Two key leaders of the New Jersey Assembly are issuing a public appeal for civility, a plea that comes as a gubernatorial election looms and state lawmakers gear up to do battle over the state budget and funding for schools.
New Jersey has no monopoly on politicians acting badly.
Last month, a technology entrepreneur named Greg Gianforte was elected to represent Montana in Congress after body-slamming a reporter who dared to ask him a question about health care.
The assault was one more manifestation of a toxic climate that has gotten tragically out of hand. We witnessed its effects on an even more horrific level when a gunman opened fire on Republican members of Congress practicing for an inter-party baseball game in Alexandria, Va.
Four people were injured in last week's attack, which left Louisiana's Rep. Steve Scalise fighting for his life and facing months of major surgeries.
Here at home, our foul-mouthed bully-in-chief governor continues serve as the poster boy for personal nastiness by taunting perceived enemies with jeers and insults.
Among other things, Gov. Chris Christie has threatened to punch teachers' union members in the face, and called a former Navy SEAL who questioned him at a town hall media an idiot and a jerk.
Most famously, he encouraged reporters to "take the bat out" on long-term state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D- Bergen), later saying he was speaking rhetorically - but does anyone buy that flimsy excuse?
NJEA calls on Christie to resign for 'bully' comment (VIDEO)
Now two key leaders of the state Assembly are issuing a public appeal for civility, a plea that comes as a gubernatorial election looms and state lawmakers gear up to do battle over the state budget and funding for schools.
Assembly Speaker Vince Prieto (D-Hudson) and Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) have scaled the formidable wall dividing their parties to proclaim: Enough is enough.
The two legislators, often rivals on the Assembly floor, are disgusted and dismayed by the tone of the national conversation. And they want the change to start here.
"When public officials speak with disdain in their vice toward other public officials, that gives a license to the public to do the same - and even more," Bramnick says.
So last week he picked up the phone and called his colleague with an offer Prieto couldn't refuse: Let's work together to create a more civil tone in our politics.
For his part, the Democrat notes that despite their frequent policy disagreements, he and Bramnick share a profound respect for each other: "We're friends above everything else," Prieto says.
Some of us are old enough to remember when members of Congress fought bitterly over an issue by day, then adjourned to the nearest D.C. bar for a cordial post-debate cocktail in the evening.
Sadly, it took a brutal attack near the nation's capital to bring congressional leaders together with a handshake at a somber baseball game while one of their own lay wounded at a nearby hospital.
Can New Jersey set the pace for a kinder, more gentle approach to political discourse? We're more than ready to see it happen.
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