Brandon McKoy Archives

More than 100 nominees await confirmation to state posts with little hope of votes before November

July 16, 2021 3:50 pm

More than 100 nominees to a slew of state boards, commissions, authorities and other panels are awaiting confirmation that won’t come until after November’s general election, and an overwhelming majority will likely wait far longer. The nominees themselves range widely...

Black leaders call for pro-transparency budget reforms

June 29, 2021 1:56 pmJune 29, 2021 9:55 pm

A group of Black leaders called on Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders to reform the state’s budgeting process to be more inclusive and transparent shortly before the governor signed the state’s $46.4 billion appropriations bill into law Tuesday. “With...

New coalition looking to end the War on Drugs

February 2, 2021 1:17 pm

A new coalition of progressive groups is calling on New Jersey officials to decriminalize drugs in a bid to redirect funds used on policing and incarceration back to communities. Abolish The Drug War New Jersey — the coalition founded by...

Progressive groups expand suit against party lines

January 25, 2021 5:28 pmJanuary 26, 2021 11:21 am

A swath of progressive groups joined a lawsuit seeking to do away with organizational lines used in the state’s primaries Monday, joining a push started by former congressional candidate Christine Conforti. “This antiquated practice is truly indefensible.” New Jersey Working...

Progressives launch campaign to eliminate organizational lines

December 7, 2020 5:24 pmDecember 8, 2020 1:26 pm

A swath of progressive and good government groups launched another campaign seeking to do away with organizational lines Saturday. In New Jersey, county political parties have the power to award candidates with a favored ballot position — the party line...

Democrats called this year’s budget transparent. It was, by Trenton standards

September 22, 2020 4:41 pm

Democrats in the legislature are facing fire over their last-minute reveal of this year’s budget. Despite praise from Senate Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Woodridge) calling this year’s budget process transparent, the process was in many ways business as usual...

Advocacy groups urge Senate to nix in-person committee meetings

July 17, 2020 3:33 pmJuly 19, 2020 2:11 pm

A group of more than 40 largely-progressive advocacy organizations urged Senate President Steve Sweeney to abandon his plan to resume holding committee meetings in-person. “During such a dangerous pandemic threatening public health, it is irresponsible and dangerous for the Senate...