get to 270?

California will probably pass it as soon as Schwarzenegger leaves or his veto can be overridden. Hawaii passed it with veto-proof majorities, but it got vetoed by Lingle, and then the Hawaii House was too lazy to override the veto (the Senate did so). It will probably pass the next time it comes up. North Carolina and Arkansas are both seriously considering it and have the support to pass it. Illinois will probably pass it soon.

That's not 270, but it's a substantial following.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

That's 126 EVs. Almost half-way there. Might even get it before 2012 then.

[Sam Spade]

Too bad it's unconstitutional w/o Congress agreeing to it.

[Bacon King]

Too bad it's unconstitutional w/o Congress agreeing to it.

Really? How so?

[© tweed]

Too bad it's unconstitutional w/o Congress agreeing to it.

Really? How so?

no state shall enter into a compact with any other state

[Verily]

Too bad it's unconstitutional w/o Congress agreeing to it.

Really? How so?

no state shall enter into a compact with any other state

Despite the name, it's not a legally binding agreement between states, but within states.

[Sam Spade]

Too bad it's unconstitutional w/o Congress agreeing to it.

Really? How so?

no state shall enter into a compact with any other state

Despite the name, it's not a legally binding agreement between states, but within states.

I get your distinction, but I doubt the Supreme Court will buy it.