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218th Organization of the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey

Asm. Craig J. Coughlin is sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly by Justice Barry Albin, Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court

Patriot’s Theater at the War Memorial 1/9/18

*Photos by Paul W. Wang

By: Katherine Massopust

TRENTON – The 218th Organization of General Assembly of New Jersey took place in Trenton on 1/9/18. Perth Amboy’s Yvonne Lopez was sworn in as Assemblywoman of the 19th District. Craig Coughlin (Assemblyman 19th District) was elected and sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly.

The ceremony began with the Woodbridge High School Band and Choir who played and sang patriotic music. The Colonel D.B. Kelly Pipes & Drums performed as well. Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt called the ceremony to order and read the Certificate of Election. The invocation was given by Deacon Kevin R. Reina of St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church, Summit. The New Jersey State Police Color Guard gave the presentation of colors. Former Rutgers Football Player Eric LeGrand led the Pledge of Allegiance. Vocalist Arlette Roxburgh sang the National Anthem.

The newly elected Assembly Members were sworn in individually. The returning members were sworn in as a group. The Officers were sworn in individually.

Yvonne Lopez is sworn in as Assemblywoman 19th District.

The first Assemblyman to be sworn in as Majority Leader of the House was Louis D. Greenwald. He offered remarks, “I want to thank my family for their support and patience. The greatest commitment and sacrifice is by our families. My greatest pride and joy is watching them grow. I was elected in 1995 and experienced all their lives what we call democracy. New Jersey is a much better place with my fourth term and what we fought for. We find ourselves difficult with rising intolerance. I always believe in the power of the spoken word. Patriotism is not a contest to see  who shouts the loudest. Let us dream big and challenge ourselves. Our dreams lie above us. New Jersey was hit hardest by the new tax bill. It’s devastating to the middle class. It will exasperate New Jersey’s resources and stagnate New Jersey’s economy. I believe this crisis presents New Jersey with an opportunity. New Jersey needs a tax overhaul. In 2018 we can tackle this problem. It’s time for meaningful tax reform. With incoming investments coming and making it affordable to live for middle class working families which are the backbone of the state. So many millennials (nationally 1/3 of them) live with their mother and father. In New Jersey the number is 47%. Citizens need to feel connected to our government. The Beauty of democracy is that all votes are equal – one person – one vote. In 2018 the average woman earns less than men. There should be equal pay for equal work. Can we agree as a Democrat or Republican to lead the way for every young woman to be treated as an equal? We will do what is right. The gender wage difference will be gone as a relic. Now, I want to talk about gun violence. We need balance in the community. We as leaders need to place effective legislation and we must face inevitable consequences. The parents at Sandy Hook came to meet with me and showed pictures of their children. We need to find common sense legislation. Gun violence is not about statistics – it’s about families. We can do more. We will do more, if not in Washington, then in New Jersey. We placed a ban on bump stocks. Together we will see that no one can inflict that much gun violence in that short period of time. I believe in the people of New Jersey and that they are the most focused legislation on the middle class. We will have committees to find solutions to problems. I refuse there’s a problem we can’t solve if we work together.”

The General Assembly at the Patriot’s Theater at the War Memorial, Trenton *Photo by Paul W. Wang. Click to enlarge.

Minority Leader Jon M. Bramnick spoke next, “I look forward to working with the majority of the Assembly. One party rule can be extreme at times for most people in New Jersey. Most people want to be moderate. I want to focus on serious fiscal reform to be bipartisan based. These reforms are painful, but needed. I speak for myself. Americans and New Jerseyans are frustrated with government. This shouldn’t lead to personal attacks not worthy to democracy. Tweets do not solve problems. We in New Jersey will stand up for things and focus on issues not chasing ratings and start learning facts. We need to stand together against this bad behavior. In New Jersey, we have some attitude to fight against this and stick together. One people – one state – one nation.

Craig Coughlin was sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly. He began by asking for a moment of silence on the passing of Former New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne. “We are in a better place because of his service.” Coughlin continued, “As a guy who grew up in South Amboy, went to public schools, and worked hard, you believed knew you could succeed. When I grew up, John F. Kennedy was President, and public service was a higher calling. I still believe all of that is very true. I’m saddened by how much people have lost faith in government. Too many people believe the system doesn’t care about them. In the election of 1968 of Nixon vs. Humphrey, I asked my mother who she was going to vote for. She answered, “I chose my candidate because he cares about me.” Each of us wants to make New Jersey a better place to live. The power given to us is the power to bring about change. New Jersey has gotten too expensive. Commuters rely on a mass transit system that can’t get them to work on time. A quality public endeavor of equal pay for equal work and access to good education opportunities for the middle class is needed. A college education is not for everyone. We must focus on youth training and development. At its core, government must do the basics. Let’s pledge ourselves to the Gateway tunnel and fix New Jersey Transit. Too often there are government actions that have no purpose. In this wealthy state, too many people don’t have access to a supermarket. There are too many foodbanks that don’t have support. We can and will fix that. Government can help, and it takes all of us to make government work. All voices matter. Republican or Democrat, north or south will have a voice as an equal part of government. We will make sure we get policy right. We do a hard thing and do it right and do them together. New Jersey chose us to make the rules.”

The ceremony concluded with God Bless America and the benediction by Imam Morshad Saami Hossian, Voorhees Islamic Center, Cherry Hill.

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