Coughlin adds abortion, gun resolutions for votes today

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin will add votes on abortion and guns to today’s voting session agenda, forcing some swing district Republican lawmakers to cast their votes on issues that will undoubtedly be part of the fall election campaign.

Resolutions to recognize “Gun Violence Awareness Day” and urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the freedom of choice regarding the use of and access to Mifepristone, a drug that can end a pregnancy that is less than ten weeks along, had not been on the public agenda.

The vote comes with little risk for the Democratic-controlled Assembly; two of their pro-life members, Thomas P. Giblin (D-Montclair) and Gabriella Mosquera (D-Gloucester Township), are not seeking re-election, and Joseph Egan (D-New Brunswick) is in safe Democratic district.  The only pro-life assemblyman in a district that is even marginally competitive is Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) in the 14th district.

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-Paterson) is the sponsor of the gun violence resolution, and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn) sponsored the resolution on the use of and access to Mifepristone.