TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey Democrats blocked a GOP effort to discuss soaring gas prices and America’s energy crisis this week and there’s nothing Republicans could do about it, being outnumbered in the Assembly.
“In blatant violation of the rules of the General Assembly, Speaker Craig Coughlin and Democrats shut down Republican efforts to address the skyrocketing gas prices and America’s energy crisis during an Assembly voting session,” the Republican Party bemoaned today.
According to a video shared by the Republican Caucus and a press release by the party, Coughlin ruled that Assemblyman Robert Auth’s motion to make his resolution (AR103) the order of the day was ‘out of order.’ The resolution calls on the federal government to approve the construction of oil and natural gas pipelines, including those previously denied or shut down. According to Assembly rule 15:5, “Any bill or resolution may, by a vote of at least 41 members, be made the order of the day, on which it shall be considered in preference to any others whether or not it is on the calendar for that day.”
“Attempts by Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio and Assemblymen Brian Bergen and Jay Webber to appeal the ruling was voted down by Democrats,” the Republicans chimed.
Republicans in Trenton are the minority party and hold little to no power in the statehouse.