Schnall says he’ll sleep at statehouse if budget vote is Saturday

Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood), one of two Orthodox Jews in the New Jersey Legislature, is prepared to bring his own mattress to Trenton and sleep in the statehouse on Friday night in case his vote is needed on Saturday to pass the state budget.

“If they schedule it, then that’s the plan,” Schnall told the New Jersey Globe.

Schnall said he would bring his own food and use the stairs rather than the elevators on the Sabbath.  He said he would have someone push his vote button under his supervision if necessary to avoid using electronics.

The Ocean County Democrat would need to remain in the statehouse until after sundown on Saturday.  That comes around 8:33 PM.

Under Jewish law, the concept of Dina d’malchuta dina – “the law of the land is the law” – holds that Orthodox lawmakers are expected to respect and participate in the governance of the places where they live, including by serving in public office.

When the state government was shut down in 2006, Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) remained at a hotel in Trenton so that he could vote on a Saturday.